Path of the Shaman
The Path of the Shaman is book two in Anna Franklin’s Eight Paths of Magic series, exploring the role of the shaman, the mediator between the world of humankind and the world of spirits. This book explores, from the perspective of native British shamanism, the shamanic cosmos, the web of power, the shamanic crisis in modern Britain, with accounts from Anna, Nigel Pennick and Kathy Cocks, becoming a shaman, healing and soul work, as well as working with the spirits of the land, and a comprehensive guide to animal and plant allies.
"I think that I am wary about books relating to shamanism being part Native American. Too often these books purport to be able to make you a shaman in 10 easy steps and so it was with hope for a difference that I picked up the copy of "Path of the Shaman" and began to read right from the beginning what I knew would be a different book. Dispelling the modern myths about shamans, Anna Franklin teaches from the first words on the first page that what has gone before is a twisting, a changing of the truth about shamans. She then delves in to some very personal stories about people called to this path and each of their personal numinous experiences. Having disabused us of our preconceived notions, this helps us understand more deeply just what she has been explaining though example. Her section on changing consciousness is precise. It may not sit well with modern neo-pagans to be confronted with such un-PC methods of altering the mind but she only scored bonus points with me for doing the right thing in not sitting in the 'bunnies and light' camp. She goes on to explain more about ways of beginning your journey of travelling the cosmos before introducing us to the world of spirits. Breaking down and explaining the world of spirits, she makes this section accessible to most readers but be aware - to someone brand new to all this you may get slightly left behind. She progresses to an excellent chapter on animal powers and thankfully follows it with a section on their often ignored counterparts - plant allies. She pulls no punches in this section and all plants are investigated. With recipes for flying ointment, trance incense and shamans tea among others, this book does not pull any punches. After the preparation of the knowledge for the journey, she leads us in to the final chapter on shamanic practice. I was moved beyond words by the beginning of this book. It reminded me of my traumatic numinous experiences which I have studiously tried to forget. It woke in me those vestiges of that path which I did not wish to traverse. I learned more, understood more and recognized more than I had before." New Moon reviews
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Available from Lear Books for overseas readers (ships worldwide)
