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Plant Spirit Shamanism: Traditional Techniques for Healing the Soul
An in-depth look at the role of plant spirits in shamanic rituals from around the world
• Shows how shamans heal using their knowledge of plant spirits as well as the plant’s “medical properties”
• Explores the core methods of plant shamanism--soul retrieval, spirit extraction, and sin eating--and includes techniques for connecting with plant spirits
• Includes extensive field interviews with master shamans of all traditions
In Plant Spirit Shamanism , Ross Heaven and Howard G. Charing explore the use of one of the major allies of shamans for healing, seeing, dreaming, and empowerment--plant spirits. After observing great similarities in the use of plants among shamans throughout the world, they discovered the reason behind these similarities: Rather than dealing with the “medical properties” of the plants or specific healing techniques, shamans commune with the spirits of the plants themselves.
From their years of in-depth shamanic work in the Amazon, Haiti, and Europe, including extensive field interviews with master shamans, Heaven and Charing present the core methods of plant shamanism used in healing rituals the world over: soul retrieval, spirit extraction, sin eating, and the Amazonian tradition of pusanga (love medicine). They explain the techniques shamans use to establish connections to plant spirits and provide practical exercises as well as a directory of traditional Amazonian and Caribbean healing plants and their common North American equivalents so readers can ex-plore the world of plant spirits and make allies of their own.
• Shows how shamans heal using their knowledge of plant spirits as well as the plant’s “medical properties”
• Explores the core methods of plant shamanism--soul retrieval, spirit extraction, and sin eating--and includes techniques for connecting with plant spirits
• Includes extensive field interviews with master shamans of all traditions
In Plant Spirit Shamanism , Ross Heaven and Howard G. Charing explore the use of one of the major allies of shamans for healing, seeing, dreaming, and empowerment--plant spirits. After observing great similarities in the use of plants among shamans throughout the world, they discovered the reason behind these similarities: Rather than dealing with the “medical properties” of the plants or specific healing techniques, shamans commune with the spirits of the plants themselves.
From their years of in-depth shamanic work in the Amazon, Haiti, and Europe, including extensive field interviews with master shamans, Heaven and Charing present the core methods of plant shamanism used in healing rituals the world over: soul retrieval, spirit extraction, sin eating, and the Amazonian tradition of pusanga (love medicine). They explain the techniques shamans use to establish connections to plant spirits and provide practical exercises as well as a directory of traditional Amazonian and Caribbean healing plants and their common North American equivalents so readers can ex-plore the world of plant spirits and make allies of their own.
280 pages, Paperback
First published August 3, 2006
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734 people want to read
About the author
Howard G. Charing
8 books14 followersHoward G. Charing is an international workshop leader on shamanism, author and visionary artist. For over twenty five years he has worked with some of the most respected and extraordinary shamans & elders in the Andes, the Amazon Rainforest, and the Philippines.
His books are; Plant Spirit Shamanism (Destiny Books USA) 2006, The Ayahuasca Visions of Pablo Amaringo (Inner Traditions USA) 2011, and The Accidental Shaman (Destiny Books USA) 2017. He has written numerous articles that include original source field interviews of indigenous shamans. His latest work (August 2022) is The Amazonian Angel Oracle
Click on link for Howard’s Website . This website features his workshop programme, his visionary art, introduction to the Amazonian Angel Oracle, and a solid selection of articles and interviews.
In 2016, he organised the first major conference in East Europe dedicated to visionary consciousness. This conference featured luminaries such as Graham Hancock, Dennis McKenna, Jan Kounen, plus many others. Full details of this event are on the web at Sumiruna Website
His books are; Plant Spirit Shamanism (Destiny Books USA) 2006, The Ayahuasca Visions of Pablo Amaringo (Inner Traditions USA) 2011, and The Accidental Shaman (Destiny Books USA) 2017. He has written numerous articles that include original source field interviews of indigenous shamans. His latest work (August 2022) is The Amazonian Angel Oracle
Click on link for Howard’s Website . This website features his workshop programme, his visionary art, introduction to the Amazonian Angel Oracle, and a solid selection of articles and interviews.
In 2016, he organised the first major conference in East Europe dedicated to visionary consciousness. This conference featured luminaries such as Graham Hancock, Dennis McKenna, Jan Kounen, plus many others. Full details of this event are on the web at Sumiruna Website
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 23, 2007
Fantastic book! The best I have found for spiritually partnering with plants.
April 8, 2021
Took me nearly a year to finsh, a deep diver when met with the intention of integration; grateful for these wisdoms and sacred teachers, my personal relationship to plants now much more intimate.
November 22, 2021
A beautiful book, with practical examples that lead the reader on their journey of connection with these scared beings
October 30, 2023
This is one of the most fascinating books. Great if you are experimenting with plant medicine.
October 26, 2024
Very informative. Practical exercises.
October 31, 2024
Supports homeopathy
November 7, 2015
I enjoyed this book very much. I felt it shed a little more light on the subject of shamanism. Learning about the different methods Shamans use, from perfumes to flower & herbal baths and more, was enjoyable to me and gave me a greater understanding of what tools and methods a Shaman uses.
There are suggested practices in this book which some may judge to be "woo-woo", but intuitive people and energy healers like myself should be able to navigate it without too much hesitation, if any at all. My suggestion is that the book be read in its entirety, and you will use all or some of what resonates and you will not use what doesn't resonate.
I'm very interested in continuing my shamanism studies, and will use some of the books mentioned in the Notes to add to my education on the matter.
I also will definitely use quite a bit of the suggestions here and, indeed, had already begun doing so before having read this book. I think it's interesting to note how what you read may match what you already feel from what your intuition has told you.
There are suggested practices in this book which some may judge to be "woo-woo", but intuitive people and energy healers like myself should be able to navigate it without too much hesitation, if any at all. My suggestion is that the book be read in its entirety, and you will use all or some of what resonates and you will not use what doesn't resonate.
I'm very interested in continuing my shamanism studies, and will use some of the books mentioned in the Notes to add to my education on the matter.
I also will definitely use quite a bit of the suggestions here and, indeed, had already begun doing so before having read this book. I think it's interesting to note how what you read may match what you already feel from what your intuition has told you.
April 22, 2014
I was really hoping for an anthropological study on shamanism. This is more like a self help guide. Do I believe connecting with nature is a good thing and some of the techniques in the book can help heal your soul? You bet. If I am ill or injured I am going to the doctor though.
September 4, 2014
This is a 3.5 star book to me, but better than the available three stars.
Whilst this book holds some reasonable information, in result, it feels like a good idea that ended up rushed to be finished. This is probably not accurate, but explains my hesitation in giving more stars.
Whilst this book holds some reasonable information, in result, it feels like a good idea that ended up rushed to be finished. This is probably not accurate, but explains my hesitation in giving more stars.
August 18, 2007
it really works//
June 20, 2012
This is a good overview of working with plants. The authors explore many different traditions and cultures and their practices.
July 28, 2011
Very good and informative.I find it very helpful.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews