Synopses & Reviews
A guide to reconnecting with Jesus, Mary, and the saints as shamanic teachers of divine mysteries
• Contains meditations, contemplations, parables, and active ritual tasks that help bring forth a shamanic understanding and practice of Christianity
• Shows shamanic experience to be the root of mystical communion
When the missionaries came to North America to “save” the American Indians, they were perplexed to discover that while they talked about Jesus, some of the Indians claimed to talk directly with him. Among Christians there is almost complete silence on the subject of the place of shamanism in experiencing the divine, yet shamanic experience is at the root of all mystical communion.
Shamanic Christianity offers a chance to rekindle the shamanic practices of Christianity to those who wish to restore their direct connection to the spirit world. In the tradition of contemplative practice, this reconnection takes the form of devotions. Presented in four forms, these devotions begin with a specific contemplation, followed by a meditative focus, then a parable from the author’s own visionary experiences, and finally an active mystical practice to help ground the meditations and contemplations in a ritual or ceremony that involves active participation. These four forms serve to reintroduce Jesus, Mary, and the historically renowned saints as shamanic teachers of divine mysteries whose spiritual presence is readily available to contemporary lives. The author also presents specific directives for handling everyday challenges in a shamanic-inspired manner, drawing upon creative activities and resources that encourage approaching the world with the imaginative and playful spirit of a child, whose personal freedom and creative expression is always wide open to possibilities.
Review
“This shamanic-handbook-for-all-people is an invitation to breathe in a fresh spirit and observe the boundless horizons of spiritual possibilities. Keeney challenges us to respond to the persistent tapping of ancient wisdom, which seeks communion at the altar of each of our hearts.”
Review
"If your background is within the Christian Tradition, you will probably be very interested in what this book has to teach and may experience a true healing and fuller acceptance of your own beliefs."
Review
"To open-minded Christians seeking a more intimate and mystical experience of Jesus (and Christianity), this joyful and playful book brings new ways of thinking about and practicing their religion."
Review
"With a bold dash of imagination, Keeney imagines what a shamanic Christianity would look like."
Review
"Timely, and well-written. . . . The reader will find this book fascinating in its implications."
Review
“This shamanic-handbook-for-all-people is an invitation to breathe in a fresh spirit and observe the boundless horizons of spiritual possibilities. Keeney challenges us to respond to the persistent tapping of ancient wisdom, which seeks communion at the altar of each of our hearts.” < b=""> Malidoma P. Som & eacute; <> , author of < i=""> Of Water and the Spirit <> and < i=""> Healing Wisdom of Africa <>
Review
"If your background is within the Christian Tradition, you will probably be very interested in what this book has to teach and may experience a true healing and fuller acceptance of your own beliefs." < b=""> Krysta Gibson <> , < i=""> New Spirit Journal <> , April 2006
Review
"To open-minded Christians seeking a more intimate and mystical experience of Jesus (and Christianity), this joyful and playful book brings new ways of thinking about and practicing their religion." < b=""> Dianne Fresquez <> , < i=""> For Heaven's Sake, New Age <> < i=""> Retailer <> , Fall 2006
Review
"With a bold dash of imagination, Keeney imagines what a shamanic Christianity would look like." < i=""> Spirituality & Health <> , Oct 2006
Review
"Timely, and well-written. . . . The reader will find this book fascinating in its implications."
Synopsis
SHAMANISM / RELIGION “ This shamanic-handbook-for-all-people is an invitation to breathe in a fresh spirit and observe the boundless horizons of spiritual possibilities. Keeney challenges us to respond to the persistent tapping of ancient wisdom, which seeks communion at the altar of each of our hearts.” Malidoma P. Somé , author of Of Water and the Spirit and Healing Wisdom of Africa When the missionaries came to North America to “ save” the American Indians, they were perplexed to discover that while they talked about Jesus, some of the Indians claimed to talk directly with him. Among Christians there is almost complete silence on the subject of the place of shamanism in experiencing the divine; yet shamanic experience is at the root of all mystical communion.Shamanic Christianity offers a chance to rekindle the shamanic practices of Christianity to those who wish to restore their direct connection to the spirit world. In the tradition of contemplative practice, this reconnection takes the form of devotions. Each devotion begins with contemplation of a specific spiritual theme, followed by a guided meditation, then a parable from the author’ s own visionary experiences, and finally an active mystical practice--a grounding ritual or ceremony that involves physical participation. Through these four devotional forms, Jesus, Mary, and the renowned saints are reintroduced as shamanic teachers of divine mysteries whose spiritual presence is readily available to us today. The author also presents specific directives for handling everyday challenges in a shamanic-inspired manner. Drawing upon creative activities and intuitive resources, these directivesencourage approaching the world with the imaginative and playful spirit of a child--always wide open to possibilities.BRADFORD KEENEY, PH.D., is an internationally renowned scholar, therapist, and shaman who has led expeditions throughout the world to study cultural healing practices. He is the author of Bushman Shaman: Awakening the Spirit through Ecstatic Dance, Shaking Medicine: The Healing Power of Ecstatic Movement, and the editor of the Profiles of Healing series.
About the Author
Professor Bradford Keeney, PhD, is an internationally renowned scholar, author, and therapist. He is presently Hanna Spyker Eminent Scholars Chair in Education and Director, Institute for Creative Transformation and Virtual Pedagogy, University of Louisiana, Monroe, and President, Louisiana Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.
As a fieldworker, Keeney has been called "the Marco Polo of psychology and an anthropologist of the spirit" by the editors of Utne Reader. As the author of over thirty-one books, Keeney presently is practicing and teaching what he has learned from the arts and sciences across diverse cultural traditions to help individuals, couples, and families transform their challenges and suffering into growth and more meaningful lives.
Apart from his work with the Kalahari Bushmen, he has served distinguished careers that span and connect the disciplines of social cybernetics, anthropology, and therapy. He has extensively researched and published information about various healing traditions around the world.
Table of Contents
PrefaceIntroduction: The Calling Forth of Christian Shamanism
PART I: THE LOST TEACHINGS
Introduction to the Lost Teachings:
The Mystical Devotions and Practice
1 Jesus As Shaman
2 Mary and the Religion of the Great Mother
3 St. Francis and the Teachings of the Forest
4 Hildegard and the Fire of Mystical Illumination
5 Talking to Animals and Fairies: The Celtic Saints
6 Miracle of the Holy Light
7 The New England Shakers and the Indian Spirits
8 The Prove: The Shamanic Use of the Holy Book
9 Receiving the Staff and Other Shamanic Instruments
10 The Shamanic Power of Loving One’s Enemy
11 Soul-Making Music
12 The Pilgrimage to Silence
13 Rebirthing Out of the Great Mother Sea
14 Unless Ye Become Like Children
PART II: THE LOST DIRECTIVES
Introduction to the Lost Directives:
Meeting the Challenges of Everyday Life
15 Shamanic Directives for Addressing Worry
16 Shamanic Directives for Addressing Self-Image
17 Shamanic Directives for Addressing Motivation
18 Shamanic Directives for Addressing Fear
19 Shamanic Directives for Addressing Insomnia
20 Shamanic Directives for Addressing Self-Control
21 Shamanic Directives for Addressing Weight Control
22 Shamanic Directives for Addressing Sadness
23 Shamanic Directives for Addressing Boredom
24 Shamanic Directives for Addressing Anger
25 Shamanic Directives for Addressing Family Relationships
The Lost Epistle: On Becoming a Christian Shaman
Appendix: Message for the World Worrier
About the Author