The Shamanic Journey: A Practical Guide to Therapeutic Shamanism

This book added some really thoughtful and useful information to what I already know, very helpful, and much appreciated, thanks.

Found this book to be very easy to read, insightful, flexible, and eloquently adapted to modern needs as well. Interdependent, balancing, broadening, healthy, AND practical.Supports blending the best of shamanism and psychotherapy. References other's foundational works, but is not at all pedantic reading. Includes Bibliography of further study. Discusses relevant historical, modern, prehistorical agricultural, and hunter-gatherer societies. Brings together in one place much of what i have learned over the years regarding rewilding, takers and leavers, grounding in nature, etc. Covers a broad variety of 'basic' shamanic practices. Offers exercises that are flexible guides, not restrictive guided visualizations.I am excited about, and can't wait for ;) , the 2nd book covering lower world nature-oriented 'Mother Earth' journeys, coming into print soon (late 2017). Looking forward to the 3rd book in this series covering upper world ethical and spiritual 'Father Sun' journeys, due to come into print Spring 2018. Paul Francis explains why the lower and upper worlds are free of dangers, and how to recognize the dangers that bleed in from our ordinary middle world. All NeoShamanic "must read"s a Power Animal confirms.

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I recently felt as though I was receiving a call to the practice of shamanism. I had an intuitive understanding of the things discussed in this book, as I have thought and felt in this manner all my life. However, I was looking for an organized explanation of my thoughts on these matters. Mr. Francis codified everything very nicely and organized the process in a way that gives me guidance and confidence to proceed with my journey into shamanic practice.

While I’ve been interested in Shamanism for nearly 15 years, I had not learned much about it. I have developed a regular yoga practice and have meditated regularly over the last 2 years. I consider myself an intuitive and sensitive to energies in general. I note these things because I believe it will put the following into perspective:Before I picked up The Shamanic Journey, I started trying to work in my Akashic records but found it challenging and after a few attempts was gently “told” to come back after I had unfolded the layers of my heart. A few days later I found this book and downloaded a sample and then purchased the ebook. In it I learned why I was having diffulty in the Akashic. (The Akashic is akin to the shamanic upper world.)The author explains very clearly the purpose and differences between the shamanic lower, upper, and middle worlds. He strongly recommends gaining lower world experience, knowledge, AND spirit guides before exploring the upper world. He gives very good instruction on how to access the lower world and while I find visualization and journeying in my mind challenging in general, I have been able to access the lower world no problem and have already found animal guides and worked with other animals in that realm as well. I record my sessions and talk about what I’m seeing and experiencing so that I can stay present in the journey and not worry about forgetting something. Afterwards, I replay the recording and take notes. They’ve been wonderful experiences so far and I look forward to his other books!Two small notes: there are several typos (repeat words mostly) and he does hop on a soapbox for a chapter or two, but his perspective on these things is needed in the world today, especially if we’re to find our way out of it. Blessed journeying to all of you!

While I have some disagreements with a few of Paul's takes on certain topics, this books is one of the better books I have found with respect to shamanism I have read. Paul tends to trim some of the fat you find in other books out there, largely avoiding the cultural biases that color some of those other resources. That's not to say that he doesn't have his own biases, but there are generally inoffensive and he makes decent arguments in favor of those positions.I would recommend this to someone as an introductory text, as opposed to other "flavors" of shamanic reading resources -- as the information presented is more of a universal nature and, as a result, less confusing. Some more experienced readers may be frustrated with the content parroting some of the things you may have already read, but I still gleaned quite a bit on insight from his different perspective -- considering some concepts in a way that I hadn't viewed them in the past.

I found in this book a compassionate and balanced approach for expanding my most recent spiritual awakening. The teachings complement my prior experiences with psychotherapy, Buddhism, and other mystical journeys; in other words, it appears that I have been having shamanic experiences before, and I just didn't have the language to describe them as such. This book helped me to see how the shamanic worldview is very much my natural state when I am clear of ego, or "hollowed out," as Mr. Francis calls it. This book has helped to open wider my door into the spiritual realm.I am surprised and extremely grateful for what a profound effect these journeys to the lower world are having in my being. I recommend this book to anyone who is open-hearted, curious, and ready to balance their rational mind--anyone who is ready to rediscover the roots of what it means to be human--anyone who is prepared to embark on a transrational journey!I look forward to the next book in the series. Thank you Mr. Francis for the care that you have exercised in the writing of this book. Thank you for your practice.

super informative and from a very honest and wise perspective

I have been drawn towards shamanic practices for many years, and have read a lot of books about the topic.However, this book is in a class of its own! It presents incredible insight about the problems we face in our modern world, and gives a clear picture of how shamanic practices can help restore us to wholeness and joy.I highly recommend this book and also the author's other books in this series to anyone who feels drawn towards shamanic teachings or who wants to find their way back to being an authentic and whole person!

I have read about shamanic journeying before, this book keeps things very simple and easy to follow, I have learnt some new exercises, different to the way I have done before.An interesting book to help you think outside the constraints of yourself and society, to open yourself up to nature, to feel and witness it's power.

This is one of the best books on shamanism I've read, very impactful and truly life-changing. The author does a stellar job at conveying what shamanism is at its core, and what it's not. His writing style is very engaging. I look forward to reading the next volumes. Highly recommended!

It's a very interesting book, the first for me regarding shamanism. I loved the part regarding human evolution and reading human history from a completely different point of view,compared to what learnt in school. For me it was mind blowing. Recommended as a first step to get to know what shamanism is.