Earth Magic: Ancient Shamanic Wisdom for Healing Yourself, Others, and the Planet

by Steven D. Farmer

In Earth Magic, Steven Farmer offers a unique synthesis of ancient spiritual practices and philosophies that have proven over millennia to help heal the spiritual causes of physical and emotional illnesses, augment personal power, enhance manifestation abilities, and encourage a balanced and harmonious relationship with our Earth. Although the foundation for Earth Magic is universal shamanic wisdom, you don’t need to have an interest in shamanism to benefit from its contents, as it expands beyond this topic to incorporate processes that are useful for all those with the sincere intention to heal themselves, others, and our planet.

Genres: Spirituality, Witchcraft, Magick, Nonfiction, Paganism, Occult, Earth

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Dr. Steven D. Farmer is the author of the best-selling Animal Spirit Guides, Power Animal Oracle Cards, Messages from Your Animal Spirit Guides Oracle Cards, Power Animals, Sacred Ceremony, Messages from Your Animal Spirit Guides guided meditation CD, and the soon-to-be-released Earth Magic: Ancient Shamanic Wisdom for Healing Yourself, Others, and the Planet (Feb 2009). He’s also host of his own radio show, The Shamanic Hotline on HayHouseRadio.com. Dr. Farmer is a shamanic practitioner, ordained minister, and former psychotherapist, offering workshops on various shamanic topics and private consultations.

Picture of Dr. Farmer Having explored, studied, and taught shamanic practices, spiritual transformation, trauma recovery, and men's issues extensively, Dr. Farmer brings a wealth of skills and experience to his writing, teaching, and healing work. In addition to being a licensed psychotherapist, he is also an ordained minister in the Circle of Sacred Earth Church, and has conducted a number of ceremonies in his role as minister and shamanic practitioner.

Dr. Farmer's education includes a B.A. in psychology from the University of California, an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Chapman University, and a Ph.D. from Madison University. He brings a unique blend of common sense and esoteric knowledge to his work, and by sharing his ideas and life experiences in a personal, down-to-earth, and humorous way, he inspires any audience to deeply appreciate the challenges, pleasures, and rewards of creating a fulfilling and spiritually directed life. He makes his home in Laguna Beach, California.

Reviews

[Naomi Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are things that I learned from this book, and references I will look up at a later point. However, it's the kind of book that makes me nervous. Despite the warnings Farmer gives about being careful and knowing limits, this book causes me some concern because shamanism and this kind of spirit work can cause significant amounts of damage. I don't believe everyone is capable of doing this kind of spiritual work. Or, if they are it is only with some sort of physical person teaching them. The information is helpful to a degree. I think. I think what bothers me is the use of the word shamanism. If it was merely a brand of paganism I wouldn't mind it so much, although I would still stand by the belief that someone could use this information in a negative manner, whether intentionally or no. But shamanism is a serious, you are called to this by the gods, kind of thing. Something you are born into based on DNA and weird other things. At least, from my understanding of it. So saying anyone can do shamanistic things makes me uncomfortable.

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting ideas, but it felt too much like a white man co-opting stuff from other cultures.

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good generic "what shamanism is" book. Keeps it to the neutral, all the similarities of shamanism around the world and touches on the myths and stories from some other cultures.

[Elizabeth van Niekerk-Venter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found that this book filled in the gaps I needed filling when reading Way Of the Shaman. I enjoyed it and found it very informative and useful.

[Fi's Journey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about (here I'm quoting the author himself) ancient spiritual healing methodologies based in traditional, universal shamanism that is the foundation for what he calls Earth Magic.

The chapters I enjoyed the most were 4) DNA and Earth Magic, 11) Nature Spirits (elementals, devas or fairies) {"I Do Believe in Fairies! I Do! I Do! I Do!}, 12) Plant Spirits and Plant Consciousness, 17) Dancing and Storytelling and 26) Healing Our Earth Mother.

I really enjoyed this book. There were many aspects that Steven covered and I also thought was amazing that he actually talked about it! I also liked things that he just mentioned, like one of his favourite stories, which he found on the Internet - which is about an American Businessman and a Mexican fisherman who are having a conversation.

Some things that I also appreciated were the mentioning of Mother Earth and how we are all connected. Plus he is saying that Storytelling of any form is a means of communicating (Yes, I definitely agree with that one as I love stories! as it is about bonding, too) and Mythological tales teach us about spirituality that no instructional methods can come close to.


4 Questions a Shaman asks the sufferer of an illness:

1) When did you stop singing?
2) When did you stop dancing?
3) When did you stop being enchanted by stories?
4) When did you stop enjoying the sweet sound of silence?

Also, I totally love that cover! Great artwork.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find Farmer's writing style to be a bit self indulgent, and I don't find he gives enough cultural credit to the practices and information he shared.

Farmer does break down the elements of some practices very well, but I found others to be lacking.

I also found it annoying that he used full URLs mid paragraph instead of footnotes.

Personally, I didn't learn a lot of new information compared to Kindling the Native Spirit by Denise Linn.

[Shayne McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first introduction to Stephen D. Farmer and I am not disappointed. This filled a hole that I didn't even know needed filling within me!
Thank-you Stephen for sharing your knowledge and insights.

[Book Pharmacist · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, let me say this book is not for everyone. However, I found it interesting because it delves into the history and process of shamanic practices, shamanic rituals, and archetypal symbols. Rather that serving as a practical guide, I found this book to be an excellent resource for learning about the the archetypal symbols that surround us in our daily lives. Perhaps the most interesting thing I learned from reading this book is that, although we tend to associate shamanic practices with a land’s indigenous cultures (for good reason), the root of the word ‘shaman’ originated in Russia—long before the mystic Rasputin walked the halls of St. Petersburg palaces!

[Jess Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learn about ancient Shamanic

Learn about ancient Shamanic Wisdom. Here the reader will learn from the author the foundation for Earth Magic is universal shamanic wisdom. No prior interest in shamanism is needed to benefit from this book. All you need is a sincere intention to heal everyone on our planet.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offered deep insights into the basic ideas of shamanistic traditions and practices and where they are found nowadays in medicine and psycho-therapy.
Due to its helpfulness I want to express my gratitude toward the author for sharing such knowledge.

[Dodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I picked up oracle cards from this author that had the same name of the book so I assumes that the book was going to talk about the deck, that was not the case. In the book the author talks about what earth magic is to him. Mainly it focuses on Shamanic practices.

[Sarah A-F · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review pretty much covers exactly how I feel about this book. There's some good information in here, but I do wish someone else had written it.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very useful tool and well written.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy all of Steven Farmers books. This covers a lot of shamanism and every day practices to help the Earth. I always get great ideas reading his books

[Di · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good if you are starting out on the spiritual journey. Would have been helpful if I was in the preliminary stages of learning about these things.

[James Marceda]

I read the whole thing.

[Hollidaisy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a lot of info, but I just didn't click with it as much as I'd hoped. It might have been the writing style, not entirely sure. I think the right person would get a lot out of it, though!

[M. Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very well done. There were references that I could look up for further information. There were exercises that I could look into. A book that I found very enlightening.

[Eden Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the very first book I ever reason shamanism. At the time I was a corporate CEO. I happened across a metaphysical bookstore and walked in, and by "coincidence" found this book. I never new about shamans, but something urged me to buy this. It was a great first dive in to shamanism, which opened an entirely new world for me. This is a more simple look at the work we do, but it is great for both personal healing and exploration of shamanism and "earth work" in general.

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok. It was a little dry and I felt that the information given was very basic and did not get back to the roots as well as I would have liked. For someone with no knowledge at all of any nature based religion it is a good way to get your feet wet.

[Kellyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good intro to shamanic healing. There's some good information in here for the layperson. I especially enjoyed the discussion on the magickal qualities of DNA. I wish there had been more of that kind of thing.

[Nicole Sawyer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't find myself agreeing with the author on a lot of topics but it was still an interesting read.

[Ian · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book can be good, I suppose. If what you are after is pseudoshamanism than this book will fit the bill.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great beginner's book to learn about shamanism. I needed an introduction into this path and am wanting to go further in studies.

[Alan Garner, author, “The 16% Solution” ’endorsed by “ Rich Dad, Poor Dad” author. How to safely double your passive income. GARNER · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enlightening book. You could read 10 other books ad not come close to the wisdom Farmer shares in Earth Magic.

[Abigail Layton]

Earth Magic, written by Steven D. Farmer, is an amazing introduction into understanding the capability of one’s self. To introduce the idea of shamanism you have to understand that the term briefly means “one who is wise.” So with the right determination anyone really could be a shaman, simply the will to learn, and acting on it for a lifetime. In this book, Farmer talks about the different ways to evaluate and heal one’s self and others with the help of guides or pure will.
In about chapter three of Earth magic, the author said something profound enough to have me take a step back from the page, and read again. Stevens talks about an experience with DMT, which although yes is a hallucinogen, is also specifically based off ones knowledge base, this hallucination taking place after he had taken several religious, spiritual, and philosophical classes. He described a living form of DNA coming onto earth in the early stages of development, creating well, life. Going further even to say in reference to the DNA “over eons continuously adapted, transformed, mutated, and integrated themselves so profoundly with the materials that this world is made of that the earth itself became like a living breathing superorganism. This is just as James Lovelock, the author of Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth, had hypothesized. Not only did life create the atmosphere, it also regulates the atmosphere through its continual exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.” In this way I believe Steven pictures the relationship between people and our environment, and the way we should respect it and manipulate it accordingly.
This novel was nonetheless eye opening, and intriguing to a large extent, I found myself several times having to take a few moments to contemplate what Farmers had said. Although I am not a shaman post read of this book, he did suggest many ways to pursue shamanism in one’s life, through the process of healing one’s self and others. I think this book is for people wanting to get a good intro into the spiritual and philosophical arena, it was suggested to me by my mother for such. In conclusion, Stevens created an amazing work of art with text in a way that was both educating and intriguing.