A few books on shamanism

Discussions of spiritual books
Post Reply
User avatar
Greyfox
New Friend
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2005 7:24 pm
Please type in these numbers: 46373: 46372
Please type in these numbers:91294: 91284
Location: just north of Wasilla, Alaska

A few books on shamanism

Post by Greyfox »

On the off chance anyone here is interested in "archaic revival" stuff--to use Terrance McKenna's wonderful phrase--here are a few of the best books on shamanism:

The Way of the Shaman --Michael Harner. Harner went to South America as a grad student in anthropology and went native, studied under Jivaro shamans, and becae in the process, arguably the world's number one authority on the subject now that Mircea Eliade is no longer on this plane). Although his own practice is somewhat culture-bound, he teaches what he calls "core shamanism,"--that is, shamanic practice stripped of cultural overlay and superstition. His foundation produces some of the best CDs and tapes for inducing altared states available.

Soul Loss and Retrieval -- Sandra Ingerman. Okay, the title is a tad misleading--in this context, "soul" does not to refer to our immortal soul, but more to something that might be called "vital essence." It can be lost and regained. I know this, having done soul retrievals many times in my practice--seeing the light come back into someone's eyes after doing the work is, well, difficult to describe.

Plant Spirit Medicine --Eliot Cowan. Great book, but not for the beginner, on invoking and working with not only plant spirits, but also Tlaloc, the Aztec rain god. All I can say is, it works for me.
"Effectiveness is the measure of truth."--Seventh Huna Principle
User avatar
Helen W
Busy Bee
Posts: 51
Joined: Fri Jun 11, 2004 5:13 pm
Please type in these numbers: 46373: 0
Please type in these numbers:91294: 0
Location: here today, gone tomorrow
Contact:

Post by Helen W »

I have heard several times now about Michael Harner but not read his stuff.. maybe it should be next on my list...I did read a wonderful book over the summer by one of his pupils who had a long term connection with a 'future ancestor'..cant remember the name off the top of my head.

My personal favourites on Shamanism include the Kenneth Meadows stuff, and some of the more theoretical Castanada books (the drugs ones turn me right off..but the Active Side of Infinity. Wow). Oh, and the Theun Mares Toltec books, which are not so different if you look through deeply.

Mainly I enjoy the 'experience' based Shamanic books, since I find that my own methods are similar enough for them to uploft me, but often the purely techqniue based books just dont quite set right in my own heart..so what I know of Shamanism has mainly been taught to me directly by my guides and teachers.

I really must get round to writing a proper list of good books I've discovered recently.
Post Reply