This book takes the reader on a fantastic journey through a wide range of cultures and traditions to examine the phenomenon of ecstatic visionary experiences -- from Sumerian Gilgamesh and the Taoist Immortals to the imaginative fiction of Jorge Luis Borges. The author provides a comprehensive tour of otherworldly journeys common from immemorial times among shamans, magicians, and witches, and illustrates their connection with such modern phenomena as altered states of consciousness, out-of-body experiences, and near death experiences.
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19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
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The Shaman's Journey
1 Jun 2003
By Zekeriyah
- Published on Amazon.com
This book, written by well known religious scholar I.P. Couliano, provides a wonderful background to the shamanic journey and how it can be found within all societies. He does a very nice cross cultural survey of Shamanism (and relatd concepts) in the early part of the book, showing the similarities of belief in the Americas, Siberia, Melanesia and elsewhere, as well as in Africa and Australia. From there he goes on to show the otherworldly journeys of the Mesopotamians, Egyptians, Chinese Taoists, Buddhists, Iranian mystics, Greek Medicine Men and Hebrew Qabbalists. Remarkable intellectuals and visionaries fill out the last couple chapters, including Neo-Platonic philosopher Plotonius, the Prophet Mohammad and Dante Alighieri, author of the Divine Comedy. Over all, this is perhaps the greatest non-culture specific survey of the Shamanic journey available. I strongly recommend that anyone interested in Shamanism, religious experiences and mysticism in general check out this book. Considering how widely varied Shamanism is (incorporating everything from Siberian and Polynesian religions to the ecstasies of Voudon and Santeria to Sufi mysticism and beyond), it might be a good beginning book.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful introductory text on a fun subject
18 Oct 2007
By Albert Hand
- Published on Amazon.com
This is the most accessible book written by one of the greatest scholars of the subject, who was stolen from us at too young an age. Backed up by footnotes to a wide range of scholarship, Couliano demonstrates his learning at the same time that he amazes the reader by explaining it all so well. This book will help you become familiar with many important figures and concepts in religious studies--at a detailed and thoughtful level. It is also an excellent sourcebook for spiritual seekers, mystics and occultists who desire a convenient solid academic treatment of the highlights of the historical topic. The treatment is not merely dry and historical, for Couliano had a knack for bringing the mystical, mythical and magical to life. We can only lament his tragic passing and hope that his readers will pick up on the topics he treated so well and write the books that he would have written. An economical and deeply intellectual contribution to any library on religious studies or esotericism.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great piece of work
7 Sep 2010
By Prokopton
- Published on Amazon.com
This is an excellent overview of out-of-body journeying across cultures. I won't review in detail, but if you have any interest in the history of 'astral projection' practices, and how they fit into spiritual traditions worldwide, you really won't want to miss it. The list of referenced volumes alone is worth the price of the book, although without Couliano's 8 languages I won't be able to take full advantage.
I particularly liked the Greek section which includes an excellent overview of the iatromantis tradition -- the Greek healer-shaman-prophets they never taught you about in school, unless they called them 'philosophers' or 'mathematicians' -- and everything else from Homer to Plato and beyond, including caves that teleport you to and from the underworld. The Chinese section has excellent material, the Jewish and Gnostic traditions are also well-covered, and the Iranian/Zoroastrian stuff was quite new to me and very intriguing. The only puzzlement for me is that no Norse or Celtic traditions are included; they have some amazing non-physical legends, heroes and geography which will need discovery in a different book.
This man was quite a scholar -- a worthy successor to his fellow countryman Eliade, with a real feel for this material. Anyone with an interest in mysticism will enjoy the journey into journeying.
I particularly liked the Greek section which includes an excellent overview of the iatromantis tradition -- the Greek healer-shaman-prophets they never taught you about in school, unless they called them 'philosophers' or 'mathematicians' -- and everything else from Homer to Plato and beyond, including caves that teleport you to and from the underworld. The Chinese section has excellent material, the Jewish and Gnostic traditions are also well-covered, and the Iranian/Zoroastrian stuff was quite new to me and very intriguing. The only puzzlement for me is that no Norse or Celtic traditions are included; they have some amazing non-physical legends, heroes and geography which will need discovery in a different book.
This man was quite a scholar -- a worthy successor to his fellow countryman Eliade, with a real feel for this material. Anyone with an interest in mysticism will enjoy the journey into journeying.
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