Lora Y. (islewalker) reviewed Pocket Guide to Shamanism (The Crossing Press Pocket Series) on + 29 more book reviews
Very odd. I had ordered a book called Shamanism As a Spiritual Practice For Daily Life by Thomas Dale Cown (same author as this, I think). But that book was written by a Jewish wannabe Native American preaching about other people being wannabes. He name dropped all kinds of Native Americans, as if to impress. The quotes they made were not germaine to the book.
This book was tightly-written and concise. It talks about traditional shamanism and "neo-shamanism" in the current age when there are no teachers around.
He ties the concepts of shamanism to modern terminology and concepts. So, in modern day, we think of energies in mountains or streams or trees, not Mountain Spirit as an entity. Modern-day projection or OBEs is a parallel to the non-ordinary reality of shaman.
Even if you don't think shamanism is your path, this book concisely describes what it was, what it has become in modern times, and how you might pursue it if you feel it is your path. Very worthwhile.
I'm just not sure how the same author can be verbose and indulgent in one book and concise in the other. Editors, perhaps? [These Pocket Guides probably have very tough editors!]
If the idea is of interest, I recommend this book. It's very cute to hold too.
This book was tightly-written and concise. It talks about traditional shamanism and "neo-shamanism" in the current age when there are no teachers around.
He ties the concepts of shamanism to modern terminology and concepts. So, in modern day, we think of energies in mountains or streams or trees, not Mountain Spirit as an entity. Modern-day projection or OBEs is a parallel to the non-ordinary reality of shaman.
Even if you don't think shamanism is your path, this book concisely describes what it was, what it has become in modern times, and how you might pursue it if you feel it is your path. Very worthwhile.
I'm just not sure how the same author can be verbose and indulgent in one book and concise in the other. Editors, perhaps? [These Pocket Guides probably have very tough editors!]
If the idea is of interest, I recommend this book. It's very cute to hold too.
