Customer Reviews

Soul Companions: Conversations with Contemporary Wisdom Keepers - A Collection of Encounters with Spirit

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"Soul Companions" is an intriguing, useful book that brings together keepers of spiritual wisdom from all parts of the world and from diverse areas of active spiritual work.

It was probably the recommendation of John Matthews in this book that prompted me to go ahead and buy "Soul Companions" through Amazon, as I am greatly inspired by the work John Matthews and his partner Caitlin Matthews are doing in Celtic shamanism.

It was inspiring for this reader to know, through this book, of the many people in the world doing good work in their own ways as contemporary keepers of spiritual wisdom. Reading the various essays of these wisdomkeepers gives you the feeling that you are sitting in a circle of spiritual friends, as each one in turn talks about her/his encounters with Spirit and the various kinds of work they specialize in, be it with plants, animals, humans, machines and, of course, spirits themselves.

The author, Karen Sawyer, ties all the stories nicely together with her own narrative and personal accounts of being on the spiritual path.

That said, some of the essays in this book did seem a bit too "new-agey" for me (my focus is more on core shamanism). Also, the book leans toward featuring well-known spiritualists in the western world -- it would have been nice to have read of some firsthand accounts by the many indigenous healers from various other parts of the planet as well who are often not in the media spotlight.

The book, however, does list useful contact information for all of the persons who are featured here. I've finished going through the website of each and every contributor to the book to compare and contrast their work -- and that in itself was an interesting journey!

A highly recommended book for beginners on the spiritual path as well as specialists in their spiritual craft.

I'd love to know what mind-melting drugs that 'anonymous' was on when he/she/'it' bashed the wonderful 'Soul Companions' written, edited, and compiled by Karen Sawyer. I could not disagree more vehemently with the sad conclusions drawn by this seemingly sad naysayer. Three worthwhile interviews? Ha! Too 'new age?' Wow...get the coffee brewing, Anonymous--and check your pulse while you're at it!

For the sake of discussion I will mention just one of the dozens of beautiful and insightful interviews NOT mentioned by dear Anonymous. The first is with Tiokasin Ghosthorse, a member of the Cheyenne River Lakota Nation, who disclaims any titles like 'Medicine Man' or 'Spiritual Guru,' but whose words are certainly equivalent to some of the great thinkers of our time. I found it fascinating how Ghosthorse spoke of the graphic nature of the Lakota language--and how 25% of the Lakota language cannot be translated into other languages. It's a spiritual language from a people whose essence is BASED on spiritual ways. It is their BEING, and it is why when the US military outlawed the Ghost Dance and many other great spiritual ways, the Lakota almost suffocated.

No, I'm quite sorry, Anonymous, but your shallow ways betray you. If you don't like the book, fine. Donate it to a library...but don't criticize a book rich with thoughtful interviews ANONYMOUSLY and then expect us to believe that you should be taken sincerely. If you can't show diversity of understanding -- and you dismissively characterize the entire book of interviews as "new age," or worse, well, shame on you. Ms. Sawyer has done a wonderful job of capturing the essence of deep spiritual thinkers from many differing religions, practices, and philosophical viewpoints...and I pick up the book often during the course of every month to re-read many of the interviews.

For those who have the courage to explore with an open mind, SOUL COMPANIONS is rich with provocative wisdom. You will love this book.

Karen Sawyers,Soul Companions,filled in so many blank spaces, that i felt,in my journey. And i thank her and all the other individuals in the book. It was very enlightening. It answered so many questions.I now have a direction for my journey.

This book sounded very interesting, but reading it, it was like reading of every person who ever wanted to feel super special, and make a career out of it, creating a bunch of spirit guides that they talk about in a warm fuzzy and humorous kind of way (for the most part), and later make a job out of. It wasn't as much about connecting oneself, or the deeper meaning except in perhaps 2 or 3 cases. It was new agey and disappointing, and I fear even dropping this book off in a donation pile, it's that bad. I feel very sorry for three of the people who had sincerely shamanistic experiences, mixed in with this bunch - the only three that had any ring of sincerity to their writing were Michael Dunning, Jornmunder Ingi and Uncle Angaangag. When 3 contributors out of 45 seem authentic, that's somewhat problematic. About 75% of the remaining 42 seemed more invested in themselves and their specialness related to these spirit helpers than in something spiritual or meaningful itself.