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Book Review: The World of Shamanism

Title: The Spirit of Shamanism (reprinted as The World of Shamanism, 2007)

Author: Roger N. Walsh, M.D., Ph.D.

The author Roger Walsh M.D., Ph.D. DHL. graduated from Australia’s Queensland University with degrees in psychology, physiology, neuroscience, and medicine. He is now at the University of California at Irvine where he is professor of psychiatry, philosophy, and anthropology, as well as a professor in the religious studies program.

When I first came across The Spirit of Shamanism, I felt as though science had come to meet me in the Spirit world. Robert Walsh covers such topics as the shaman’s initiation, accessing the spirit world, healing, psychedelic drugs, and New Age adaptations.

He explores such questions as

  1. whether shamanic initiation and trance states are psychotic or schizophrenic,
  2. the difference between trance states and mental illness; and
  3. the effects of music, trickery and the placebo effect on healing.

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Book Review: The Book of Shamanic Healing

Title: The Book of Shamanic Healing

Author: Kristen Madden

Kristen’s writing comes from the heart. A heart that has grown and changed with the lessons she has learnt. Trained through her family of origin, as well as, what appears to be, a very deep and genuine connection to Spirit. She conveys her understandings of shamanisn in very easy to read language. There are no direct connections in her work, to specific tribes origins. Her book offers very practical advice, coupled with good directions to experience spiritual connection and healing work.

Reading her book you can find yourself in her words. She takes the reader on a very direct route to spirit, offering, along the way, her wisdom, experience and understandings. Her explanations are simple, leaving room for the reader to decide, on their own, the relativity of the exercises, to their own practice.

She does not present her information, as a cultural, or lineage, based system to healing. Any practioner of shamanism, whether brand new, or having a longer practice, will recognize the techniques she describes. Not all of the practices she describes form a neo-shamanic practice. She incorporates various healing modalities, such as Reiki, Homeopathy, crystal therapy, among others. Neo-Shamansim allows for the expansion of the term shamanism.

Kristen provides information on such shamanic healing techniques as Extraction, Soul Retrieval, Drum Healing and the basic shamanic journey. She provides many exercises, making this workbook accessible to anyone on a journey to discover what healing methods work for them.

Buy this book here.

Book Review: Ecstatic Body Postures; An Alternate Reality Workbook

Title: Ecstatic Body Postures; An Alternate Reality Workbook
Author: Belinda Gore
Foreword: Felicitas Goodman

Ecstatic Body postures are a standard part of my shamanic practice. I was first introduced to them in 1997. Belinda Gore was mentored by Dr. Felicitas Goodman. Dr. Goodman, held degrees in linguistics and anthropology, and had conducted research into altered states of consciousness relative to ritual posture beginning in 1977. She published numerous books and articles, including Where the Spirits Ride the Wind and Ecstacy, Ritual and Alternate Reality. Belinda Gore continues her work, making her findings available through books and workshops.

Ecstatic Body postures, according to the author, have been practiced, some of them, for thousands of years. They have been found in statuettes, and other forms, left behind by our ancestors. The first two chapters of the book take the reader through the discovery and the practice of ecstatic trance. If the reader is unfamiliar with trance postures, it will provide an anthropological and spiritual basis for the practice.

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