People often ask me for recommendations of books about Shamanism, so I thought I would share a roundup of my favorites with you.
… just kidding! I don’t have any favorite books *about* Shamanism. Here’s why:
Books *about* Shamanism are most often written from either an academic perspective (anthropological analysis, descriptions and observations of practices), or a how-to perspective (step by step instructions of how to “do” a Shamanic practice). In both cases, there is usually a strong flavor of intellectualizing, logicking, as well as a degree of separation that places the reader in the role of observer or recipe-follower.
Reading a book *about* Shamanism is like reading a book about how to learn to ride a bike. Maybe you would learn some interesting history and background about bikes and study the theory of physics. But it would be kind of useless to you in the practicality of actually riding a bike.
Reading a book about Shamanism might be intellectually interesting, but it’s kind of useless to you in practicality.
Shamanism as a practice is all about relationship. It’s about immediacy, intimacy and immersion.
Shamanism is an animistic practice (the belief that all things are alive and connected through that universal aliveness) and a mediumistic practice (active communication and relationship with the spiritual forces all around us).
A book can’t teach you about being in relationship with the life force in all things. A book won’t prepare you for what it feels like to connect with powerful spirits. You must experience those things directly to truly know and understand.
While I don’t have any favorite books *about* Shamanism, I do have some other recommendations:
When I was a child, my favorite books were all folktales about talking animals, magical plants, sacred springs of healing water, elemental spirits and deities. I loved stories where a young person went on some kind of journey or quest, and met wise allies to guide them on their path. The humans in these stories who showed disrespect or disregard for the wisdom of nature always suffered the consequences, and those humans who listened and respected the Earth and her children were supported.
I read creation myths such as How Raven Stole the Sun and the legend of Quetzalcoatl. I read stories of gods and goddesses from around the world, these personified forces of nature with magical powers and unique wisdoms. I read fictional stories set in our world about young people who lived closely in nature, such as Julie of the Wolves and My Side of the Mountain.
Stories and folktales like this help us access our own mythopoetic consciousness. They help us enter into the liminal spaces through imagination, beyond the confines of logic. They help us readily accept a reality where animals talk and the unseen realms are very real. They teach us about principles of respect, right relation, and honoring the laws and wisdom of Earth and non-human consciousness. They teach us energetic dynamics of creation and destruction, destiny and sovereignty, agreements and contracts, death and rebirth, wounding and healing, wisdom, initiation and actualization.
These are all Shamanic principles.
This is the traditional style of wisdom transmission: storytelling and direct experience. Receiving wisdom teachings through stories invites us to imagine ourselves as the protagonist, to see ourselves in the myth, and opens the door to our subconscious wisdom and connection. And direct experience and contact with the mysteries is how we anchor that wisdom into our embodied consciousness.
So instead of reading books *about* Shamanism, I always invite people to go out in nature. Talk to the trees. Allow yourself to daydream and imagine. Read animistic folktales. And if you really want more information related to Shamanism and related topics, check out my podcast, Shaman Sister Sessions. There are currently 138 episodes full of great stuff. Find it on YouTube, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
And of course, if you’re interested in exploring Shamanism through receiving healing work or developing your own Shamanic practice, please reach out to me and we can talk about what kind of support is right for you: >>>Book a call with me here.
Do you have favorite books about Shamanism, or animistic folktales or stories? Comment and let me know!
