Customer Reviews

Totem Magic: Dance of the Shapeshifter

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I absolutely loved this book... although it probably doesn't hurt to warn some people that it is heavily shammanic in nature, so if that bothers you, you might want to think about getting something else.
It was well researched, but what I really enjoyed were the stories of Yasmine's experiences and the rituals that she designed. Her workings have (I think) a truly unique style to them (which has changed along the course of her career--she's always had a fiercely 'this is how I am, and if it's not your path, that's fine' kind of attitude, but this one is rather different, and probably appeals to a more specific audience).
A lot of the books out there are sort of limited to a purely modernized-western view, and are even a bit fluffy-bunny; the ideas and rituals in this one really seem to have their place in a different culture, which I found refreshing. It's not just the same ideas over and over again. The forces that you're working with are primal and wild--animals; the forest or the jungle--and Yasmine's magic fits that energy. Some of it even surprised me at first, but I think this is definitely worth being open to, if you can.

I really like this book. The author certainly has a unique viewpoint on animal totems and spirit guides, and I love her use of anecdotes. She's got a superb writing style and is quite thorough in her coverage of the topic. Truth be told, though, if I could give it a 4 3/4 I might, simply because I'm getting tired of books that rely on precrafted spells for content-filler--but I give her *major* props for not falling back on the totem-meaning dictionary that *everybody* does. And the pre-crafted magick she does have is inventive, so I'm definitely rounding up to a 5 for a good effort.

I recently finished reading this book, and I was amazed! I've also read Animal Speak by Ted Andrews and Animal Magick by DJ Conway. This book left both those combined in the dust! The information provided in those books is helpful providing you already have an understanding how to work with your animal guides, but Yasmine's book is very experiential and helps one to truly understand how to work with the animal spirits.

Yasmine also has a bit different view as to the definition of totem. For her, a totem is much more than an animal guide, and she differentiates between totems and animal guides and guardians. In her way of understanding totems, as humans, our souls are composed of more than just human souls, but are also part animal. It is the animal parts of our souls which are our totems. "Power animals," then would simply be animal spirit guides. This view of totems may seem a bit radical, but it resonates quite well with me. Also, as someone with so many power animals, it would explain why traditional Native American totem poles were not sky scraper height. It also makes sense for me in terms of explaining why I feel I possess certain qualities of some animals while others simply seem to guide me.

More importantly, this book seeks not to explain what it means to have a certain totem or guide but, rather, seeks to instruct one in how to develop a relationship with one's own totems and guides and to learn what it means from the animals themselves. This book was genuinely fascinating and one which I had a hard time putting down.

The information presented in the book is new material not presented over and over that is usually seen on this subject. I find the Shamanic approach in the core Shamanism category. Definitely well thought and prepared. Good info on a subject which needed expansion beyond the current written material.

I have been practicing for many years and bought this book as a recommendation from a friend. She was right on many accounts - this book has an excellent foundation on how to relate to totem animals of all types. It does a wonderful job of describing totem dancing, and the many different ways to connect with your totem. The writer also writes in bits and pieces of personal lore which brings the concepts to life and makes you more able to relate to them.

The big red flag went up for me at the start of the book - probably within the first 3 chapters, where the author says that to better communicate with her panther spirit she eats raw meat to more fully experience the totem. I guess this just screamed fluffy to me. You can learn a lot from your totem animals, and you can even at times, become one with them through shape-shifting and many other means. However, you remain you - a human. No matter how much meditation you do, you will not physically become the totem and I feel that this idea that you should replicate every physical aspect of your totem is dangerous and can lead unstable people to do some most unwise things. She went one to describe dancing her totem with a friend, where she pulled a knife on her friend because that is what the totem would have done. Whoa!

Becoming one with your totem in the spiritual, ethereal and Astral is real is completely possible - although it takes quite some time to learn. This is a healthy practice that can bring you and your totem closer and can bring you new perspectives and a wealth of knowledge. Taking this too far can lead to some serious problems both in the real world and in the spiritual world. You can commune with your totem but at the end of the day, you are still a human - which is a part of your spirituality that is just as important as being with your totem and should not be forgotten.

This book has good concepts but I think she takes it too far. I would say that for beginners, take what is said here with a grain of salt.

I have read "Totem Magic: Dance of the Shapeshifter" multiple times since purchasing it. It is a book that has lots of information, and I forget some of the tidbits over time and rereading it reminds me of some of the little things that I forget about in my spiritual path. I feel that her book is not for everyone, but is for those who are shamanic in nature themselves. Though I am not a witch I am a practitioner of magick and find Yasmine's approach is unique and a breath of fresh air in my opinions. While I LOVE Ted Andrews books, I feel that many people try to replicate his book, and I am glad that Yasmine did not. She stayed true to herself, something I cannot say for all authors. I also liked how she DID touch on the shadow side of working with Animal Totems, instead of just focusing on the more commonly talked about aspects. She dove into what it means to have a Hunter as a Totem, something I too have worked with and wondered about. I just REALLY REALLY liked this book and what it has to offer, she didn't try to cover anything up or change herself to please others. She just wrote a book packed full of information (not relying on a Totem Dictionary for length either) and wrote it her way! Again, go Yasmine!

Totem Magic: Dance of the Shapeshifter by Yasmine Galenorn was a very interesting book to say the least. I really liked this book. This book give a very interesting viewpoint ob totem animals, spirit guides, and other animal entries and energies. Not only does the book give the read ways to find their animal totems and spirits, the book also give various practices and ways that they can be worked into spells and magic workings. One every interesting and, in my view, great thing about this book is that it does not say what an animal means or symbolizes and leaves that up to the read to find out for themselves. This book goes into how one might develop a relationship with their own totem or guide and learn for themselves what their own symbolism, which I found to be wonderful. I found this book to be genuinely fascinating and one that was really a pleasure to read.

This book helped me to put more clarity on the animal spirit guides and the power animals that have come into my life. I had no idea as to how to relate to them when not in meditations but knew there had to be more to be done.

The book gives easy rituals and guided meditations, leading to creating your own pathworks, to work with them and to hear them better. Gives you ideas of how to set up an altar to not worship the animal but to greet and honor you power animal when needed and even just to let the animal know that you value there friendship and wisdom.

I knew that my red wolf was real. I saw him everyday and still do, but now I know of ways to work with him better day in and day out.

would highly recommend this book to go with any study of totem animals and power animals.

Okay, I admit that I first heard of Yasmine though her fiction books, mainly her Otherworld/Sisters of the Moon series. When I read that she also had written several books on Paganism, I looked them up. Totem Magic is the first of her books that I got, the other I have is Embracing the Moon, and both are very good.

I'd recommend reading Embracing the Moon first if you're a beginner, but if you have been practicing for a bit, Totem Magic would be the next step. In it we learn about the totems that the author has called into her life and home and how she interacts with them. She stresses that finding your totem animal or animals is not to be taken lightly and that you should respect them like the deities that you would call into your circle. It is also not quick work; it may take a while for you to find your totem and for them to want to work with you.

At first I was dissappointed in lieu of how tiny the book appeared..but Yasmin Galenorn impressed me by way of a TON of very useful information regarding this topic and a lot I didn't even know..I would recommend it too anyone just starting out with Shamanism..totem work and shapeshifting...Enjoy!