Magic of the Ordinary: Recovering the Shamanic in Judaism [Paperback]

Gershon Winkler (Author), David Carson (Author), Gabriel Cousens (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 10, 2003

A spiritual crisis sent Orthodox rabbi Gershon Winkler to remote regions of the Southwest, where he studied with Native American healers. From them he began to recover the long-lost wisdom of what he calls “Aboriginal Judaism”: the religion’s tribal roots. This book tracks his personal journey and draws from a dazzling mix of sources to detail the surprising connections between two seemingly unrelated religions.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Jewish shamanism? Jewish sorcery? Jewish magical healing? What would Aunty Fanny say? But it’s all here in Magic of the Ordinary, in which Rabbi Gershon Winkler with wit and wisdom leads us to rediscover the more paganistic and pantheistic mysteries underlying the ancient Hebrew tradition. I highly recommend this book."
—Andrew Weil, M.D., author of Spontaneous Healing and Eating Well for Optimum Health

"Gershon Winkler’s brilliance shines a light on the buried shamanic practices of Judaism. Magic of the Ordinary is a treasure—I loved it and was deeply inspired by it."
—Sandra Ingerman, author of Soul Retrieval and Medicine for the Earth

“His refreshing translations of Biblical passages restore an elemental force to the Hebrew. His book Magic of the Ordinary is chock-full of extraordinary material from the Talmud, the Midrash, and the Zohar.”
—London Jewish Chronicle (December 26, 2003)

“Winkler’s picture of archaic Judaism diverges sharply from the contemporary image of the ‘Judeo-Christian tradition.’…By bringing to light the long-hidden teachings of Jewish shamanism, Winkler has opened a way for Jews to look within their own spiritual heritage for the shamanic teachings that previously seemed to be available only within other traditions.  …Moreover, because Magic of the Ordinary serves to redefine the contemporary picture of aboriginal Judaism, this book may appeal to a more general readership, and it should be of interest to many students of religion and cross-cultural shamanism.”
—Roberta Lous, Shaman's Drum (Number 66)

"There’s an old Native American saying: ‘If it doesn’t grow corn, what good is it?’
Gershon Winkler grows corn. He's like a laughing Buddha or a Native American coyote trickster; passionate but not serious. He is the friend of Spider, Magpie, and Lizard. He lives with storms. [Magic of the Ordinary] is truly a masterful compendium of ancient Hebraic wisdom.”
—David Carson, Choctaw Elder, author of Crossing into Medicine Country and co-author of Medicine Cards: The Discovery of Power Through the Ways of Animals and Oracle: 2013

About the Author

Rabbi Gershon Winkler, initiated into Jerusalem by the late Kabbalist Rabbi Eliezer Benseon, has devoted his energy over the past decade to reviving and making more accessible the aboriginal elements of Judaism. A frequent lecturer and workshop facilitator in the United States and Israel, Winkler is both a student and practitioner of this lesser-studied dimension of ancient Jewish mystery tradition. He is the author of eleven books on Jewish mysticism, philosophy, and folklore. He lives with his family in the remote wilderness of San Miguel, New Mexico, where he runs the Walking Stick Foundation and Retreat Center.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books (January 10, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556434448
• ISBN-13: 978-1556434440
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.7 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #311,171 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Judaism > Mysticism

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Judaism...the next 2000 years., September 26, 2004

By 

Shachar Link (Douglaston, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Magic of the Ordinary: Recovering the Shamanic in Judaism (Paperback)

Rabbi Winkler is doing an amazing thing for Judaism. If it weren't for his writings on what the "Hebrews" really were/are/could be, I think I would have simply left my Judaism behind. But I am so thankful that this scholar and spirit has done the work he has done. In this book, he shows how Judaism is full of rituals, ideas, practices, and teachings that fit under the category "shamanic." He talks about how Judaism is a path very much in touch with the natural world around us, all creatures, the heavenly bodies, etc. He discusses how the Hebrew language is one based upon a shamanic (pantheistic?) interpretation of the universe.

I have studied Buddhism a lot, and shamanic traditions a little, and have always found these other traditions to be so much more grounded in real human experience than the Judaism I was raised with. What Rabbi Winkler does is show how Judaism, at its core and in its origin, was just as grounded as these other paths, just as open and responsive to human experience in all its manifestations. Rabbi Winkler is revitalizing Judaism. I highly suggest this book as well as any other by him.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Crazy-Wise, November 29, 2004

By 

Geoffrey W. Dennis (Flower Mound, TX United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Magic of the Ordinary: Recovering the Shamanic in Judaism (Paperback)

This book can best be described as crazy-wise. Completely defying the historic trends within Judaism for the past several hundred years, trends toward more philosophical, rational modes of thinking, Winkler plunges back into Jewish tribal origins. While his re-reading of Jewish sources may seem eccentric at times, he is not making this stuff up, merely viewing them with an archly-shamanistic POV. His refusal to embrace Christian-derived "spirituality" that, overtly or covertly, devalues earthly physicality is perhaps the most powerful contribution to his unearthing (pardon the pun) authentic Jewish spiritual practice.

When he is being original, he even more interesting. Frankly, his interpretation of Ohr v'Choshek (the meaning of light and darkness) in Jewish mystical sources can most charitably be described as "strong." More bluntly, he turns the traditional mystical perspectives on light and darkness, unity and diversity, being and nothingness, completely inside-out. His interpretation also undermines much of Jewish tradition, both exoteric and esoteric, on messianism. I'd be curious to hear his thoughts on that. Still, it is provocative and compelling, and is well worth reading. I'd recommend strongly, in fact.

I don't see the majority of American middle-class Jews embracing shamanistic Judiasm, but this book will be interesting to anyone looking for compelling post-modern ways of being Jewish. It will be especially interesting to those who already know the sources and are looking to have their cherished assumptions shaken up a little. Fascinating.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, November 3, 2003

By 

Alice Finnamore (Scotch Settlement, New Brunswick Canada) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Magic of the Ordinary: Recovering the Shamanic in Judaism (Paperback)

First of all, I will say I am not Jewish. My background is Baptist. I enjoy reading books which give me a more thorough understanding of scripture, and this one does. Reading this book feels like a remembering of information I have known in my deepest heart. Winkler's explanation of scripture passages, interspersed with story and quotes from ancient rabbis is masterful and intriguing. My copy is now heavily underlined for study, and I recommend it heartily.