Customer Reviews

We Borrow the Earth : An Intimate Portrait of the Gypsy Shamanic Tradition and Culture

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I am a British-born Romany. It is incredibly rare to find a mainstream-published book about Romany life written by a Romany. I am not convinced of the wisdom of sharing such a large portion of a way of life that has been private for centuries with the gaujo world. But that reservation aside, if anyone is going write about us, it may as well be a real Rom rather than one from another race who will twist and misunderstand where we come from, our traditions and our way of life. For that reason, I recommend this book. If you want to know about us - ask US, don't listen to wannabes who think they know and know nothing. For this reason, this book is a good purchase...Romany on Romany.

The Romani drom (path) calls individuals to believe in themselves and their imaginations. Not a book of initiations or techniques or an anthropological report of a tribe's practices, "We Borrow the Earth" vividly depicts key concepts and experiences in the development of an indigenous Romani Chovihano (shaman) as well as many examples from his students' own journeys to self-discovery. Through a gradual, grounded, earth-based process students of this path face challenges with the aid of fairy tale characters and structures familiar from childhood. Sleeping Beauty, Jack, ogres, castles - the characters and places which populate these journeys resonate with the ancient blood memory of those with Indo-European roots. Through these journeys, exercising our wits and senses, the students can find within what was always there - the courage, honesty, trust, and confidence to deal with the problems and opportunities in their everyday lives. We can learn to believe in ourselves again, as we did when we were children. If you read this book and if your heart is open, I believe you will find a magic key, an ancient memory. And you will find yourself longing to return to your 'wild,' natural and joyous self.

Writing and publishing this book required courage, honesty, and trust in the guidance of his Ancestors for Jasper Lee faced opposition and obstacles to sharing the Romani inner world. Having found the book even more enriching on a second reading, I thank him for facing these obstacles and not allowing his culture to be lost.

Fascinating, warts-and-all first-person account of Gypsy life and traditions. His experiences are rich and his meditation suggestions make the Otherworld far more accessible than most books related to "magickal" studies. In this respect, it's a breakthrough book for shamanic explorations. However, even if you're simply interested in the context of Gypsy life, this can be a tremendously insightful book.

Jasper's intimate expose of family lifeand history of the mysterious Tacho Drom..the Way...is music to my ears andeyes. I truly was enchanted and couldfeel the people in their journey fromIndia and the thousands of miles andyears that led them to North Wales. For me this book was healing and beingwhat he calls the diddiker, one quarterGypsy, made sense. The courage it tookto go public, and make a book availablethat the Gypsies and Gaujo world canparticipate with the fairy tales of ourIndo-European childhoods...is a greatconnecting link in a pluralistic society, here racism is a political wayof creating hatred and fear. Jasperdeals kindly with all aspects of religion and spiritual practices of theindigenous tribal people. There areeleven million gypsies of the Rom whobelong to the Romany Union, worldwide.I wish they knew about this book.Suzette Lynn Price...aka Sophia Mubarak

From start to finish this book touched my soul and transported me to a time and place that has seemingly long been lost. From detailed descriptions of Romani Gypsy life to personal accounts of his upbringing as a Chovihano, or Romani Gypsy shaman, Jasper Lee fills the pages and the mind of the reader with bright and colorful narratives that compel and draw the reader into another world. This is truly a gem among books, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in any aspect of gypsy life, but especially those interested in the spiritual and mystical traditions of the gypsies and gypsy culture. My hat off to Jasper Lee and his courage in sharing such a personal accounting of his life, his knowledge and wisdom, and in opening us to a world heretofore kept silent.

Patrick Jasper Lee's personal account and description of the Romani Gypsy life is an excellent introduction into an ancient tradition .He describes in intimate terms what life was like for his ancestors and for himself. I found his story telling style and humor very uplifting and refreshing.For those whose interests lie in the Shamanic tradition, this book is a good introduction to this once secret tradition. I thank Jasper for sharing his past and his future with us all.

Warm and rich with the flavour of ancient knowledge, delivered without ego. Simply the way the Gypsy Shamanic culture is reaching out to teach us that life doesn't have to be complicated, just lived with respect and dignity.

As a student of shamanism I have read many accounts written by practitioners from various ethnic traditions, and Patrick Jasper Lee's book ranks among the best of them in my opinion. It is the only book about Romani Gypsy spirituality written by someone raised in that tradition and trained as a shamanic healer. The author's unpretentious, light-hearted style belies the profound wisdom of his teachings. He shares his personal story as a representative of an ancient and endangered culture about which few people in the West know anything beyond the "wild gypsy' stereotype. He vividly portrays the Romanies' deep respect for nature, their insight into realms beyond the physical, their creativity and imagination and, despite centuries of persecution, their amazing spirit of joy and love of life. The book is a rich source of information and inspiration both for shamanic practitioners and anyone else interested in questions of spirituality, healing, and culture.

As a student of shamanism I have read many accounts written by practitioners from various ethnic traditions, and Patrick Jasper Lee's book ranks among the best of them in my opinion. It is the only book about Romani Gypsy spirituality written by someone raised in that tradition and trained as a shamanic healer. The author's unpretentious, light-hearted style belies the profound wisdom of his teachings. He shares his personal story as a representative of an ancient and endangered culture about which few people in the West know anything beyond the "wild gypsy' stereotype. He vividly portrays the Romanies' deep respect for nature, their insight into realms beyond the physical, their creativity and imagination and, despite centuries of persecution, their amazing spirit of joy and love of life. The book is a rich source of information and inspiration both for shamanic practitioners and anyone else interested in questions of spirituality, healing, and culture.