Book and website recommendations.

[Philosophia]

What books and/or websites would you recommend for Shamanism?

[RavensEye]

You beat me to it :D

This is the site where I started learning way back when and know the lady who wrote this Here (http://www.wicca.com/celtic/wyldkat/shmnindex.htm)

[Philosophia]

You beat me to it :D

:D

I'm interested in Shamanism but I'm still a little unsure about it. _inabox_

[RavensEye]

I'm interested in Shamanism but I'm still a little unsure about it. _inabox_ Well my dear that is why we read, ask questions and practice to see if it is meant for us. It still has that same draw it did back 5 -8 years ago for me.... now I am a bit wiser with my path in areas I think that is maybe where I am meant to be.

[Toby Stimpson]

I am certainly interested into looking at each individual cultural form of 'shamanism'... as it seems to constitute a larger number of smaller tribal religions and traditions. I have one book:

Shamans and Shamanism by John Lee Maddox.

I havn't sat down to read it but it looks rather good. it was originally published in 1923 though...so Im not sure if thats good or bad. I mean certainly at that tiem a lot of traditions were still around through out the world before modernization began.

[RavensEye]

I havn't sat down to read it but it looks rather good. it was originally published in 1923 though...so Im not sure if thats good or bad. I mean certainly at that tiem a lot of traditions were still around through out the world before modernization began. ooooh I would love to see that book :D

[Toby Stimpson]

ooooh I would love to see that book :D

hehe well its a reprinted edition form 2003...heres the amazon for it:

Shamans and Shamanism at Amazon (http://www.amazon.ca/Shamans-Shamanism-John-Lee-Maddox/dp/0486427072/ref=sr_1_3/701-5098276-5697918?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184390518&sr=8-3)


I also hear that "The teachings of Don Carlos" has a very strong shamanism componant... but as a newb Im not even sure :p

[RavensEye]

hehe well its a reprinted edition form 2003...heres the amazon for it:

Shamans and Shamanism at Amazon (http://www.amazon.ca/Shamans-Shamanism-John-Lee-Maddox/dp/0486427072/ref=sr_1_3/701-5098276-5697918?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184390518&sr=8-3)
hey I have seen that book before how cool !!!!

[Toby Stimpson]

hey I have seen that book before how cool !!!!

It definitly looks good...I mean its a good voer all view of the similarities of Medicine Men and shamanism from around the world, written in essay format on various different topics related. It also ahs an impressive list of references, from around the world. The only troubling thing is that its from 1923.... then again I must say books from that time era are quite intelligable :).

[Vigdisdotter]

I'm still a little unsure about it. _inabox_

May I ask what you are unsure about? :)

As for the topic, I haven't found any websites that REALLY grabbed me so I won't be recommending any. I do have three books I recommend though :)

Shamanism by Tom Cowin
A very good beginner book, though AS a beginner book it tends to be watered down. Read this one first so as not to be disappointed by the lack of depth compared other books.

Stone Age Wisdom by Tom
Still "beginner level" but this one starts you thinking and questioning for yourself. However it's not exactly an experiential book. Also it seems to be based on Native North American practices and ideas, so not all of it may fit a given path or flavor that is outside of that purview.

Singing the Soul Back Home by Caitlin Mathews
This one IS a experiential book with many exercises that help you explore how the shamanic path can be personally valuable. I also love the fact that it stresses that reading the book will NOT make one a shaman :)

Yes I've read Harner's book, but it never impressed me. Especially since it's supposed to be CORE shamanism but seems very limited in scope to North and South American traditions.

And one of these days I WILL get the Elade's book on the subject. Now there is heavy reading! I sure it's all a test to see how committed I am :P

There are other books too, but for most of them it really boils down to personal taste. I don't' like the narratives such as Castanda's and Andrews' books. The Way of Wyrd is also a narrative and marginally better then the other two series but there is still something I feel is definitely lacking, though I can't put my finger on it.

So yeah, that's what I've got the say......for now :P

[Philosophia]

May I ask what you are unsure about? :)

Of course, you can ask! :hugz:

I created a new thread that asks the questions I'm having trouble in understanding because I didn't want to derail this one.

[Coinin]

Of websites, I can recomend www.paganspath.com
(http://www.paganspath.com)In the "witchcraft and shamanism" part, there are a lot of information, as well as in the metaphysical part. It's all of course very "neo", and a melting bowl of a lot of traditions, but still very usefull.

And I've read a book about the Noaidi, the shamans of the Sami people, but I have really no idea if it's possible to find it in English (read it in Norwegian myself). It's a colloection of new and old texts, of priests descirbing what they saw, folk tales, and histories. In the end I think it covers a bit of everything, from the drum, to the travels, to customs, to the call. Or the refusal of the call. Amazing reading anyway:)

[David19]

For websites, I recommend, Raven Kaldera's one, http://www.cauldronfarm.com/.

[Zhr Morgana]

I've also heard that Kristin Madden's books are good too. Does anyone have any particular ones of hers to recommend?