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Book Review-A Shamanic Herbal: Plant Teachers and Animal Medicines by Matthew Wood
Photo Credits: Stock photo of A Shamanic Herbal, courtesy of publisher A Shamanic Herbal: Plant Teachers and Animal Medicines by Matthew Wood is a 408 page paperback book published by Healing Arts Press, a division of Inner Traditions Publishing. A Shamanic Herbal lays the groundwork for the herbal and animal medicines within from the get-go, starting with theory, philosophy, cosmological views, and the like, before moving on to the Plant and Animal medicines. The Plant and Animal medicine sections themselves are extensive, detailed and well written, drawing on the author’s expertise in herbalism and shamanism. Various plants are attributed to a number of different animals, and shamanic wisdom from multiple shamanic traditions around the…
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Book Review- Shamanic Teachings of the Condor: Encounters with the Mystical Traditions of the Andes by Martha Winona Travers, Ph.D.
Photo Credits: Stock Photo from Publisher, Shamanic Teachings of the Condor Shamanic Teachings of the Condor: Encounters with the Mystical Traditions of the Andes by Martha Winona Travers, Ph.D., is a 170 page book, published by Bear & Co., an imprint of Inner Traditions Publishing. Shamanic Teachings of the Condor is not an outsider attempt at assimilating an indigenous people’s beautiful, and ancient, beliefs, but rather, an open-hearted account of decades’ experiences with what the Andean kichwa people refer to as an iachak, or medicine person/shaman. The wise one who taught, and developed a positive relationship with Travers, was Taita Alberto. Throughout the pages, you can feel, and I will make use of that word a lot in…
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The Modern Merlin’s Corner: The Magick in Music
Photo Credits: Shutterstock photo “Spiritual Music” As I began writing this column entry, I realized that to some, this entry may seem as if I’m bragging, etc., so I wanted to take a moment to explain my reasoning for writing about it at all, which is two-fold: 1. To give thanks, and 2. To Share Wisdom and Magick I’ve learned and gained through these experiences. Before moving any further, I want to thank the Gods and Goddesses, Ancestors, and Spirits for the blessings I’ve received this year. This article is a direct result of those blessings and lots, and lots of hard work on my end to make certain goals…
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Interview — David Shi, Author of The Mysteries and Magic of North Asian Shamanism
Linda Bischoff (PaganPages.Org): In your book “Spirit Voices” you talk about your background and your path to where you are today – is there anything else that you’d like to add? What do you see your future path looking like? David Shi: Yes – thank you. I grew up in what I would term an Atheist family meaning that I was raised by parents with a mindset of believing in hard science; somewhat of a STEM perspective. The ancestral practices in the book are coming from my ancestors who began appearing in my dreams when I was in my mid to late teens. It was in this way that I…
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Book Review – Shamanic Reiki Drumming: Intuitive Healing with Sound and Vibration by Faye Johnstone
Book Review Shamanic Reiki Drumming: Intuitive Healing with Sound and Vibration By Faye Johnstone Publisher: Findhorn Press 208 Pages Release Date: August 15, 2023 The sound of the drum beat softly as I read Faye Johnstone’s Shamanic Reiki Drumming; Intuitive Healing with Sound and Vibration. It’s the first book I’ve read with my drum by my side, periodically drumming and reading as I ventured along the veil of words and worlds. I loved every minute of it. Faye provides extensive materials for beginners as well as the validation and support needed for practitioners in the wide field of healing arts. This book will obviously draw readers who…
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Book Review – Spirit Voices: The Mysteries and Magic of North Asian Shamanism by David Shi
Book Review Spirit Voices: The Mysteries and Magic of North Asian Shamanism by David Shi Publisher: Weiser Books 275 Pages Release Date: May 1, 2023 The book begins with a discussion on the Roots of Shamanism. While he grew up in New Jersey David did not wish to embrace his Asian-American roots especially during his teen years. Although he became interested in witchcraft and Neo-Paganism in high school he truly began his learning journey in 2016 when he travelled to Hong Kong. There he visited Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines in Japan, mosques and Hindu temples in Indonesia, Buddhist and folk temples in Hong Kong and…
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Book Review – Witchcraft and the Shamanic Journey by Kenneth Johnson
Book Review Witchcraft and the Shamanic Journey by Kenneth Johnson Publisher: Crossed Crow Books 233 Pages Published: January 31, 2023 Are Witches Shamans? Where does witchcraft originate? Is it related to Shamanism and the Shamanic Journey? According to Kenneth Johnson, Witches are the direct decedents of the remnants of European Shamanism. He uses history, written observations by historical figures, courtroom confessions during the European witch trials, and anthropology and archaeology studies to show us the path taken from ancient shamanism, through medieval witch-scares, to modern day witchcraft. First we’re shown what it means to be a shaman, how shamans are spiritual healers who go to the Otherworlds to…
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Book Review – Shamanic Dreaming: Connecting with Your Inner Visionary by Carol Day
Book Review Shamanic Dreaming: Connecting with Your Inner Visionary by Carol Day Publisher: Findhorn Press 192 Pages Release Date: March 16, 2023 In “Shamanic Dreaming: Connecting with Your Inner Visionary,” Carol Day teaches a formula she created to help others “enter a space where connection, embodies practice and open-mindedness can all be achieved.” Called the “Presence and the Three Pillars,” Day illustrates this visionary practice with the concepts of trust, knowing, and nature forming a triangle within a circle. “Presence is the central pole of the entire visionary practice. It is what runs through everything. It is the act of being present and of not running…
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Book Review – Shamanic Creativity: Free the Imagination with Rituals, Energy Work, & Spirit Journeying
Book Review Shamanic Creativity: Free the Imagination with Rituals, Energy Work, & Spirit Journeying by Evelyn C. Rysdyk Published by Destiny Books 256 pages Publication date: January 25, 2022 I have been on an Evelyn Rysdyk reading binge in the last few months. In the April 2022 edition of Pagan Pages, I reviewed her book, co-written with Bhola Banstola, The Nepalese Shamanic Path. I was lucky enough to have another of her books on hand to review – Shamanic Creativity: Free the Imagination with Rituals, Energy and Spirit Journeying. Working from her underlying worldview of shamanic practice, Rysdyk shows us how to examine our relationship to the fear…
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Book Review – The Way of Abundance and Joy: The Shamanic Teachings of don Alberto Taxo by Shirley Blancke
Book Review The Way of Abundance and Joy: The Shamanic Teachings of don Alberto Taxo by Shirley Blancke Publisher: Destiny Books Publication Date: February 15, 2022 272 pages Sharing ancient Andean shamanic wisdom and practices with people in the United States for more than 20 years, don Alberto Taxo explains, “So those who have the qualities of the power of the Eagle need to develop a bit more the power of the Condor: perception, intuition, feeling, flowing. And those who have developed Condor power a lot and lack the Eagle power need to cultivate qualities of logic.” Recognized as a master yachak (a shaman of the elements), don…
