The Temple of Shamanic Witchcraft: Shadows, Spirits and the Healing Journey (Paperback)

by Christopher Penczak (Author)
Key Phrases: shamanic witch, hearing the callback, tree become clearer, Middle World, Upper World, World Tree (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Winner of the 2006 COVR Award

Is shamanism all that different from modern witchcraft? According to Christopher Penczak, Wicca's roots go back 20,000 years to the Stone Age shamanic traditions of tribal cultures worldwide. A fascinating exploration of  the Craft's shamanic origins, The Temple of Shamanic Witchcraft offers year-and-a-day training in shamanic witchcraft.

Penczak's third volume of witchcraft teachings corresponds to the water element - guiding the reader into this realm of emotion, reflection, and healing. The twelve formal lessons cover shamanic cosmologies, journeying, dreamwork, animal/plant/stone medicine, totems, soul retrieval, and psychic surgery. Each lesson includes exercises (using modern techniques and materials), assignments, and helpful tips. The training ends with a ritual for self-initiation into the art of the shamanic witch - culminating in an act of healing, rebirth, and transformation.


About the Author
Christopher Penczak is an eclectic witch, writer, and healing practitioner. His practice draws upon the foundation of modern Witchcraft blended with the wisdom of mystical traditions from across the globe.

Formerly based in the music industry, Christopher was empowered by his spiritual experiences to live a magickal life, and began a full-time practice of teaching, writing, and seeing clients. His books include the The Inner Temple of Witchcraft: Magick, Meditation, and Psychic Development, The Inner Temple of Witchcraft CD Companion set, City Magick (Red Wheel/Weiser), Spirit Allies (Red Wheel/Weiser), Gay Witchcraft (Red Wheel/Weiser), the award-winning The Outer Temple of Witchcraft: Circles, Spells, and Rituals, The Outer Temple of Witchcraft CD Companion Set, The Witch's Shield, Magick of Reiki, Sons of the Goddess, and the new Temple of Shamanic Witchcraft.


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Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (July 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738707678
• ISBN-13: 978-0738707679
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #41,207 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #46 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Earth-Based Religions > Shamanism
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Penczak does it again!, June 30, 2005

By	Elizabeth Walter (Wheatfield, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"The Temple of Shamanic Witchcraft" was highly anticipated by myself, and I got it the day it was released. My only thoughts right now are: whatever the fourth book will be in the series, I am there.

Once again, Christopher Penczak hits the nail on the head. He starts off with an in-depth cultural history of shamanism, more than I was ever aware of. After that, he's off and running. Sacred space, ethics, cosmology, tools, power animals, the Underworld, the Angelic world, countless journeying...I can go on and on. Just about everything, almost every concept, is illustrated with diagrams and/or tables.

This is more information than I have ever seen before altogether in one book about shamanism. Although I have studied this practice myself and have some wonderful teachers, this book will be invaluable to me. As always, Mr. Penczak brings my spirit to that place of wonder, excitement, and awe in the natural world. I am now impatiently awaiting his fouth book in the Temple series. Whatever it is, I am so there. Thanks, Christopher.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Amazing!, September 5, 2005

By	E. Cantrell - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I had not read anything by this author before, but I am a Hellenic Shaman, so I thought I'd give it a read. I was absolutely blown away by the care and research that Christopher put into this book. He includes Shamanic techniques from all around the world. There was even some Greek information, which I enjoyed immensely.

I like Christopher's focus on healing, as I am in the process of retrieving soul pieces myself. It is obvious that this man has dedicated his life to helping and healing others. After reading this, I just had to run out and get a copy of Spirit Allies, which I'm enjoying just as much.

Basically, this author is fantastic. You've GOT to read him.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Third "Temple" Book, October 30, 2007

By	hmv (New Mexico) - See all my reviews

This is the third in Penczak's Temple of Witchcraft Series. I actually read it out of order, after the Inner Temple. I don't think I missed much by skipping the Outer Temple, but he did reference material and exercizes in both books frequently. As with the others, this book is laid out as a year-long lesson plan, with a few introductory chapters, then 12 lessons, one per month, with exercizes culminating in an initiation ritual.

All the Temple books are long, 400+ pages, and packed with information. It took me a long time to get through this one, but I'm glad I finished it. I've decided I don't really care for Penczak's writing - he tends to be verbose and repetitious, but not excessively so - but I do like his books.

This book describes the first lessons of a potential shaman. There are chapters on animal spirits, plant medicine (he even explains the poisonous ones), healing, and traveling in the three spheres, the upper, middle and lower worlds. The ultimate exercize at the end of the book is called "distilling the shadow," where you really get in touch with yourself. I haven't done any of the exercizes myself yet, in fact I am just starting the first book's exercizes, because I like to read it first to get an idea of what's in store. In fact, I recommend that, because even Penczak says the shamanic path is not for everyone. Even if you don't follow the lessons, this is still a good book full of information.

Being initiated into shamanism is no easy task. It takes a lot of hard work and you really have to be willing to put the time and effort into it. He said the distilling the shadow experience can make you not your usual self for weeks.

I highly recommend this book and the series. They are good guides for solitary practitioners.