Customer Reviews

The Western Way: A Practical Guide to the Western Mystery Tradition -The Native Tradition

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This is one of the most valuable spiritual books that I have read in some time. The authors connect two of my primary topics of deep life interest- shamanism and the path of the magus in the Hermetic tradition. I mean, I've always sensed the connection, but I've encountered others that just didn't seem to get it. The authors make this connection- primarily through the classical mystery tradition of the western world. It is identified that the Hermetic tradition cannot exist without the foundation of the native shamanic tradition, while the shamanic tradition cannot progress without the projection of the Hermetic. One represents the roots, and the other the branches, of the Great Tree.

It was truly remarkable how page after page tied together my own interests, studies, and intuitions- it was almost like one long experience of high-level synchronicity. Of course, the forward and high praise by Gareth Knight should be enough to convince most knowledgeable readers that this book is the real thing.

You could do far worse than to make this book both your introduction, as well as, your primary text for the study of deep, intuitive, Gnostic, spirituality. I know that this book will be going into my permanent reference collection.

Definitely an oldie but a goodie. I read the 'The Western Way Omnibus' some twenty or so years ago when it was originally released as two separate books, 'The Western Way: Native Tradition' and 'The Western Way: Hermetic Tradition.' These two volumes served as my initial introduction to Caitlin and John Matthews' work and I found them both to be highy informative, easy to understand and incredibly rich in the understanding of sign and symbol.

However what I found the most helpful is the Matthew's wonderful storehouse of imaginative and potent journeying narratives. I have personally used a number provided within and have found them to be amazingingly successful.

A wonderful read of both traditions, specially if you're into pathworking. I was particularily impressed by the native material in volume 1, but that opinion is based more on personal perference than anything else.

This book shows the reader the balance between the Native shamanic traditions of Northern Europe and the Hermetic ceremonial traditions. These two make up the the Wiccan tradition. There are practical excercises with each section within the chapters one can do which will deepen one's understanding and widdens one's well of wisdom.