Animal Spirits the Shared World Sacrific (Living Wisdom: the Illustrated Guide to the World's Great Traditions of) [Paperback]

Nicholas J Saunders (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 21, 1995 | Series: Living Wisdom: the Illustrated Guide to the World's Great Traditions of

Drawing upon a range of traditions from ancient forms of animal worship and myth-making to the living beliefs of tribal and nomadic peoples, this book explores the innumerable ways in which animals have resonated with the human mind. It covers such themes as the ethos of hunting and vegetarianism, the notion of the animal soul, and scientific and pre-scientific concepts of animal intelligence and behaviour. The central part of the book is a bestiary of both real and mythological creatures, looking at the associations of each one in different cultures at different periods, and relating mythical and symbolic meanings to known biological and ecological facts. A documentary reference section is included with a regional gazetteer which looks at the conservation and cultural status of animals across the world.

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Humanity Press/prometheus Bk; First US edition (April 21, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0333638468
• ISBN-13: 978-0333638460
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,611,581 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Introduction to Animal Spirits in Animism and Shamanism, May 1, 2007

By 

H. K. Gresham "http://www.shamanista.com" (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Animal Spirits the Shared World Sacrific (Hardcover)

This lovely little book should never be allowed to go out of print. It is one of the first two books I recommend to anyone who is interested in animism and shamanism. This book does more than convey important information--though it does that well--it conveys a sense of understanding.

Archeologist Nicholas J. Saunders seems to truly know the animist/shamanist worldview. His books are concise, well researched, beautifully (and appropriately) illustrated, and easy to read and understand.

I also recommend his book Cult of the Cat (Art and Imagination Series), which goes more deeply into the amazing beliefs and spiritual practices centering on cats (from jaguars to house cats) from the dawn of time to today.

Saunders's books are so full of amazing information that you will want to reread them time and again, and they are so beautifully written that you will reread them.

Read this book to understand how our ancestors thought and felt about animals and why they revered them, and to understand the origins of how we feel about animals today.