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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A validation of the shaman's path,
By OAKSHAMAN "oakshaman" (Algoma, WI United States) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)
This review is from: Way of the Shaman (Mass Market Paperback)
When I first read this book I thought that it was the greatest thing I had ever found. Not only did it describe experiences that I thought were unique to myself, but I found that there was actually a name for such things- shamanism. I had never even heard the name before. Yet, I knew exactly what was being described.That's just it, though, this book's importance to me was in its validation of the path that I had already traveled- alone. When I see people claiming that they are shamans, or "neo-shamans", based on reading a few books or attending a workshop or two, I can only shake my head. I mean, I see nothing wrong with such things, no more than I see anything wrong with dabblers in Wicca, it is just that I don't personally believe that it is shamanism. I don't say this out of arrogance, self-righteousness, or a sense of superiority- it is just that I have found that the transition involved in crossing over to the spirit world is absolutely life shattering and soul transforming. There is a good chance that it may kill you. Actually, in a sense, it does kill you, for to be a shaman means to die and be reborn. It is not the sort of thing that a bored yuppy can do on a weekend to demonstrate his "spiritual sensitivity." Personally, I think shamans are either born, or they result from a certain type of near death experience. As much as I respect Native American medicine people, I do not think that they have any sort of inside track or "secret knowlege." Their advantage lies in being outside of the artificial hell of the modern world- and perhaps in having more of an "opportunity" to hit bottom and reflect on it. They also have open minds- they KNOW the realities of spirits and of a world beyond. These are the advantages of any outsider....
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
good introductory work,
By MO "mm" (Eastern Seaboard) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Way of the Shaman (Mass Market Paperback)
Getting out of the box of White Man culture is not so easy, for those who live in their heads. This book is a good start. One does need to spend time in Wilderness, or solitude, alone, to let the spirit bubble up into consciousness, no book can substitute for that. I took a course many years ago with the author, which I enjoyed. Other books help with this subject-Lost Secrets of Ancient Hawaiian Huna, Volume 1 Secrets of Shamanism: Tapping the Spirit Power Within You, The Future Is Yours: Do Something About It! and ThetaHealing. There is a Sufi story about moths, and the only moth that really understands the candle is the one who gives himself totally to the light, and the light gives itself to him. This applies to shamanic work. Shamanic techniques work from the larger self, especially in service to others. Shamanism means working with the subconscious, and at times superconscious minds. It cannot be apprehended by the conscious mind, the ego. Without a strong intent of service to others, many things just don't work, or work only slightly. Whispers of the Ancients: Native Tales for Teaching and Healing in Our Time gives you some idea of how very different natives storytelling is, how stories shape the Universe, and so does House of Shattering Light: Life as an American Indian Mystic, & Journey to the Ancestral Self: The Native Lifeway Guide to Living in Harmony With Earth Mother, Book 1 (Bk.1) These are very good basic books, to getting out of the box of White Man culture. Wong Kiew Kit's books on Chi Kung show how ideas like this survive in Chinese culture. Western culture is lost in the literal, and won't look at the deeper meanings of its stories. Neville Goddard has ideas on this, as one example among many. So do Joseph Murphy The Power of Your Subconscious Mind (Empower Your Life) and Max Freedom Secret Science Behind Miracles and Serge King, in Urban Shaman. This book is a good start in the subject. The service idea is not stated enough in this text, however. I would not dare enter the Shamanic realm without the very strong intent of service. To me, there is very slightly too much of WhiteManWorld in this. Shamanic imagery is all over Western literature- Dickens' A Christmas Carol is unquestionably a near death experience. Jack and the Beanstalk is unquestionably a shamanic journey. Jesus' 40 days in the Wilderness is unquestionably a VisionQuest, to those who have experienced a VQ directly. Tom Brown, Jr., writes about shamanic work in a somewhat veiled way, which gives one an idea of the Shamanic realm which balances this book. This book reminds me of military manuals, which state the subject simply, but which experienced people go way beyond. I love drumming- and I enter the realm by diving into it, instantaneously. This is a good book, to start out with, but don't stop here.
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