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Illumination: The Shaman's Way of Healing
Illumination guides the reader on a healing journey, forged by the timeless wisdom of indigenous cultures and the latest theories of neurobiology. Through various stages in this journey of initiation, we grow to understand the causes of our suffering and how to free ourselves from the pain and drama of our unhealed emotions. Life itself invites us to be initiated through many means—the possibility of love, the loss of a parent or friend, the birth of a child, or a serious health crisis. True initiation is empowered by facing personal challenges and experiencing the spiritual rebirth—or illumination—that follows. Unifying this book is the sacred process of transforming toxic emotions into sources of power and grace. Illumination shows us how to bid a joyful goodbye to the people and places we have met, discovering a sacred space where the spirit inhabits, uniting the body and soul. When we learn to let go from difficult situations and problems, to accept our lives as they are, we can begin to identify with a self that is eternal. Recounting his own experiences, tracing the mythologies of an array of cultures, and expanding his inquiry into the field of neurobiology, Alberto Villoldo shows readers how they can benefit from these sacred practices.
213 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2010
68 people are currently reading
433 people want to read
About the author
Alberto Villoldo
71 books359 followersBy his mid-20s Alberto Villoldo was the youngest clinical professor at San Francisco State University. He was directing his own laboratory, the Biological Self-Regulation Lab, investigating how energy medicine and visualization could change the chemistry of the brain.
One day in his biology laboratory, Alberto realized that his investigation had to get bigger instead of smaller; Alberto needed to find a system larger than the neural networks of the brain. The microscope was the wrong instrument to answer the questions he was asking. Many others were already studying the hardware – Alberto Villoldo wanted to learn to re-program the SYSTEM. Anthropological stories hinted that there were people around the globe who claimed to know such things, including the Inka in Peru, the few remaining “shamans” in today’s modern civilization.
As he did initial research into the Inka, Alberto decided that he needed to personally investigate the roots of the Inka civilization itself to collect the vestiges of a 5,000-year-old energy medicine known for healing through Spirit and light.
A few weeks later, knowing this investigation was not going to be a “part time” pastime or a brief sabbatical for a few weeks’ time, Alberto Villoldo resigned his post at the university.
University colleagues thought Alberto Villoldo was absolutely mad.
Not to be dissuaded, Alberto Villoldo traded his laboratory for a pair of hiking boots and a ticket to the Amazon. He was determined to learn from researchers whose vision had not been confined to the lens of a microscope, from people whose body of knowledge encompassed more than the measurable, material world that Alberto had been taught was the ONLY reality. He wanted to meet the people who sensed the spaces between things and perceived the luminous strands that animate all life.
Scattered throughout the remnants of this ancient Amazonian empire were a number of sages or “Earth Keepers” who remembered the ancient ways. Alberto traveled through countless villages and hamlets and met with scores of medicine men and women. The lack of a written body of knowledge meant that every village had brought its own flavor and style to the healing practices that still survived.
For more than 10 years, Alberto Villoldo trained with the jungle medicine people. Along the way, he discovered that his journey into shamanism had actually been guided by his personal desire to become whole.
In healing his own soul wounds, Alberto Villoldo walked the path of the wounded healer and learned to transform old pain, grief, anger and shame to sources of strength and compassion.
From the Amazon, Alberto Villoldo trekked the coast of Peru, from Nazca, the site of gigantic markings on the desert floor that depict power animals and geometric figures, to the fabled Shimbe lagoons in the north, home to the country’s most renowned sorcerers. Then, in Lake Titicaca – the Sea on Top of the World – Alberto Villoldo collected the stories and healing practices of the people from which, the legends say, the Inka were born.
Through it all, Alberto Villoldo discovered a set of sacred technologies that transform the body, heal the soul, and can change the way we live and the way we die.
These ancient teachings and understandings explain that a Luminous Energy Field (LEF), whose source is located in infinity, surrounds us. The LEF acts as a matrix that maintains the health and vibrancy of the physical body.
Today, Alberto Villoldo is a best-selling author and founder in the world-renowned Institute of Energy Medicine, The Four Winds Society. In all of his teachings and writings, Alberto shares the experience of infinity’s easy ability to heal and transform us, to free us from the temporal chains that keep us fettered to illness, old age and disease.
Over the course of two decades with the shamans in the jungles and high mountains of the Andes, Alberto Villoldo would discover that we are more than flesh and bone, that we are a
One day in his biology laboratory, Alberto realized that his investigation had to get bigger instead of smaller; Alberto needed to find a system larger than the neural networks of the brain. The microscope was the wrong instrument to answer the questions he was asking. Many others were already studying the hardware – Alberto Villoldo wanted to learn to re-program the SYSTEM. Anthropological stories hinted that there were people around the globe who claimed to know such things, including the Inka in Peru, the few remaining “shamans” in today’s modern civilization.
As he did initial research into the Inka, Alberto decided that he needed to personally investigate the roots of the Inka civilization itself to collect the vestiges of a 5,000-year-old energy medicine known for healing through Spirit and light.
A few weeks later, knowing this investigation was not going to be a “part time” pastime or a brief sabbatical for a few weeks’ time, Alberto Villoldo resigned his post at the university.
University colleagues thought Alberto Villoldo was absolutely mad.
Not to be dissuaded, Alberto Villoldo traded his laboratory for a pair of hiking boots and a ticket to the Amazon. He was determined to learn from researchers whose vision had not been confined to the lens of a microscope, from people whose body of knowledge encompassed more than the measurable, material world that Alberto had been taught was the ONLY reality. He wanted to meet the people who sensed the spaces between things and perceived the luminous strands that animate all life.
Scattered throughout the remnants of this ancient Amazonian empire were a number of sages or “Earth Keepers” who remembered the ancient ways. Alberto traveled through countless villages and hamlets and met with scores of medicine men and women. The lack of a written body of knowledge meant that every village had brought its own flavor and style to the healing practices that still survived.
For more than 10 years, Alberto Villoldo trained with the jungle medicine people. Along the way, he discovered that his journey into shamanism had actually been guided by his personal desire to become whole.
In healing his own soul wounds, Alberto Villoldo walked the path of the wounded healer and learned to transform old pain, grief, anger and shame to sources of strength and compassion.
From the Amazon, Alberto Villoldo trekked the coast of Peru, from Nazca, the site of gigantic markings on the desert floor that depict power animals and geometric figures, to the fabled Shimbe lagoons in the north, home to the country’s most renowned sorcerers. Then, in Lake Titicaca – the Sea on Top of the World – Alberto Villoldo collected the stories and healing practices of the people from which, the legends say, the Inka were born.
Through it all, Alberto Villoldo discovered a set of sacred technologies that transform the body, heal the soul, and can change the way we live and the way we die.
These ancient teachings and understandings explain that a Luminous Energy Field (LEF), whose source is located in infinity, surrounds us. The LEF acts as a matrix that maintains the health and vibrancy of the physical body.
Today, Alberto Villoldo is a best-selling author and founder in the world-renowned Institute of Energy Medicine, The Four Winds Society. In all of his teachings and writings, Alberto shares the experience of infinity’s easy ability to heal and transform us, to free us from the temporal chains that keep us fettered to illness, old age and disease.
Over the course of two decades with the shamans in the jungles and high mountains of the Andes, Alberto Villoldo would discover that we are more than flesh and bone, that we are a
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 28, 2011
Well, as a person who is deeply involved in Samanism, I do no get too much in to Alberto Vilvoldo's books. I cannot say I like it this one either.
June 2, 2018
I thoroughly enjoy this book. It's an excellent read for those who are interested in exploring shamanism, a holistic form of healing or direct connection with something greater than your ego. Villoldo draws on his training and experience as a Medical Anthropologist and his 25 years in the Amazon.
Villoldo writes well and draws you in to a magical world of "non-ordinary reality" and a shamanic "way of seeing." Illumination he explains, has been called other names; samadhi, bliss and enlightenment. I loved that he brings in the new science, in particular neurobiology and how we can break free from the hold that the limbic brain and its stories has on us. This way is about letting go, leaving the emotional and reactive experience of childhood, being mindful of your own demons and having compassion for yourself, so that you be the adult, in charge of your own life.
Alberto welcomes us into a world two realms that complement each other, "spirit" and "flesh." If you haven't had a direct experience with what he's describing, you may be inclined to dismiss it as myth or fiction but don't! If I would have read this book years ago, my atheist or agnostic "prove it to me" scientific mindset would have laughed at the idea of experience of different dimensions or realms. However, I visited the Andes to research a book I'm writing and I experienced much of what Villoldo brings to light. "Illumination" gave me a solid theoretical understanding of what I experienced. The South American shamans don't require you to believe anything. Their ancient technology provides you with your own direct experience. You can test it for yourself. Unlike religion, faith in stories or dogma is not required.
Villoldo writes well and draws you in to a magical world of "non-ordinary reality" and a shamanic "way of seeing." Illumination he explains, has been called other names; samadhi, bliss and enlightenment. I loved that he brings in the new science, in particular neurobiology and how we can break free from the hold that the limbic brain and its stories has on us. This way is about letting go, leaving the emotional and reactive experience of childhood, being mindful of your own demons and having compassion for yourself, so that you be the adult, in charge of your own life.
Alberto welcomes us into a world two realms that complement each other, "spirit" and "flesh." If you haven't had a direct experience with what he's describing, you may be inclined to dismiss it as myth or fiction but don't! If I would have read this book years ago, my atheist or agnostic "prove it to me" scientific mindset would have laughed at the idea of experience of different dimensions or realms. However, I visited the Andes to research a book I'm writing and I experienced much of what Villoldo brings to light. "Illumination" gave me a solid theoretical understanding of what I experienced. The South American shamans don't require you to believe anything. Their ancient technology provides you with your own direct experience. You can test it for yourself. Unlike religion, faith in stories or dogma is not required.
March 27, 2011
I really enjoyed this book and found it informative, since I follow a lot of the philosophies the author seems to hold. I did get a bit confused over how to conquer strong emotions -- he seems to say to detach them from personal mythology, yet he refers to initiations and deaths, which are a form of personal mythology.
April 20, 2018
One of the best books I have ever read!
This will be one of those books that I will read over and over. I have a couple of his other books but this one speaks to me. What a great book.
This will be one of those books that I will read over and over. I have a couple of his other books but this one speaks to me. What a great book.
March 19, 2020
Geen onderwerp wat makkelijk weg leest, maar door de fijne schrijfstijl en logische opbouw leest het boek prettig weg. Super interessant om te lezen als je geïnteresseerd bent in hoe eeuwenoude spiritualiteit en hedendaagse wetenschap bij elkaar komen en elkaar versterken. Aanrader!
January 27, 2018
An interesting read!
An really interesting read but Sometimes the text was kind of boring and therefore it kind of lost my attention for a while. Which is sad!
An really interesting read but Sometimes the text was kind of boring and therefore it kind of lost my attention for a while. Which is sad!
June 9, 2021
Illumination: The Shaman’s Way of Healing
Honestly, I would like to rate this book higher. I really appreciate Mr. Villoldo’s work, I have taken an online course from him, and I receive regular inspirational emails from him. There is much in this book that is worthwhile. But overall I felt let down by the time I got to the end.
The premise of this book is straightforward: we pass through seven stages of life, and each requires an “initiation” to be completed for us to be whole and actualized. These reminded me of Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, stages of psychological growth that every person must pass through in order to be fulfilled. Where Dr. Villoldo puts an interesting spin on his stages is that if we don’t complete the initiation successfully, we will experience one of the Biblical seven deadly sins: wrath, greed, lust, etc. I thought I would find this a great leap of understanding, but Dr. Villoldo weaves his narrative expertly through the behaviors, regrets, and shortcomings associated with each stage and its associated “sin”. In fact, this made me quite eager to continue reading as I anticipated the healing knowledge that I thought was inherent in the book.
This is where I was let down. Except for a couple simple “shamanic” exercises, most of the book remained in the realm of heady theory and storytelling. This was interesting, but at the end I was left with the feeling of “Okay, I know all of this, but so what?” Perhaps it is too difficult to delve into areas of trauma and failure, and if Dr. Villoldo tried he would either have produced just another superficial self-help book or something suitable only for clinically trained professionals like himself. Still, with “The Shaman’s Way of Healing” as a subtitle, I was expecting for some actual healing, and not just a discussion of what’s wrong and why we need to fix it.
3 stars.
Honestly, I would like to rate this book higher. I really appreciate Mr. Villoldo’s work, I have taken an online course from him, and I receive regular inspirational emails from him. There is much in this book that is worthwhile. But overall I felt let down by the time I got to the end.
The premise of this book is straightforward: we pass through seven stages of life, and each requires an “initiation” to be completed for us to be whole and actualized. These reminded me of Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, stages of psychological growth that every person must pass through in order to be fulfilled. Where Dr. Villoldo puts an interesting spin on his stages is that if we don’t complete the initiation successfully, we will experience one of the Biblical seven deadly sins: wrath, greed, lust, etc. I thought I would find this a great leap of understanding, but Dr. Villoldo weaves his narrative expertly through the behaviors, regrets, and shortcomings associated with each stage and its associated “sin”. In fact, this made me quite eager to continue reading as I anticipated the healing knowledge that I thought was inherent in the book.
This is where I was let down. Except for a couple simple “shamanic” exercises, most of the book remained in the realm of heady theory and storytelling. This was interesting, but at the end I was left with the feeling of “Okay, I know all of this, but so what?” Perhaps it is too difficult to delve into areas of trauma and failure, and if Dr. Villoldo tried he would either have produced just another superficial self-help book or something suitable only for clinically trained professionals like himself. Still, with “The Shaman’s Way of Healing” as a subtitle, I was expecting for some actual healing, and not just a discussion of what’s wrong and why we need to fix it.
3 stars.
July 21, 2020
Acertada descripción de las fases iniciáticas de la vida desde el paradigma del chamanismo. La información es enormemente valiosa, aunque a mi gusto faltan ejercicios para ponerla en práctica, cosa que hace en los primeros capítulos y al poco tiempo parece olvidar. Para quien ya sabe manejar el mundo simbólico y los rituales, una bella forma de explicar la enseñanza ancestral de los incas y de los sabios de la Amazonia.
September 10, 2019
Everyone needs to take the time to enjoy life and be. This book is amazing and has so much positive teaching. Highly recommend this to all and I really am sad that I finished it because I want to receive more knowledge. I’ve book marked so many pages to turn back and reference and I hope that I can use my shaman mind in life more than only primitive thoughts.
November 10, 2024
A great source of information
I enjoyed listening to this book and going through all the lessons. I learned a lot and was reminded of many lessons. Like I've said before, and follow the advice of my college professor. I will read this again in three months, then in six months, once more in nine months to fully work through the teachings.
I enjoyed listening to this book and going through all the lessons. I learned a lot and was reminded of many lessons. Like I've said before, and follow the advice of my college professor. I will read this again in three months, then in six months, once more in nine months to fully work through the teachings.
April 28, 2020
I found this book a big help, especially with whats happening in the world at this time with the virus.
Read
June 26, 2020Enjoyed the book. I recommend reading it before change or transition in life.
May 24, 2021
The way to heal all wounds by illumination described by Alberto Villoldo.
September 18, 2022
Patiko. Daug sužinojau apie žmogaus smegenų darbą, iniciacijas, kurios svarbios gyvenime. Įdomus pasakojimas, įtraukianti knyga.
March 13, 2023
Knjižica kojoj cu se sigurno vracati s vremena na vreme. Jednostavno, a opet duboko znanje. Moja preporuka!!
May 13, 2024
Overview and encouraging presentation
January 25, 2020
Zonder enige kennis van sjamanisme en met een gezonde vorm van scepsis daartegenover, in combinatie met de aantrekkelijke titel ben ik aan dit boek begonnen.
De inhoud heeft me ten zeerste verrast. Villoldo benadert 'spiritualiteit' op een eigenzinnige manier en weet het goed te staven aan de hand van de bestaande inzichten uit de wetenschap uit onder andere de domeinen neurobiologie en psychologie.
Wie wil nu niet verlichting bereiken? Maar wat is het nu juist en is het zo 'moeilijk' en een quasi onbereikbare toestand zoals Boeddhisme ons zou doen geloven. Zeker, Boeddhisme doet zijn uiterste best om het praktisch onbegrijpelijk te maken. Gelukkig zijn er auteurs zoals Villoldo, die de zaak in een ander licht plaatsen. Verlichting is geen 'ultieme' staat van Zijn, het is eerder de uitkomst van levensbepalende processen genaamd 'inwijdingsriten'. Dit begrip verwijst naar dezelfde rites als uit de Oudheid, en in wezen is er niet veel veranderd alleen misschien onze culturele opvattingen er rond.
Aan de hand van Griekse mythologie en vroeg christelijk mysticisme wordt een en ander verduidelijkt en in een duidelijk perspectief geplaatst.
De inhoud heeft me ten zeerste verrast. Villoldo benadert 'spiritualiteit' op een eigenzinnige manier en weet het goed te staven aan de hand van de bestaande inzichten uit de wetenschap uit onder andere de domeinen neurobiologie en psychologie.
Wie wil nu niet verlichting bereiken? Maar wat is het nu juist en is het zo 'moeilijk' en een quasi onbereikbare toestand zoals Boeddhisme ons zou doen geloven. Zeker, Boeddhisme doet zijn uiterste best om het praktisch onbegrijpelijk te maken. Gelukkig zijn er auteurs zoals Villoldo, die de zaak in een ander licht plaatsen. Verlichting is geen 'ultieme' staat van Zijn, het is eerder de uitkomst van levensbepalende processen genaamd 'inwijdingsriten'. Dit begrip verwijst naar dezelfde rites als uit de Oudheid, en in wezen is er niet veel veranderd alleen misschien onze culturele opvattingen er rond.
Aan de hand van Griekse mythologie en vroeg christelijk mysticisme wordt een en ander verduidelijkt en in een duidelijk perspectief geplaatst.
November 12, 2010
skipping around, don't have time... got to return it, interlibrary loan........... some really good passages though, sage wisdom, may have to re-read sometime. Would love to go on one of his treks into Peru to visit the Mayans. He has several appearances in films, as well as running an organization called, 'The Four Winds Society'. His bio is interesting too.
June 4, 2024
Insightful at times and less so at many others. Although much of the content was valuable, I found the writing to be long-winded and redundant.
RACIST AS HELL! The author has a racist worldview, stating that “all great cultures” came from “north of the equator.” I found this and other racist comments discrediting to the author and I won’t be reading more of his work.
RACIST AS HELL! The author has a racist worldview, stating that “all great cultures” came from “north of the equator.” I found this and other racist comments discrediting to the author and I won’t be reading more of his work.
July 24, 2010
It's nice to read a book that supports findings that Neuroscience and "spirit" are connected! To finally read things that support what I've always called the "Brain Game" and that "Mind over matter" is not just a cliché
August 14, 2011
Love Alberto.
August 17, 2010
The best book so far....!!!
October 19, 2010
This man runs the 'Four Wind Society', healing journeys taken to places like Machu Picchu. Very insightful, interesting. Easy read.
December 29, 2015
This is the best book on spiritual growth I have ever read. I recommend it to all seekers of inner peace.
February 2, 2014
Great book on dissolving emotions that no longer serve you. Provides a gentle walk through basic brain science and the anatomy of emotions.
April 23, 2017
As a seeker of Inner Peace and a believer in Spirituality and the connectedness of All this book was very helpful in acknowledging the things that no longer serve my highest and best self. I am working on shedding the past and becoming a Co-creator in my life. I believe anyone who reads this book can find something beneficial from it.
April 30, 2017
a global overview and how to deal with old demons ...
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews