Description
Shamanism has been practiced for thousands years and is still relevant to us today. If offers us simple and effective ways to connect with the magic of the earth and shows us how to use the natural energy of the sacred circle of life to empower our lives, promote healing, achieve our natural potential and access our inner power. Easy-To-Use Shamanism provides an accessible book for the general market, illustrated with stunning shamanic images. - Focuses on traditional rituals based on Native American and other tribal sources - Includes the Medicine Wheel, spirit helpers and animals - Provides rituals, exercises, totem celebrations, symbols and oracles
Reviews
The first thing you do when you see a copy of Jan Morgan Wood's - Easy to-use Shamanism is say "Wow!" and at that point you haven't even opened the cover. Jan Morgan Wood's artwork is not only stunning, it is inspirational. Full of colour, vibrancy, and life. I probably had the book a week before I even thought about reading the words. The pictures are so powerful, you fall into them, and find meaning and wisdom.
The idea behind the book is to introduce people to Shamanism, in this case it is the influence of Native American Shamanism. JMW takes us by the hand and gently walks us down the Shaman's path.
First, she introduces the idea of the interconnectedness of all things. As a short ritual for this, she suggests, "Bend down and touch the earth with your hand." Pausing you take a moment to feel Mother Earth and Father Sky and all relatives in Creation, sending thoughts of love and balance to the whole Web of Life. Standing up you take a breath and focus. "You may find in that in that instant the Web gives a response of some kind: the cry of a bird, the stirring breeze." A beautiful, first taste of connection.
The next page shows how to meet your sacred parents; turning the page we have an explanation of the art of smudging and the different herbs that can be used; turning again and we focus of the life quest; the next page describes the benefits of silence. Each of these are accompanied by a fabulous painting and a short ritual to help the reader more fully understand and investigate for themselves.
We are next introduced to the elements and which point UK Pagans will say, "Wait a minute, she's got Air in the North." That's the way her Medicine Wheel works. Water in the South, Earth in the West, and Fire in the East. Each element has a Quality, Realm, Human Aspect, and Challenge. There is also a Time correspondence: past, present, future, and all time. Understanding the elements, we are taught how to build a Medicine Wheel. I am very taken by the idea of Earth Riding where you lie belly down on the ground and have a heart-to-heart with Mother Earth.
Once we have gained an understanding of the elements, the plant and animal realms, received healing from Mother Earth and learned how to keep balance, we are taken into the deeper aspects of the Shaman's world. This covers the more spiritual aspects of their work: of spirit guides, the plants, animals and stones; journeying; finding power places; and dancing with spirits.
The book then explores our relationships and living space. Intimate relationships are know as 'coupledom'. Besides commitment and preparing for a child, it also tackles dismantling a relationship.
As an introduction to Shamanism, this is probably one of the most helpful books I have encountered. Every page has either a painting, a graphic, or a unique colourful border making this book a joy to read. Although I have become familiar with the images in this book, I still find something new and uplifting every time I open it.
