Customer Reviews

Shamanism As a Spiritual Practice for Daily Life

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Cowans have done it again.

If you are looking for a practical, beautiful, meaningful handbook for core shamanism ... look no further.

This book is packed full of exercises, ideas, journeys, interpretations and core shamanic values. I have been studying shamanism, and this is the most useful introductory text I have come across. It will give you the principles you need in order to build your own shamanic practice, without forcing you down the path of a certain cultural shamanic tradition.

As Cowan says: not all of us are cut out to be actual Shamans, but anyone can be a shamanic practitioner.

I highly recommend this book, whether you are already a practitioner, or are interested in learning more. This is not a book you will regret buying, no matter how advanced your practice becomes over time.

This is in my "top ten" list of favorite books, and I refer to it often. As a Westerner trying to learn about shamanism and how I might apply shamanic principles and practices in my life, I found this to be THE book. It's a perfect place to begin. Cowan provides the essentials of core shamanic practice without bewildering the reader with the incredible diversity that more scholarly and anthropologically oriented books do. After reading it, I was able to bring together the gleanings of thirty years of spiritual seeking into a simple, coherent framework that has allowed me to connect with others in ways I never imagined were possible. It has definitely been a factor in deepening my ability to help others through my ministry.

Having never read anything about Shamanism before, and being rather intimidated by the subject, this book was a great way to gently learn about Shamanism. With this book as my guide, it felt safe to explore journeying, and this has become a great gift in my life! The idea of shamanic practice seems possible for everyone through this book. I have learned a lot from it and would recommend it to anyone who wants to understand shamanic practices as well as experiment a little with them. This book shows you how.

I have read MANY book on Shamanism and various Shamanic religions, and this is the only book that has been given a place of honor in my personal library.

I also recommend

"Secrets of Shamanism..." Jose and Lena Stevens

"The Way of the Shaman" Michael Harner

Right from the start we're advised to put aside any thoughts of lifting practices from specific cultures, and instead focus on a contemporary approach to spirit journeys that builds on universal techniques that have worked since the dawn of humanity, along with more contemporary concepts from "modern" religions like Buddhism and Christian mysticism. How much more reasonable could a spiritual practice be? Cowan knows his subject, is an excellent writer, is thoughtful in his approach, and is intellectual, spiritual, and practical in his approach modern shamanism. Sufficiently detailed to hold a discerning reader's interest but presented simply enough to put into practice immediately, this is an excellent beginner's guide to modern shamanic practice.

Half the battle of shamanism is undoing our conditioning and fragemntalist consciousness that has been modeled to us by modernity. Shamanism As A Spiritual Practice for Daily Life offers just such an invitation. Fans of Cowan's Fire in the Head: Shamanism and the Celtic Spirit who wanted 'the next step' in terms of practices will find a trustworthy introduction to the vast realm of shamanism and shamanic practice--though anyone, regardless of ancestral background, will enjoy the book as it was written from more of a "core shamanic" or "core shamanist" perspective. In addition to introducing readers to the sacred topography of shamanism--usually but not always experienced as the Lowerworld, Middleworld and Upperworld, readers will also feel an astonishing sense of support offered to remember and reclaim their own inherent shamanic sensibilities that we all knew as children. The chapter on childhood is a masterpiece to contemplate, as it conjures up our old childhood haunts and explores the relevance of these to shamanic practice, while also offering words of support to parents who either have a shamanic-child or who want to, more generally, support the animistic nature of their children. Overall, this book is an inexpendable "co-walker" for those seeking to rekindle an animistic pathway of living.

This is an excellent guide to exploring the shamanic realms. Tom Cowan offers a rich and yet easy to understand look at how to take a shamanic journey and how to utilize what you have learned in the journey state. His clear writing provides the best overall look at shamanic practices and offers the reader safe, supportive entrance into the ways of the shaman.

For those who are interested in exploring shamanism and 'shamanic conciousness', this is an excellent work for the layperson. Not only does it carefully explain shamanic practice in general, and point out the difference between being a shaman and being a 'shamanic practioner' (one who uses shamanic methods in their spiritual practice), but it explains clearly how to adopt such practices in daily life.

Of all the books I have come across on Shamanism, Tom Cowan's is most practical and down to earth. His explanations for understanding the uses and purposes of shamanism are taken from everyday life experiences! This is definately a book that one can feel secure that they are learning useful knowledge rather than being dragged along for a "look how magickal I am" trip by the reader.

This is an excellent book for those who, like me, are trying to understand what is shamanism, with the eventual perspective of becoming shamanic practitioners. The matter is tidily presented. This book is CLEAR! It was written by a person who has CLEAR ideas in his mind. It delivers knowledge (which doesn't mean it'll make a shaman out of the reader, of course). It explains the difference betweeen a psychotic, a shaman and a shaman pratictioner. It explains why people may want to journey in the non-ordinary reality. It is a book written for the reader. The only criticism I have is that journeying is presented as easy as eating breakfast. Potential problems are totally down-played.