The Shaman's Body: A New Shamanism for Transforming Health, Relationships, and the Community

By: Arnold Mindell

Narrated by: Cathy Bernatt

Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Acclaimed author, process-oriented therapist, and earlier Jungian analyst Arnold Mindell teaches us how to find the power to make our own choices and control our own lives. Drawing on his experiences with "witch-doctors" and shamans in Africa, Japan, Russia, and India, Mindell leads us on a "death walk" through our worst fears and deepest emotional crises to wake our inner shaman - which he calls our "dreamingbody." Methods for tapping the wisdom hidden in crises free our own internal sorcery for use in our daily lives. These methods enable us to become whole from within and to avoid the phantoms of unrealistic hopes and desires that limit our lives.

©1993 Arnold Mindell (P)2018 Arnold Mindell

Still So Timely

This is one of those books that stands the test of time and becomes increasingly more accessible as one develops on the path. The information about second-attention and secondary process may not be new terrain to some who have trained in shamanism, Hakomi, or other disciplines, but Mindell’s linking of these aspects to the collective situation in later chapters is timely to where we are and, no doubt, will be in the future with increasing severity.

Wonderful Explanation of altered states

I found this book can’t at a perfect time for me and provided a mind structure for experiential altered states ( 2nd awareness) . Takling such an esoteric topic odd tricky on a rationale based world and I found that Arnold Mindell did a great job at balancing his own personal life story, life anecdotes and sources from Don Juan and Casteneda

Big takeways for me include ,

1. giving importance to - 2 nd awareness (universal states of unity ( non dual) and not just the first person duality states that we are taught as the only state to believe in)
2. Dreaming together as a collective group and hope this can change the world and experience
3. Understanding you Allie’s in life and that all experiences ( Everett perceived as negative or positive) can be your ally
4. Identifying where you feel yourself as a hunter, warrior, magician in the journey of awakening to the 2nd states of awareness
5. Placing importance on feeling the universal energy of synchronicity and following the feeling and impulses that go beyond the conscious mind but into the unconscious realms ( which is where magic can occur)
6. Tapping responsibility for the world’s trajectory by placing the importance on shamanic experiences in shaping the world future (eg dreaming together to envision the new future) and how spirit is contained in all elements of life ( ie everything’s had a vibration) which is Love
7 recognizing that the body has a wisdom in communicating the unconscious through to us through the body form ( pains and pleasure in there body is a shamanic means of the soul communicating to us)

If you are in your spiritual journey and wish you bring some structure to it experiences so the mind can feel better about it , then this is a good read

— narrator was okay - but drab in parts but i got used to her quickly

The most comprehensive book on Shamanism

I have read many many many books on shamanism and this by far is the most comprehensive. Before reading I heard the complaints about the narration but I found it immediately allowed me to go into a listening trace and experience the book through my hearing. I especially like that The author speaks of various experiences breaking them down through the shamanistic perspective. A must listen if you are on this path. ♥️🙏🏾

Life Changing

This is one of the most powerful and transformative books I have ever read. It is one of those books that is like a great friend that accompanies me wherever I go. Not literally but in the sense that there are so many sections in this book that keep singing in my head, deep truths that always pop up at the relevant moment. I have recommended it to many of my clients. It is a book that made me feel more at home in my own nature and in this world. It is profound in its depth and illumination. I highly recommend it.

Worth listening to if you are new to shamanism

The voice of the narrator is a bit dull. The book is fine. A general overview of shamanism with remarkable chapters.

Fascinating book

Inspiring synthesis of ancient and modern wisdom inspiring new ways to see individual and collective healing.

Dismiss this book

Terrible. The narration is bad, it feels totally out of alignment with the content. The author while he makes some insightful statements hasn't actually pieced together or finished his own inner work to be able to explain the statements he's collected in his studies from the teachers/shamans. He quotes Don Juan a lot but again doesn't clearly string together his point. He uses lofty self-created terminology and does a poor job of grounding it to material. Additionally he takes some core truths he's gathered and then makes some declarative statements here and there which would confuse/distort understanding. I recommend scoping out works by Alberto Villoldo and Sandra Ingerman- the real deal. I feel sorry for anyone who gets this book and makes a decision about their own ability and understanding of Shamanism from it.

Why are we hearing about Carlos casteneda?!

Praise for the discredited author and then going
On to use the guys terminology is highly suspect and u professional.. I don’t feel super great about listening to this.