Shakers of St. Vincent (Profiles in Healing series) [Paperback]

Bradford Keeney PhD (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Profiles in Healing series | Publication Date: April 1, 2003

A relatively unknown shamanic culture, the Shakers of the Caribbean island of St Vincent, are illustrated through personal profiles, stories, and colour photographs. A unique blend of West African spirituality and Protestant Christianity, this culture has a strong tradition of seeking personal instruction and spiritual training that is brought forth through a ritual called 'mourning'. The details of this ritual are examined in this book, along with personal testimonies of visionary journeys. Accompanied by an audio CD of their ecstatic gatherings and healing encounters, this book is a vibrant expression of spiritual healing and is a unique contribution to ethnographic literature.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The newest entry in the "Profiles of Healing" series, this fascinating volume casts light on a very little-known sect on a small island in the Caribbean, the St. Vincent Shakers, or "Spiritual Baptists." This remarkable cult, rooted as deeply in African spirituality as in Christian doctrine, seeks ecstatic experience and visionary journeys into the spirit world through two principal rituals: baptism, which follows a spiritual sign, and "mourning" (shedding of one's worldly life), which brings about healing and new mission through a vision quest. This outstanding book, which includes a CD (not heard by the reviewer), gathers many photographs of the Shakers, testimonies, narratives, and prayers. For most collections.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"One of the most exquisite collections of pictures and prose in print." -- Body & Soul Magazine

"[A]n intimate conversation—words from a holy person to all humankind . . . Exquisitey produced." -- Science and Spirit, March/April 2004

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Leete'S Island Books (April 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0918172349
• ISBN-13: 978-0918172341
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,828,415 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular!!!, September 10, 2003

By 

Neil J. Hajba "neil_in_la" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shakers of St. Vincent (Profiles in Healing series) (Paperback)

This beautifully researched, written, and illustrated book with it's accompaning CD is a wonderful gift for anyone interested in the African Diasporic Religions!

The author via participant observation methodology and individual case studies (personal accounts) truly does an amazing job on outlining and further defining the concepts, beliefs, and practices of this often overlooked religious tradition! The pictures and writing are simply amazing....

This book also contains a beautifully well done Compact Disk that brings you right into the milieu of the tradition and culture of the Shakers.

Highly recommended for anyone interested in comparative religion, caribbean studies, or ATR's!