Hollow Bone: A Field Guide to Shamanism

Description

Shamanism is the oldest living path of spirituality and healing, dating back tens of thousands of years, yet many people don't know what it is or are confused about the practice. In The Hollow Bone, shaman, teacher, and author Colleen Deatsman unveils the mysterious world of Shamanism as it is still practiced today all around the world. Deatsman explains that shamanism is not a religion with a doctrine, dogma, or holy book. Rather, it is a spirituality rooted in the idea that all matter has consciousness and that accessing the spirit in all things is part of what keeps the world in balance and individuals healed and whole. The Hollow Bone examines shamanism's history, its core beliefs, and how it is practiced all around the world. It includes a glossary of terms, resources for finding and working with shamanic teachers, and over two dozen rare photographs and illustrations showing the magnificent range of shamanic tools, rituals, practitioners, and traditions. This comprehensive introduction answers many frequently asked questions such as: What is shamanism? Where is it practiced? What are the beliefs and understandings inherent to shamanism? Who are the shamans? What do shamans do? Can anyone train to be a shaman? Where can I learn more?

Colleen Deatsman is a licensed professional counselor, licensed social worker, Usui Reiki master, certified clinical hypnotherapist, certified alternative healing consultant, and shamanic practitioner. She has been exploring health and wellness, self-healing, personal growth, and spiritual development for over twentyfive years. She is also the author of Energy for Life and Inner Power. Sandra Ingerman, MA, is the author of several books including Soul Retrieval, Shamanic Journeying, and Awakening to the Spirit World. She is a licensed Marriage and Family therapist and Professional Mental Health Counselor and teaches workshops internationally on shamanic journeying, healing, and reversing environmental pollution using spiritual methods. She was awarded the 2007 Peace Award from the Global Foundation for Integrative Medicine. Visit her at sandraingerman.com and shamanicteachers.com.

"A fascinating look at a worldview that is both ancient and timeless. Like any shamanic practice worth its salt, reading The Hollow Bone will challenge cherished beliefs and stretch readers way beyond comfort. Open it, read it, and apply it - only if you dare."--Mark Stavish, author of Between the Gates: Lucid Dreaming, Astral Projection, and the Body of Light in Western Esotericism "This guide to spiritual knowledge and wisdom empowers the reader to find their spiritual path and the connection of all life - animate and inanimate, visible and invisible. Colleen shines a light on ancient ways while helping you to integrate tools and spirituality into daily life to elicit powerful personal and global transformation. A must read for a beginner on the path!"--Margaret Ann Lembo, author of Chakra Awakening: Transform Your Reality Using Crystals, Color, Aromatherapy and the Power of Positive Thought "A comprehensive and scholarly book on shamanism that will further serve to bring this ancient and powerful spiritual practice into the contemporary world at a time when it is most needed."--Dr. Steven Farmer, author of Earth Magic and Animal Spirit Guides "A must read for anyone interested in shamanic life and practice. This book delivers the vital message that shamanism is both heart centered and earth honoring and that shamanic healers are 'hollow bones' of the Spirit. I am putting it at the top of my students' book list."--C. Michael Smith (Mikkal), author of Jung and Shamanism in Dialogue "Comprehensive and easy to follow."--Lynn Andrews, best-selling author of the Medicine Woman series and Writing Spirit "A comprehensive exploration of shamanism and its application to the needs of our modern times, The Hollow Bone brings clarity to a word often misused and misunderstood. True to Colleen Deatman's expressed purpose, her words are a bridge between the worlds and bring the possibility of Spirit to the collective challenges we all face. Over the years, I have hoped for a book that demystifies shamanic work and makes it accessible to a wider audience. This is that book."--Myron Eshowsky, author of Peace with Cancer: Shamanism as a Spiritual Approach to Healing; shamanic mediator/trauma healing activist "Although ancient, shamanism has never been more important than it is today. In addition to personal healing, it also holds the key to healing a planet distressed by human folly. The Hollow Bone is a magnificent and beautiful guide to this world of power that combines magic with the true science of nature and offers the hope of a better world for future generations."--John Perkins, author of Shapeshifting and the New York Times bestselling Confessions of an Economic Hitman "If you've ever wondered what shamanism really is, and how the practice of this venerable tradition blesses our lives and modern worldor if you live and work within a shamanic worldview and need a boostthen consider yourself fortunate to have Colleen's passionate voice and compassionate nature as 'one who knows' through The Hollow Bone. Colleen has done a masterful job in showing how shamanism fits into our world today, why it is important, and how to find your own way in making this world a better place for all. Read this book as soon as you can - and 'see the soul of the world in every rock, stream, bird, and cloud."--Nan Moss and David Corbin, authors of Weather Shamanism: Harmonizing Our Connection with the Elements "In The Hollow Bone, Colleen Deatsman reveals how the ancient ways of the shaman offer you timetested pathways to the heart and soul of living in deep wholeness. Stepping back into relationship with the spirit of yourself, nature and the cosmos can provide you with a joy that is both lasting and profound!"--Evelyn C. Rysdyk, author of Modern Shamanic Living: New Explorations of an Ancient Path and founder of Spirit Passages "Shamanism was always a word that scared me. It evoked images of animal spirits entering a person's body-inevitably in a poorly lit tent deep in the jungle. But the word is increasingly becoming part of the general spiritual vocabulary in America. And this book was the perfect way to demystify a word (and set of practices) that is still poorly understood. Deatsman is the perfect person to write this beginner's guide to Shamanism. A practicing Sha-woman and an experienced non-fiction writer, she writes with clarity and authority. You can tell that she possesses a deep understanding of Shamanism because she can distill even the most esoteric practices into concepts that anyone can understand. Each chapter addresses a vital aspect of understanding Shamanism-the history, the practices, Shamanism and healing, and so forth. The most profound chapter is the final one-in which she guides the reader to cultivate their own healing power and insight into their individual spirits. I would recommend this book for literally anyone who is interested in healing and spirituality. Even if Shamanism isn't your calling, it's vital to understand how different cultures (especially indigenous communities) practice healing-since so much of our current understanding of personal and collective healing stems from Shamanism. Besides, it's a fun read and provides lots of interesting facts to share with friends and family." --Taz Tagore, Beliefnet September 2011 "The Hollow Bone is a treasure trove of information on the origins, symbolism, and history of shamanism, humankind's first spiritual discipline. But much more than informative, the text is experiential, guiding the reader through the author's apprenticeship and initiation into the spirit world of the shaman, and demonstrates that Spirit is still vibrant and active in our hearts, as it has been since the beginning of time. A must-read for everyone journeying on the shaman's path."--Larry Peters, PhD, Tibetan Shaman and leader of Nepal Spirit Excursions "Colleen Deatsman is one of the successful pathfinders in the world of shamanism and speaks with a trustworthy voice. The Hollow Bone--an inspiring and practical guide--will take you, heart and soul, into the amazing world of the shaman."--Tom Cowan, author of Fire in the Head: Shamanism and the Celtic Spirit