Psychomagic: The Transformative Power of Shamanic Psychotherapy [Paperback]

Alejandro Jodorowsky (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 18, 2010

A healing path using the power of dreams, theater, poetry, and shamanism

• Shows how psychological realizations can cause true transformation when manifested by concrete poetic acts

• Includes many examples of the surreal but successful actions Jodorowsky has prescribed to those seeking his help

While living in Mexico, Alejandro Jodorowsky became familiar with the colorful and effective cures provided by folk healers. He realized that it is easier for the unconscious to understand the language of dreams than that of rationality. Illness can even be seen as a physical dream that reveals unresolved emotional and psychological problems.

Psychomagic presents the shamanic and genealogical principles Jodorowsky discovered to create a healing therapy that could use the powers of dreams, art, and theater to empower individuals to heal wounds that in some cases had traveled through generations. The concrete and often surreal poetic actions Jodorowsky employs are part of an elaborate strategy intended to break apart the dysfunctional persona with whom the patient identifies in order to connect with a deeper self. That is when true transformation can manifest.

For a young man who complained that he lived only in his head and was unable to grab hold of reality and advance toward the financial autonomy he desired, Jodorowsky gave the prescription to paste two gold coins to the soles of his shoes so that all day he would be walking on gold. A judge whose vanity was ruling his every move was given the task of dressing like a tramp and begging outside one of the fashionable restaurants he loved to frequent while pulling glass doll eyes out of his pockets. The lesson for him was that if a tramp can fill his pockets with eyeballs, then they must be of no value, and thus the eyes of others should have no bearing on who you are and what you do. Taking his patients directly at their words, Jodorowsky takes the same elements associated with a negative emotional charge and recasts them in an action that will make them positive and enable them to pay the psychological debts hindering their lives.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Jodorowsky is a brilliant, wise, gentle, and cunning wizard with tremendous depth of imagination and crystalline insight into the human condition. His work is a source of inspiration for me and for many of the most important and innovative artists of our time. Psychomagic is necessary reading for all who long to shock the world into awakening and remembrance of what has always been and what is still to come.” (Daniel Pinchbeck, author of 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl)

“Currently there are books that have become essential to winnow out established ideas and open new horizons. The texts brought together here have that special ability to contemplate old problems from perspectives that were not thought to exist.” (El Mundo)

“Alejandro Jodorowsky seamlessly and effortlessly weaves together the worlds of art, the confined social structure, and things we can only touch with an open heart and mind.” (Erykah Badu, artist/alchemist)

“The best movie director ever!” (Marilyn Manson)

"Writers Gilles Farcet and Javie Esteban draw the secrets of  [Jodorowsky's] genius out in Parts I and II of the book. In Part III Jodorowsky offers us 'An Accelerated Course in Creativity.' Simultaneously cutting-edge and down-to-earth, this one's in a category all its own." (Anna Jedrziewski, New Age Retailer, June 2010)

"Jodorowsky is a psychotherapist for love rather than money, and he accepts no fees for his services.  His unconventional and visionary way of being is in itself the truest recommendation of the path to freedom and creative evolution he foresees for us all." (Robert Simmons, MetaGuide Magazines, October 2010)

From the Back Cover

SPIRITUALITY / PSYCHOTHERAPY

“Jodorowsky is a brilliant, wise, gentle, and cunning wizard with tremendous depth of imagination and crystalline insight into the human condition.”
--Daniel Pinchbeck, author of 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl

While living in Mexico, Alejandro Jodorowsky became familiar with the colorful and effective cures provided by folk healers. He realized that it is easier for the unconscious to understand the language of dreams than that of rationality. Illness can even be seen as a physical dream that reveals unresolved emotional and psychological problems.

Psychomagic presents the shamanic and genealogical principles Jodorowsky discovered to create a healing therapy that uses the powers of dreams, art, and theater to empower individuals to heal wounds that in some cases had traveled through generations. The concrete and often surreal poetic actions Jodorowsky employs are part of an elaborate strategy intended to break apart the dysfunctional persona with whom the patient identifies in order to connect with a deeper self. That is when true transformation can manifest.

For a young man who complained that he lived only in his head and was unable to grab hold of reality and advance toward the financial autonomy he desired, Jodorowsky gave the prescription of pasting two gold coins to the soles of his shoes so that all day he would be walking on gold. A judge whose vanity was ruling his every move was given the task of dressing like a tramp and begging outside one of the fashionable restaurants he loved to frequent while pulling glass doll eyes out of his pockets. The lesson for him was that if a tramp can fill his pockets with eyeballs, then they must be of no value, and thus the eyes of others should have no bearing on who you are and what you do. Taking his patients directly at their words, Jodorowsky takes the same elements associated with a negative emotional charge and recasts them in an action that will make them positive and enable them to pay the psychological debts hindering their lives.

ALEJANDRO JODOROWSKY is a filmmaker who made the legendary El Topo and The Holy Mountain. He is also a visionary writer and innovative psychotherapist living in Paris.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Inner Traditions; Original edition (June 18, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159477336X
• ISBN-13: 978-1594773365
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #77,616 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #55 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Earth-Based Religions > Shamanism

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Rule Changer October 6, 2010

By Daniel E. Layne

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was able to begin applying the knowledge immediately. I bought two additional copies for friends. The material helps define laws of personal spiritual reality versus the collective consciousness reality utilizing the logic of life work, reciprocating experience for services rendered. This may be an answer book for individuals working in a positive direction. There are exercises for creating with imagination and interesting stories of discovery.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The rational road to accept and love our irrational side March 4, 2011

By Fernando Selman Rossi

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have learned from this book and the rest of Jodorowsky's work that we are more than an intellect, much more. He recognizes the importance of the irrational side of our life and, more importantly, that you can communicate with it. To do so you will have to do it in its own terms which for the intellect are plain crazy. The importance of Jodorowsky's work is that he shows that even if your intellect recognizes certain acts as crazy, crackpot like, the unconcious swallow them hook, line, and sinker. By carrying out these acts you can cure the many wounds that our different upbringings, experiences of life, and unfortunate decisions, have created on us. If you feel the need for a change, and have the guts to attempt a deep change in your life, I thoroughly recommend this book. You can learn much more about his ideas in the spanish language site […]

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Jorodowsky's materpiece of true therapy April 15, 2011

By EPRives2012

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have always had interest into Parasicology. I have read and traveled to several countries, always looking into this topic.
What is psychomagic? Healing psychological wounds suffered in the early stages of life. This therapy is based on the belief that the performance of certain outside acts can directly act upon the unconscious mind, releasing it from a series of traumas, some of which are passed down from generation to generation. These acts are prescribed by the therapist after having studied the patient's personality and family tree. This therapy is just in diapers and barely know in the USA , its more common in Europe. This is the reason I decided to share my review.
This therapy was born when the author of the book worked with a Mexican healer, Pachita, int he 70,s. He treated the patients as children and would operate on them curing many illnesses. He would treat both mind and body diseases. As an example of the mind disease , a person that had very weak character was told : steal a piece of meat at the butchers once a weak for 3 months. By doing so this person been so weak of Character would have to plane how to do it, and be strong to perform as indicated. Needless to say that after the 3 months this person war cured, realizing that he could do all that.
While the new therapist learn this new aproach , you could act as your self healer ( just as in Auto hypnosis you would need to do it yourself ) .
You need to remember , when you were a child ,and how your parents treated you when you were sick.
Find those words, treat yourself as if you were 5 or 6 years old, which according to this author your unconscious is. Find those words that you need to heal. Give yourself through your unconscious the orders to change. By finding the tacks , the symbols, the chorus, the words that you think might work with you ,you would and will heal. Remeber you would do this with the mind of a 5 to 6 year old, not a rational mind. Try to remember those words or activities your mother or father would have told you, to act in the way they wanted, as childish as this may sound.
I have tried this and it is helping me. I know the things I am doing work just for me and since they are personal I won't go into detail. But the minute I read that book I knew I needed to share it with all. I hope this helps.