Of Water and Spirit

Ritual Magic and Initiation in the Life of an African Shaman

By: Malidoma Patrice Somé

Narrated by: Malidoma Patrice Somé

Length: 3 hrs

Publisher's summary

Born in West Africa in the early 1950s, Somé was kidnapped at age four by a French Jesuit missionary to be trained as a priest, for the next 15 years enduring the harsh regimen of a seminary where his native language and tribal traditions were systematically suppressed. At age 20 he escaped, but when he returned to his Dugara people in Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) they rejected him as an outsider. To reconnect with his native culture, Somé underwent a month-long initiation into shamanism during which he reports that he journeyed to the underworld, became a bird, then a porcupine, and was buried alive.

©2012 New World Library (P)2014 New World Library

ABRIDGED VERSION

Would you try another book from Malidoma Patrice Somé and/or Malidoma Patrice Somé?

Yes, the actual unabridged version.

What could Malidoma Patrice Somé have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Made an unabridged version.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Malidoma Patrice Somé?

No one but himself.

What else would you have wanted to know about Malidoma Patrice Somé’s life?

The rest of his story! Audible only has the abridged version.

Any additional comments?

Please fix the metadata saying this is an unabridged version. The audible version leaves out many portions of the book! If you look at the cover artwork/image, you can see that it is abridged.

Phenominal and life-changing!!!

I loved this book...his story is the story of all of us if we will pause, surrender and listen to the voices of our ancestors...they are the bridge to our future but we have to be willing to "let go" of who we "think" we are to become who we "already are"!!! I am ready for my initiation...

We need more audio books like this

This book opened me up into another world of magic and culture that inspires me to look more closely at the world and beyond the surface of other cultures. I enjoyed this book immensely.

Why is this only available w giant gaps in the story?

Hands down this is one of my favorite books. I’m so sad that it’s abridged here though. It’s like all the best juiciest parts were cut out. Even though it’s still good, I’m disappointed.

Amazing Story

I'm really glad that I got the audible book because I felt like I was actually experiencing the same thing as the author. I could have read the story myself, but his voice and inflections added to the overall story. I feel like I was lead to this book spiritually, and that it was needed for this particular moment in my life. We are indeed interconnected, and the sooner we get this understanding; the better it will be for the entire world. Ase'

so beautifully eye opened by this book thank you!

it helped me in so many ways! Ase! I thank you for your incite! love

Must listen!

I would recommend listening to this book, not reading it, because the story is told rather than read by the author. This gives the story a richness and presence that other books lack due to the usual homogenized structure of audiobooks. And that lack of structure goes perfectly with this beautiful, short story about the author's childhood and initiation. I've thought of this book for weeks since finishing it. I've had various thoughts about the lost knowledge, mythos and sense of place that I, most of us, will never know. What a loss that is and could we even reach back from here and find any of it left?

Powerful!!!!

This is an essential message especially for those of WEST AFRICAN DESCENT to understand the critical importance of culture and what colonialism stole from us.

helped me remember by inner magic

Awsome book on African spirituality . I enjoyed the author's accent and delivery. I wished it was longer I did not expect it to end where it did..

Eye opening

Truly amazing story. From a seeker on the path to obtain knowledge of the unknown, this definitely energized me to keep going to finding truth of that hidden world. Thank you.

Finally The Road Is Clear

I have been on my journey for 5 years now. Finally, after darkness there's light. The author has travelled before me, and now it's clear that I haven't taken the wrong steps.

Good book

It was a good book, talking about his life and his experience. Tho it was really not what I was looking for, I was looking for a book about the spiritual aspects of water and stumble upon this one.
Over all it's an very interesting story to say at least.

An account of being betwixt and between worlds

Loved this story.

A personal testimony of how indigenous practise aids in decolonisation.
A hearty reccomend.

A must read book!

The audio book duffers somewhat from the written original but is the perfect complement to it, especially as it's a real treat to hear Malidoma's voice. Buy the book and the audio book!

I wanted more

There is nothing I disliked about the story. The story touching me quite deeply. It focused on aspects of my life and my understanding of life that tells me it’s okay. This book is about the celebration of LIFE in its fullness. Thank you for sharing.

Healing

Healing to the Spirit, mind and body. Excellent! I'm now reading his 2nd book. Thankyou

A text about initiation into other realities.

this is not a text one can review because it is actually about being able to depart from the western logical analysis approach to life. therefore no review can tell you whether to listen to this!

zero rating

worst book ever. Brutal narration ! no idea what he was going on about and I have read plenty on shamanism before.

very necessary!!!!!

I'm so glad the narrator is the author! indescribable but a necessary message for soul.

Life changing

A truly immersive experience of African Spirituality, Ritual & the purposed of initiation. Beautiful testimony. I have a deep respect and love for they telling of this tale. Love to the Dagara people. Love to the Motherland. Love to the Creator. Àse