Journeying: Where Shamanism and Psychology Meet

by Jeannette M. Gagan

Book Overview

Journeying not only shows the commonalities shared by shamanism and psychology, it also illustrates the potency of their combined healing power. The true heart of this pioneering book rests in the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0964208806
• ISBN13: 9780964208803
• Release Date: December 2010
• Publisher: Rio Chama Publications
• Length: 177 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

A shamanic practitioner's viewpoint

Having experienced the shamanic path directly and then going back for a degree in psychology I found this a good book for helping the psychological community understand the shamanic path of direct experience. Too many people who are facing a spiritual opening (possibly shamanic) are medicated out of the experience because of the professional's limited viewpoint of the shamanic experience and/or the fear of the unknown.I caution that the shamanic path cannot be catagorized or analyzed, it is fluid and changing; it is chaotic in nature-if you don't know "the way". I suggest that if you are a professional go out and journey for yourself, explore the path, draw your own conclusions.

A candle in the darkness

I don't have to write a wordy essay to sum up what this book isand what it did for me. Over the last fifteen years I have accumulateda virtual library of material on shamanism and psychology. All Ineeded was three books, this being one of them.I wish and hope amultitude will read and use the material in this book. Thank youJeannette Gagan. P.S. The other two books are, The Way of The Shaman by Michael Harner, and The Vision Seeker by John Lame Deer.

Brilliant! A must-read book!

What happens when you combine the studies of psychology and shamanism? Are the two practices divergent...or are there some commonalties? Author, teacher, licensed psychologist and student of shamanism Jeannette Gagan answers with a resounding "yes" in her brilliant book, Journeying.Dr. Gagan has crafted her book to lead the reader, in a logical order and with easy-to-understand language, through the nature and history of both fields. Then we learn some of the approaches of understanding and healing.In chapters 3 and 4, Journeying gets down to it...the place where shamanism and psychology intersect, the mending of emotional wounding. Inadequate bonding, neglect, abuse, aggression, anger and violence are some of the conditions we learn about, and the healing brought to bear.In the final pages, Journeying offers the bridge that brings shamanism and psychology together...that reflects the bond between the alchemy of shamanic healing and the science of psychology. "Shamanic cultures, I found, understand the debilitating effects of trauma and strive to restore wholeness to distressed individuals" writes Dr. Gagan. And, after all, isn't that a prime purpose of psychology, too?This reviewer is no psychologist nor shaman, but can see and feel the logic and rightness of grand ideas when expressed in a well-written book. Indicative of that is, "Shamans search for lost pieces of soul and return them to members of their community. Psychologists investigate the workings of the mind and strive to validate their methodological approaches. Shamanism has soul to give to psychology. Psychology has science to give to shamanism".Journeying has insight, love, learning and practical experience to give us. Thank you, Jeannette Gagan, for making the connection!

Integrative Healing at its Best

Journeying is an exciting and powerful work with profound implications for those invested in integrative medicine and healing. The word integrative comes from the latin word "integratus" which means to form or blend into a whole; to unite with something else. Dr. Gagan unites or brings together the 30,000 year old shamanic tradition of healing with the field of psychology. The function of psychology, according to Dr. Gagan, is "to study behavior and mental processes and apply the resulting knowledge to the human condition". While taking different routes, shamanism and psychology seek to alleviate suffering in communities of people. Although the book is titled: "Journeying: Where Shamanism and Psychology Meet, I feel the book is really about holistic healing.Allopathic medicine has been primarily concerned with healing the body, the field of psychology has been focused on healing the mental and emotional pain of persons. The shamanic healer is concerned not only with a person's symptoms and pain, but also a person's entire beingness experienced within the context of one's environment and circumstances. Dr. Gagan posits that shamanic healing integrates healing the body, the mind and the spirit. Shamanic forms of healing are about soul care and healing of the spirit. When we experience "pain" in our spirit or soul, it also sooner or later affects us mentally and physically. Therefore healing, to be effective, must be holistic. Shamanic forms of healing and journeying work at assessing and responding to the mind, body and spirit needs.Dr. Gagan has written a prophetic book on the nature of healing and how modern medicine, psychology and one of the oldest forms of healing (shamanism) can be integrated to heal our overstressed and immune suppressed society. The form of healing is within ourselves and the process is dynamically self-empowering. Dr. Gagan's extensive clinical practice as a psychologist and expertise in shamanism is integrated in a revolutionary new yet traditional form of healing the human person. This is a five star book and a must for persons who are interested or in need of holistic healing.

Shows brilliant understanding

If you have ever been curious about shamanism and the process of journeying, this book is for you. If you have never heard of shamanism and the process of journeying, this book is the place to start.Dr. Gagan has written a powerful book exploring the worlds of shamanism and psychology and the bridges between them. The shamanic tradition dates back at least 30,000 years. Like psychology, its intent is to heal and alleviate suffering. Unlike psychology, shamanism focuses on the soul of the individual. Its primary method is through the process of journeying.As Dr. Gagan explains, the shamanic journey is a process of archetypal reconnection. During journeying, the imagery that springs from the unconscious connects us to nature and the natural order of the universe. The journey itself acts as an alchemical container where we can come to know these images. We journey "in repsonse to a source of healing that appears to beckon from outside ourselves. We connect to this source not through the aid of some guru or cleric, but rather under the power of our own intent." Through the author's eyes, the process is dynamically self-empowering.The book analyzes in depth many case studies where we can see the art of journeying at work. Dr. Gagan's comprehensive experience in both psychology and shamanism show clearly. She is a master on this topic.