Book Description
A new edition of the highly acclaimed manual of freestyle shamanism, suitable for all those inspired by such figures as Austin Spare and Aleister Crowley, and who feel the imperative to develop their own unique magical way. Visual Magick aims to build vision, imagination, and creative magick. It shows how magicians, witches, artists and therapists can improve visionary abilities, enhance imagination, activate the inner senses, and discover new modes of trance awareness. The emphasis is on direct experience and the reader is asked to think, act, do, and enjoy as s/he wills. 'One of the best books on magick I have read in a long while.' Phil Hine in Pagan News'A practical modern grimoire.' The Cauldron ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Concise, down to earth introduction to practical 'magic'....
This book manages to provide a visceral, tangible introduction to `magic' or the state of dynamic, creative, engagement of the life process to which such terms refer. Jan's style is particularly engaging and down to earth, and this book covers a variety of the basic process and mechanisms of modern `freestyle shamanism' or `magic', clearly and concisely. He has a refreshing neo-Taoist vibe, with an emphasis on a dynamic living engagement with a flowing, evolving, life-force. Open ended and creative in focus, this book provides a host of idea's both theoretical and practical, that can help one to find their own intuitive engagement with the universal song. For a creative, engaging, dynamic, and totally down to earth introduction to `freestyle shamanism' one need look no further. 5 stars!

Oh and remeber to AVOID CRAMP! haha

Jan Fries & Visual Magick
I am fond of this book. I have my doubts about Jan Fries.

Fries neatly describes a practice containing elements of NLP (representational systems & perceptual positions), automatic drawing techniques, and a clear (excellent, even) coverage of sigil technique. Jan's emphasis on a non-forceful kind of Taoist approach is worthy of special attention. I have not found much of the latter half of the book useful, myself, but the parts that I have found useful are very well done and free of obfuscation.

That said, I do have a problem with Jan's egotistical glorification of Thelema (in odd and not necessarily appropriate ways) and his claims that some effective techniques of Chaos Magick are "nonsense" (contrary to the experience of a great many people who use them). His statements that visions appear shadey and vague as if one were just imagining them, though I may have misunderstood his meaning and/or intent, lead me to question just how much of an "Adept" he actually is in certain respects.

That said, I believe the book survives the author, and is a worthwhile contribution to any occultist's library (well, unless of course you're a die-hard ceremonialist. Not much here for you in that case).

Visual Magick
One of the great books on shamanism and chaos magick. Get this book !

Especially loved the section on automatic drawing. I wish he would expand on it.I wish there was a section on the Alphabet of desire. There isjust one problem on page 37 he writes

"The following exercise devlopes the ability to draw 'units' of linework in a swift and continuous manner. It helps to learn aboutspace,flow and"

He didn't his sentance !

one of the best "chaos magick" books around
Though Jan doesn't consider himself a practicioner of "chaos magick" (he is a neo-thelemite in the Maat current) people who *do* consider themselves practicioners of "chaos magick" lovehim.

Very down to earth.Check out his stuff on runes too.

Forget PeteCarroll, that pompous mystagogue.Stick with Jan Fries and maybe a bit ofPhil Hine, and you're on solid ground. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

Difficult, but worth the effort.
Michael Taussig takes a stance towards "terrorism" not common in today's world. By trying to trace the roots of this phenomenon, he brings to light many explanations and understandings many of us fail to realize, only because we have not come across them before. I give this book four stars instead of five simply because it is a difficult read, but if you are interested in what we, today, call "terrorism" and are willing to take the time to plunge into this book, then it will certainly be worth your while.

Taussig takes one on a terrifying, gut churning, horrifying
trip through the rubber boom of the 1800's in South America.From detailed historical survey to his first hand accounts of life around the Amazon, he never ceases to confront the reader with reality.His study iscomprehensive in that he brings attention to all different aspects of theEuropean, Indian and African people who live there.The study helpsintegrate the anthropological view of society to consider the religious,political, economic and moral as part of the collective consciousness of acommunity.Powerful book.

Much more than a simple ethnographic investigation...
Arguably one of the most accomplished anthropologists working today, Michael Taussig provides an intensely individualistic bricolage of literary, historical, and ethnological interpretations of his many years of fieldwork in the Upper Amazon.One of the most detailed and poignant accounts of shamanism in its cultural context - will very soon be regarded as a classic. ... Read more

Book Description
The first book written about Mongolian and Siberian shamanism by a shaman trained in that tradition.

A thorough introduction to Mongolian and Siberian shamanic beliefs and practices, which, until the collapse of the Soviet Union, were banned from being practiced.

Includes rituals for healing and divination techniques.

In traditional Mongolian-Buryat culture, shamans play an important role maintaining the tegsh, the "balance" of the community. They counsel a path of moderation in one's actions and reverence for the natural world, which they view as mother to humanity. Mongolians believe that if natural resources are taken without thanking the spirits for what they have given, those resources will not be replaced. Unlike many other cultures whose shamanic traditions were undermined by modern civilization, shamans in the remote areas of southern Siberia and Mongolia are still the guardians of the environment, the community, and the natural order. 

Riding Windhorses is the first book written on Mongolian and Siberian shamanism by a shaman trained in that tradition. A thorough introduction to Mongolian/Siberian shamanic beliefs and practices, it includes working knowledge of the basic rituals and various healing and divination techniques. Many of the rituals and beliefs described here have never been published and are the direct teachings of the author's own shaman mentors.

Customer Reviews (4)

She is NOT Mongolian
Despite her adopted name (Sarangerel, a Mongolian name) she is NOT Mongolian.

I was very interested to read this book, assuming, wrongly, that she was Mongolian. I was very disappointed to read that she's not from Mongolia, she's not even from Siberia - she's a WESTERNER.

Be careful - people who have "gone native" tend to be very proud of themselves ("look at how cool and ethnically sensitive I am").

The book has lots of recipes for rituals, which I think is just irresponsible - people should not be encouraged to play around with things that they do not fully understand, and for which they have no guidance, mentor, or teacher. The text is disjointed and not scholarly. Indeed, she does not pretend to be a scholar. So if the book is not scholarly, and it's not the story of a native person interpreting their culture for a sympathetic outside audience, what is the purpose? Presumably she wants to share some wisdom with others. Personally, I did not fine any wisdom here.

Not Bad...
The book covers modern Mongol shamanism to a reasonable degree, but leaving some areas not covered.At first I thought the book was simply deficient in spots, but I think perhaps it is Mongol shamanism that is deficient.What I would like to see is a book on how their shamanism was BEFORE the Russians and Chinese tore their country to pieces and forcibly converted so many of them.Perhaps such knowledge is lost to history.

I enjoyed a brief introduction to Mongolian Shamanism.
I bought this book because I wanted a view of Shamanism as practised in this area of the world because the term Shaman was coined by the Tungus people of Siberia.

The rituals and ceremonies are simple and could be performed by just about anyone.

Chapter 6 deals with assorted forms of diviniation.

The book is clearly written and concise; however; the author uses terms used by the Mongolian Shamans throughout the book, and in a few places; this is tiring and tedious.

My only real complaint deals with page 91 "A more potent hallucinogen, the mukhomar mushroom has been connected with Siberian and Mongolian shamanism from ancient times." (In my opinion; hallucinogenics are NOT needed, and NOT recommended.)

Wah doh Ogedoda (We give thanks Great Spirit)

A fantastic, enlightening book
This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in Shamanism.Sarangerel's book is neither a hollow academic essay nor a self serving autobiography. Riding Windhorses is a practical introduction to Mongolian/Siberianshamanic culture, and a hands-on manual for bringing very ancient practicesinto modern life.It is written in a comfortable and logical style, whichmakes it quite useful for anyone of any background.This book also servesan important role by presenting shamanism from a cultural perspective notyet given: today's bookstores are filled with terrific N. and S. Americanshamanism books.Now, the culture that gave us the word 'Shaman' is beingrepresented, and represented very well. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

A good intro shamanism and beautiful artwork!
A very nice primer on the subject of shamanism with wonderful illustrations by the author. There may be better written intros on this subject, but this one is DEFINITELY the best illustrated! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Forgotten Shaman of Ancient China
Arthur Waley does a superb job covering the role of the wu, or shaman, in ancient China. Similar to the traditional shaman of Siberia, Central Asia and the Arctic, the wu enters into a trance state in performing ceremonies. However, unlike his northern counterparts, the Chinese shaman enters into a fleeting love relationship with the God (or Goddess). Although references to shaman abound in China, actual descriptions of the practice and beliefs of the wu are rare. Waley takes what is known about them, comparing it occaisonally to other Asian beliefs, and makes a wonderful introduction to Chinese shamanism.

He then goes on to translate and analyze all nine of the songs in Ch'u Yuan's Nine Songs. Each of these songs is dedicated to a particular deity or spirit, such as T'ai I, Hsiang-chuan, Ta Ssu-ming, Ho-po and the Shan-kuei. In each song, he interperts the meaning, as well as giving a general description of the deity or spirit in question, and even analyzing the meaning of the name. This book is fairly short (there is little material on shaman practices in ancient China, and each of the Nine Songs is fairly short), but it is quite a good book to read nonethelesss, particularly with so little about Chinese shamanism in English. Indeed, this book may be the only English translation of the Nine Songs, as far as I am aware.

Waley closes out the book with three appendices, one on the expansion of the kingdom of Ch'u (where the book is believed to have originated), one on commentaries on the book and another on Japanese scholar Aoki Masaru's interpetation of the book. Ultimately, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in East Asian shamanism, but it can be appreciated by anyone with an interest in shamanism or ancient culture. The only comment I would make is that I am not entirely sure about the transliteration of Chinese words. The systems used may be slightly off or outdated, though I'm sure many of those interested in this book probably already have at least some understanding of Chinese linguistics so that shouldn't be too much of an issue. If not, then don't let that deter you. It is a wonderful book to read.

Lao's review
The first ten pages presents an overview of the history and cultural significance of classic shamanism in Northern China, and a descripotion of the typical forms of the poetry which follows.The Nine Songs are presented as the songs the shaman sings to the spirits that they encounter during their rituals, many taking the form of love songs.Arthur Waley provides commentary on each of the songs, with additional commentary and notes at the end.This is one of my favorite books. ... Read more

Book Description
This work goes a long way toward dispelling the sterotypes of shamans. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Important new depth and diversity
This is an overall outstanding addition to the English-language book-based (i.e., non-magazine, journal, etc.) literature on Northern Coastal Peruvian curanderismo, and shamanism in general.If you have no exposure to these topics however, things may be a bit too complex or involved.This is not a drawback however-- the book is clearly not meant for the neophyte as much as it is meant for the serious student (or at least, for the voraciously interested), and thus provides a richness and diversity not previously seen or collected all in one place.

While (obviously) not as thorough as Sharon's prior landmark research (Wizard of the Four Winds, about Calderon), the strength in this work is in the numbers.A full dozen healers are at least adequately (and often completely) described and expounded upon.The authors (Sharon, Joralemon, and the more recently doctor-ed Skillman) used their considerable connections and anthropological contacts extremely well.

On the other hand, the interpretation of the collected data is sometimes weak.This is not the fault of the authors, per se, but a certain lack of first-hand experience in traditions of other regions of Peru is discernible.Though perhaps too great a task to ask for, comparison to and ethnohistoric research in other Andean shamanic traditions would be an invaluable next step in taking the immediate findings and raw data of the authors to a larger and more fertile platform.Especially investigating the relations of coastal traditions to their highland and jungle counterparts (which are certainly all inter-connected, both historically and today) would bring a broader understanding to the subject matter.

But, in the end the authors are anthropologists, so I cannot criticize them for remaining within the bounds of their expertise.At the same time, as a more general criticism of and commentary on the state of affairs in this kind of culturally- and spiritually-sensitive anthropology, I do note a tendency to dilute the importance of certain spiritual concepts in favor of highlighting cultural origins and causes.As a participant and student of these traditions myself, I understand the spiritual as being primordial and primary, managing later to adapt itself to the specific cultural necessities of a given time and space.A notable and gratefully received exception to my critique is the well-documented and well-argued discussion of the Tinkuy concept (whose only flaw is is in forgetting Richard Burger's understanding of ancient U-shaped pyramid complexes as manifestations of the same Tinkuy cosmology).More of that kind of analysis can (and Will, I hope) take Sharon to the true elite of a field in which he continues to innovate and intrigue. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Contributes to a serious discussion of shamanism.
This book has two parts. First, it is a description of the beliefs and activities of shamans in Greenland beginning in the 1700's, as reported by missionaries and anthropologists. Secondly it is a description of contemporary neoshamanic activity, particularly in shamanic trainingworkshops conducted by one teacher in Europe. Jakobsen poses a criticaldistinction between the spiritual worlds of indigenous shamans in Greenlandand that of contemporary new age shamans, and concludes that new ageshamanism should not be called shamanism at all. Rather, it should betermed "shamanic behavior."

For serious students of shamanismwho have read extensively in the anthropological literature, thisdifference in the beliefs of indigenous and contemporary shamans is notnew. Harner's sanitizing of shamanism altered the student/spiritrelationship from one of fear, awe and mediation of forces outside ofthemselves, to one of consorting with one's benevolent teachers andhelpers. It is apparent that the reduction of the "fear factor"in shamanism has attracted more workshop attendees.

Jakobsen, unlikeneoshamans, reminds us that the spirits of the Greenland shamans did notemanate from their psyche, were not projections of self, did not reside ina collective unconscious. There were no seeds of imaginal shamanism. Today,the neoshaman creates the spirits, thereby imposing order and morality onan otherwise fearsome universe. I heard a respected teacher in the Harnercadre tell a group of beginners that they would have to "teach yourpower animals how to behave." Such a notion would shock an indigenousshaman.

The origins of imaginal, neoshamanism don't lie in shamanism atall, but rest on the foundation set in the humanistic psychology and humanpotential movement that emerged at Esalen in the sixties. Harner andCastaneda reap the benefits of the movement. In a framework where all isseen in terms of humanistic psychology, neoshamans master the spirits bynot inviting the dangerous ones to the party. Touching upon the origins ofneoshamanism would have helped this book. Jakobsen says "here they areand this is what they are doing," but she doesn't say"why."

Jakobsen's reports of her experiences in neoshamanicworkshops are good samples of both the rituals and the anecdotal accountsof the participants. The descriptions of the workshops and people in themwas all too familiar. She is fair in her reporting. It is interesting thatthe course leader with whom she studied the most, refused to allow the useof his name. Coercive harmony dominates neoshamanic training.

Jakobsen'sbook is a valuable addition to a discussion of shamanism. It asks us toconsider where we place ourselves in the cosmos. Perhaps it will stimulatemore examinations of the many aspects of the neoshamanic movement. Morelikely it will be seen by neoshamans as negative and critical. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

A Fantastic Book
Teresa Moorey has a very comfortable style as a writer.Some of the concepts of Shamanism can be a challenge to describe, but this book makes even the most abstract ideas understandable.I lent my copy to a friendwho says it gave him the vocabulary needed to understand experiences in hislife.Excellent exercises for the reader.A very good discussion onmodern problems, their causes (from a Shamanic point of view) and personalsolutions. ... Read more

Product Description
Articles from ethnographers, a linguist, and Native Americans, all address the topic of Na??ve California shamanism in traditional times and in the present.A feast for the scholar or layman interested in shamanism ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good book, but once again Craig Bates strikes.
Most of the book was interesting, but when I came to the section of the supposed Southern Sierra Miwuk shamans I was once again not surprised by the total misinformation that the Yosemite National Park Service's Craig Bates, who besides being a federal employee for the park for over 30 years, is an author.

Again he adds his own fable instead of fact this time about Charlie Dick, a Yosemite - Mono Lake Paiute. Craig Bates wrote that Charlie Dick was one of the most prominent Southern Sierra Miwuk shamans, which is interesting, because Charlie Dick was a full blooded Paiute. Even in the Southern Sierra Miwuks petition for federal recognition they acknowledge that most information about Charlie Dick states he was Paiute.

Charlie Dick's father Chief George Dick was related to Lancisco Wilson, who on his grave marker in Yosemite National Park's cemetery has a big "PIUTE" craved in it. Something that Craig Bates must have not noticed in his 30 years plus service for Yosemite National Park as the "official" Indian expert for Yosemite. His own office being about a couple of yards from the cemetery. Maybe the author, when he walks by it, diverts his eyes to something he does not WANT TO SEE. Yet the same author must have realized that when he wrote his jibberish, that does not make any sense.

In a 1930 census when others around Yosemite were claiming they were "Diggers", Charlie Dick specifically put down he was "PIUTE"...full blooded.

In the book The Ahwahneechees by John Bingaman it is documented that Charlie Dick, son of Chief George Dick, brother of Sally Ann, was a "Piute, born at Mono Lake". John Bingaman was a Yosemite Ranger who knew the Indians of Yosemite for decades. Bates came into the picture later when the so-called Southern Sierra Miwuks were starting to go for federal recognition. For federal recognition you need scholarly work and written documentation to prove that your tribe was in the area since the beginning of time. So Craig Bates writings, to me, look extremely suspicious and biased to wards that group.

In one of Bates' writings he states that Charlie Dick's mother was Mary Williams a Yosemite Indian. Yes, she was a Yosemite Indian, a Yosemite PAIUTE Indian, whose parents were Big Jim and Mattie Williams. Something, that once again Craig Bates in his position and writings should've have realized. Since it was his job for about 30 years to study.

I had heard the author of that section, Craig Bates, is a white man raised by a Miwuk family, that as a teen he was fascinated by Miwuk culture. He even grew and married a Miwuk woman, had 1/2 Miwuk son and dressed in Miwuk regalia, but who would've thought he would've TRIED to re-write Yosemite Indian history to match his own Miwuk lifestyle.

Than most of the religious pieces he quotes in the book are Paiute, not Southern Sierra Miwok. Once again a white man steals the legacy of the Indian people. This time my people, the Paiutes.

It is best to look at the book critically, than believing everything that Craig Bates, the federal employee and well-known author, writes.

That is just that section of the book.

good anthropology
"When the doctor sings it's like he's snake charming. The pain gets hypnotized by the songs and starts rising in the body to see what it is and when it's close enough to the surface the doctor can take it out by sucking, or with his hands."a Yurok shaman, p. 139

This is a seminal work edited by LJ Bean, today perhaps the foremost authority on CAlifornia Indians.It compiles, in one place, field data from the Northern tribes (Yurok, Karuk, Wintu, HUpa), Central California(Miwok) and the South (Cahuilla, Luiseno etc).In addition, there are chapters on rock art, toloache (the Datura-based religions of the Cahuillas, the Luiseno and even the Miwoks), the Kuksu (among Pomo and Maidu) religion and the Revival religions such as the Ghost dance.

A central concern of this book is that of the Native relationship with power: personal power, acquired by one's ability to perceive sacred beings and power sources (ritual paraphernalia, quartz crystals, human and animal bones, feathers, and plants such as angelica) and community power, derived from the shaman's status as a leader, healer and witch-doctor (In California as opposed to the Plains, priests and shamans usually came from chiefly families and were trained in high caste secret societies. Power was, according to the Indians, differentially distributed in both time and space and came from the sacred "Dreamtime" when the universe was created.The authors provide many anecdotes from transcribed sessions with their informants; what I especially liked was that, in general, the emphasis was on description and not on analysis. This makes for exciting reading.

Shamans werepolitical leaders, and they supervised the regular yearly burning process under oaks, pines and mesquite to maintain good harvests, control plant diseases, parasites (mistletoe), bugs and poison oak as well as to improve the quality of seed and straightness of basket grasses and arrow reed. They were also healers, prophets and poisoners enaging in "doctor wars".

I found the discussions on the use of datura, Rattlesnake shamans, Deer- or Antelope shamans, Bear shamans, Acorn shamans,"Poison doctors" , soul loss and Singing doctors very informative. The poison doctors, for example, often obtained their powers hereditarily and were taught by a parent the use of quartz crystals and the eating of roots of poisonous plants, and they were encouraged to practice hitting a feather stuck in the ground as a target with porcupine quills so that they could successfully hit people with their darts. Many of these practices seem to me to be very similar to Australian aboriginal ones.

The book concludes with a couple of excellent chapter written by native Californian Indians themselves, and with an analysis of the worrisome encroachment of non-native traditions (such as the sweat lodge, as it is practiced by the Plains tribes) into native (Californian) practices which are consequently facing the danger of disappearing, as the young strut the sexier Lakota style. Also we see the tenuous and often antagonistic interactions between the the New Age "neo-shamanism" and indigenous tribes, who resent the encroachment of the white man and his perceived usurpation of their religion. This book doesn't take sides; it does however provide a valuable contribution that will be of interest to anthropologists and laypeople alike. ... Read more

Book Description
Cross-cultural and neuropsychological perspectives on shamanism reveal that it produces an adaptive integrative mode of consciousness. Shamanic altered states of consciousness (ASC) are related to brain organization and processes, showing shamanism's concern with socioemotional and self functions of the paleomammalian brain and cognitive capacities based in presentational symbolism, metaphor, analogy, and mimesis. Integration of cross-cultural and neurological perspectives illustrates homologies which reveal the psychobiological basis of shamanism and soul journeys, guardian spirits, death and rebirth, and other universal forms of shamanic cognition. Shamanic contributions to sociocultural and cognitive evolution are examined. The integrative mode of consciousness produced by shamanic ASC is related to general brain functions. Specific psychophysiological functions of ASC and their variations cross-culturally are illustrated. Shamanic soul journey, possession, and meditative forms of consciousness are examined from phenomenological, neurological, and epistemological perspectives which reveal them to be innate forms of cognition and practices for manipulating perception, attention, cognition, emotion, self, and identity. Shamanistic healing involves physically and culturally mediated forms of adaptation to stress which are reinforced by procedures eliciting opioid release. Therapeutic effectiveness of shamanistic practices are illustrated by clinical research. Shamanistic healing includes procedures for altering physiological, psychological, and emotional responses. Contemporary spontaneous religious experiences and illness characterized as "spiritual emergencies" have shamanic roots and illustrate the continued relevance of shamanic paradigms. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fascinating information buried in jargon
An earlier reviewer asks the question, "Why isn't this book more widely read?" and theorizes it is too controversial. Controversy is rarely a stumbling block to finding a wide readership. Occam's razor demands a simplier answer - it is tedious reading. The topic is fascinating, Winkelman knows his stuff, and he has drawn together a wide array of research material to build his argument for a neural-psychological theory of shamanism which is combined with an economic-evolutionary theory of how it evolved and has largely disappeared, or at least been sublimated, in more complex organized cultures.

Problem is, Winkelman is addicted to academic jargon, both his own and that of his sources (He loves terms like "cross-modular integration," "polymodal information integration" "Neurogenesis," "symbolic penetration" (there's alot of penetrating going on)but especially "-mentation" neologisms - "Emotiomentation," "Paleomentation," and "Protomentation." Combine that with Winkelman's long, convoluted writing style, and at times ideas have to be forcefully extracted from the tangle of terminology and verbosity. An exemplar sentence, in which Winkelman's thought is intertwined with a source, goes as follows: "The mammalian adaptation of solution (except for monotremes and echidna) for achieving learning without a large prefrontal cortex was "off-line processing" of REM sleep, where associations of recent memories was achieved during periods of sleep. The "off-line" process processing faciliated use of the pre-frontal cortex for advanced cognitive and perceptual activities."

This is a valuable book, full of useful information and piquant theories, but it could have benefited from an editor - one without a technical background in neuroscience or bio-anthropology - who could have simply said, "Michael, this sounds really interesting but I can't make sense of it; re-read Strunk and White and simplify this paragraph"

Absolutely essential text for student of ASC and shamanism
I can do justice to this book

It is simply delicious reading

content rich and a sorely needed next step in getting to the core of what mechanism shamanism exploits to engage the integrative healing processes

Anyone whoes been looking into this subject will have seen how much crap is out there, and here on these topics.
So much of it displays faulty scholarship and poorly argued and defined writing, much of it stinks of a work half finished and published to catch a ride on a popular wave of interest. Much of it has no enduring worth. They will be the landfill and animal bedding of the future
You can spend $100 on a few of these or you can get quality in this book. This book will be in the libraries of the future and will surely influence tommorrows visionaries
The density of quality in the book should make it as heavy as lead and yet it is held up by the poetic and fluid integration of winkelmanns' brilliant literary ability

so why isnt it more widely read, even recommended as a text?

I asked this of a proffessional scholar and they responded it was too controversial

Winkelmann?!! what are you trying to do? train shamans? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good, solid introduction to the Shamanic path
This is a very comprehensive introduction to the shamanic experience in chapters discussing inter alia the new inner frontier, the cosmos of the shaman, tools, totems and allies, the journey, power animals, guides, teachers, guardians, healing and the sacred laws. In almost all the fundamentals these teachings correspond with the ancient knowledge, current New Age and New Thought beliefs and with the wisdom of the East. As the author puts it so well: "Shamanism has no leaders or dogmas, and shamanism has no followers, only doers." In other words, it is the responsibility of the individual to find the divine within. The style is accessible and engaging and the text is enhanced by explanatory illustrations. There are exercises, a glossary, bibliography and index. An enlightening read and a valuable reference work.

Good primer on Shamanism, but not the only tradition.
There is much in this book I agree with, and some that I disagree with.

When you use this book do not become dogmatic into believeing that his way is the only way. If you feel guided to honor the elements in differentdirections (as I do) follow your guidance.

In several places Mr. Meadowsused the term "American Indian" as if there was only onetradition. There were more than 500 American Indian nations speaking about175 or so different languages.

Some tribes place the element fire in theeast because the sun rises in the east. Some tribes place fire in the southbecause this is where the sun is located during the hottest part of theday, and then the Bear Tribe founded by the late Chippewa medicine man (SunBear) places the element fire in the north.

I do not know with anycertainty which tribe Mr. Meadows received his knowledge from, but I amassuming it was from the Lakota Sioux because he uses their name for GreatSpirit (Wakan-Tanka).

If you have questions or comments. E-Mail me. TwoBears: ... Read more

Book Description
All in color! Following the ancient religion of our ancestors, who took nature as their teacher, shamans have the power to heal, to receive visions, and to transcend their personal identities and become our representatives in the spirit world. Who are these shamans? What do they believe? What do they do? Here are the answers to those questions, in the actual words of some of the most remarkable human beings you'll ever encounter, along with stunning color photos of the shamans at work, at home, and in traditional ceremonies. Coming from around the world--from North and South America, Europe, West Africa, Australia, and Tibet--the shamans discuss their training, how they go about their work, what "magic" powers they possess, the importance of the non-material world, and how to keep ourselves healthy in body, mind, and spirit. Each voice is unique, each message inspiring, and the implications of what they say can save lives. Trim size: 8 1/4 x 10 5/8. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A quick read.Highly recommended overview.
I read through this in a few hours, eager to get some insight into shamanism in the modern world, especially in the americas and in australia, and this book delivers the goods, diving quickly into the depths of rites through the personal words of various healers from hawaii, the aboriginees, and from those indigenous native americans, actually providing exercises you can do to enhance your visual skills.I was especially impressed various techniques the different shamans mentioned that are actually universal around the world, like sitting in the woods alone and watching without blinking. Of course, honoring the aniimal and nature spirits is always fundamental, but to really attune to them, that is what these healers have done, breaking through the limitations of our hypermodern world and glimpsing the other side, if only for a moment.Caution.Don't try this at home unless you have a spiritual leader to check on you.Some of the techniques mentioned in this book can be dangerous!

Shamanic Wisdomkeepers
I agree this is a nice book to have. I enjoyed 'listening' to the various voices from around the world and I appreciate the input they gave to give everyone a better understanding of what shamanism is really about.

Warning to Aborigines
This book contains the photo of a deceased person.

This is an excellent book that allows people from all over the world speak in their own voice.

The Primal Spiritual Tradition
_As this excellent book points out first thing, shamanism is the primal ground from which all our spiritual traditions first immerged. This is because it deals with the other world, the world beyond death. That is one of the common truths that keep coming out in interview after interview with living shamans from ten different traditions. Another of these truths is that you don't choose to become a shaman- the spirits choose you. Nor is it a matter of ego, for the shaman seeks to transcend the ego barriers that separate him or her from becoming one with both this world and the next.

_The author chose ten modern day shamans that had the feel of authenticity and integrity. That feel comes across in the interviews, for beyond a brief and perceptive introduction, he lets his subjects speak for themselves. As the author states, he didn't select these people, he merely held a vision of the kind of people who he wanted in his book- and they found their way to him.

_The range of traditions is broad, but they are all clearly speaking of the same experience- but with differing details and emphasis. It is a truly global sampling: Cherokee and Seneca , Dagara (West Africa), Amazonian, Kahuna (Hawaiian), Tibetan, Celtic, Santo Daime, Mayan, Apache, and Australian.

_The book is well illustrated with both full-color pictures of the Shamans, as well as of the land to which they are connected. There is a listing of contact addresses to reach both the contributors and organizations. There is a full index.

Shamanic Wisdomkeepers; Shamanism in the Modern World
This is a gem of a book on learning about Shamanism in the modern world. One gets tired of reading about new age spirituality with a guru bent. This book is clear sighted. Shamanism at its most non-commercial. Shamans whotalk the talk and walk the walk. Photographs to immerse one in the big bluemarble earth. Gaia is the key to understanding the way of the Shamans. Weare truely an ecosystem and it is not nice to fool mother nature. This bookis to learn what it means to be a non-commercial shaman. Someone who wantsto be a true loving healer on this planet earth for its own sake. ... Read more

Book Description
Generations ago the veil between the world of men and the Otherworld was thin and visible to those with spiritual sight. Despite the interference of electricity and the narrow vision of the modern world, there are still those who can feel and experience the Otherworld and interact with the creatures of faery. Catrin James is one of these. She shares with us experiences, stories and visualizations through which we too may glimpse and learn to experience this ever -present faery world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

disappointed at first glance
and at second glance, too! This book has really very little to do with welsh, faeries or shamanism, IMHO. It's a mishmash of ideas that stripmines welsh paganism/wicca and plunders new ageisms. Also,the copy I was unfortunate to buy was badly proofread and the grammar was appalling. I have a horrible feeling this was done in order to lend some sort of 'country bumpkin' credence to this book... as if the welsh are all illerate or don't have spellcheck! Readers would be better off reading the works of rj stewart, who really has explored the themes of the faery lover in depth, and actually practices what he writes about.

Enjoyable but lightweight.
I found this book to have little particularly to do with either Celtic studies, anything specifically Faery, and to be pretty far from Shamanism. I did enjoy the easygoing, chatting-by-the-fireside writing style, but was disappointed by the "new-ageyness" of some of the practices described (for example, using clear quartz crystals). Overall the book seemed to lack substance, especially for the price. Some Capall Bann books are really worth it (e.g. The Pillars of Tubal Cain), but I would avoid buying this one sight unseen if you can.

Reconnect with the soul of Nature
This book is written by a woman from Wales who grew up at the end of a vanishing age, practicing the old ways and interacting directly with the Otherworld. If your ancestry is Celtic, I think you will find this book helpful in remembering your native traditions and in reconnecting and healing with Nature. Catrin James describes the world of Faery, or the soul of Nature, in a practical and approachable way. I much prefer a book like this, written by someone with direct experience, over a book written by one of the educated, upper-class folklorists who "documented" native Celtic tradition and faery lore, such as Yeats or Evans-Wentz. This book shines with an authenticity, purity, and honesty that is rarely found. It is NOT a dressed-up Wicca manual or a cheesy Celtic spirituality book. Check out also Vol. 2. ... Read more

Book Description
Much is currently written about the higher self, but we read less about the deep, instinctual, lower or dark self, the part which encompasses the subconscious, the collective consciousness and more. We must learn not to deny or repress this l ... Read more

Book Description
In this ground-breaking book, Lama Somananda Tantrapa shares the ancient wisdom of Tibetan Shamanic Qigong in a simple and practical way. Discovering, testing and applying its principles will remarkably enhance your vitality with greater attentiveness, awareness and presence. It will help you transform and enlighten your life by developing a culture of movement that is naturally graceful and harmonious. It will also provide you with profound psychological and spiritual insights into the true nature of health, relationships and other issues that teach you to approach life challenges as learning opportunities rather than problems. By practicing Qi Dao, you will unify your body, mind and spirit, empowering your whole being to live in harmony with the flow of the entire universe. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A great book...!
This is a great book about how to be in the flow of life, so that we meet every situation, no matter what it is, with equanimity, intelligence, and authenticity. Lama Tantrapa has distilled his teachings into an easy-to-read format, and provides illustrations that clearly demonstrate the simple postures and movements that best help us to be more in the flow.

--Jim Dreaver, author End Your Story, Begin Your Life (www.endyourstory.com)

From a True Master
Lama Tantrapa is the real thing.He comes from a family steeped in the tradition of Qi Gong and the fact that this spirituality is steeped in his being is implicit in his work.His committing his knowledge to paper in the form of this book is a true gift.If you'd like to learn a powerful spiritual practice embodied in a martial art from a master, this is most definitely the book for you!

Qi Dao
Twenty-seventh generation holder of the Qi Dao lineage, Lama Somananda Tantrapa now offers a book sharing his family tradition."Qi Dao - Tibetan Shamanic Qigong, The Art of Being in the Flow" is a door to teachings of organized, well founded principles of Qi Dao, the Tibetan practice of Shamanic Qigong.

With impeccable style, Lama Tantrapa explores the fundamentals of movement and dynamic interaction that, when practiced, allow the practitioner to closer harmonize with the flow of Qi, the energy of life.

Attention to flow allows the individual to explore deeply into the nature of being and teaches reliance on the inherent ability to heal, empower, and enlighten one's self.Toward this result, step-by-step instructions are introduced by photographs depicting the motion in each concept explored.The reader is invited to take small steps to utilize, harmonize, and grow with increasing attention to the flow of Qi.

As a Shaman and body worker, it is an adventure and an honor for me to consult this book as a field guide for harmonizing with the flow of Qi and for savoring the experiences of self-realization along the way.

Kathleen Hennessy
L.A.C.S.A.T. Shaman
Body Harmony Student

The Art of Not Doing...
This is one of the better if not best book I have read regarding the internal martial art known as Qigong. Whether one is a advanced practitioner of Qigong or a curious beginner this is a very interesting book written my a unconventional Master of Qigong. Lama Somananda Tantrapa, Tulku's book is about balance of body and mind. For those seeking an understanding of what it is to be balanced or centered this book offers mental and physical ways for the reader to explore this subject. As a one time student of Lama Somananda's I found this book to be true to what was experienced while studying with him. His method of teaching in person remarkably shines through into the pages of this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (6)

dry and academic, yes, but ground-breaking ideas presented
The Soul of Shamanism, by the late Dr. Daniel C. Noel, is a stand-alone monograph operating on the thesis that Western society has a true path to shamanic knowledge and power through Jungian imaginal psychology, and that this is imminently preferable to an uneasy adoption of indigenous wisdom.Noel's arguments are convincing, although occasionally difficult to follow; he uses an inter-disciplinary approach that draws from anthropology, literary criticism, Jungian psychology and folk culture.The volume is intended for scholars, storytellers and spiritual seekers, according to Noel; I would add that mental health therapists would also benefit from The Soul of Shamanism.

Dr. Noel's scholarship was in the fields of religion and literature; he was Visiting Professor of Liberal Studies in Religion and Culture, Vermont College of Norwich University, at the time of his death.He was also an Adjunct Faculty Member in Mythological Studies at the Pacifica Graduate Institute (Carpinteria, CA).

Noel's book appears to have been the culmination of his life's work, fundamentally based on an appreciation of the creative, rich role that the human soul occupies in life.His goal is to re-vivify our Western souls through shamanic methods, in an honest fashion that is founded in our own culture and that does not steal from other cultures in any way; to (re)create a genuinely Western shamanism.

Noel begins with an important insight: current Western shamanism (neoshamanism) is based upon the printed word, similar to the way some indigenous shamanisms may be based upon the drum.Noel perceives that literature - fiction, in particular - opens the same doorway to alternate states of consciousness in the Western mind that drumming may open to a person of an indigenous culture.He considers this to be "fictive power" and that it is virtually the sole socially-sanctioned method which allows our Western imaginations to function.The rest of our attention grasps for scientific, literal truth in every arena of our lives, even in religion (i.e: Jehovah's Witnesses).

Fictive power, then, provides Western minds with the possibilities of other states of consciousness.As in the case of "shamanthropologists" Carlos Castaneda or Michael Harner, or "shamanovelists" Mario Vargas Llosa or Ronald Sukenick, it can draw us away from a stifling literalism into consideration of the unknown, and into a consideration of our own capacities in the face of that unknown. We may also encounter the Other in a way that our literal strivings cannot allow us to conceive.Noel contends that Westerners must most urgently encounter the Other that is our own soul, whose absence or illness can be seen in the very ugliness of the society we create.

This urgency comes from Noel's perception that modern Western culture, particularly that of the United States, is suffering from soul loss.Since this is an illness recognized through shamanism, Noel's position is that a particular shamanic practice is the best method for curing the ailment: soul retrieval.While he perceives that the shamanic wisdom of other cultures is very attractive to us, and that we learn to believe in the potential of shamanic practices through books about other cultures, it is only a shamanism based authentically in Western culture that will exactly meet the need for the retrieval of the Western soul.

It is to Dr. Carl Jung's psychological insights that Noel turns for the roots of a genuinely Western shamanism.Jung, posits Noel, reached deeply into himself following his schism with Freud and engaged in the same level of consciousness that a shaman does while shamanizing.The importance and value of dreams to Jungian psychology, and the post-Jungian developments characterized by James Hillman's work, are the elements of Western knowledge that are, according to Dr. Noel, our culture's shamanic practice.In particular, allowing the dream to inform the everyday ego-consciousness is a crucial step in regaining the health of our souls. By giving priority to the dream we are receiving messages from our souls, thereby opening communication with them and healing the schism. This is radically opposite to the Freudian analysis of dreams that puts the soul's communication in service to the more limited ego-consciousness.Noel refers to the practice as imaginal psychology (Hillman's term) or imaginal shamanism.

I found Noel's The Soul of Shamanism to explore a powerful idea:that of an authentic modern Western shamanic practice. There is no reason to accept a belief that modern Western culture is inherently unable to operate shamanically, and every reason to assume the responsibility for our own health on every level, rather than exploiting the spiritual practices of indigenous cultures that are not adequate to heal our ailment precisely anyway.While I was reading the book, I found myself deeply excited about the reasoned proposal Noel was making and seeing many personal possibilities in it.I find myself increasingly reluctant to heal the psychic wounds I have received in this culture by using the methods of people whom we (culturally) are oppressing.This ideas presented by Noel have great potential, on personal and social levels, to bring Westerners back into balance, psychologically and spiritually.

I agree with Noel's proposition that fiction functions to bring Western minds into alternate states of consciousness, as with his perception that the mainstream aspect of our culture does not provide a legitimate place for the qualities of soul that deepen human experience.I had not previously encountered such a detailed assessment of Jungian psychology and I found myself fascinated with it, as well as impressed with Noel's conclusions and insights.The material is presented in a scholarly fashion, with ample evidence supporting each step of Noel's argument.

I found myself disappointed that Noel did not address the spirits that shamans contact and work with; his approach is largely focussed on an internalized, individual experience.This, however, may be a result of the Western cultural emphasis that Noel obviously couldn't escape.

On the whole, I think that The Soul of Shamanism succeeds in what it sets out to do, despite occasional obfuscating prose.I am so personally excited by the thoughts Noel presented that I intend to purchase a copy; I shall purchase a hardcover copy, as the paperback cover is lurid and distracting.

shamanic initiation
Surprised by the negative reviews of this book, I thought I'd add my own, more positive comments. Although I read the book some years ago, I remember it as readable and important.

Noel's insight involves the power of fiction in imaginal initiation. Most of us don't have access to traditional shamanistic culture. We can sign on for an expensive trip to the Amazon, or start taking workshops, but what's likely to first inspire us is books. Noel makes a convincing argument, I think, that the act of reading particular texts is not only preparation: the reading experience fully entered is an initiation into imaginal realities. Thus the importance of Castaneda's (and others') fiction. Visionary fiction draws our attention to the imaginal and structures imaginal experience.

This isn't the book you want if you're looking for exercises or directions. But it's worth reading if you're interested in the imagination, the imaginal, and the neo-shamanism being generating based not only on indigenous training but on a reinterpretation and reimagination of shamanism as it is transmitted through anthropological narratives and fictions.

REDUNDANT, POINTY HEADED DRIVEL
After trudging through 122 pages of this book I finally tossed it. Page after page the author keeps making the same point- OK, ALREADY, MAYBE CASTENEDA'S WORK WAS FICTION- IS THERE A POINT TO ALL THIS? AND IF SO- WILL YOU PLEASE MAKE IT AND MOVE ON? I kept hanging in there hoping he would make a point somewhere along the line, but finally realized that this book was not going anywhere! I was only slightly amused at the author's presumptuous criticism of Mircea Eliade's treatise on shamanism. At least Eliade had something to say. This book is as dry as a bone, and as far as I read has little or no "soul." Why in the world Deloria recommends this blah blah blah is beyond me!

Neoshamanism for the postmodern Euro-American
The Soul of Shamanism is an academic, postmodern examination of New Age attempts at shamanism, in which Noel proposes some alternative paths for the Euro-American seeker.Noel has an interesting style: he "speaks" to the reader in the first person, as though he is telling a story, and yet, much of the book is a review of literature.Noel has written a previous unpublished treatise on Castaneda, and several chapters deal with the Castaneda hoax, as well as the neo-shamanistic workshops of anthropologist Michael Harner.To say the least, Noel is not impressed.

Alternatives are proposed, in particular, from the perspective of James Hillman and Carl Jung.The most interesting chapters at the center of the book deal with dreams and imaginings. He touches briefly on the Merlin myth, arguing that instead of appropriating models of shamanism from other cultures, which he sees as colonialist, Euro-Americans should turn to models from their own culture.Yet not enough is said about Merlin.

One drawback is that this book is addressed to the Euro-American reader.It will not meet the expectations of a reader from another ethic group and is sure to disappoint if not anger.Additionally, the book is dense and academic.Despite my Ph.D. in anthropology and a sympathetic worldview, I found it tedious reading and would not assign it to students.This is not a handbook.Rather, it is a critical reading of the literature and experience of neoshamanism from a postmodern perspective.

Provides literary overview on topic, but from a closed camp
I was at first excited to read this book for an objective, comprehensive overview to understanding how some shamanic practices might relate to our modern Western culture.And, at first, Noel seems to deliver, reviewingbriefly the writings of first Eliade, and later, Castanada, observing thephenomenon of the latter's widespread influence and the fervor generated byhis accounts of mystical encounters.(In fact, Noel's account mentionsnumerous writings by various authors on soulful topics, and for thesereferences his book is rather valuable.)But by the time I reached themiddle of the book, I was already feeling disgruntled by how many pageswere devoted to circlularly discussing "fictive power."Mydisgruntlement turned to suspicion as I entered the second half of the book(which introduces the reader to various post-Jungian philosophers), forhere I was, reading a glowing account of Thomas Moore, the same individualwhose critical acclaim of the book is printed on the bookjacket("Before reading anything else . . . read this book")! Talkabout Circular!In fact, all three personal reviews included on the bookjacket were written by individuals whose teachings are positively reviewedby Noel in the book itself.So, rather than opening doors to newunderstanding and broader possibilities, I feel as though the book hastried to lead me into someone else's camp or cloister, one that seems veryconcerned with self-protection.Is it really from such a position that weshould be exploring soulfulness and spirituality?! ... Read more

Book Description
Eleven years in the making, Tails of a Healer features 45 true and heartwarming stories about animals and their role in the life and evolution of a gifted energy worker and shamanic healer. This inspiring collection of tales, featuring dozens of black and white photographs by the author, is brought together here in one place for the first time. "Tails of a Healer is jam-packed with animal stories that delight the senses, tickle the imagination, and transcend the mundane into the realm of mystery. Author Rose De Dan is not only a gifted healer, shamanic practitioner, and Reiki Master; she is also a master storyteller. The true-life tales in her book will make you laugh and sometimes cry. They'll make you think and they'll fill you with wonder. Most of all, De Dan's stories will teach you about the fine art of bridging worlds¿between animals and humans, between heart and mind, between body and soul, and between consensus reality and the deeper levels of reality that nurture and sustain us all. Tails of Healer is a gem!", Ph.D., author of Dr. Cat's Helping Handbook, www.drcat.org ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Accessible and Magical
I could not put this book down! Rose's stories, and the energy beneath the words, have touched a deep place in me. It is that core of ancient indigeny we all share. And each story, clothed in her personal experiences, reminds me that we are all universally in deep relationship with ourselves, each other, and all of the creatures of Life.

For those who practice the ways of the shaman; those whose interest is being tickled by the awareness that everything is alive; and those who simply love a good read, "Tails of a Healer: Animals, Reiki, and Shamanism" will spark that delicious place of recognition we all crave.

I highly recommend that you buy this book - for yourself, and for everyone you care about. Support Rose, this self-published voice in the urban wilderness!

A Masterpiece of Literature about an Uncommon Subject
Rose De Dan has created a masterpiece of observation and insight into the mysterious world of shamanism. In prose so lyrical that it could be considered poetry, the reader lives each moment as if it were her own. Tails of a Healer: Animals, Reiki & Shamanism is a must-read for the trained shaman and well as for the reader who simply wants to be entertained.

touching and teaching
I was delighted to find that "Tails of a Healer" is even more than I was expecting based on the outside cover, which in itself made obvious that the book was something I'd not only enjoy but also learn from. It works on several levels: Most obviously, it's a fascinating linear biographical account of a most interesting woman who's had some even more interesting (to say the least!) experiences, most with animals as the "cat"alyst.

That said, each short chapter stands alone brilliantly, and you can flip through the book at random to find inspirational material for your meditation practice (for that matter, you'll be inspired even if you don't meditate). Through Rose's eyes, I feel like I have a better sense than ever about the inner lives of our critter friends. Finally, time and time again, it's an uplifting and refreshing look at the timeless cycles of birth and death.

The writing is self-aware but not self-absorbed, wry and engaging while unflinchingly direct, and always grounded in wisdom and compassion. Whether or not you've had experiences parallel to De Dan's (and few people have), you'll find the lessons she's learned from hers useful as you continue on your own journey through this wild ride called life.

"Tails of a Healer"in review.
Rose brings us on along on her journey of growing as a healer. This glimpse into reconnection with animals and the world around us brings tears of laughter, sadness and understanding. She reminds us to go back to childhood basics where anything is possible and we can appreciate all of the life that continues around us, no matter how busy we may be.

This book is not just for those interested in reiki or healing, or even just animal lovers, although if you fall into one of those categories then it is a must read.

I congratulate Rose on this, her first, and guaranteed successful book! Her stories and photos are awesome!

-Christiane A. Mikles, CVA, RMT, future veterinarian.
... Read more