Customer Reviews

Singing the Soul Back Home: Shamanic Wisdom for Every Day

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There are many books out there nowadays about the concept and practice of what we call "shamanism" and how to integrate into it our daily lives. Sometimes it can be difficult trying to figure out who's real and and who's not in the world of shamanic practice.

Author Caitlin Matthews is indeed the real thing and "Singing the Soul Back Home" is one marvelous book. Written for laypersons in the field of shamanism, this beautifully designed book aims to help the reader become a "walker between the worlds" in a very genuine, substantive way.

The many exercises in the book help the reader in understanding what shamanism is (and what it is not), what making a shamanic journey encompasses, and what to expect when journeying to the traditional three worlds (under, middle, upper) of core shamanism. Although Matthews specializes in Celtic shamanism, this book touches on the very basic shamanic wisdom that is shared culturally all over the world.

I had to put this book down many times during reading, just to pause and reflect on the very deep concepts it was introducing. I took my time reading this book and tried to absorb every idea that the author presented. Even now, having long finished reading it, I still find myself coming back again and again to this book to re-read and re-absorb the wondrous truths it shares with the reader. This book truly is a gem.

I encourage anyone with an interest in spiritual matters and how we can "walk between the worlds" in our own lives to pick up this book, along with "Psychic Shield," also by Caitlin Matthews. For me personally, these two books are the most valuable books in my whole personal library. They will stay with me for a long, long time -- and that is the best criterion I know for judging a book about shamanism and matters of the Spirit.

For those who yearn to learn how the soul was perceived by our far ancestors, and how traditional healers approach it, this book is for you! The author provides simple, accessible explanations of complex and sensitive material without "dumbing it down", and manages to evoke the world of the ancestors in the process. This is not a complete course in soul retrieval (some things do require face-to-face training!), but it does provide a real basis for beginning this work that will take you far if pursued diligently and regularly. In intelligent, authentic, effective and wise book for the serious traditional healer and spiritual practitioner.

For the last ten years I have been studying and teaching Native American Spirituality. A year ago I took Reiki and Chakra training. When meditating with my Spirit Guides I was told to start learning Shamanism.

I have started taking classes with a shaman in IL and this book has been part of our reading, for the class. If you are just starting out on Shamanism this book is great. It will help you meditate and journey better. If offers many practices.

Also you will have an understanding of the three worlds, as well as how to find your power animal and spirit guides/helpers. The only problem I had is the author follows Celtic ways and witchcraft, and I was looking for something to go deeper into Native American Shamanism. But she does references some tribes. Also with the way she writes you can take this into any belief system. I'm going to be teaching Native American Spirituality and Shamanism and I will be using a lot of ideas from this book.

This is not a book to be read overnight. I have been drumming for 3 years, and found very valuable NEW information in this book. In fact, I am still working through the exercises. The author obviously is experienced and knows her stuff!

I first read this book many years ago and have since bought several more copies for friends and my personal extensive library. In fact, after reading it I contacted Caitlin Mathews and made arrangements for meeting her; however, due to circumstances I was not able to travel to London where she lives. Since then I have read her book she wrote with her husband John, on the Western Way.

I now have Psychic Shield, which I have not read, but will do so soon.

In this book Caitlin introduces the reader to her diagnosis of problems today being the result of a tear in the Cosmic Web. She gives exercises to enter into that space where one can begin to enter the world between the worlds and affect change/healing/mending.

Five stars for this book are not enough. Every person who thinks they are on a spiritual journey should have this book not only in their library but in their hearts. Bishop Diana, Sacred Hills Ministries, Fredericksburg, TX