Practical Shamanism: A Guide for Walking in Both Worlds

by Katie Weatherup

There are worlds of healing, protection, and insight available to you just beyond ordinary reality. The knowledge to simply, powerfully journey to these worlds, to connect with your spirit guides, to build a vision of yourself as healthy, intuitive and psychically alive, is within this book. Whether you are just beginning to seek a truer and more meaningful existence, or you are an experienced traveler of worlds, this book provides a reliable, straightforward, friendly and practical guide to basic shamanic practices, including more advanced instruction in past life healing, shadow work, and soul retrieval.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Audiobook

150 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2006

Reviews

[Cevizin_kitaplari · Rating 1 out of 5]

Merhaba Ceviz'in doğa dostları. Doğa ile uyumu yakalamak üzere çalışan bütün uygulama ve dinlere açığım. Şamanizm de bunlardan biri. Wicca oluşum dışında şamanizm öğretilerini de hayayımda uygulamaya çalışıyorum ve hepsinin de kökeni bir.
Öncelikle şamanizm ve şamanik yolculuk açıklanıyor.
Yazarın geleneksel şamnizmde başburulan DMT salımını sağlayan ayahuasca ile ölüme yakın deneyim yaşamadan, ya da başka yöntemlerle ölüme yaklaşmadan ruhani yolculuk yapılacağı iddiasını kabul etmiyorum. Her şeyde olduğu gibi bu dinde de fedakarlık vardır. Günümüzde her dinin en sevilen minnoş yönlerini alıp uygulayıp ben böyle de aynı şeyi elde ettim denmesini de gülünç buluyorum. Saf meditasyon ve müzikle güç hayvanını görmek imkansızdır. Şanslıysanız rüyanıza girer. Ancak bunun dışında fiziksel dünyayı bloke etmek kesin gereklidir. Bir mum yakıp cadı oldum sananlar ile davullarla dans edince şaman olduğunu sananlar aynı grup sanırım. Yazar özellikle şaman olmadığını "şamanik uygulayıcı" olduğunu söylüyor. Bunu da takdir ettim. Ancak kitabın kişisel gelişim kitabı tadında olduğu bir gerçek ve beni rahatsız eden de bu. Duyguları kucaklamaktan tutun, ilişki ve duygu yönetimine kadar herşey kişisel gelişim hattında.şamanik yolculuk aşağı ve yukarı dünyalara yolculuk yöntemleri iyi birer meditasyon yöntemi ayrıca. Ancak güç hayvanı ve öğretmenlerle konuşmak meditasyon ve davulla mümkün değil. Şaman davullarını meditasyonda yararlı buluyorum. Ama bir hayvanla konuşmanızı sağlamayacaktır. Marijuana bile bunu yapmaz 🤣
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[Willow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice introduction. Enjoyed reading about her experience. Would have liked this to include more step-by-step guides instead of, ask your guides how to do this. While I understand each person will do things slightly differently, having a basic understanding of how and why things are done would be helpful. Historical context would be much appreciated. I doubt all the classes she mentions she has taken have simply said, "Ask your guides and good luck." Otherwise this gives a basic introduction yo what journeying is and how to start journeying.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, it’s an excellent book to read with both my feet on the ground, but I ended up finishing the last quarter of it on a long flight; I was just too excited about it to wait. I found all the topics intriguing and fascinating. Some of my favorites off the top of my head - soul retrieval, cutting cords, getting to know our guides in the three levels, and shadow work. Will be a good reference book to refer to when some of this stuff becomes rusty. The beauty of it all though is that it’s all pretty intuitive. My absolute favorite part is that she has a very optimistic and and loving attitude which makes letting go of fear seem a bit easier.

[Bill Bridges · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provides a great outline of journeying

I went into reading the book with just a basic understanding of what the term “shamanic journeying” meant and left with a much more complete picture, as well as steps to start doing my own journeys. (For the record, I’ve had 3 so far and look forward to many more.) The book falls a little short of 5 stars because it falls apart a bit in the second half and becomes a grab bag of topics. All great info, just not as tight as the first part.

[Karl Malmberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear and concise

The author does a fine job of introducing her audience to what for many may find to be an arcane subject matter. As one reads about her personal anecdotes, this reader sensed that they genuinely rang with the truth only gleaned from personal experiences.Overall, the impression this reader came away with is that this author is genuinely knowledgeable, skilled, and caring about her subject matter as well as her readers.

[crazipotmom · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I read a book like this I always feel like I want more information about where this all originated from but it seems to be about experiences and I'm not sure if that's just because no one knows where the stuff comes from I would like to know a little bit more about the spirit animals so I will be looking in tomorrow about shamanism

[Harold Stratton · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a beginner straight up front

I am a shaman but I ran into too many dogmas or "you're to old for the trials". This book is a step by step with no dogmas. However, nothing is ever given ... You have to work at it.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice simple, down to earth (as it should be) description and methods of walking your path as a shamanic healer of the self and others.

[eliza · Rating 2 out of 5]

Weatherup boasts that she isn't into "spiritual machismo," but I suppose I am then, because I didn't find her approach very substantial. It's a New Age philosophy that borrows ancient motifs and repackages them as a low risk, feel-good, made-for-anyone practice. I'm cool with getting everyone into meditation and lucid dreaming and loving relations with nature, but call that what it is. It is a part, but NOT the entirety, of "shamanism" -- which, admittedly, is already an umbrella term but is becoming increasingly treated as an empty buzzword.

Shamanism entails a very serious and sometimes dangerous project -- to deconstruct the ego, merge with broader consciousness, and integrate the enlightened self back into unenlightened society for the sake of improving the whole -- which I do believe everyone can and should work toward, but not without preparation. It's psychologically irresponsible to tell people they should just start banging on drums and believing everything they imagine is divine guidance. In doing so Weatherup has grossly neglected (1) the importance of individual process (ie, the run-up to the Tao: the study before practice when a person gathers mental raw materials for inspiration to arrange into wisdom rather than psychosis), and (2) any kind of connection to tradition. There was nary a mention of evolutionary context; Weatherup's advice seemed to come out of a vacuum rather than a void. I believe it's fine (even preferable) to focus on direct experience in these matters, but show respect to their ancient and diverse nature by relating that experience to the historicity of the shaman's sacred role.

[Alexei López · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Transformational Set of Tools

One of the most extensive practices in the ancient world, Shamanism causes many reactions from people that get interested in it. Although its practice is almost universal (with its specificities), it can be effectively synthesized in general guidelines. Katie Weatherup does precisely this, which makes this book a great option to initiate oneself in this world.

One of the most appealing characteristics of this work is the fact that the writer's perspective is not impositive (what makes it beginner friendly); another one is its practical nature (the whole lot of information presented allows the reader to put into practice what has been discussed immediately). Finally, the text even piques the reader's curiosity by dealing with a hot topic: past lives.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the book even though it's pretty New Age-y. It is very practical, with a lot of good ideas about what you can journey on to heal your life. The writing is very compassionate and healing in itself. There's a lot of love in this, plus a lot of real life experience. That's a nice combination. I suggest buying this with Shamanism as a Spiritual Practice for Daily Life and Ecoshamanism, so you'll have a variety of well written sources from different backgrounds to study.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous book for anyone who wishes to learn how to work with the spirit world directly, and practically. She truly understands that we are both human and spirit, and we DO have to walk in both worlds for a satisfying life. I love the way she explains practical how-to's to journey and connect with spirit. The drum CD included is a super awesome bonus! It makes journey work so much easier!

[Mary K · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a primer on how to journey into non-ordinary reality, I couldn't really recommend any gentler, friendlier book. I have also talked with Katie and taken a few of her classes--I think that really speaks to how much I enjoyed this book.

[Roger Marlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautifully written book. Highly recommended.

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's the worst book I've read so far regarding Shamanism. I regret spending money and wasting my time for this book.

[Dilemma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. It's an enjoyable read, easy to understand, and full of tools that I still use regularly, even though I first read the book probably at least 5-6 years ago.