Require good reference and learning material

[mazdaaf]

For a good psi site-- i really recoment www.psipog.net -- that is where i started out and ive gotten increadibly far today because of it.

[Mystic Cloud]

Dunno what shaminism is but here are some on shamanism [|)]

Actually haven't found any GOOD books on shamanism yet, I don't think there exists any GOOD books on the subject since the roots go so deep you don't need any books []

by Oak, Thorn & Ash by Conway about Celtic Shamanism

I found this to be a open-minded positive book. Not really anything special except the nice Celtic feeling to it, and nice drawn pictures in the book too. It has got a nice glossary on the names of the Celtic deities etc.

The Way of the Shaman by Michael J. Harner

If I remember right, M Harner got learned by the Jivaro natives.
This is an ok overall book but should be taken with a grain of salt.
He is the founder of http://www.shamanism.org, and makes
alot of dough on workshops on shamanism and shamanism techniques.
He's on a three-fold mission to study, teach and preserve shamanism.
The idea to preserve shamanism is absurd since it is an autonom function already...

Animal-Speak : The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small by Ted Andrews

I'm just reading this book and it seems nice. A nice introduction into the nature way, though a bit too much 'red swallow means this' 'blue swallow means that'. The best part is that it has got a pretty wide dictionary on animals and birds. About their life habits etc.

[FreeFaller]

quote:Originally posted by mazdaaf

For a good psi site-- i really recoment www.psipog.net -- that is where i started out and ive gotten increadibly far today because of it.

psypog wasnt such a great help for me

[SpectralDragon]

Thank you mystic I will look into those.

[Michael_E]

Herbology:

Tom Brown's Field Guide To Wild Edible & Medicinal Plants

https://www.trackerschool.com/FGWEMP.htm

Pretty much anything from Tom is good.

magic:

Michael Kraig (evocation of spirits) and Scott Cunningham(Earth Power,Dreaming the Divine; Techniques for Sacred Sleep, Herb Magic ) have some good stuff.
The Kybalion
Initiation into Hermetics by Franz Bardon

[Eol007]

Hi Spectral,

Shaminism: try any of Kenneth Meadows works - I have several of his books e.g. Earth Medicine or Where Eagles Fly. They are on a power with RB's work in that field of endeavor! Although Meadows was English his work is still worth considering. A close lady friend trained with Meadows before he passed on and she is a very gifted Shamanic, and has taken me on several enlightening journeys although now she is on primarily a yogic path.

However if you also want some interesting reads in addition to your academic esoteric research have a look for Entering The Circle by Olga Kharitidi – she was born in Siberia and the book is a travel log of her search for ancient knowledge. Alternatively you may enjoy the fictional work Reindeer Moon by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas – a prehistoric shamanic tale based in the Paleolithic and although speculative it is based on real research.

Herbolagy/Herbalism/Phytotherapy – I assume that you are not referring to magical herbalism rather than medical herbalism. Medical herbalism is a subject I have a small yet growing interest in as I am studying Naturopathy. Try getting the reading lists from the College of Phytotherapy in England see: www.collegeofphytotherapy.com/ or the Herbal Society see: www.herbsociety.co.uk/

Skeptical stuff: you must be familiar with www.skepdic.com or the very beloved (not) James Randy see: www.randi.org/

Magic: big subject... I have only scratched the surface and am reading Bardon at the moment. Although if you want to get your teeth in to something mystical, philosophical and a bit different have a look at the works of Paul Brunton see: www.paulbrunton.org/

That my bit for the mo, hope it helps.

Enjoy,


Stephen

[SpectralDragon]

Thank you Micheal E. and EOL. I am going to look up reviews for those books and information on them, or If I happen to see them in borders I will likely simply buy them straight away. My studies have been lacking lately and I need to do more research rather than indulge.

[Michael_E]

quote:Originally posted by SpectralDragon

Thank you Micheal E. and EOL. I am going to look up reviews for those books and information on them, or If I happen to see them in borders I will likely simply buy them straight away. My studies have been lacking lately and I need to do more research rather than indulge.

If you havnt already seen, here are some reviews of books on magic provided by our lovely astral pulsers. Adapt of light and the moderators give some good insight, as usual.
http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5395

[PuffAddr]

SD,

For core shamanism (nitty gritty - what's the bottom line stuff) I highly recommend:

Anything by Sandra Ingerman - Soul Retreieval, Welcome Home, Earth Medicine.  She separates the 'what's really needed' from the 'traditional religious'.

A celtic shamanism book that I highly recommend to read just to experience this guy's viewpoint is:  The Mist-Filled Path.  No fluff, but tells his own story and gives some very good meditational exercises no matter what path you go on.  Most of the books out there are fluff.

An Indian shaman's info, written by a white guy that learned under him from a kid - Tom Brown Jr.   I recommend starting with Awakening Spirits and then going back to read the others.  This book explains this one Indian's life quest for what was common between all earth religions and what made prayer work, other religious things work.  Very very eye-opening to say the least.  Makes you want to read his other books about the guy teaching him to survive by learning tracking in the wilderness.  Definitely not the normal Native American viewpoint at all, not at all.  Cuts it right to the quick.  

Herbology.  Hmmm, it's been a long time.  But the best herbal I've ever seen was by Maude Grieve (spell?), 2 vol. set normally.  Publ a good while back, but the best.  Only has plants and what they do, not a how to at all, just reference.

Devic.  I am assuming faery/earth related.  Check out R. J. Stewart.  His books are available in the UK easily, but here hard to get.  He does have 2 websites, one for learning, another for books. Google it. Any of his books are ab fab the best, but warning, he writes from a deep intellectual viewpoint.  No fluff here.  Might also want to check into Machelle Small Wright's books.  More down to earth and shows the possibilities (works w/plant devas).

Your friend is checking out the paths.  Be sure and tell him to always doublecheck things in his heart. Not to believe everything he reads as 'the total truth, the way'.  

The last bit of advice....tell your friend to go to Amazon.com/books and look up his favorite subjects and read the reviews.  You learn alot by surfing all thru the subject books and looking at reviews. []

[SpectralDragon]

I have a list of things I would like to learn, and I am also asking this for a friend. Can anyone refer any good books/materials about the following subjects?

-Shaminism
-Herbolagy
-Devic Activity
-The Skeptical Viewpoint
-Placebo Effect
-Magic
-Psionics (not just the kenetics, but will take just kenetics if that's all you can find)

Now I am looking for GOOD reference material and reading good and accurate. I appreciate any and all you give. Even if it's just one reference please feel free.