Michael Harner (1929–2018)

This is an interesting introduction to shamanism. The book discusses shamanism as much as it gives instruction in certain practices. I doubt you actually could become a shaman from simply reading this book, maybe if you were extremely dedicated or had a special talent for it you could. This is more to find out what it is, and what it is not.
The formatting of my copy was not the best, and the writing style not one I found gripping, so it was not a quick or easy read for me. I would have liked show more for it to be more engaging, but this is a non-fiction book not a story for pure entertainment. This is something to read out of genuine interest of the subject matter, otherwise you will not enjoy it. show less

An interesting book which mixes experience and practice to give an excellent primer on the subject of shamanism. Although the discussions on tribal methods and how to use them yourself is fascinating in its own right, I found the beginning of the book which details his own experiences among the native shamans to be the best part of the book. Some may feel that the use of drugs to achieve altered states (which he has described using himself in his experiences) to be non useful and perhaps show more counterproductive, but I would say that its inclusion is necessary because every tribal group had its own way of getting into the spirit world and to give a complete picture you need its inclusion in the discussion. His own experience using these drugs is crucial to the argument because it truly gives him an insider point of view rather than simply being an observer. The fact that he knew he was about to die in his first experience and he barely was able to make his plead vocal to the indians should be more than enough to keep some people from simply trying to attempt it on their own. All cases he experienced with drugs he states that there were others there to keep restraint and watch over the individual going under, these folks knew what they were doing. All in all a good read and I would suggest Mircea Eliade's works as choice material to study after one reads this book. show less

I read this because it was on The Ultimate Reading List for "Inspirational Non-fiction." It was one of only a few on that list I thought might be of interest to me given Harner was a anthropologist that had studied shamanism in the field as well as practicing it--I thought he might have some insightful things to say about it. I found this instead to be a rather silly book I couldn't take seriously. I probably should have known better given where the book was located in the bookstore--under show more "New Age - Magical Practice." I'm a thoroughgoing rationalist, really not the target market for this book, so I considered neither rating nor reviewing. In the end I decided to do so to:

1) Remind me I read this already and not to ever bother again to read Harner.

2) Let those on my Goodreads friends list who actually believe in Wicca and the like know something about the book so they'll know if this is something they'd like.

3) Tell my writer friends, some of whom write speculative fiction, about this book in case they're looking for something upon which to model fictional magical practice.

Harner defines a shaman as a "man or woman who enters an altered state of consciousness--at will--to contact and utilize an ordinarily hidden reality to acquire knowledge, power, and to help other persons." In the first chapter, "Discovering the Way," Harner relates how after taking psychedelic drugs given to him by the Conibo tribe of the Amazon river, he experienced hallucinations he believed to be genuine visions. He then went back to an Andes tribe he'd studied, the Jivaro, and asked for mystical training--more psychedelic drugs, more "visions" and after that he became a practicing Shaman.

In his introduction he says of his book that the "main focus here is to provide an introductory handbook of shamanic methodology for health and healing." He proposes various exercises to alter consciousness without drugs, primarily through "drumming, rattling, singing, and dancing." His first exercise is designed to take you on a "Shamanic Journey...through the Tunnel into the Lower World." Also described are rituals such as a "spirit quest" to find your "power animal," and once found, how to keep this spiritual guide by regularly "exercising your animal." There is also mention of "power songs," "power intrusions" and "medicine bundles" filled with "power objects" that include the indispensable "quartz crystal."

In other words, the usual New Age stuff, but not anything that really discusses rigorously Shamanistic practices in indigenous and pre-Industrial cultures or useful to someone interested in ethnography or comparative religion. show less

Garner could be called the Father of modern Shamanic Practices. This is the book I rely upon the most for clear, easy to follow descriptions of foundational Shamanic Practices. Well written and easily accessible to new students, I highly recommend it!