Shamanic Journeying: A Beginner's Guide Paperback – June 1, 2008

Earlier this month, I took my first shamanic journey. There were twelve of us, lying on blankets or yoga mats in the cold concrete back room of a metaphysical bookstore. Our guide talked to us for almost an hour, outlining how we might encounter time outside of ordinary time, what we might encounter, and the safety of our journey. I lay back with a silk cloth tied around my eyes, and she drummed us outside of time. I danced with my spirit animal for the first time and began what I intend to be a lifelong practice and relationship.Ingerman provides a practical outline to just such an experience, based on years of veteran shamanic journeying. She is careful to stress that she is not a shaman, since that role is explicit to particular communities. Nor is she an unobservant dilettante or cultural appropriator. Instead, she merely passes on the wisdom she has gained through experience. Ingerman describes the Upper, Middle, and Lower Worlds, and different images and metaphors to journey there. She describes both power animals and teachers in human form (remember, the animal you find may have significance only to you!). Ingerman also provides guidelines for asking questions of your spirit helpers, healing journeys, and divination, as well as guidelines for practicing in groups. Finally and importantly, this slim and helpful volume provides a three-track CD with drumming of various lengths to aid you in your own guided journeys. This was a perfect companion to an experience I had, and I imagine it would be helpful to someone experimenting on their own. Try it soon – and meet your own loving and powerful spirit guide!

I've tried listening to the drumming many times. I just imagined, allowing imagination to unfold by itself. But I really doubt whether it's just imagination, because I didn't went through any trance entering sensations (like entering lucid dream, or a shallow meditation state), I actually didn't feel any of the transfer of conscious state. And in the same way, I tried to go to the "middle world", which is this world, I tried to confirm what I saw in the journey (like numbers on a car plate, scratch on the wall, etc.), but non of those match with the physical reality.On the other hand, if I stop imagining and focus on the drum beats, I would just hear drum beats all the way to the end.I think I'm not doing it right.

I love this little book. I have a number of books on Shamanism, and in almost every case, its practice is made to sound so complex and fraught with cautions that one is left feeling that it's too difficult, complicated, or dangerous to take a shamanic journey. I appreciate the wealth of detail in these other books, but they are more like scholarly references than how-to guides.Shamanic Journeying: A Beginner's Guide gets you going right away. The author, Sandra Ingerman, even includes a CD of recorded Shamanic drumming with the book, so you can try journeying before investing in a drum, rattle, or other instrument. In fact, the book is so short that you can be journeying within a day!The book is simple, but not simplistic. While providing the "basics" of Shamanic Journeying, it is also rich in real-life examples and practical suggestions. You will eventually want to read other, more complete books on Shamanic journeying from different perspectives and traditions, but this book beautifully achieves its goal: to give you the essentials and get you started in journeying.

This is a lovely book which instructs the reader in how to explore the lower, middle and upper realms of shamanic journeying. Sandra Ingerman, a very gifted Harner -trained shaman and shamanic teacher, is also a gifted writer. Her discussions are clear and concise, well illustrated with examples from her practice, and sensibly empowering readers to explore and learn to trust their own experiences and judgment.Spirit guides frequently present images or make suggestions that may have diverse interpretations. I was particularly taken with the following example of caution needed in interpreting the language of metaphors:...the Aramaic language - the language of Jesus... was highly metaphorical and poetic. When the Bible was translated from Aramaic into Greek and then into English, the metaphors were translated literally, often changing the meaning of the words. One example is that there is no word in the Aramaic language for either 'good' or 'evil.' The most comparable words in Aramaic were 'ripe' and 'unripe,' referring to how everything is part of an ongoing, organic process. But when the Bible was translated into Green and then English, the words chosen to represent 'ripe' and 'unripe' were 'good' and 'evil.' This mistranslation alone shaped the evolution of Judao-Christian culture such that human nature became perceived as something separate from the natural cycles of readiness and unreadiness. (p. 43-44)A drumming CD to help shift consciousness for journeying comes with the book.

So I think my expectations were a little higher due to who recommended this book. It wasn't as long or as in depth as I had hoped/expected. It definitely is a good place to start and I'm going to read it again. It also included some links online for the drumming, which I didn't seem to need a code or proof of purchase for. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Decent book - very small but worth it if it also came with the CD that is mentioned in the description. I ordered the print copy just for the CD. If I knew it wasn't included I would have saved a few bucks and purchased the Kindle version instead.

This book was suppose to come with a cd that has drumming. It did not come with the cd.

I bought this book for over £10. I read it in about an hour. I enjoyed the book but...and this is a big one.The book is meant to come with CDs for practicing every thing in the book. I got the kindle version and there is not even a link to any audio so I basically have half a product. This has really annoyed me. It's a lot if money and I don't like being ripped off. I have tried to contact Amazon but they are not getting back to me. Don't buy kindle version.

If you have been journeying for a while and wonder why the facilitator of the group does what he does then this is a good insight into the disciplines of journeying. I really enjoyed this book. It helped confirm what I already knew and clarify what I didn't. A positive read and encouraging read for all who are interested in the journey.

A little repetitive. For such a brief book the inclusion of the repetition has meant that information is very limited. It's easy to read and includes the basics. The cd is a nice addition. Very overpriced for the information within. For the same price there are other books with much more information and guidance hence three stars.

A simple guide but perhaps too simple? I've been taught that middle world journeying is very different to upper and lower world journeys, needing special protections and understandings. What I do particularly like is the list of ideas of questions to ask your guide. Also the included drumming tape is a valuable extra to the one I usually use, especially the short journey with initial whistles and rattles sounds. By comparison, Sandra's 'Soul Retrieval' book is outstanding, though not really a shamanic beginner's book.

A very clearly written and appropriately pitched presentation, perfect for a beginner like myself. Concepts and ideas were introduced thoroughly and were appropriate for the times we live in. It did not overwhelm me with certain cultural aspects that do not pertain to my life. I hope to learn and practice more before introducing it into my own psychotherapy practice.