The four paths of shamanism--healer, bard, warrior, and mystic--are used to translate Celtic spirituality into a usable form for seekers.

Take one part of the world''''s oldest spiritual system (shamanism), mix in one part of one of the world''''s most popular spiritual cultures (the Celts), and bring it up to date by blending in modern forms of shamanism. The result is one of the most amazing books you''''ll ever use, D. J. Conway''''s "By Oak, Ash, & Thorn. This book is filled with information that can start you on a lifetime of study, practice, and spirituality. First, you''''ll learn about ancient and modern forms of shamanism. You''''ll discover the secrets of the three shamanic worlds, and how you can travel through these mysterious realms. You''''ll be shown how to communicate and deal with the entities and allies you meet there. You''''ll also learn about the tools that a shaman uses. The thing that makes this book unique is that it comes from the viewpoint of Celtic shamanism, and not some generalized form. As a result, the worlds are specifically Celtic in nature. The tools come from Celtic myth and lore. The fifty entities you meet are named and defined as the Faery Folk and their kin from the Bean sidhe (banshee) to the Will o'''' the Wisp (a faery who appears at night in lonely places carrying a lantern to confuse travellers). Almost fifty more animal allies are listed and described. You will also learn the mysteries of the vision quest and how it applies and can be used by Celtic shamans. Before starting your journey you will take a test to determine your strengths and weaknesses as a potential shaman. Other topics include: - Shamanic Healing - Soul Retrieval - Shape-shifting - Invisibility - Divination with stones, the omen stick and the Ogamalphabet - Pathworking through the three shamanic worlds - Different forms of Celtic magic - Herbs This only begins to hint at everything that you can learn from this book. Get your copy today.

In the beginning everything is fresh and new. Learning how to cast a circle, work magick, compile a Book of Shadows, and honor the God and Goddess on esbats and sabbats can be exhilarating. But once you've mastered the basics of Witchcraft comes the real challenge of living your faith every moment of every day. Living as a Witch is knowing that you are the magick. Advanced Witchcraft doesn't contain any "Wicca 101" information--it assumes that you're already familiar with the nuts and bolts of the Craft. Instead, this book challenges you to think critically about your beliefs and practices, what they mean to you, how they've changed, and where you're going. Along the way you'll also learn many techniques for intermediate and advanced Witches, including: Meeting your shadow Advanced warding and psychic self-defense Power animals, familiars, and shapeshifters Working the labyrinth and the maze Advanced tree spirituality Advanced augury and divination Magick and ritual using the fine arts of storytelling, dance, music, art, and drama The art of Wishcraft Spirits and lost souls Banishing and closing portals The healing arts

Mircea Eliade descibed shamanism as the primal religion of humanity, the 'archaic technique of ecstasy'. The books of best-selling author Carlos Castaneda made it part of popular culture. Since the 1960s shamanism has continued to attract the attention of scholars, artists, writers and the general public. The most intriguing aspect of this religion is the ability of shamans to enter into contact with spirits on behalf of their communities. The first eighteenth-century explorers of Siberia dubbed shamanism a blatant fraud. Later, academic observers stamped it as 'neurotic delusion'. In the 1960s shamans were recast as 'wounded healers', who sacrifice their lives for the spiritual well being of their communities. Many current writers and scholars treat shamanism as ancient wisdom that has much to teach us about true spirituality. This anthology tells the story of shamanism in Eurasia, North and South America, Africa and Australia. It brings together for the first time fifty-six articles and book excerpts by anthropologists, psychologists, religious scholars and historians, illustrating the variety of views on this subject.

Publisher description

The Celts provide strong, accessible images of powerful women. This work illustrates how the reader can create a personalized pathway linking two important aspects of self - the feminine and the hereditary (or adopted) Celt - and as a result enable her to become a whole, powerful woman.

You’re no idiot, of course. You know that shamans are also known as medicine men and women, who use the power of the mind and call on spiritual helpers to heal the afflicted. However, this ancient art has been put to more modern uses, including problem-solving, empowerment, and personal mastery. But you don’t have to trek through steamy Amazonian jungles or frigid Siberian tundra to become enlightened in the ways of shamanism! The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Shamanism will show exactly how to discover your own shamanic power—and how that power will guide you in your everyday life! In this Complete Idiot’s Guide®, you get: - Shamanic history—from its origins in Paleolithic times to its spreading influence today. - Power animals—where to locate them and how they communicate with you. - How to take a shamanic journey—traveling through the Lower, Upper, and Middle Worlds, and exploring your past or future. - Shamanic healing techniques in use with modern medicine.