Shamanism

[Serene21]

Im not sure if I am to place this here but I was wondering if anyone had any good infortmation or sites with information I could find on Shamanism? Good books perhaps?

[Pure Ahimsa]

A REALLY, REALLY great book that I own is:
Oak, Ash & Thorn: Modern Celtic Shamanism by D.J. Conway
This book is amazing, it is one of the best Pagan book I have, and I have a lot, hehe.

[semi]

There's a thread on shamanism here. Not sure where. Do a thread search and it'll turn up. Also many many sites online. Some books I have, don't remember titles or authors, but I'll dig them up and get back to you.

[Serene21]

Thank you for the book! :) Ill be sure to get my hands on that one if its under such high regard!

I tried searching the threads here, I only got one on someone getting published - the rest were about things I didnt really need. Also tried searching but I got the same information over and over. Ill look again. Thanks for checking your books too, by the way! :)

[Lovehound]

The absolute BEST book out there on shamanism is "The Way of the Shaman" by Dr. Michael Harner. It's not a new book; it's been around for some time. Dr. Harner is an anthropologist who was personally initiated by South American shamans -- and almost died in the process. His narrative is amazing. There's also a tape available of shamanic drumming.

Here's a link to read up on Dr. Harner: SacredTrust.org (http://sacredtrust.org/harner.htm)

And here's the link to a summary on the class he teaches: Dr. Harner's Summary (http://www.skepticfiles.org/mys4/shaman.htm)

I first became aware of Dr. Harner while watching a very old and hard to find documentary on the occult called "The Occult Experience" and that film has interviews with him and his students, and it shows him going on a spirit journey to recover someone's power animal.

Lovehound

[ShamanFeather]

Well I've found that "In the Shadow of the Shaman' is the best. It helps you to connect to the energies instead of memorize them. Ted Andrews is very good "Animal Speak" helps with connection to animals though he favors birds quite a lot. The other book that tells a lot about Russian Shamanism as Shaman is originally only a russion term is Chosen by the Spirits by Sarangerel.

I've seen the other books but I always set them back down. I have also attended a class by one who was studied from Harners system and wasn't wholey impressed. Though I have purchased his drumming cd and singing bowl cd for a friend and use it also on occasion.

Shamanism isn't about what is in a book, it is about the connection to all things and a connection with yourself. Thus I've found shamanism to be less learning and more experiencing and some spiritually based self help books have some good ideas on that.

[ibonewits]

Im not sure if I am to place this here but I was wondering if anyone had any good infortmation or sites with information I could find on Shamanism? Good books perhaps?Here's some of what I said on the topic in Witchcraft: A Concise Guide:


Most Westerners became aware of shamans and their beliefs and practices when Mircea Eliade published his classic Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy in 1951 (first in French, then in English in 1964). As he described it, “shamanism” was a complex but clear cluster of phenomena.

Shamans were and are:

(1) tribal officials in
(2) hunter-gatherer cultures who
(3) were usually reluctant recruits who
(4) underwent a harrowing death and rebirth experience that
(5) enabled them leave their bodies at will while
(6) deities or other spirits possessed them and/or
(7) they traveled to other worlds to
(8) represent their tribe to the deities or
(9) find and return the errant souls of sick members of their tribe.

Eliade asserted further that most shamans were from central or eastern Asia (or among their distant relations, the Native Americans), that they shared a particular form of “x-ray art,” often used some sleight of hand in their healing magic, and sometimes used mind-altering substances as aids to leaving their bodies.

In 1968, Carlos Castaneda began publishing a striking series of fantasy novels that he successfully passed off as anthropological research for many years, about a Native American shaman named Don Juan who supposedly taught him all about the magical and spiritual uses of peyote, datura, and funny mushrooms.

In 1973, Michael Harner said in a book he edited, Hallucinogens & Shamanism, that the “flying ointments” referred to in many medieval documents as having been used by witches seem to have regularly contained various hallucinogenic herbs such as belladonna, henbane, datura, etc., which can in combination produce illusions of flying as well as visions of wild orgies and dancing.

Throughout the 1970s, books about the spirituality of hallucinogens met an eager market. Castaneda kept cranking out more novels, later Lynne Andrews and other New Age authors began telling similar tales, and Harner published books about shamans in the Amazon jungle. Together, these authors redefined shamanism as any system of magic or religion that used mind-altering substances — which is, of course, most of them at one time or another. Eliade’s once-clear definition became lost in a psychedelic cloud of vague generalities.These days, anyone with a crystal wand, a feather, and a native drum or rattle seems to be calling him- or herself a "shaman." Personally, I think that anyone who volunteers for the job has just disqualified themself, but I'm a grouch.

curmudgeonly yours,
Isaac

[William]

Greetings all,

"The Way of the Shaman" by Michael Harner was an interesting read and should be read at least once. I have some problems with some of his ideas but there are very few authors that I don't find something to disagree with about. 4 stars

"Shamanic Healing" by Marie-Lu Loerler. Some very good material but you should keep a bowl of salt near by. She is very dogmatic. 3 1/2 stars

"The book of Shamanic Healing" by Kristin Madden. A lot of information about the topic but not much information of the how to. She talks quite abit around the subjects. Only 3 stars.

"Shaman, Healer, Sage" by Alberto Villoldo, Ph. D. Super. I highly recomend it. 5 stars

"Song of the Deer: The Great Sun Dance Journey of the Soul with Other" from Thunder Strikes & Thunder. I don't have it yet so I can not comment on it. It was recommened to me by our teacher though.



Here's some of what I said on the topic in Witchcraft: A Concise Guide:


A truly super book. I can heartily recommend it as well. 5 stars



These days, anyone with a crystal wand, a feather, and a native drum or rattle seems to be calling him- or herself a "shaman." Personally, I think that anyone who volunteers for the job has just disqualified themself, but I'm a grouch.


Hi Isaac,

I tend to distrust those who call themselves Shaman as well. I have found it more often than not in the New Age/Neo-Pagan movements that too many people read a book or two and think they are then a "Shaman", High Priest/ess, Healer, etc. There is much to be said about the techniques seen in Shamanism and I feel it is worth investigating further. This is part of the reason that my wife and I have started studing under a teacher.

But you are right about the disqualification... in most cases you don't choose... you are chosen...

BB

William

[Teresa]

But you are right about the disqualification... in most cases you don't choose... you are chosen...

BB

William
I couldn't agree more !

[DandelionDame]

A very good, informational site that I've spent way too much time reading lately is www.shamanscave.com (http://www.shamanscave.com) - kind of a silly name, but good information.

[ibonewits]

A truly super book. I can heartily recommend it as well. 5 starsThanks! :)
I just posted a new thread in my forum asking for feedback for the update.

But you are right about the disqualification... in most cases you don't choose... you are chosen...There are some cultures in which someone who acts like possible shaman material may be taken as an apprentice or helper by the tribe's shaman, but there's no guarantee that he/she will ever become one unless the Gods say so.

cheers,
Isaac

[omar]

Besids the books already listed there is to by "Sarangerel" they are "Riding Windhorses" and "Chosen By The Spirits"..

[MorningDove030202]

A REALLY, REALLY great book that I own is:
Oak, Ash & Thorn: Modern Celtic Shamanism by D.J. Conway
This book is amazing, it is one of the best Pagan book I have, and I have a lot, hehe.


I have that book. I stoped reading it when they stared doing Chakra work and called it Celtic......

Dove

[Romani Vixen]

A very good, informational site that I've spent way too much time reading lately is www.shamanscave.com (http://www.shamanscave.com/) - kind of a silly name, but good information.
I found this one the other day, but then my computer decided to have a heart attack.... lol Thanks for reminding me! :)

[ibonewits]

A REALLY, REALLY great book that I own is:
Oak, Ash & Thorn: Modern Celtic Shamanism by D.J. Conway
This book is amazing, it is one of the best Pagan book I have, and I have a lot, hehe.Unfortunately, Conway has a bad habit of just making stuff up out of thin air. :(

You simply can't trust anything you read in a Conway book unless you find a dozen other sources that say the same thing, if then.

Just cause it sounds pretty and seems cool, don't mean it aint BS.

curmudgeonly yours,
Isaac

[William]

Hi Isaac,


Unfortunately, Conway has a bad habit of just making stuff up out of thin air. :(

You simply can't trust anything you read in a Conway book unless you find a dozen other sources that say the same thing, if then.

Just cause it sounds pretty and seems cool, don't mean it aint BS.



Conway is an author that I always have my bowl of salt next to me as I read.

Hi Dove,



I have that book. I stoped reading it when they stared doing Chakra work and called it Celtic......


There is something to what you are saying. However, various Shamanistic Traditions from all over the world recognize "energy centers" though out the body. Calling them Chakras in most cases is just a quick way of describing them with a term that most already know.

A good deal of Shamanistic Healing is done on the energetic level, either with the "aura" or the "Chakras".

BB

William

[Serene21]

Thank you all for the wonderful informatipon and book names, Ill look into them as soon as I can. This isnt me wantnig to learn about Shaman faiths and then running around calling myself qualified [although, it would be nice if like were like that lol] but more of a research for myself..its good to branch out and learn of other cultures/belief systems/ideals/etc. Just wanted to point that out.

Anyways, I do agree, if someone calls themselves a shaman or anything else I tend to distrust them as well - if they prove it to me over a matter of time..but usualy they have no idea what they are talking about and its quite entertaining at a certain point.

I will read these books for sure if I can get my hands on them. :) And the website Shaman Cave was very helpful, I thank you!

[pathfinder]

Shamanic experience by Kenneth Meadows is also a very good book. It puts everything in your face in a very basic and logical manner, and leaves you pondering and thinking on it for days after reading a chapter, before going back to it. At least it did me. Good luck on your journey into this thrilling and humbling place. I have been traveling it for only a short time, two years, and so am still in my infancy. I do not call myself a shaman, because I am not one, I simply follow the path. only a master of the elements and dimensions, a vastly skilled and enfinetly wise person should claim that. But then you will find, that when and if one gets to that point, there is no desire or need to do so on their end.

[MorningDove030202]

I bought the book before I understood that Wicca wasn't a historical reconstruction, back in the late 1990s before I had even heard of the word Reconstructionist. Now that I understand that Wicca is modern, and not based on historicaly reproducing something, I've embraced alot of Chakra work into my practice of Wicca. And I'm not that into the Celtic side of things either. But your right Chakra work is an important tool, and much easier than inventing a new one.
Dove



Hi Dove,

There is something to what you are saying. However, various Shamanistic Traditions from all over the world recognize "energy centers" though out the body. Calling them Chakras in most cases is just a quick way of describing them with a term that most already know.

A good deal of Shamanistic Healing is done on the energetic level, either with the "aura" or the "Chakras".

BB

William

[Serene21]

Thank you pathfinder, I will look into that book as well :). I agree with the fact that once one is experienced enough to call themselves Shamans there is no need/desire to do so any longer. I think that is true with just about everything..
Charka work is very important to me as well..

[oakowl]

I just finished reading one heck of a good book on shamanism based on interviews with a variety of shamans from all over the world. You will really enjoy this book. It is titled "Traveling between the worlds" by Hillary S. Webb. Published by Hampton Roads publishing company Inc.

[Serene21]

That sounds VERY interesting! I will definetly give this one a thorough look! :D Thank you!