Heathens, Pagans and Witches discussion

Any members have personal recommendations for newcomers to the way of the Shaman? Please post them here, so they are easy to find.

Way of the shaman is highly recommended by my local practitioner. However I was not impressed with it. I bought earth magic but have not read it yet

I personally think Michael Harner's "The Way of the Shaman" is essential reading for a beginner. To my mind it kicked off the whole neo-shamanic movement. Of course, Mircea Eliade's "Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy" is a classic, though much more dense and scholarly. I would also recommend Roger Walsh's "The World of Shamanism: New Views of an Ancient Tradition". There are a great many books on this topic, some quite specific. I think this is a good list with which to get started.

I felt harners book was too much history and not as much practical. But that's only my opinion. There's a lot of deferent venues of shamanism

I always think that books are very personal. What speaks to one of us doesn't necessarily speak to another. And yes, there are many, many books on Shamanism from which to choose. I guess one could just simply go to a bookstore and browse through the section and choose one that seems right.

Wouldn't it be best, though, to seek the advice of an experienced practitioner as to which book would be a good introduction?

That's why I like to post what I like and dislike. A description of the content so others can see the subject matter. When I shop amazon. I always read the customers reviews

I am an experienced shamanic practitioner, and gave my opinion on what I thought would be useful. I can give extensive reasoning if necessary. However, others don't see it the same way. How then is one to decide? This led to my comment about books then being personal. It also depends on what a beginner wants--history, technique, experiential reports, etc.

I personally find customer reviews largely useless. I know what I want to learn from a book, and I find the "Look Inside" feature to be far more helpful.

I try to include content, too, Cyndi. I do read other reviews, and when I find one that is informative (either good or bad) I usually add a commendation (like/dislike) to show my appreciation.

From a personal point of view, Sara, I like formats like Goodreads and Library Thing because when a member recommends a book, you can see what other books they've read and discern from their posts if they are someone who's opinion you'd value. I find I am more likely to listen to the recommendations of those I have friended, or follow on sites like this, more than reviews I find at places like Amazon.

Of course, conversations like this are also invaluable: what does the newcomer want? History is always something I look to first when exploring so I can see the development and the people involved, so that when I come to choose a practical book, I know what to look for. Thus, when Cyndi indicates " The Way of the Shaman " is more history than practical, it is likely to be my first choice.

It's one of the reasons my definitive book list on my blog has a separate section for practical magic.

The choice of books is indeed a personal matter, but I hope that by providing lists like this we can at least discuss them, or give some kind of guidance, so that if a newcomer reads one particular book and finds it valuable, then they can seek out the people who recommended it and look at their other recommendations. After all, there are thousands of books to choose from, if we can narrow that list a little, then we have helped.

At least, that's the idea. :-)

I agree but my problem is I do this all from my iPhone and I'm lazy as far as putting my books up and orgNizing them

I posted a reply on the Wicca reading topic and realized I should probably add a book here. It's Christopher Penczak's "The Temple of Shamanic Witchcraft." It's a good, basic book, and I often refer to it when I want a term clarified in simple language. It does have a bit of a Wiccan slant, which wouldn't be for every shamanic practitioner. He has a companion set of tapes, which I have found useful to solo journey.

Thanks fir your post. I was actually contemplating buying more of his books. I currently only have inner temple but liked his method of teaching

I have to say, I was tremendously bummed out after reading The Woman In The Shaman's Body, by Barbara Tedlock. I was aware of the disputes and arguments over Eliade's book, but it really hit home when she started discussing just how negatively he viewed women, and women shamans, to the point of degrading them in to assistant's and sorcerers instead of acknowledging their positions. She went over notes that he had used showing the original phrasing, and which way he took it, versus how it was originally written and meant to be.

I highly recommend reading this article from the central site of the religion I follow.

The title is "Public Horses - An Open Letter To All Shamans, Would-be Shamans, And People Who Think That White People Shouldn't Call Themselves Shamans...

http://www.northernshamanism.org/publ...

This is also a very useful article, for anyone interested in shamanism. It is titled "The Disadvantages of Shamanism":

http://home.earthlink.net/~jordsvin/S...

My shamanic teacher told us about her history as a new practitioner. She said the locals were very prejudice and tried to get her business closed down. She worried about offending native people by the term shaman. One elder actually contacted her and thanked her for taking up the practice stating it was desperately needed in any culture. She chooses to be called a shamanic practitioner since she is one who practices the art.

Thanks for the links Ruby! I really liked the one by Caldera!

Yes, Ruby, thanks for these links. I found the perspectives quite interesting.

For anyone interested in trance, but doesn't know where to start, I would recommend this month's book, " Trance-portation: Learning to Navigate the Inner World by Diana L. Paxson. Ideally, a beginner would join a group under an experienced teacher, but this book does allow for solo work to begin if a group is not available locally.

What exactly is a shaman? In religious terms?

I was going to ask that same question.

Mircea Idiade defines it as someone who in their own culture is reputed to have the ability to manipulate fire, talk to the dead, and fly. They usually hold a similar status as a medicine man, or woman, but are not considered interchangeable from an anthropological point of view. Most people think of a shaman as a tribal holy man.

The word "Shaman" comes from the Sanskrit "Shraman" which is usually attributed to "foreign" holy men. It was used to describe tibetan masters in India.

Good. I'm learning as well.

I forgot to post a link to the book I was talking about sorry about that.

The word is from the Tungusic languages of eastern Siberia. The easiest definition is that a shaman uses trance, to contact spirits. Eliade, in that classic book Aaron links to, has this as what distinguishes a shaman, the use of 'techniques of ecstasy', which is his subtitle. Ecstasy = trance. There can be other types of religious practitioner in a society who exist alongside the shaman, for example what we might call priests or ritualists -- but the shaman is the one who has direct experience with spirits in an altered state of consciousness, commonly as an intercessor on behalf of clients or the community, and in order to heal.

Bryn wrote: "The word is from the Tungusic languages of eastern Siberia. The easiest definition is that a shaman uses trance, to contact spirits. Eliade, in that classic book Aaron links to, has this as what di..."

Yes, this is the word origin with which I am familiar. Aaron's mention of a Sanskrit source was new information for me. I agree that Shamans, or even contemporary practitioners directly experience other realities in search of that which benefits their tribe (however one defines tribe). A Shaman holds the edges or fringes for their tribe as well, interceding directly with nature for the benefit of the tribe.

It is a rich tradition to which we are all the inheritors.

Eliade had mentioned that it has a Sanskrit root and then I found the correlating word in a Sanskrit to English Dictionary. It seemed pretty solid, but I can double check.

Aaron wrote: "Eliade had mentioned that it has a Sanskrit root and then I found the correlating word in a Sanskrit to English Dictionary. It seemed pretty solid, but I can double check."

Thanks, Aaron. Guess that's what happens when I skim read, LOL. Eliade was pretty darned dense in many places.

Eliade has a "possible etymology" for the Tungusic word, in Pali samana/Sanskrit shramana, part of an Indian influence. I've seen this elsewhere too. I understood it's a guess but I'm not even slightly a linguist. We've taken the word from the Tungus. Anthropologists did.

Ah yes I see Bryn. Sara is not the only one guilty of skimming. I missed "possible". ;)

Linking another thread to here: Psychopomps, Journeying and the Astral/Bardo Plane:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

I am a shamanic practitioner and have recently written a book titled Gracious Wild: A Shamanic Journey with Hawks of my own experience for those of you who learn through story: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Otherwise, I have this shelf put together of books I recommend in "how to" and "definition of" shamanism. I know many of the authors on this shelf and have read the books myself: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...Gracious Wild: A Shamanic Journey with Hawks

I also am an active blogger, so if you have questions while learning that you'd like answers too feel free to add a comment to any of my posts or email me directly: http://wildgratitude.com/blog/Gracious Wild: A Shamanic Journey with Hawks

Aaron wrote: "Mircea Idiade defines it as someone who in their own culture is reputed to have the ability to manipulate fire, talk to the dead, and fly. They usually hold a similar status as a medicine man, or w..."

What is common among all those who practice shamanism is the ability to and utilization of the shamanic journey trance. This is like a waking dream. Mircea explains it as the ability to have an "ecstatic experience."

Other elements of shamanism include working with tutelary spirits which include but are not limited to animal spirits, guides in human form, spirits of nature, etc. Across the globe, shamanic practitioners work within a common landscape of lower, middle and upper worlds connected by a central axis. These are the very basic elements and not all by any measure, but I thought you all might be interested in further explanation!

Stacey wrote: "I am a shamanic practitioner and have recently written a book titled
Gracious Wild: A Shamanic Journey with Hawks
of my own experience for those of you who learn through story: https://www.good..."

You have a number of interesting books on your shelf. I was interested to see that you have Evelyn Rysdyk and have finished it. It's on my "to read" pile thought I haven't gotten to it as yet. I really should organize my own reading a bit better. At present, I'm reading Shamanic Reiki, which combines two of my healing interests. I'm also nearly through with Serge King's Urban Shaman, which I have found especially useful.

Stacey wrote: "Aaron wrote: "Mircea Idiade defines it as someone who in their own culture is reputed to have the ability to manipulate fire, talk to the dead, and fly. They usually hold a similar status as a medi..."

Yes, there are numerous commonalities of shamanic practice across indigenous populations as well as threaded through western neo-shamanism. One can also talk about the use of directions and elements for example. It is perhaps the connection to the natural world as well as the holding of the fringes that many shamans share that I treasure most.