Plant Spirit Shamanism: Traditional Techniques for Healing the Soul [Paperback]

Ross Heaven (Author), Howard G. Charing (Author), Pablo Amaringo (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 14, 2006

An in-depth look at the role of plant spirits in shamanic rituals from around the world

• Shows how shamans heal using their knowledge of plant spirits as well as the plant’s “medical properties”

• Explores the core methods of plant shamanism--soul retrieval, spirit extraction, and sin eating--and includes techniques for connecting with plant spirits

• Includes extensive field interviews with master shamans of all traditions

In Plant Spirit Shamanism, Ross Heaven and Howard G. Charing explore the use of one of the major allies of shamans for healing, seeing, dreaming, and empowerment--plant spirits. After observing great similarities in the use of plants among shamans throughout the world, they discovered the reason behind these similarities: Rather than dealing with the “medical properties” of the plants or specific healing techniques, shamans commune with the spirits of the plants themselves.

From their years of in-depth shamanic work in the Amazon, Haiti, and Europe, including extensive field interviews with master shamans, Heaven and Charing present the core methods of plant shamanism used in healing rituals the world over: soul retrieval, spirit extraction, sin eating, and the Amazonian tradition of pusanga (love medicine). They explain the techniques shamans use to establish connections to plant spirits and provide practical exercises as well as a directory of traditional Amazonian and Caribbean healing plants and their common North American equivalents so readers can ex-plore the world of plant spirits and make allies of their own.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Plant Spirit Shamanism takes readers into realms that defy rational logic and scientific theory, showing graphically that we humans are not the only intelligent life on this planet. From their extensive travels to indigenous cultures that understand life very differently from those in the ‘developed’ world, the authors reveal a wealth of plant knowledge that has been lost to Western civilization.This book is both a fascinating read and a considerable challenge to the orthodox mind.”
(Leo Rutherford, author of The Way of Shamanism and Your Shamanic Path )

"This is an incredible book, a book with depth that speaks to the soul. . . . The knowledge in this book could very easily be put to good use in everyday life, which makes it a 'keeper; for any healer's library."
(Bonnie Cehovet, Angelfire, Sept 2006 )

“Plant Spirit Shamanism explores not the usual medicinal qualities of plants, but shamanic communications with the spirits of the plants themselves. . . . Healers will find this essential to understanding plant processes.”
(Diane C. Donovon, California Bookwatch, Nov 2006 )

"A practical and useful guide for healing on a deeper level, using Mother Nature's power."
(Vicky Thompson, New Connexion, Nov-Dec 2006 )

"Healers will find this essential to understanding plant processes."
(California Bookwatch, Nov 2006 )

"The book is not simply a dry academic discussion of these topics, although that alone would be intrinsically interesting. Instead, it provides cross-cultural perspectives on all aspects of plant-spirit based healing. . . . Whether you want to learn to practice plant-spirit medicine--or simply want to gain a better understanding of it--this book will be a useful addition to your botanical library." (
Dennis J. McKenna, Ph.D., HerbalGram, Journal of American Botanical Council, No. 78, May/July 2008 )

"Ross Heaven and Howard Charing create a cross-cultural distillation of plant shamanism to reveal the essential core of the techniques and the basis of the healing process." (
Alec Franklor, Edge Life, No. 187 )

From the Back Cover

INDIGENOUS CULTURES / HERBAL HEALING

“Plant Spirit Shamanism takes readers into realms that defy rational logic and scientific theory, showing graphically that we humans are not the only intelligent life on this planet. From their extensive travels to indigenous cultures that understand life very differently from those in the ‘developed’ world, the authors reveal a wealth of plant knowledge that has been lost to Western civilization. This book is both a fascinating read and a considerable challenge to the orthodox mind.”
--Leo Rutherford, author of The Way of Shamanism and Your Shamanic Path

In Plant Spirit Shamanism, Ross Heaven and Howard G. Charing explore the use of one of the major allies of shamans for healing, seeing, dreaming, and empowerment--plant spirits. After observing great similarities in the use of plants among shamans throughout the world, they discovered the reason behind these similarities: Rather than dealing with the “medical properties” of the plants or specific healing techniques, shamans are communing with the spirits of the plants themselves.

From their years of in-depth shamanic work in the Amazon, Haiti, and Europe, including extensive field interviews with master shamans, Heaven and Charing present the core methods of plant shamanism used in healing rituals the world over: soul retrieval, spirit extraction, sin eating, and the Amazonian tradition of pusanga (love medicine). They explain the techniques shamans use to establish connections to plant spirits and provide practical exercises as well as a directory of traditional Amazonian and Caribbean healing plants and their common North American equivalents so readers can explore the world of plant spirits and make them allies of their own.

ROSS HEAVEN is a therapist and workshop leader specializing in personal development, healing, and shamanism. He offers indigenous medicine retreats and workshops worldwide. His books include The Spiritual Practices of the Ninja, Darkness Visible, and Vodou Shaman. HOWARD G. CHARING is a director of the Eagle Wing’s Centre for Contemporary Shamanism, has taught at Dr. Michael Harner’s Foundation for Shamanic Studies, and leads workshops and medicine retreats in the United Kingdom, the Peruvian Amazon basin, and the Andes. Both authors live in England.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Destiny Books (August 14, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594771189
• ISBN-13: 978-1594771187
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #87,160 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #38 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Earth-Based Religions > Shamanism

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars helped me connect with Gaia on a much deeper level, August 6, 2007

By 

KELLY MARTIN (Gloucester, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Plant Spirit Shamanism: Traditional Techniques for Healing the Soul (Paperback)

Brilliant book, well written, insightful and mind blowing. I was camping when I read it and have a totally different respect and understanding of mother earth now, to understand the consciousness has helped greatly. I highly recommend this book! You will never look at plants, grass, trees earth in the same way again!

32 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Healers will find this essential to understanding plant processes., November 6, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plant Spirit Shamanism: Traditional Techniques for Healing the Soul (Paperback)

PLANT SPIRIT SHAMANISM: TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES FOR HEALING THE SOUL explores not the usual medicinal qualities of plants, but shaman communications with the spirits of the plants themselves. Both authors have years of in-depth field shamanic work in the Amazon, Haiti and Europe, and their experiences and interviews with other master shamans in different areas results in a core of insights gleaned from not just one but a variety of indigenous cultures. Healers will find this essential to understanding plant processes.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enlightening! Must Read for all Spiritual practioners, April 16, 2008

By 

Divakara R. Tanjore (Edison, NJ, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Plant Spirit Shamanism: Traditional Techniques for Healing the Soul (Paperback)

I read a lot of books on spritiality, spiritualism etc, but this book shows the way to spirituality, which is very simple and right in front of us. I was born and brought up in India, I have seen a lot of spiritual practices being followed in India, I did not know why people do them, this book answered all my questions, this is a must book for each and everyone of us to understand nature and to realize that we are not alone.

Some aspects of this book regarding pusanga, etc are debatable, but overall this book is a eye-opener, it changed my life and affirmed my faith and love in God and Nature.