I need some Shaman related data please...

[Shaman of Bliss]

Hello everyone I was wondering If anyone had like specific to Shaman practices? I would really like some help trying to figure myself out, a link or a book title or something would be really sweet, thanks.

[Sobek]

i love the picture, but dont you think it's a little big?

best off asking Eretik, she's our local Shaman type, she also has some of the best links around here too. ive developed an interest in Shaman practice and stuff of the sort, though i prefer indian Shamanism above all others.

[spinneyhex]

If you have Anglo Saxon roots you could look into Brian Bates 'way of wyrd'
http://www.wayofwyrd.com/

[Eretik]

Here are two to get you started, I 'll put up some more later.

http://angelfire.com/electronic/awakeni ... anism.html

this is by the wanderling, there are highlighted terms which take you into more pages of information, I recommend taking your time and reading all of it. It goes into great detail and depth.

http://deoxy.org/shaover.htm

this one has a recommended reading list, and is a good overview.

I'll dig out everything I have, there's quite a lot!

[jcrowfoot]

Shaman_of_Bliss: I have some books for you.

*<i>Ecstatic Body Postures</i> by Belinda Gore is a very good guide to shamanic journeying. While it's not culture specific (most of the best guides are), they do talk about where the postures mentioned in the book come from.

The techniques described within are very effective. I went to a group for more than a year that did this once a week, and I was able to have successful journeys every time without drugs.

The main idea of the book is that some pictures of people in unusual postures were actually used by shamans in various cultures to facilitate shamanic journeys. Usually this is done with a drum or rattle accompaniment.


There are some postures that show up over and over again all over the world. These are thought to be particularly effective, and used for specific kinds journeys. (e.g. healing, transformation, etc) The really interesting thing is that they actually studied them and did testing with anthropology students and other volunteers. Their experiences are described. I can't recommend this book enough!



*I have mentioned Michael Horner's <i>Shamanic Drumming</i> CDs elsewhere, but I thought I'd repeat the knowledge here. I find the singing bowl useful for other types of meditation as well as journeying.

*<i>The Book of Shamanic Healing</i>, by Christine Madden another non- tradition-specific guide, is also good. She's an eclectic shaman who speaks of her personal experiences and the techniques she uses in healing. Healing is a central practice within shamanism. Of course, techniques for healing can be used for other things, too.

Yes, it's a Llewellyn book, but actually a decent one.

*<i>The Wisdom of the Serpent: The Myths of Death, Rebirth and Resurrection</i> by Joseph L. Henderson and Maud Oakes

This is not a book about shamanism. It's a book about myth, and is very *very* handy with coping with the transformation and death themes often found within the context of shamanic journeys. It's right on my bookshelf next to Starhawks book <i>The Pagan book of Living and Dying</i>.
It's rather Jungian. You can find it in your local library, I'm sure. Read it before you buy it to see if it helps you as much as it did me.

The nice thing is that these folks are more academic and thorough than Joseph Campbell, but is still highly readable.

*<i>Images and Symbols</i> by Marcia Eliade (yes, he’s a guy) This book is also not specifically about shamanism, but he does talk about how symbolism is used in so-called “primitive” cultures. It is more difficult to read than the others I’ve mentioned, but well worth the effort. This is a classic that all anthropology students read.
Another that will almost certianly find at your local library.

He also talks about some shamanic techniques and what they represented, but it's not exactly a how-to guide. It's mostly useful for understanding how people thought back then, which in turn helps with interpreting what you experience.

Hope this helps.

[Shaman of Bliss]

This has all been very helpful and I'm going to write down those book titles and head off to my library and thank you for the web links Eretik! I looked those over and found them to be most insightful. And yes the new picture is kinda big, but I don't want to make it smaller cause it's sooooooooo kool!

[Eretik]

The wanderling's information is particularly good, it will take a bit of time to get through it all, but again, I recommend the pages behind the highlighted terms. Here are some more links, it's a mixed bag, but all are relevant.....

http://www.sunnyway.com/runes/

This is a Runic site but the pages on Seidr and Galdr are relevant to Shamanic practice in Northern Europe.

http://www.dhushara.com/book/genaro/sham.htm

Based on trad. Shamanism, describes the nagual/tonal nature of the soul [South Americas and Sami/Siberian]

http://www.dhushara.com/book/twelve/tw1 ... chor387904

describes traditional trance practices and links to other pages on Shamanism from same site.

http://www.elfhill.com/leighann/writings/eshamn.html

More Northern European Shamanism, from a non-Asatru perspective. Again, more pages on same site worth reading.

http://www.shamans-cave.com/

this is comprehensive, with lots of good sense.

http://www.crystalinks.com/shamanism.html

this is a bit too fluffy and generic for me, but it's here in the name of objectivity.

http://www.cauldronfarm.com/writing/shaman_compare.html

explains the differences between Traditional Shamanism and core shamanism.

http://www.finland.com/northern_magic.htm

From the home of The Sami people.

http://dmoz.org/Society/Religion_and_Sp ... Shamanism/

not sure about this one as I haven't checked it yet.

http://www.shamana.co.uk/mongolian_shamanism/index.html

The practice of Altai Shamanism.

http://www.angelfire.com/journal/cathbo ... anism.html

Explains the difference between Native American belief and trad.Shamanism, also explains about new-age fluff.

This should get you started. Let me know when you 're ready for more.lol.

[Sercee]

Wow. I'm not much of a shamanist myself, but that's a lot of interesting stuff! Thanks!

[Eretik]

More than you know, you are Sercee. A lot of Wiccan and other neo - pagan belief systems and paths have Shamanic practices within them. Aha.

[Sercee]

Tee hee
I'll always be a student, I hope that never changes. Yay! I learned something new, thanks Eretik! Now I have an excuse to start looking at the prices on the Shaman book section *muahaha*

[Istaqa]

Be prepared for a lot of reading but you can find answers to just about anything shaman at

http://p199.ezboard.com/bspiritlodge83569

[Eretik]

I looked at the above site. I didn't like it. It seems New agey and fluffy to me, never mind the fact that it's full of 'Native American Shamanism' which the Native Americans themselves do not seem to want to be associated with, according to all I 've studied and read. Many tribes are distancing themselves from Neopagan Shamanism - and I 'd like to categorically state - I do not practice this either and would not like to be associated with it,myself.

[Sobek]

i like native american shamanism the most. but basically knowledge of other forms is good.

[Sercee]

Sobek, the point Eretik was making is that the Native Americans don't have Shamans. Some of the links she posted earlier in this topic make that clear (painfully in some cases!). Shamanism is similar in a lot of ways to what their Medicine Men/Women do, but not the same and they tend to take offense to being called Shamans.

[Sobek]

well then theres that lol unfortunately i havent been able to read all the links yet... but i like what they do whatever they decide to call it.