Totem Magic: Dance of the Shapeshifter (Paperback)

by Yasmine Galenorn (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Includes spells for discovering your totem spirits, rituals for connecting with your totems, and a section of resources for further information on totem magic. Speaks to a growing interest in Pagan and shamanic wisdom, traditions, and practices."

Product Description
Inside of each of us an animal lies in wait, ready to be revealed and explored. As humans we share the earth with many magnificent creatures, and through Pagan magic we can connect with the animal kingdom and with our individual animal spirits, or totems. In TOTEM MAGIC, author Yasmine Galenorn—whose soul is part panther, boa, and peacock—shows you how to uncover the animal spirits who guide and guard you in your life’s journey. Drawing on Pagan shamanism, she offers guidelines, spellwork, and rituals for connecting with your totems for strength, protection, and empowerment. Through the ancient mystical practice of totem magic, you can discover your animal within while exploring new, exciting paths in your spiritual development.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Crossing Press (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580911161
• ISBN-13: 978-1580911160
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #403,415 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Be warned..., October 19, 2004

By	Me - See all my reviews

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.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For serious seekers, this is one of the best., February 18, 2005

By	Orion Sandstorrm - See all my reviews

Eclectic Pagan 102. Serious, thought-provoking, non-"fluffy," dark, ethical. Has sets of spells sorted according to general type of animal (geared toward people whose totems are avians, predatorial animals, mythics, etc) without really stereotyping specific varieties of animals. Unlike many animal totemism books, which say that you can identify as any and all animals in order to understand their unique energy, this book speaks of animal totemism as having a special connection to one particular species... or sometimes to a few particular species. The author herself has three animal totems, with emphasis on one more than the other two.

This book is genuinely thought-provoking, turning up a lot of things I'd never thought of. At first it seemed to be the kind of overly-sensual magic book that makes me nervous, diving right into the scariest stuff without explanation, but that was just the first chapter- then it backtracks and begins to explain, step by step with great depth, each of those intimitely personal visions and events, plus many more that really flesh it out. Like the astral projection books I read, my reaction in some cases was, "oh, that happened to me once... is THAT what it was? Wow."

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good starter book, August 12, 2005

By	Lupa (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews

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.