“This exceptionally well-written book is good reading, not only for specialists but also for beginning students interested in women, Korean culture, and shamanism.” —Journal of Asian Studies “Kendall maintains a closeness with and respect for her subject that keeps away the chill of academic distance and yet avoids sentimentality.” —Korean Quarterly, Spring 2001

Most of us would agree with authors Dana and Shana Robinson that relationships play a profoundly important role in our lives. Yet, tragically, many people today are plagued by a deep, pervasive sense of loneliness. Shamanism & the Spirit Mate offers an ancient, time-tested ‘cure’ for this modern malaise of loneliness and disconnection. The authors examine numerous cultures throughout history and around the world today that acknowledge the existence of divine partners who can help address our deepest needs for relationship, love and healing. Spirit mates do not replace or supersede any of the existing relationships in our lives. Rather, they have the potential to enrich and expand them. When cultivated through the power of the shamanic journey, our experience with a spirit mate can deepen our spiritual connections, assist us in healing practices and inspire creativity in our daily lives. Drawing from the many shamanic workshops they have conducted, the Robinsons offer probing questions and valuable activities to assist the reader in exploring and personalizing the fascinating world of the spirit mate.

A guide to self-realization and reattunement with nature that utilizes the ancient shamanic wisdom of cultures from around the world • Focuses on the development of grounded spirituality based on the connections indigenous traditions have with nature • Contains 33 hands-on experiential exercises and 50 shamanic meditations • Written by the author of Earth Medicine and Shamanic Experience Those of us who live in the so-called “advanced” modern world have been educated to use our minds and encouraged to satisfy our physical needs. But in so doing, we have become isolated from the very essence of our existence as individuals--our own spirit. In Shamanic Spirit Kenneth Meadows introduces Shamanics, his spiritual science of living, which recognizes the primacy of the spirit and acknowledges that spirit is inherent in all living beings and life forms. Shamanics is a practical way of becoming aware of our multi-dimensional reality and using that awareness to cultivate and refine the spirit within. Using the symbolic structure of the Medicine Wheel--which helps us establish a sense of direction, extend perception, and examine relationships--Meadows presents 33 hands-on experiential exercises that help readers discover the truth about themselves. His approach also draws upon and integrates universal shamanic concepts from such regions as the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, India, China, and Polynesia to show readers how to release their dormant potentials, generate creativity, and meet the challenges of their lives with confidence and self-assurance.

The collapse of socialism at the end of the twentieth century brought devastating changes to Mongolia. Economic shock therapy—an immediate liberalization of trade and privatization of publicly owned assets—quickly led to impoverishment, especially in rural parts of the country, where Tragic Spirits takes place. Following the travels of the nomadic Buryats, Manduhai Buyandelger tells a story not only of economic devastation but also a remarkable Buryat response to it—the revival of shamanic practices after decades of socialist suppression. Attributing their current misfortunes to returning ancestral spirits who are vengeful over being abandoned under socialism, the Buryats are now at once trying to appease their ancestors and recover the history of their people through shamanic practice. Thoroughly documenting this process, Buyandelger situates it as part of a global phenomenon, comparing the rise of shamanism in liberalized Mongolia to its similar rise in Africa and Indonesia. In doing so, she offers a sophisticated analysis of the way economics, politics, gender, and other factors influence the spirit world and the crucial workings of cultural memory.

An in-depth look at the role of plant spirits in shamanic rituals from around the world • Shows how shamans heal using their knowledge of plant spirits as well as the plant’s “medical properties” • Explores the core methods of plant shamanism--soul retrieval, spirit extraction, and sin eating--and includes techniques for connecting with plant spirits • Includes extensive field interviews with master shamans of all traditions In Plant Spirit Shamanism, Ross Heaven and Howard G. Charing explore the use of one of the major allies of shamans for healing, seeing, dreaming, and empowerment--plant spirits. After observing great similarities in the use of plants among shamans throughout the world, they discovered the reason behind these similarities: Rather than dealing with the “medical properties” of the plants or specific healing techniques, shamans commune with the spirits of the plants themselves. From their years of in-depth shamanic work in the Amazon, Haiti, and Europe, including extensive field interviews with master shamans, Heaven and Charing present the core methods of plant shamanism used in healing rituals the world over: soul retrieval, spirit extraction, sin eating, and the Amazonian tradition of pusanga (love medicine). They explain the techniques shamans use to establish connections to plant spirits and provide practical exercises as well as a directory of traditional Amazonian and Caribbean healing plants and their common North American equivalents so readers can ex-plore the world of plant spirits and make allies of their own.

• Mongolian shamaness Sarangerel provides a hands-on guide for serious students of the shamanic path. • Includes complete directions for traditional Siberian rituals, meditations, and divination techniques never before published. • Shows how to recognize and acknowledge a call from the spirits. • Offers traditional wisdom for nurturing a working relationship with personal spirit helpers to promote healing and balance in a community. The shaman's purpose is to heal and restore balance to his or her community by developing a working relationship with the spirit world. Mongolian shamanic tradition maintains that all true shamans are called by the spirits--but those who are not from shamanic cultures may have difficulty recognizing the call or nurturing the essential shamanic relationship with their helper spirits. Buryat shamaness Sarangerel has written Chosen by the Spirits as a guide for both the beginning shaman and the advanced practitioner. Although raised in the United States, she was drawn to the shamanic tradition, and in 1991 returned to her ancestral homeland in the Tunken region of southern Siberia to study with traditional Buryat shamans. Her first book, Riding Windhorses, provided an introduction to the shamanic world of Siberia. Chosen by the Spirits delves more deeply into the personal relationship between the shamanic student and his or her "spirit family." Sarangerel recounts her own journey into shamanic practice and provides the serious student with practical advice and hands-on techniques for recognizing and acknowledging a shamanic calling, welcoming and embodying the spirits, journeying to the spirit world, and healing both people and places.

The shaman is a visionary who has the ability to connect with nature and the spirit world, and to heal. Shamanism is increasingly popular today as we recognise its power to reaffirm our links with the natural world and bring us to greater awareness and spiritual fulfilment. Drawing on traditional ethnic as well as contemporary Western practice, this beautifully illustrated book reveals the ancient heart of shamanism and its continuing relevance for the way we live today. It contains practical exercises that anyone can perform. Part One, Place, explores sacred sites and landscapes - key places of spiritual power where we can tune into natural energy flow, through vision quests and medicine wheels. Part Two, 'Plant', looks at plants for healing and spiritual development, with reference to sacred cacti, the energies of trees, and herbs. Part Three, 'Animal', focuses on the role played by power animals - as spirit guides and intermediaries between worlds. Part Four, 'Ritual', explores traditional ways of finding your spirit power, including sacred dance, shape-shifting and sacred objects. Finally, Part Five, 'Spirit', offers powerful practices such as soul retrieval, divination and spiritual protection, describing how to work with these for spiritual growth and development.

Dr. Walsh offers an exciting look at the variety of shamanic practices and its basis in sound psychological principles from a thoroughly Western perspective. The timeless wealth of spiritual insights available through shamanic techniques are shown to the modern, non-tribal student. "A wonderfully lucid, engrossing guide to shamans' practices and beliefs."--Publishers Weekly.