Comments on: The Way of the Shaman – Michael Harner http://paganbookreviews.com/2007/09/24/the-way-of-the-shaman-michael-harner/ Book reviews from a pagan bibliophiliac Thu, 27 May 2010 15:54:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Darkstar http://paganbookreviews.com/2007/09/24/the-way-of-the-shaman-michael-harner/#comment-1614 Darkstar Sat, 09 Feb 2008 15:37:00 +0000 http://lupabitch.wordpress.com/2007/09/24/the-way-of-the-shaman-michael-harner/#comment-1614 Oh don't get me wrong. I agree with you. Just added my opinion :P Keep up the good work. ^_^ Oh don’t get me wrong. I agree with you. Just added my opinion :P
Keep up the good work. ^_^

]]> By: lupabitch http://paganbookreviews.com/2007/09/24/the-way-of-the-shaman-michael-harner/#comment-1610 lupabitch Sat, 09 Feb 2008 06:57:32 +0000 http://lupabitch.wordpress.com/2007/09/24/the-way-of-the-shaman-michael-harner/#comment-1610 Darkstar--I'll agree that he's done a lot to improve the awareness of shamanism, as well the the cultures it comes out of. I just don't think core shamanism is the do-all and end-all of shamanic practice that a lot of people seem to think. Qarka--Where does "I don't think this is a complete view of shamanism" equal "I can't reach an altered state of consciousness to save my life"? Darkstar–I’ll agree that he’s done a lot to improve the awareness of shamanism, as well the the cultures it comes out of. I just don’t think core shamanism is the do-all and end-all of shamanic practice that a lot of people seem to think.

Qarka–Where does “I don’t think this is a complete view of shamanism” equal “I can’t reach an altered state of consciousness to save my life”?

]]> By: Qarka http://paganbookreviews.com/2007/09/24/the-way-of-the-shaman-michael-harner/#comment-1609 Qarka Sat, 09 Feb 2008 06:50:27 +0000 http://lupabitch.wordpress.com/2007/09/24/the-way-of-the-shaman-michael-harner/#comment-1609 Awesome book. Michael really knows what he is writing about! Non-Ordinary reality is there whether or not you are able to perceive--hey, do not blame the techniques outlined in Michaelś book if you are unable to reach non-ordinary reality. peace & light and may you find your spirit guardians by the pond :-) Awesome book. Michael really knows what he is writing about! Non-Ordinary reality is there whether or not you are able to perceive–hey, do not blame the techniques outlined in Michaelś book if you are unable to reach non-ordinary reality.

peace & light and may you find your spirit guardians by the pond :-)

]]> By: Darkstar http://paganbookreviews.com/2007/09/24/the-way-of-the-shaman-michael-harner/#comment-1604 Darkstar Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:33:51 +0000 http://lupabitch.wordpress.com/2007/09/24/the-way-of-the-shaman-michael-harner/#comment-1604 I too have this book. I have recommended it to those wanting to learn shamanism as a very basic beginning to a start. It gives a good view of some aspects of shamanism, but I also warn people not to set anything in stone. I also think it's rather dry and unsatisfying to those with more knowledge, as it has no culture to it. But you have to admit his works were instrumental in bringing shamanism into American culture, for better or worse. (Some people are just BUTCHERING the practice to make money from it.) I too have this book. I have recommended it to those wanting to learn shamanism as a very basic beginning to a start. It gives a good view of some aspects of shamanism, but I also warn people not to set anything in stone.
I also think it’s rather dry and unsatisfying to those with more knowledge, as it has no culture to it.
But you have to admit his works were instrumental in bringing shamanism into American culture, for better or worse. (Some people are just BUTCHERING the practice to make money from it.)

]]> By: Walking With The Night http://paganbookreviews.com/2007/09/24/the-way-of-the-shaman-michael-harner/#comment-1522 Walking With The Night Tue, 08 Jan 2008 20:46:33 +0000 http://lupabitch.wordpress.com/2007/09/24/the-way-of-the-shaman-michael-harner/#comment-1522 I appreciated this review on the book! Just found your website today, and will spend some time here to see what else you have to say! I appreciated this review on the book! Just found your website today, and will spend some time here to see what else you have to say!

]]> By: lupabitch http://paganbookreviews.com/2007/09/24/the-way-of-the-shaman-michael-harner/#comment-1072 lupabitch Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:10:41 +0000 http://lupabitch.wordpress.com/2007/09/24/the-way-of-the-shaman-michael-harner/#comment-1072 My thought on that as an author is that, especially if you're given the chance to put out a new edition of your work, then update it accordingly. Address people's concerns, even if it's just in a new introduction. Surely there were indigenous people concerned about the work by the time the 10th anniversary edition was getting underway. While Harner did do some very valuable work with this book, there are some concerns about both it and the Foundation for Shamanic Studies that both indigenous and neopagan people have raised. Additionally, I still stand by my point that he offered a very incomplete picture of what shamanism is. If he had presented it as a derivative of *some* of the practices of the Jivaro shamans he had trained with, it might be different. However, it seemed to be a much broader presentation of shamanism. I've met people who have read the book who were convinced that sucking shamanism is a universal technique, and that all shamans have power animals (there are at least a few traditions that do not). Finally, I still take issue with his somewhat patronizing view on what "Westerners" want and expect of shamanism. While I understand that he probably was affected by the restrictions of academia, he probably should have made it more clear that these were the parameters he had been working within. My thought on that as an author is that, especially if you’re given the chance to put out a new edition of your work, then update it accordingly. Address people’s concerns, even if it’s just in a new introduction. Surely there were indigenous people concerned about the work by the time the 10th anniversary edition was getting underway. While Harner did do some very valuable work with this book, there are some concerns about both it and the Foundation for Shamanic Studies that both indigenous and neopagan people have raised.

Additionally, I still stand by my point that he offered a very incomplete picture of what shamanism is. If he had presented it as a derivative of *some* of the practices of the Jivaro shamans he had trained with, it might be different. However, it seemed to be a much broader presentation of shamanism. I’ve met people who have read the book who were convinced that sucking shamanism is a universal technique, and that all shamans have power animals (there are at least a few traditions that do not).

Finally, I still take issue with his somewhat patronizing view on what “Westerners” want and expect of shamanism. While I understand that he probably was affected by the restrictions of academia, he probably should have made it more clear that these were the parameters he had been working within.

]]> By: Blaize Clement http://paganbookreviews.com/2007/09/24/the-way-of-the-shaman-michael-harner/#comment-1071 Blaize Clement Tue, 06 Nov 2007 17:09:57 +0000 http://lupabitch.wordpress.com/2007/09/24/the-way-of-the-shaman-michael-harner/#comment-1071 Your reservations about Harner's book are undoubtedly well founded, but you have to remember that when he wrote it, his ideas were highly controversial. I was in a training session of his at American University in Washington, DC, in the building for international studies, no less, when police came to throw us out. Somebody had called them to complain that Harner was "practicing voodoo." Instead of knuckling, Harner locked the door and continued to drum and lead us through a shamanic journey. He may not have presented the material as well as he might now, but he definitely lived what he taught. Your reservations about Harner’s book are undoubtedly well founded, but you have to remember that when he wrote it, his ideas were highly controversial. I was in a training session of his at American University in Washington, DC, in the building for international studies, no less, when police came to throw us out. Somebody had called them to complain that Harner was “practicing voodoo.” Instead of knuckling, Harner locked the door and continued to drum and lead us through a shamanic journey. He may not have presented the material as well as he might now, but he definitely lived what he taught.

]]> By: dulcimergoddess http://paganbookreviews.com/2007/09/24/the-way-of-the-shaman-michael-harner/#comment-850 dulcimergoddess Wed, 26 Sep 2007 21:05:40 +0000 http://lupabitch.wordpress.com/2007/09/24/the-way-of-the-shaman-michael-harner/#comment-850 I've read Tedlock's book, and would also recommend it highly. I’ve read Tedlock’s book, and would also recommend it highly.

]]> By: lupabitch http://paganbookreviews.com/2007/09/24/the-way-of-the-shaman-michael-harner/#comment-845 lupabitch Mon, 24 Sep 2007 23:33:30 +0000 http://lupabitch.wordpress.com/2007/09/24/the-way-of-the-shaman-michael-harner/#comment-845 It's on my to-read list, though I don't yet have a copy. It’s on my to-read list, though I don’t yet have a copy.

]]> By: Lilith http://paganbookreviews.com/2007/09/24/the-way-of-the-shaman-michael-harner/#comment-844 Lilith Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:23:24 +0000 http://lupabitch.wordpress.com/2007/09/24/the-way-of-the-shaman-michael-harner/#comment-844 I would like to see your review of a book I'm just finishing called The Woman in the Shaman's Body: Reclaiming the Feminine in Religion and Medicine by Barbara Tedlock. I've really enjoyed it, and it covers a lot more shamanic techniques and gender-shifting among other things. I would like to see your review of a book I’m just finishing called The Woman in the Shaman’s Body: Reclaiming the Feminine in Religion and Medicine by Barbara Tedlock. I’ve really enjoyed it, and it covers a lot more shamanic techniques and gender-shifting among other things.

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