Shamanistic Witchcraft Help.

[fangedeshana]

I've always been interested is anything tribal and spiritual, I'm not sure why I haven't looked into this sooner.

I'm looking for infomration on Shamanistic Witchcraft, as well as any mythos or history about Shamans and their practice. I plan to get "The Temple of Shamanistic Witchcraft" by Christopher Penczak when I can scrounge up enough money as well as a few of his other books that look like good reads, but since I am broke, and saving for school, I need some information to keep me going until I can get my hands on some books.

[fangedeshana]

For anyone else looking for information on this subject too, I have found a few links...

http://www.pathofthefeather.com/ (http://www.pathofthefeather.com/)

http://www.branwenscauldron.com/resources/shaman.html (http://www.branwenscauldron.com/resources/shaman.html)

I'll edit if/when I find anymore. Oh, and does MW have a 'traditions' Sticky? Much like the BOS Sticky, only with links on information on various Pagan trads? I think that would be a great idea, especially for new pagans.

[Rick]

Some of the best works on shamanism are by Michael Harner: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/104-6936876-1763924 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form//ref=nosim/mysticwickson-20)

[Ben Gruagach]

This is another example of how finding the information you're looking for all depends on how you define key terms.

In this case, if by "shamanistic" you mean drawing on the mythology and practices of Native American cultures, then your best bet is to check out books on Native culture, myth, etc. Ernest Thompson Seton's work (particularly "Gospel of the Red Man") might be helpful too. And there are some Wiccan-connected authors too like Amber Wolfe (particularly in her book "In the Shadow of the Shaman") and Selena Fox (of Circle Sanctuary (http://www.circlesanctuary.org/)) as well as groups like the Toteg Tribe (http://www.toteg.com/) (which has links to Joseph "Bearwalker" Wilson (http://www.shamanist.us/) who is also responsible for the 1734 witchcraft tradition (http://www.1734.us/) based on Robert Cochrane's teachings...)

If your definition of "shamanistic" actually means ecstatic spirituality rather than specifically drawing on Native American material, then you'd probably be better off looking for material on mysticism and ecstatic practices. The Feri denomination (where Starhawk draws a lot of her material, and also the basis for T. Thorn Coyle's recent book "Evolutionary Witchcraft") is one Wicca-related group that would likely be of interest. Other books that can be helpful include Amoda's "Moving Into Ecstasy" (about using movement and dance in an ecstatic spiritual practice) and Mel Ash's interesting "Shaving the Inside of Your Skull" (about changing our preconceptions and awareness -- lots of practical suggestions!)

John Horgan's "Rational Mysticism" is an excellent introduction to all sorts of modern ideas about mysticism, ecstatic spirituality, and seeking communion with the Divine. It's not specifically Pagan but it shows how many if not all religions have core things in common such as mysticism in some form.

There are also books that explore shamanism or shamanic-style practice within other Pagan cultures. Caitlin Matthews' "Singing the Soul Back Home" and John Matthews' "The Celtic Shaman" both explore Celtic spirituality in a very shamanic style. Serge Kahili King's "Urban Shaman" is similar but is based on Hawaiian culture. Jan Fries' books such as "Seidways" and "Visual Magick" are also good and draw on a mixture of Celtic and Norse myth. R. J. Stewart's books including "Power Within the Land" and "Earth Light" draw on British Isles fairy-faith mythology.

There are also scholarly books that discuss shamanism from a more anthropological and historical perspective including some of those that others have mentioned already (like Claude Levi Strauss' work). "Shamanism: A Reader" edited by Graham Harvey is a relatively recent one that brings together essays by a number of scholars.

There is also a lot of material that could be classified as "shamanic" (depending on your definitions again) within material on witchcraft and Wicca. Altered states of consiousness, communing with spirits and the Divine, working magick, healing, seeing the future -- it's all there. Raven Grimassi's books are pretty good for a lot of this stuff as are Ray Buckland's, as well as the classics by Gerald Gardner, Doreen Valiente, and books about Robert Cochrane's teachings (such as "The Roebuck in the Thicket.")

[Ben Gruagach]

For anyone else looking for information on this subject too, I have found a few links...

http://www.pathofthefeather.com/ (http://www.pathofthefeather.com/)

http://www.branwenscauldron.com/resources/shaman.html (http://www.branwenscauldron.com/resources/shaman.html)

I'll edit if/when I find anymore. Oh, and does MW have a 'traditions' Sticky? Much like the BOS Sticky, only with links on information on various Pagan trads? I think that would be a great idea, especially for new pagans.

There is a growing collection of links to sites about specific denominations, sects, and traditions in the MysticWicks Links Directory (http://www.mysticwicks.com/local_links.php?). You'll find some in the section for Covens and Groups (http://www.mysticwicks.com/local_links.php?action=links&catid=18), and more in Path Specific Websites (http://www.mysticwicks.com/local_links.php?action=links&catid=12).

It might be good to add any other ones to those links to keep them all in one place.

[Teresa]

YOu can look in the paths section too and see a couple threads related to Native American culture.

[fangedeshana]

Thank you! :)

[Wolfkraft]

Mircea Eliade "Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy."
The book gives reliable (imho) information about shamanistic practices in many cultures, especially Siberian ethnic groups (the region is known for shamanism). It's a thorough study of shamanistic journeys and accounts of encounters with shamans in our days. A lot of research and study was put into that book.

[Ben Gruagach]

Mircea Eliade "Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy."
The book gives reliable (imho) information about shamanistic practices in many cultures, especially Siberian ethnic groups (the region is known for shamanism). It's a thorough study of shamanistic journeys and accounts of encounters with shamans in our days. A lot of research and study was put into that book.

I'm glad you brought that up... in my post earlier I mentioned Claude Levi-Strauss but I was actually thinking of Eliade (and to be honest, I thought someone had already mentioned him, but I realize they hadn't.)