Recommended Shamanism Resources Thread

[Rae'ya]

So I thought that it might be a good idea for us to have a thread in here to share recommended books, websites and other resources. Because lets face it... there's a lot out there, and not all of it is overly useful. So please post up your favourite resources, with or without an explanation...

I'll start with some of my favourites...

Academia:

'Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy' by Micea Eliade
This is the first book on everyone's recommended reading list, but I have to warn everyone that it's tough to get through. 500 pages of pure academia, though the writing style is not too dry (an easier read than say, Ronald Hutton or HR Ellis Davidson). Packed full of useful historical information. There is a reason it's on the top of everyone's list... if you can afford it (or borrow it), give it a try.

'Shamanism' by Piers Vitebsky
A lot more accessible than Eliade, wonderfully illustrated, well laid out and still packed with well rounded historical info. Also much more affordable than Eliade. If you only attempt one academic book on shamanism, this is a good entry. He has several other works, but I like this one as a starting point.

'The World of Shamanism: New Views of Ancient Traditions' by Roger Walsh.
I believe this one has gone through several name changes, but this is the copy that I bought many years ago. A well balanced and readable look at historical and modern shamanism from a psychological view rather than purely anthropological.

General Non Academic:

'Soul Retrieval' by Sandra Ingerman.
Core-shamanist look at soul retrieval via some case studies of Ingerman's clients. Beautifully written, emotive and sensitive.

'Trance-portation' by Diana Paxson
Core-shamanist work on trance and 'journeying'. Ironically, Paxson is a seidhrkona and Heathen and in other works is not core-shamanist, but this one is distinctly core-shamanism. The Otherworlds are treated as an internal landscape where nothing can harm you, which is true for the exercises she presents and for the target audience, but is not true for the external Otherworlds and hence a little frustrating for an experienced shamanist. In general an excellent beginners book for altered states of consciousness and working in what I call the Innerworlds.

'Wightridden: Paths of Northern Tradition Shamanism' by Raven Kaldera
He has a number of books out about Northern Tradition Shamanism but this is most useful one from a general shamanism perspective. A detailed look at different methods of attaining altered states of consciousness, included some lessons, songs and words directly from the spirits and deities he works with. A good look at ASC techniques beyond drumming.

'Thisworld' Shamanism

I chose that heading because these sources are excellent for working with landspirits and from a more bioregionalist animism context. It's considered shamanism, but I feel that it's a more specialised form that deals directly with the spirits of Thisworld, almost to the exclusion of the Otherworlds. Bioregional shamanism is a growing movement, and has some exciting things to show us.

'Ecoshamanism' by James Endredy
A look at Endredy's personal bioregional practice, written before 'bioregional shamanism' was a recognised subset of the shamanic community. I don't think he actually uses the term 'bioregional' at all (he calls his practice 'ecoshamanism') but when bioregional animism and shamanism hit the community, we'd seen much of it already in Endredy's work.

'Neolithic Shamanism' by Raven Kaldera and Galina Krasskova
The name says 'Neolithic' but the reality is that this is a book about working directly with your local landspirits and the spirits of your waterways, forests, mountains, wells and other natural places. It's not a complete system, but a set of exercises and practices that can be adopted by anyone seeking to flesh out a path with a bioregional or local context.

Bioregional Animism blog. It's a blog, and they are generally harder to use as resources, but this one has some very insightful comments and philosophies about the path.

A Sense of Natural Wonder blog by Lupa. All her old stuff is archived at Therioshamanism, but she's recently moved away from what she called therioshamanism (which was essentially a mixture of totemism and shamanism) into what is more aligned with bioregional animism (and has lost many of the shamanic elements). The new blog is less useful than the old one, unfortunately, but she still has some interesting things to say.



So... what resources do everyone else recommend? Favourites, not favourites, comments, discussion... have at it...

[Heka]

Is it worth linking discussions about any of these books to this thread (thinking of the Neolithic Shamanism thread I started, but can't link cos ForumRunner)?

[Rae'ya]

Re: Recommended Shamanism Resources Thread

Is it worth linking discussions about any of these books to this thread (thinking of the Neolithic Shamanism thread I started, but can't link cos ForumRunner)?

Yep, 'cept that I can't edit my post now... so...

We've had a prior discussion about Neolithic Shamanism (from a Northern Tradition / Heathen view) here.

[MaskedOne]

Re: Recommended Shamanism Resources Thread

It won't happen tonight (because I need sleep soon) but if you collect a list of links/other additional sources and PM me then I can see about updating the OP.

[Heka]

Thanks hunnies

[Jembru]

Re: Recommended Shamanism Resources Thread

How long have these threads been unlocked? I could have sworn they were, which is why I hadn't been posting like crazy here. Well, thank you to whoever unlocked them. Now time to roll up my sleeves and get posting.

It's that time of month again when my own private garden at the bank bears fruit, so I'm planning on finally getting myself a copy of Neolithic Shamanism that caught my eye when I first read this thread. It seems like a good place to start for me, saying as I'm currently more interested in 'this world' shamanism, as Rae'ya calls it. Coupled with the area and theology I'm working with, this book seems ideal (I've cast my eye over Heka's thread about the book too).

That said, I know that sooner or later I will be going in deeper with inner work. I'm taking it lightly for now though, due to my mental health over the last few years. Of course it's a bit of a catch 22 because I know my issues can't be fully addressed without going in deeper, but at the same time I need to be on relatively stable ground before I go there. The conclusion I came to then, is to start on the 'this world' side, strengthening my connection to spirit here, and continuing with the mindfulness/zanshin exercises I'm doing, which really seem to be helping me. I can then use this time to do some research and inform myself before I start moving in deeper with my inner work.

So I guess my question would be, what are your recommendations for a good over-view of the spirit worlds, and journeying?

I should maybe mention what my previous reading has been on the subject, as that might give an indication of the quality of information I've had so far.

My first encounter of modern shamanism was through 'Soul Rescuers' by Terry and Natallia O'Sullivan. I'm not sure the book is still in print, but this is Natallia's home page. The book itself wasn't instructional, but was about their work with assisting souls of the dead to move on.

Then a friend gave me a copy of Awakening Spirits by Tom Brown jr. This was the first method of shamanic trance that I learnt, and was largely aimed improving your perception in this world.

I didn't learn about inner worlds until after Rotokia appeared in my life. It grew around me without my deliberate effort, because I was meditating to a 'sounds of Africa' cassette (yeah, I said cassette.. it was a long time ago you know!), and my imagination was carried by the music/voices on the tape. I told a wiccan friend about it who told me that it's a common practice to have an inner world like that. I later saw it mentioned in various wicca 101 books and suchlike. However, it wasn't until it started to dominate my life and affect my mental health (the period where I thought I was Gollum, ah, happy days..), that I contacted Olivia Robertson of The Fellowship of Isis asking for help. She put me in touch with one of the organisation's hierophants, Jocelyn Almond, who ran a correspondence course with a heavy emphasis on these internal worlds. Olivia felt that Jocelyn was best able to teach me to safely use Rotokia. Her guidance was a lifeline, and I was able to bring Rotokia in check and use it to benefit my spirituality, rather than harm my mental health. I studied with Jocelyn through initiation, but quit before I was ordained into the FOI's priesthood. I tried to continue her training without her a few years later, but I wasn't really sure where it was going, so have no idea if what I've done is anything like what she had intended for me to do... but I won't go into that as I respect the confidentiality of the course content.

So.. much of what I know was from Jocelyn, but I also learnt a lot from Ross Heaven's The Journey to You and Spirit in The City (the latter of which I'm gradually working through again).

Finally, although fiction, I was very much inspired by the novel The Onion Girl, especially the way the spirit world is described. The onion girl, and perhaps more so the second in the Jilly series 'widdershins', is set between this world and the spirit world, and illustrates the process of going in deeper and facing the darker places of your psyche. It's very much shaped my own perception of what the spirit world is (although the world described in this series is all places overlapped; the gods exist there, as do egregores, faeries and animal spirits. Everyone's inner worlds also exist side by side and overlap there, and people go there to dream. So it's a little different.

Well, there you have it. The current depth of my knowledge. Any idea where I should be looking next? Is there anything I've touched upon that could be potentially harmful information, or am I roughly travelling in the right direction?

[Jembru]

Re: Recommended Shamanism Resources Thread

Well, I finally placed my order for 'Neolithic Shamanism'. I'm hoping it's not too heavy in the Norse aspect, and has plenty that I can adapt to fit my own practices (from what I've read here and in Heka's thread, I suspect it will be easily adaptable for Celtic shamanism). I discovered that when you buy a book on Amazon, it lets you read the kindle version while you're waiting. I don't like reading from a screen as a general rule, but at least I can start getting a feel for the book before it's even in my hands. That's pretty cool!

It's been way too long since I bought a new book that wasn't anything to do about Japanese or the 'moon runes' it's written with, so I'm quite excited. Fingers crossed I haven't wasted my money. :S

[thalassa]

Re: Recommended Shamanism Resources Thread

I really recommend The Hollow Bone: A Field Guide to Shamanism by Colleen Deatsman as an introduction to Shamanism--not as a how-to guide, but a background information guide, and on the subject of Animism (imo, connected to Shamanism)--The Wakeful World by Emma Restall Orr and Animism: Respecting the Living World by Graham Harvey.

[Jembru]

Re: Recommended Shamanism Resources Thread

I really recommend The Hollow Bone: A Field Guide to Shamanism by Colleen Deatsman as an introduction to Shamanism--not as a how-to guide, but a background information guide, and on the subject of Animism (imo, connected to Shamanism)--The Wakeful World by Emma Restall Orr and Animism: Respecting the Living World by Graham Harvey.

I've been wondering if I should look into animism anyway. What I'm describing seems a bit different from animism, but I definitely see some similarities. I'll see how I go with this book for now, and then maybe give Emma Restall's book a try next. Even if it's not for me, it doesn't hurt to inform yourself.

[Rae'ya]

Re: Recommended Shamanism Resources Thread

Jem... I'll get to this at some point... I'm not ignoring you!

I can't post properly on my tablet but I've been too busy for a proper PC posting frenzy... there are a few PaganForum things on my todo list and this is one of them, I promise!

[Rae'ya]

Re: Recommended Shamanism Resources Thread

So I guess my question would be, what are your recommendations for a good over-view of the spirit worlds, and journeying?

I haven't read any of the books you've listed, so I can't say what they're like. Honestly, I actually read very few non-academic shamanism books that aren't about a specific form of shamanism or cultural context, because they are mostly variations of core shamanist teachings and I get frustrated with the misinformation about Otherworlds work.

Trance-portation by Diana Paxson would be a good general overview of Innerworlds work. My only caution is that she starts talking about Otherworlds journeying, but then halfway through switches to talking about internal planes and internal guides and things. Just be aware of the difference, because the Otherworlds is NOT a place of safe, benevolent entities who will disappear if you will them away with your mind. But in general it's well laid out, starts with some good foundational exercises and provides you with a good core practice to launch from. It's one of the better overviews I've read.

Well, I finally placed my order for 'Neolithic Shamanism'. I'm hoping it's not too heavy in the Norse aspect, and has plenty that I can adapt to fit my own practices (from what I've read here and in Heka's thread, I suspect it will be easily adaptable for Celtic shamanism). I discovered that when you buy a book on Amazon, it lets you read the kindle version while you're waiting. I don't like reading from a screen as a general rule, but at least I can start getting a feel for the book before it's even in my hands. That's pretty cool!

Neolithic Shamanism is actually not at all Norse based once you get past the introduction chapter. Some of the crafting things in the later chapters are Northern Trad-ish, but for the most part this one is actually about local spirits and land spirits and would fit more into a 'bioregional shamanism' than a 'Northern Tradition shamanism' category. Both Galina and Raven are Northern Trad, so they write from that perspective, but the information in this book is actually pretty secular and will be really easy to adapt... partly because the only deities mentioned are Sunna and Mani (from memory... my copy is in storage right now) and partly because many of the non-landvaettr entities they discuss are common to both Germanic and Celtic folklore.

I've been wondering if I should look into animism anyway. What I'm describing seems a bit different from animism, but I definitely see some similarities. I'll see how I go with this book for now, and then maybe give Emma Restall's book a try next. Even if it's not for me, it doesn't hurt to inform yourself.

Animism is connected to shamanism but they are not inextricably linked, if that makes sense. You can be a shamanist without being an animist, and you can definitely be an animist without being a shamanist... but there are still some practitioners and sources that get things mixed up a bit. If you are interested in Thisworld type shamanism, then looking into animism is a really good place to start, as is bioregional based practices. But I suppose it depends on what you're hoping to achieve.

[monsno_leedra]

Re: Recommended Shamanism Resources Thread

I'd also look into Animatism as well as Animism as it holds aspects of animism but is also separate from it. While it is greatly diluted and corrupted in modern usage Totemism is a compliment to Animism. When your looking at spirit world upon the physical world and interaction Totemism under the older definitions does help clear up a number of vague issues and references. Well to me anyway others may disagree.

[Jembru]

Re: Recommended Shamanism Resources Thread

Trance-portation by Diana Paxson would be a good general overview of Innerworlds work. My only caution is that she starts talking about Otherworlds journeying, but then halfway through switches to talking about internal planes and internal guides and things. Just be aware of the difference, because the Otherworlds is NOT a place of safe, benevolent entities who will disappear if you will them away with your mind. But in general it's well laid out, starts with some good foundational exercises and provides you with a good core practice to launch from. It's one of the better overviews I've read.

Thanks for the reply! Your information is always gratefully received. Although my introduction to the Otherworlds came from fiction, it is painted in the Onion Girl as a dangerous place, inhabited by spirits that will recognise the bright spirit of a good-hearted person, and actively seek them out with the intention of doing them harm, it's a world where the living can actually die if they don't know what they're doing. Good beings exist there too, although most are neither good nor bad, but as capable of being either at any given time, as we humans are. Even the gods can be dangerous there.

There was another novel actually. A sci-fi called 'Stark'. I think this is where I got my concept of the 'between worlds'. In that novel too, people can die in the between world, a kind of darker dreamworld (it's a pretty horrific book actually now I come to remember it, saved only by the inclusion of a city inhabited by cats!). So it's somehow in my conscious and subconscious that the Otherworlds aren't a playground. In fact, I have stopped attempting to revisit dreams, out of concern that it's not my inner-worlds I'm visiting. Those two journeys I had were just too real and felt too different from my usual inner work, so I'm keeping away until I have a better understanding of where I was going.

Neolithic Shamanism is actually not at all Norse based once you get past the introduction chapter. Some of the crafting things in the later chapters are Northern Trad-ish, but for the most part this one is actually about local spirits and land spirits and would fit more into a 'bioregional shamanism' than a 'Northern Tradition shamanism' category. Both Galina and Raven are Northern Trad, so they write from that perspective, but the information in this book is actually pretty secular and will be really easy to adapt... partly because the only deities mentioned are Sunna and Mani (from memory... my copy is in storage right now) and partly because many of the non-landvaettr entities they discuss are common to both Germanic and Celtic folklore.

I'm really glad I didn't let the title sway me. I've had the book a few days now and it just feels so perfect for me. From what I've read so far, it seems pretty similar to Druidism in many aspects. With the exception of some of the species they mention not existing in the British Isles, it's close enough to my own practices that I barely notice that they're coming from a Norse angle, and what doesn't fit can be easily tailored I think. Even the activities.. I mean, I did the 'praying for a seed' thing every year from the Spring Equinox, until Samhain, when I was in a Wiccan coven, and I daresay this wasn't unique to my version of Wicca.

What interests me most, is the way they've split the sections into the 9 Worlds. You see.. my inner work from a few years ago, took place in inner temples, this included the Temple of the Earth, Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Moon (at which point I discontinued this training). I don't know where the concept came from, as it was when I was training under the Fellowship of Isis, but it sounds like it could have been from Kabbalah, the next temple being the Temple of the Stars. (I was going to add some images from my BoS here, but while the pages are all lovingly decorated, my handwriting is embarrassing, so I just edited them out ^^).

The temple work was something that stood out to me as I was re-reading my BoS recently, and I felt that I'd like to continue with it, but didn't know where to go with it. I think then, I might like to match my inner work to my outer work, and visit a corresponding temple for each of these 9 Worlds. I'm sure this isn't where my teacher had been heading with this, but as my path has changed quite a lot since then, it seems like an appropriate way to pick up on my temple work again.

Animism is connected to shamanism but they are not inextricably linked, if that makes sense. You can be a shamanist without being an animist, and you can definitely be an animist without being a shamanist... but there are still some practitioners and sources that get things mixed up a bit. If you are interested in Thisworld type shamanism, then looking into animism is a really good place to start, as is bioregional based practices. But I suppose it depends on what you're hoping to achieve.

It's something I'd definitely like to look into a bit more. I'm not sure it describes me exactly, but I need to better inform myself before I can be sure. It's not something I'd say I feel strongly drawn to, so much as hearing animists describe their path, it sounds oddly similar to my own.

- - - Updated - - -

I'd also look into Animatism as well as Animism as it holds aspects of animism but is also separate from it. While it is greatly diluted and corrupted in modern usage Totemism is a compliment to Animism. When your looking at spirit world upon the physical world and interaction Totemism under the older definitions does help clear up a number of vague issues and references. Well to me anyway others may disagree.

I can see how this could also fit with my worldview. I've so much to do and research in the meantime, so it could be a little while before I'm asking more questions on animism and related subjects, but it's definitely on my list of things to look into.

[monsno_leedra]

Re: Recommended Shamanism Resources Thread

Just an aside but parts of what your saying Jembru remind me of the Arthurian and Welsh tales.

Consider the Green Knight and his connection to the land cycle. Perhaps the actual story of Arthur and the puling of Excalibur and how it's assumed to be a church yard of some sort but some of the early writings also suggest a overhanging arch of tree's and such which might suggest more of a Druidic or Avalonian influence. The idea of such a weapon being given to hold dominion over the land and all its inhabitants by a supernatural entity falls into the spiritual, physical and dimensional plains of reality. Even the notion of the King and the Land are one falls into some aspects of Animism where the king, ruler, etc is supposed to have so much earthly power that no normal person can walk in their footprints less they be destroyed by the lingering power. An aspect that gets tied into the notion of the King, Ruler, Emperor, etc not being allowed to touch the land among their people.

Like I said though just an aside though that occurred to me.

[Jembru]

Re: Recommended Shamanism Resources Thread

Just an aside but parts of what your saying Jembru remind me of the Arthurian and Welsh tales.

Consider the Green Knight and his connection to the land cycle. Perhaps the actual story of Arthur and the puling of Excalibur and how it's assumed to be a church yard of some sort but some of the early writings also suggest a overhanging arch of tree's and such which might suggest more of a Druidic or Avalonian influence. The idea of such a weapon being given to hold dominion over the land and all its inhabitants by a supernatural entity falls into the spiritual, physical and dimensional plains of reality. Even the notion of the King and the Land are one falls into some aspects of Animism where the king, ruler, etc is supposed to have so much earthly power that no normal person can walk in their footprints less they be destroyed by the lingering power. An aspect that gets tied into the notion of the King, Ruler, Emperor, etc not being allowed to touch the land among their people.

Like I said though just an aside though that occurred to me.

I wondered why no one had replied to me! I hadn't sent my reply. I remember now that before pressing 'send' I thought my wording sounded potentially offensive so I wanted to come back with a clear head so I can explain what I actually mean without sounding like I'm attacking a large portion of Paganism. It certainly isn't my intention to come off that way, so lets try this again then.

You're probably right. I should look into mythology, or at least, there's surely a lot of inspiring material to be found in mythology. For some reason though, I'm actually not very inspired by mythology. I know, I know.. I'm a pagan and I should be into history, myths and legends. I'm just not though. I've only recently started to learn about the history of the people who have inhabited the British Isles, and only out of a sense of duty (although I admit that I'm getting more interested, the more I learn). I wonder sometimes if it's a British thing. I think because in some parts of the world, like the US, people arrived from elsewhere, and there is a good mixture. So people have an interest in valuing their heritage. It's like, knowing your blood type if you're Japanese (I still don't know mine and it amazes my Japanese friends that that's even possible). Here, some people do care about their heritage of course, but as a general rule, we're less bothered. We're all just British.

This feeling is most likely what turns me off from exploring the more mainstream pagan faiths, which are so dripped in mythology and inspire their followers with art, poetry and tales from a distant time. Indeed, I turned away from Kemeticism because the humanisation of the Gods killed the magic for me. Sure, I use Celtic names (where known) for those local beings I acknowledge, but if I were to start reading poems about how Brigantia tricked a snake into having sex with a boar and that became a pixie... I'd soon start looking for a new name. The fact that I see the gods and spirits as faceless and emotionless until they meet a human believer, is probably related to this feeling. I don't want my gods to be human, that just doesn't work for me. My ancestors needed them to be, because that was the best way they were able to understand something too far outside of their comprehension. Modern pagans may of course, as a matter of preference, assign these same characteristics to their gods, but I think on some level, we've evolved as a race more than we are consciously aware, and we're able to interact with a spiritual being without needing to draw a face on it, or write it into some kind of soap opera. Please don't take that line as 'we're better than that', it's not what I mean. It's more like... having the potential to use both your left hand or right hand, while maybe once we could only use our right. It makes little difference which you choose, but you have a choice where it once didn't exist.

Yet at the same time, I can take inspiration from fiction. Go figure.

I think I've successfully reworded my points, but just in case, I'll reiterate; I have absolutely no intention of causing offence with my strange opinions. I'm just trying to explain how my spiritual world-view operates.