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Way of the Ancient Healer: Sacred Teachings from the Philippine Ancestral Traditions
Way of the Ancient Healer provides an overview of the rich tradition of Filipino healing practices, discussing their origins, world influences, and role in daily life. Enhanced with over 200 photographs and illustrations, the book combines years of historical research with detailed descriptions of the spiritual belief system that forms the foundation of these practices. Giving readers a rare look at modern-day Filipino healing rituals, the book also includes personal examples from author Virgil Mayor Apostol’s own experiences with shamanic healing and dream interpretation. The book begins with an explanation of Apostol’s Filipino lineage and legacy as a healer. After a brief history of the Philippine archipelago, he describes the roots of traditional Filipino healing and spirituality, and discusses the Indian, Islamic, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, and American influences that have impacted the Filipino culture. He presents a thorough description of Filipino shamanic and spiritual practices that have developed from the concept that everything in nature contains a spirit (animism) and that living in the presence of spirits demands certain protocols and rituals for interacting with them. The book’s final chapter thoughtfully explores the spiritual tools used in Filipino healing–talismans, amulets, stones, and other natural symbols of power.
- GenresNonfictionAsiaHistory
309 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 7, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 25, 2021
I appreciate that this book exists; on the other hand I wish the manuscript went through more academic rigor, or at the very least, was better organized. I'm not sure that this book did the subject matter any justice and I'm disappointed to say I had no meaningful takeaway from this book that deepened my appreciation for the subject at hand.
At its best, it's a recollection of various healing experiences and out-of-the-ordinary meetings with other faith healers -- with a short aside on how there are different types of healers for different ailments. There's an interesting section on how various traditional healing methods throughout the South East Asian region -- and early animist religious beliefs -- are the same or different. It also narrates the story of how the writer came to be a healer.
However, the lack of organization and the writer's personal beliefs freely woven throughout the book makes it confusing for me to separate which beliefs are the writer's and which beliefs are rooted in Filipino culture. Additionally, I had expected the book to be a reference on faith healing methods. In this case, it's more of a recollection of anecdotes based on his limited interaction with different faith healers. There is a lack of detail and depth of each encounter, and perhaps the limitation continues with the breadth of faith healers he's interacted with -- I had wished for a background on each faith healer -- from which region do they hail and how does it make their techniques different? How does this influence their beliefs? What has their journey been like?
Additionally, there's a section where he talks about the mixed results of psychic surgeons and how some psychic surgeries have been successful due to the placebo effect. I wished that his acknowledgement of this fact enabled him to take a more critical stance of this work -- though at this point I suppose that's asking too much of the writer, knowing his background.
It's a good first start, but it's left me wanting more.
(Update as of 25 Jan 2021) On the off chance that there's a writer / researcher / healer in Philippine ancestral traditions who would like to take a crack at covering the topic in the book, and who might stumble upon this review, I highly recommend the books of Erika Buenaflor. They cover Ancient Mesoamerican Shamanism (curanderismo). They are well organized, cover ritual differences and nuances that vary from region to region (as well as the historical contexts of these nuances), and explain the rites themselves, equipment used and the meaning and symbolism behind them, the processes from beginning to end. These rites are organized according to major categories that are then expanded to how these rites might differ depending on their region of origin. There are even case studies of how the healing rituals have worked on some of the writer's clients. Not least important, the book narrates how and why a healing might occur for a particular person or how one might select the rites for someone to undergo.
At its best, it's a recollection of various healing experiences and out-of-the-ordinary meetings with other faith healers -- with a short aside on how there are different types of healers for different ailments. There's an interesting section on how various traditional healing methods throughout the South East Asian region -- and early animist religious beliefs -- are the same or different. It also narrates the story of how the writer came to be a healer.
However, the lack of organization and the writer's personal beliefs freely woven throughout the book makes it confusing for me to separate which beliefs are the writer's and which beliefs are rooted in Filipino culture. Additionally, I had expected the book to be a reference on faith healing methods. In this case, it's more of a recollection of anecdotes based on his limited interaction with different faith healers. There is a lack of detail and depth of each encounter, and perhaps the limitation continues with the breadth of faith healers he's interacted with -- I had wished for a background on each faith healer -- from which region do they hail and how does it make their techniques different? How does this influence their beliefs? What has their journey been like?
Additionally, there's a section where he talks about the mixed results of psychic surgeons and how some psychic surgeries have been successful due to the placebo effect. I wished that his acknowledgement of this fact enabled him to take a more critical stance of this work -- though at this point I suppose that's asking too much of the writer, knowing his background.
It's a good first start, but it's left me wanting more.
(Update as of 25 Jan 2021) On the off chance that there's a writer / researcher / healer in Philippine ancestral traditions who would like to take a crack at covering the topic in the book, and who might stumble upon this review, I highly recommend the books of Erika Buenaflor. They cover Ancient Mesoamerican Shamanism (curanderismo). They are well organized, cover ritual differences and nuances that vary from region to region (as well as the historical contexts of these nuances), and explain the rites themselves, equipment used and the meaning and symbolism behind them, the processes from beginning to end. These rites are organized according to major categories that are then expanded to how these rites might differ depending on their region of origin. There are even case studies of how the healing rituals have worked on some of the writer's clients. Not least important, the book narrates how and why a healing might occur for a particular person or how one might select the rites for someone to undergo.
January 4, 2012
so far so good. mayor tends to fall off topic in a few places but gets back on. just a smidge sanctimonious in some places.
April 14, 2019
It was a great reminder of why I was so drawn to the martial and healing arts. It reminds of the great people, culture, and country I come from. I honor my ancestors.
October 24, 2023
Discussed much on the connection of the spiritual realm with nature using divination together with inanimate objects called mutya or anting-anting or amulet to heal. Also discussed the connection with other Asian influences like Indian, Chinese, Southeast Asian nations like Thailand, Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia that even they have different religions, the healing methods are almost the same. Also discussed the migration theory of Austronesian people. Some Indian terms like Panyupayaan which is the Indian term of the Philippines which means Land Surrounded By Seas was mentioned. Also the Naga deity which is the basis of Bakunawa. Mentioned Moro swords like the kris and Kampilan. Don't like the folk-cultic healing chapters. Like the Ling-Ling-O part the most and reminds me of Senator Loren Legarda's documentary.
https://youtu.be/YeIvUQh3218?si=mwABU...
https://youtu.be/YeIvUQh3218?si=mwABU...
May 6, 2011
Sheds light not only on traditional Filipino healing practices, but on indigenous spirituality and its roots too
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews