Customer Reviews

Singing the Soul Back Home: Shamanism in Daily Life (Earth Quest)

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

 

 

Singing The Soul Back Home is a refreshing and approachable introduction to shamanism for people who have not encountered the practices and cosmologies of 'walking between the worlds.' What is perfected in this work from cover to cover is the blend of personal account (Caitlin's own childhood), with a thorough yet heartful introduction to shamanic cosmology. Fleshed out with plenty of practices and "permissions" for people to approach a revisioning of how they perceive the world around them, Singing the Soul Back Home does exactly what its title suggests. It deserves to sit alongside other works in shamanism, such as Harner's The Way of the Shaman and Tom Cowan's Shamanism As A Spiritual Practice for Daily Life.

I really enjoyed this book. I also recommend it to my Shamanic Healing students. Though the Matthews' have a background in Celtic Shamanism, practitioners of all paths will find this book useful. This book covers all the important aspects of Shamanism from spirit helpers to soul retreival and divination. I highly recommend it!

and though she warmly mentiones harner and ingerman, i think she does a better job at helping the reader...why? because she DOES come from a "tradition" or trajectory (albeit, celt-britain) and not from a clinic. she successfully balances the practices as a hybrid-"core" shamanism...true, for some this book may still seem "light" but then shamanism isn't about tripping out and hanging in a drum circle with didgeridoos etc. such is cool...but we are talking about life (cosmic and comic) and she brings in compassion...that we are not just collecting allies etc...journeying isn't for everyday...(though perhaps yes if you allot a time, are in rehab?!) etc...but in general, this book provides a balance to the--hopefully--complexly balanced person...this goes right along with pema chodron's own focus on the deep wisdom of the sad heart. from there, you can journey/sit and do what you must for yourself and thus do ALOT more for others, earth and back to yourself. 4 stars because nothing is perfect. but yes, i can keep myself open to the neo-shamanic movement...but with respectful suspicion. let "them" help "those" who may need it...perhaps harner and co. are unknowing tricksters...i don't know!! namaste ah HO!!