Change Your Story, Change Your Life: Using Shamanic and Jungian Tools to Achieve Personal Transformation

by Carl Greer

We all have a story, but what we often don't realize is that  we  are the storytellers, and we can rewrite the story at any time to make it more satisfying. In  Change Your Story, Change Your Life , Jungian analyst and shamanic practitioner Carl Greer has written a practical guide for transformation using the overlooked tool of the unconscious mind.  
 
Drawing on his knowledge of shamanism from both North American and South American indigenous trainings and his background in Jungian analytic psychology, Greer presents exercises for examining our current story and techniques for working with the archetypal energies that power it. Greer helps us to tap into wisdom and power hidden from us when we're in ordinary consciousness. 
 
Greer explains his method for dialoguing with archetypal energies, symbols, emotions, and inner figures--a method inspired by Jungian active imagination. By journeying into unseen worlds usually hidden from our awareness, we can identify, understand, and work with the various energies that both influence our stories and determine the themes that reoccur in our lives.  Then, we can ensure that the changes we want to make will last until we are ready to change the story once again.  
 
Providing invaluable information about working with archetypal energies encountered in nature and dreams and during shamanic journeys,  Change Your Story, Change Your Life  is a practical and engaging guide for anyone looking to achieve transformation.

Genres: Self Help, Psychology, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Reference, Personal Development, Philosophy

224 pages, Paperback

First published April 21, 2014

About the author

Carl Greer, PhD, PsyD, is a retired clinical psychologist and Jungian analyst, a businessman, and a shamanic practitioner, author, and philanthropist, funding over 60 charities and more than 2,000 Greer Scholars. He has taught at the C. G. Jung Institute of Chicago and been on staff at the Replogle Center for Counseling and Well-Being, and is the best-selling author of Change Your Story, Change Your Life. His newest book is Go Within to Change Your Life: A Hidden Wisdom Workbook for Personal Transformation. To learn more, visit www.CarlGreer.com

Reviews

[Graham Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carl Greer graduated with a degree in metallurgical engineering. As a businessman he obtained a doctorate in finance and management. Subsequently he achieved a further doctorate and practiced as a clinical psychologist, is a Jungian analyst and Shamanic practitioner.
The explanations, stories and exercises in his workbook allow for a comprehensive examination of every aspect of our living, from different angles. An examination of past, present and future; of patterns, themes, wounding, aspiration, emotional needs, fears (of letting go, leaving behind power, possessions, paradigms …) which lead to understanding, insight and practical ways of moving forward.
Greer takes us on an interior ‘hero’s journey’. “A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man”. (Joseph Campbell - The Hero With A Thousand Faces Bollingen Series XVII, Princeton University Press 1968)
We journey with the energizing tools and Shamanic rituals of journaling, active imagination, nature, dream work, mindful breathing, and rituals to open sacred space, visualise, conduct internal dialogue, overcome resistances, access our shadow selves and archetypal and metaphorical energies, achieve balance, understand the matrix or web of universal connections of which we are part. We are equipped to reframe and energize our new stories. In doing so we call on, as Joseph Campbell has it: supernatural aid”, or a Greer puts it: “the power of agency”.
This book is an extremely valuable resource for narrative therapists, life and executive coaches, and anyone wishing to develop themselves.

[Merel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the first part of this book really inspiring with all the exercises, questions and lots of promises about good tools to work on changing your story. However, when I got to the shamanism & Jungian part of the book I found it disappointingly lacking of substance. It was like the book was written to someone whop doesn't have any previous understanding of spiritual work and I felt it simplified things far too much, had a bit patronizing tone and just introduced some basic techniques without really tying the things together.

Such a pity. I guess it is a good book if it's your first in the genre but if you've already read dozens of books about shamanism, there's not much you gain by reading this one.

[Diane Bateman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a great book and helped with my spiritual growth . It was written very well and was easy for me to understand . The author put a lot of thought in this book .

[Danny Brzozowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical and readable, with many examples. The approach described in this book is one of storytelling. In the first part, you are guided to write your personal story in several themed chapters. Once you have explored what it, you rewrite the story reflecting what you would like to change. The final part uses shamanic techniques to implement the changes.

[Baroness · Rating 3 out of 5]

This audiobook contains a lot of juicy information.

[Sian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to listen to this book again. I started listening to it and realised the potential of its teachings and didn’t actually feel ready for it. I stepped away and came back a few weeks later. I then decided to listen to it and reflect first, now I need to listen again and practise the exercises. Straight 5 stars from me, as even though I haven’t utilised all the tools yet, I can feel and see its potentials.

[Ashley : bostieslovebooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

CHANGE YOUR STORY, CHANGE YOUR LIFE offers a self-help guide to utilizing Shamanic and Jungian tools for rewriting your personal story and transforming your life.

The material covered in the book is broken down into easy-to-read sections that explain topics such as what Shamanism is and how it can help you, how to evaluate your story, how to rewrite your story, and how to take Shamanic journeys. I found some areas to feel a bit repetitive, though this may be welcomed by readers who like repetition for driving a point home. Dispersed throughout the book are poems relating to the material being covered. I really enjoyed the poetry and believe it added positively to my overall reading experience. There are many questions listed as writing prompts as well as the suggested Shamanic activities. I did not stop to complete any of these items while reading and rather chose to flag the items with a plan to return to them at a later date.

“It can be difficult for those raised in the West, where much emphasis is placed on analyzing and planning using the rational mind, to embrace the idea of making changes at an energetic level before bringing the conscious mind in to make sense of it all. However, this process is effective for change.”
I appreciate that the author acknowledges the difficulties that someone from outside the Shamanic culture may face when beginning to explore the Shamanic way of thought and practice. This is the first I have read about this topic. It will likely take me a while to really work through the writing prompts and activities in this book.

I’d recommend CHANGE YOUR STORY, CHANGE YOUR LIFE to those interested in Shamanic and Jungian practices.

Thank you to Carl Greer, PhD, PsyD for the giveaway copy.

[Caesar · Rating 1 out of 5]

The title of this book is quite captivating. It conjures images of chanting shamans in ceremonial attire and evokes Carl Jung, a student of Sigmund Freud, analyzing human behavior through the lens of his Red Book. The author promises to teach us techniques used by shamans and Carl Jung to rewrite our life stories.
This journey will include conversing with the wind, seeking advice from rocks, and becoming one with the universe's void. After all, quantum physics demonstrates that energy is universal, and everything, including ourselves, is made of energy, as the book suggests.

Additionally, timeless rituals such as controlled breathing, meditation, and dream analysis will be employed. With a sprinkle of Voodoo and a bit of magic at the end of our transformation, we can confidently say "Open Sesame," or abracadabra, and the cosmic gates to our new lives will swing open (I made up this part).

I say this with a hint of irony, of course.

This book offers very little practical advice. The few exercises it includes come with minimal instructions on how to apply them. Instead, the book is primarily filled with grand philosophical pontification about the nature of the universe, the matrix of existence, cosmic and personal energies, and the journey to become one with the source or void.

I expected a more scientific approach to achieving personal transformation.

I do not recommend this book.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all carry stories in our head. Who we are, how we want to be seen. These stories dictate many of the actions and circumstances of our life. However many of the story lines do not serve us well. And many times we become afraid to change those stories, fearful of how others will perceive us and what if the new story does not turn out the way in which we dreamt it to be. Thus, oftentimes we cling to the comfort of a story that has long lost it's service to us.

In this book, the author guides the reader through practices of quieting the mind and focusing on the aspects of our inner stories. From there we can work on overcoming the fear of change and effectuating the necessary changes we need to make to pursue our soul's mission.

In the end we must be most compassionate to ourselves, believing that we are deserving of a better story playing in our minds.

[Kate Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I am incredibly grateful to Carl Greer for the opportunity to experience this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a fascinating blend of Shamanic and Jungian tools. This book looks short but it is not just something to read. There are thought provoking exercises to help you redefine your story and in turn your direction in life.

I loved how the book led me through an examination of the current state of my life. Next it led me through how to create change while aligning my future direction with what I really want. The next half of the book focused on Shamanic practices - which was quite new for me.

Overall, I really spent time with this book. I took the exercises seriously and enjoyed the focused introspection. I view this work as a tool and I will revisit chapters as a reminder to continue to evaluate and write my story.

[Jess Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very deep work

I started this book in 2020 during the COVID-19 Pandemic and set it aside because of life and the work is in depth. You will create a timeline and I went really in depth with it. It took me a year to complete this work because I kept bringing stuff up then taking time to work through it. Plus life caused me to set this work aside several times. Don’t fluff this work off because it can really change your life. Don’t be surprised what happens when you begin to change your story and allow it to change. Change is what we want, but we fear it as well. So, if stuff comes up then work through it and get help when needed. Don’t sluff it off. Do the work and then repeat this book over time to keep working through your stuff.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is like a deep-dive therapy session mixed with a spiritual retreat—insightful, thought-provoking, and occasionally a little out there (in a good way). It blends psychology with shamanic practices to help you rethink the stories you tell yourself and actually rewrite them. Some exercises feel a bit abstract, but if you're open to exploring your subconscious in a new way, there’s a lot to take away. It’s not a quick-fix self-help book, but more of a hands-on guide for real inner work. If you're into personal growth, symbolism, and the idea of tapping into unseen energies, this one's worth a read!

[❀Tara K❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offered me a thoughtful bridge between intuitive experience and practical application. As someone naturally attuned to symbolism and archetypes, I found Greer’s blend of Shamanic and Jungian tools especially helpful—particularly the questions he suggests for Shamanic Journeying and the way he shares others’ transformative stories. It helped me make logical sense of experiences I’ve had and offered a clearer understanding of the purpose behind future journeys. This is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to integrate inner exploration with real-life change. Many thanks to the author for this helpful and insightful book!

[Luann]

First, thank you for the copy of this book. I apologize for the lateness of this review. I still have not finished this book. I am really struggling with the materials, since it is so far afield of my current belief system. I was raised Roman Catholic. However, I am a sarcher. I’m always interested in looking at different spiritual perspectives. So I will continue to read this book, but I don’t feel I’m ready yet to make any worthwhile comments. I’ll get back to reviewing once I have finished the book. Thanks again for sending it to me.

[Joseph Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book by Carl Greer is truly outstanding in that it takes an approach that is much deeper than we normally consider to change things that we struggle with from our past and our future. Carl has come up with an incredible way of helping us make changes to our past trough writing our story and re writing it differently. This process then moves through several levels of deep work within using shamanic and Jungian tools. This is not a book that you take lightly or read like a novel. Think of it as a serious approach to re-aligning your life. Honestly, it has taken me 3 months of working through this. In fact the slower you go, the better. Think of it as Tai Chi within. The movements are slow but powerful. There are many movements that build on the previous ones. Read this book only if you are serious about becoming the true self you were always meant to be; free to fly and move through deeper realities. Those who are looking for shallow easy answers should stay far away from this most enlightening book. If you want to break free of the illusions and be your most true self, then you only need the courage to take up this book and follow the process he lays out for us.

[Andrew Cheung · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book covers multiple ways to become more mindful of your story.

Overall, it can be helpful if you want to learn more about your story.
- Write about who you are now and what you want to work on to become better self.
- 4 chambers to explore dealing with your past, beliefs, etc.
- Discusses ideas like death and improving the world around us.
 
Some of the Shaman aspects are too spiritual for me, but if you are open minded or don't believe in only 1 god, it may work for you.

[Deva Uta · Rating 4 out of 5]

More than a book, it is a workbook full of long and mindful exercises to get done. To just read it surely will not be enough to unfold the potential transformations that Carl Greer share with us.

From journeying, vision boards to lucid dreams, the author mention many many techniques that can be practice by ourselves to improve our stories and appreciate life with different perspectives.

[Martha Formosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author presents an interesting method for understanding our past and for guiding our future. He provides an in-depth analysis of the shamanic and Jungarian traditions and how they can be used for taking stock of our lives and choosing a path forward.The exercises were thought provoking. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in self exploration and development.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many great questions and scenarios to prompt reflection and goals. It was a good audiobook to stir new thoughts, but it is book to own to take the time to truly process the exercises.

[LemontreeLime · Rating 3 out of 5]

Far Morse sensible than I thought. I got it for the jung.

[Mary Nee · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy, interesting read !

[Unit of Raine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid introduction, like the focus on story-telling. Sadly, I don't have the time for the self-reflection exercises at this time. Recording for later.

[Gabriela M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good book, keep in mind that you have to be ready to do a loooot of introspection though.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book 10 stars I would.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginning does follow the format a workbook your therapist might assist you with. I think that works very well and only wish they continued this format till the end

[Shajia Sarker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book offers a blend of many tools that may feel too abstract for some readers seeking something practical or step by step guidance instead

[Dave Summers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging, practical methods and tools for moving your life in a better direction. Would have liked it more if author didn't feel the need to enter "woke space" near the end. Recommended.

[Debbie Hoskins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some interesting exercises and ideas to ponder and try even though some of the writing is not grounded in how I perceive reality.

[OhioanGiraffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea but well written for what it is