The Temple of Shamanic Witchcraft: Shadows, Spirits and the Healing Journey

Temple of Witchcraft #3

by Christopher Penczak

Is shamanism all that different from modern witchcraft? According to Christopher Penczak, Wicca's roots go back 20,000 years to the Stone Age shamanic traditions of tribal cultures worldwide. A fascinating exploration of the Craft's shamanic origins, The Temple of Shamanic Witchcraft offers year-and-a-day training in shamanic witchcraft. Penczak's third volume of witchcraft teachings corresponds to the water element―guiding the reader into this realm of emotion, reflection, and healing. The twelve formal lessons cover shamanic cosmologies, journeying, dreamwork, animal/plant/stone medicine, totems, soul retrieval, and psychic surgery. Each lesson includes exercises (using modern techniques and materials), assignments, and helpful tips. The training ends with a ritual for self-initiation into the art of the shamanic witch―culminating in an act of healing, rebirth, and transformation. COVR Award Winner

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

480 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2005

About the author

Christopher Penczak is a Witch, teacher, writer and healing practitioner. His practice draws upon the foundation of both modern and traditional Witchcraft blended with the wisdom of mystical traditions from across the globe as a practitioner and teacher of shamanism, tarot, Reiki healing, herbalism, astrology and Qabalah. He is the founder of the Temple of Witchcraft tradition and system of magickal training based upon the material of his books and classes. He is an ordained minister primarily serving the New Hampshire and Massachusetts pagan and metaphysical communities through public rituals, private counsel and teaching, though he travels extensively teaching throughout the United States.

Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts on May 10, 1973, Christopher was raised in an Italian/Polish family while living in Salem, NH. After twelve years of Catholic school and becoming an avowed agnostic, he initially pursued an interest in chemistry, stemming from a childhood fascination with alchemy and herbalism. As a youth, he had an out of body experience, passing out in a fourth grade science class, but observing the whole scene in spirit, from above the room. While in high school, he was visited by an apparition of his recently deceased great aunt. These two experiences made him question his dedication to science and pursue a study of the mystical and occult, as well as his artistic pursuits. He attended the University of Massachusetts as a vocal major, earning a Bachelor of Music Performance/Music Business in 1995 and set his sights on becoming a full time performer. While studying classical voice, he founded a band called Doctor Soulshine that fused mystical imagery and shamanic concepts to traditional heavy rock music.

While in college, a long time friend and teacher introduced Christopher to the principles of witchcraft, meditation, tarot and spell work. At first he was skeptical, but his experience with a healing spell at a full Moon ritual was enough to convince him that there was truth to these ideas and he sought to understand more. He took classes with Laurie Cabot, in her Cabot Tradition with an emphasis on Witchcraft As A Science. He was fascinated with the science and philosophy of her teaching, grounding witchcraft in sound thinking and personal experience. A psychic healing experience left him with a sense of empowerment and spiritual connection. After this initial training, he studied with an assortment of witches, shamans, yogis, psychic readers and healers in the New England area, developing an eclectic path of personal witchcraft. He later focused on the healing arts, completing training as a Reiki Master (Teacher) in the Usui-Tibetan and Shamballa traditions and certification as a flower essence consultant and herbalist.

After graduation from college, Christopher began work at the A&R department of Fort Apache, a recording studio and record label in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He soon found himself leading meditations and ritual groups for friends seeking to know more about the Craft. During his time in the Boston area, Christopher experimented with the ideas he later wrote about in his book City Magick: Urban Rituals, Spells and Shamanism. The initial ritual group formed the nucleus of the first Temple of Witchcraft series.

Although having no real interest in teaching formally, Christopher received a message during a meditation in 1998 to start teaching more and begin writing. Thinking it was his imagination, Christopher ignored it, saying to himself and the universe, “I’m too busy with my music career. If you want me to teach, give me the time.” The next week he was laid off from his job and had plenty of time. Although with a booming economy and many job opportunities, Christopher had no luck finding a position in the music industry, or a more traditional office job. When he posted a few flyers about meditation and witchcraft classes at a local shop, the response was immediate and he began teaching cla

Reviews

[Torey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably not Penczak's strongest area of expertise.

Shamanism is a very subjective path - and Penczak's approach is very much that of what are called 'Plastic Shamans'. He seems to draw a lot of his techniques and Otherworld views from Michael Harman's Core Shamanism works. Depending on whom you ask - this could be bad or good.

In my opinion, even though Penczak offers a lot of helpful meditative-type exercises - what he refers to as 'journeying' is not journeying but introspective meditative contact with the Higher Consciousness - not the actual 'Otherworlds'. Perhaps this is why he fails to mention the dangers of the Otherworlds - he's not actually been.

If one were to take Penczak's approach to Shamanism literally, there is no danger present in working within the Otherworlds - all beings are friendly and responsive - and the Shamanist has the right to traipse around wherever he or she feels the need to do so without repercussion simply to 'explore'.

I find that this book is too saturated with Wiccan fluffiness to be taken seriously - however, I believe that it's a wonderful introduction to Shamanism, but it shouldn't be viewed as 'true' Shamanism in any way.

[Wendy Matta · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMGoodness

Next to Raymond Buckland The Big Blue, this is my next Bible... If you find Shamanism is in your being this is very informative, great writing, knowledgeable... I’ve read quite a few times n have posted on Social Media’s... Christopher Penczak is very talented... My Hope is he or others with this much wisdom the best for passing their knowledge and lives, best wishes... I have almost all of his books... Have not finished ITOW, OTOW, High Witchcraft, Ascenction... just to name a few in collection waiting to be read... I’ve found this is a part of my Path /Journey to Healing... For me it’s not about the destination but the journey and it’s been an interesting journey... at times there are sooo many things I want to do at the same time, so I collect Books 📚... All of them are precious... The duration of soaking up information, I carried this from Room to Room... Have Hard copy as well... always next to me... I am very passionate to being a Witch, Healer, Human, Love ❤️ & Life... and all it has to offer... unfortunately the Bad comes with the Good... That’s what these books have done for me, help me to ACCEPT & love myself... May sound sad but I’ve found, in the end, there’s only me & I am determined to read 200 books within this year... I am Happy to say, I’m not even close... 😊 😉 😃... Maybe I will make a Wager with someone... not for money but for being in the know of Shamans, Reiki Practitioners, Ayurveda Therapists, Witches & any information I can get my little hands on... Enjoy as much as I do... Aloha...

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read much of the book yet but from what I have read, I think it's a pretty good book. My guides told me to get this book and many of this has helped me with my spiritual path. I do recommend this if you are an intermediate or beginner shaman. I am just seeing this because I hadn't Done any research prior to this book and it helped me learn a lot of the steps. I didn't know some stuff on my spiritual journey though so that's why I'm saying intermediate if I didn't know the stuff that I knew around the time I started reading the book I probably wouldn't have got it as straight on if that makes sense.

[Runafuego · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy fan de este manual que trata sobre brujería chamánica. Con un montón de ejercicios y meditaciones tiene el inconfundible sello desenfadado del autor. Muy recomendable!

Videorreseña: https://youtu.be/IEQfRHJO0HI

[Viktor Pigion · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're new to the craft and interested in Shamanic Wicca (no, this isn't just standard shamanism, it's Wiccan), then this book would be great for you. If you're experienced in the craft, save your time, this book is an all-in-one of the basics.

[Jill McAfee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Heavy on cultural appropriation, light on useful information, this book felt like a hodgepodge of disconnected ideas and personal practices that goes on forever. Such a disappointment after TOW I and II.

[Cristy Uhl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful information and engaging writing style.

I enjoy learning new information about my life path and this book was very helpful in helping me find my compass.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this and lookforward to keeping as a reference

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chistopher Penczak does it again with this great book dealing with shamanism in relationship with witchcraft. This is a book to be read and studied in the period of one year and a day. He writes on page 5, "As logic, science, and technology replaced the old forms of mysticism, witches were cast into the land of fairy tales and make-believe, no longer taken seriously." Both witches and shamans are people who 'walk between the worlds.' His belief was that shamanism has an instinctive connection with witchcraft. As one follows the metaphysical world of new age and new thought, and neo-paganism, one will see the practice of some form of shamanism. The author makes this observation on pg. 10, "When you understand that shamanism is not necessarily a tribal native religion, but a practice of walking betwen worlds, you can't help but see the parallels of the shaman in classic mythology." The stream of shamanism runs throughout history and can be seen in the lives and teachings of mystics of all ages. Christopher takes us all on a journey between this world and the world of the shaman in a very elaborate and easy to follow manner. This is the third book in his Temple of Witchcraft books. Chris can be long winded, and he certainly gives the reader more than he/she can obsorb in one sitting, but it is well worth the read.

[Kosjitov · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have enjoyed the previous work of Chris Penczak. I felt that book 3 was a bit too much of a rehash of some other material and got a bit peeved with the references to his previous work. I was recommended this book for shadow work but frankly I wouldn't pass it on to someone else for the same topics. Frankly, I was hesitant to touch anything written about "shamanic" witchcraft. One book does not a shaman make and I know people who have trained and are training with Native Americans that would find the book wholly distasteful- while both religions and magics work with nature, they are decidedly different in approach and theory. Similar but not the same. Others i have spoken to remark that it is eclectic at best and given the breadth of this work I would have to agree.

[ᛗichelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book came to me right as I needed it, and a year later I worked through the content. I highly recommend this book if you work to connect deeper to your emotions and your self. The it speaks about life and magick is so simply written and effective.
Deeply connecting to the water element and emotions.
Eclectic and Open minded this book holds deep knowledge from all over history and cultures.
I would like to read the other books in the series, but only felt compelled to read this one.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never thought I would be one to get into shamanic practice as most of the people I know who personally practice or teach this topic are on my iffy list... But I found the techniques remarkable and again, practical. I believe the world is blessed by this man's outpouring of knowledge. Yes, I am a big fan!

[Healinggoddess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has wonderful journey resources! It's nothing particularly new for those who have been on a Shamanic path for very long but it was very readable. The first shamanic journey I facilitated for a group utilized parts of the journey to a crystal from the book.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a more advanced book on witchcraft. It helps you get in touch with your shadow self and is intended to be used as a year and a day study.

[✨Bean's Books✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book series! 💜💜💜

[Alja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it first! You will find it very useful as a workbook within your practice :)