The Seeker's Guide to Harry Potter [Paperback]

Geo Trevarthen (Author)

Book Description

The Seeker's Guide to Harry Potter offers 'seekers' of all kinds profound and fascinating insights into the narrative themes, symbols and mythic elements encountered in the Harry Potter books. Drawing from diverse spiritual and scholarly sources, it is an open-minded guide to the rich layers of meaning and symbolism we encounter in all seven of the novels.The Seeker's Guide doesn't try to 'read' J.K. Rowling's mind about the symbolism she may or may not have meant to put in the books, but to read the symbols as they appear, with some of the layers of meaning that they have traditionally held. Drawing from anthropology, theology, psychology and the history of the human experience of the Sacred, The Seeker's Guide to Harry Potter offers fans of any or no spiritual faith a deeper sense of magic and meaning in the novels and in their own lives.

Editorial Reviews

Review

3.In this book Geo Trevarthen unpacks some of the huge depth of meaning in J K Rowling's incredible creation. Her exploration of the spiritual foundations, symbols, archetypes and mythic elements encountered in these magical stories is enthralling in itself, and you'll find yourself drawn into a deeper sense of magic and meaning, both in the novels and in your own life. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

About the Author

Dr. Geo Athena Trevarthen developed and teaches the course on Harry Potter at the University of Edinburgh, where she gained her PhD for her groundbreaking work on Celtic Shamanism. She had extensive prior training in Transpersonal Psychology, Gestalt therapy, communications, art and film. She has taught and spoken widely on shamanism and Celtic spiritual traditions at Omega, Esalen and dozens of other institutions. She is an ordained minister in The Circle of the Sacred Earth and a legal celebrant for weddings in Scotland, where she lives.

Product Details

• Paperback: 261 pages
• Publisher: Axis Mundi Books (February 19, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1846940931
• ISBN-13: 978-1846940934
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #286,944 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Seeker's Guide to Harry Potter is an absolute treasure!, July 13, 2008

By 

Christine Thomas "avid reader" (Colorado) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Seeker's Guide to Harry Potter (Paperback)

If you liked any of the Harry Potter stories even a smidgen, you'll thoroughly enjoy The Seeker's Guide. Well and engagingly written, this book brings together Dr. Geo Trevarthen's vast knowledge of Celtic spirituality, ritual magic, myth, and the timeless themes from spiritual traditions across the globe and through the ages to show us why Rowling's Harry Potter touches us at such a deep level.

Whether you lovingly read every book or just caught the movies, The Seeker's Guide is a delight to read and chock full of fascinating information. It's like getting your own course at Hogwarts -one that reveals how grounded this story is in ancient wisdom and, if we practice, just how we all might live the magical and mythical life.

This is not just a rehash of Potter trivia or play list of characters and events. In this book a respected expert on Celtic shamanism and spirituality, in solid overview and with thorough endnotes, explains how the many details and larger themes in the Harry Potter series are supported by the wisdom teachings of the ages.

The depth of information in the book is nicely balanced by Trevarthen's humor and deep appreciation of Rowling's work. For the spiritual seeker this book is an absolute treasure chest of esoteric wisdom lovingly wrapped up in a delightful "unauthorized course". And if you just plain loved Harry and want to learn more about why that might be, then check out this book.

I highly recommend The Seeker's Guide to Harry Potter.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Seeker's Guide a Treasure!, August 1, 2008

By 

Thomas "Tom Hoebbel" (Brooktondale, NY, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Seeker's Guide to Harry Potter (Paperback)

Geo Trevarthen's Seeker's Guide to Harry Potter is an absolute treasure. I read the "Guide" just after finishing Rowling's 7th book. Geo draws on her extensive knowledge of Celtic spirituality and myth to reveal the deep symbolism contained in the Harry Potter series. The author's thorough investigation and explanation of the elements and themes contained in the novels goes beyond other more superficial looks at the Potter books.

This insightful and humorous exploration of the Harry Potter Series is a must read for anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the spiritual and mythical elements contained in the novels.

Upon finishing "The Seeker's Guide", I now plan to read the entire Potter series again with a renewed appreciation of Rowling's incorporation of history and myth within her works.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, wanders a little., April 3, 2011

By 

Derek Murphy - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Seeker's Guide to Harry Potter (Paperback)

The idea of the book is to explore Harry Potter's mystical and spiritual themes and symbols - and it does that to a great extent. However I felt that the author wandered a bit much and the book could have been better organized. Interestingly, despite the beautifully ornate cover, the book's interior is modeled on the adolescent style of Rowling's novels, which is a bit jarring. Still, a good addition to the shelf of a collector or fan.