Medicinemaker: Mystic Encounters on the Shaman's Path

by Hank Wesselman and Henry Barnard Wesselman

Book Overview

In the brilliant visionary tradition of Carlos Castaneda, anthropologist Hank Wesselman first documented his spiritual journey in the acclaimed account Spiritwalker . Now he continues his travels... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0553107747
• ISBN13: 9780553107746
• Release Date: August 1998
• Publisher: Bantam Books
• Length: 323 Pages
• Weight: 1.32 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

A Favorite

It picked me off the library shelf! I’m glad I have a copy of my own now. I highly recommend this book. It is a fantastic journey of the author, and it is a true shamanic book. It gives an excellent portrayal into energy medicine and spirit for everyone.

A wonderful continuation of a great trilogy!

Medicinemaker is the 2nd book of a trilogy. The first book being "Spiritwalker," and the last one is titled, "Visionseeker." In Medicinemaker, Hank Wesselman continues to beautifully illustrate his extraordinary visionary experiences with using a writing style which is easy to follow and often peppered with humor. The concepts presented in the book -- such as out-of-body consciousness and shamanism's healing methods, etc. -- are thoroughly investigated and explained to the best of the author's ability, with the Western, scientifically-oriented perspective in mind. Hank's "inner scientist," stemming from his previous education in the Anthropological field, compels him to come up with rational and logical reasons as to how and why these extraordinary experiences are taking place. Using scientific reasoning and traditional Hawai'ian beliefs, he is able to explain (was able to explain to me, at least) what would normally be unexplainable. The content of the entire trilogy generally includes: 1) his first encounters and reactions to his initial out-of-the-ordinary experiences, 2) his understanding and explanation of these experiences through a scientific and traditional Hawai'ian Kahuna's perspective, 3) an extraordinary account of his repeated "journeys" to a possible future Earth, seeing it through another man's eyes, and 4) several undeniably relevant and important proposals which connect his experiences to our present time and global situation. I appreciated Hank's openmindedness and sincerity when he approached his difficult-to-explain/understand experiences. Both his experiences and perspective inspired me to look at my life and future in a new way. The Spiritwalker trilogy has made a significant difference in my life. I highly recommend all three books.

Words Cannot Describe...

"Medicinemaker" is actually the sequel to Wesselman's first book "Spiritwalker". After reading both, I must say that the subject matter is absolutely fascinating, and the style of writing used has made these books both easy and thoroughly enjoyable to read. "Medicinemaker" is the continuation of a true story re: a series of visions the author experienced, where he actually meets himself 5,000 into the future. Once again, the author takes you on a journey with him - a journey into his amazing, vivid visions - and, just as he actually experienced parts of the life he is living 5,000 from now, you feel like you're experiencing this with him. He does such a wonderful job of pulling the reader in - there were actually times when I could really "see", "feel" & "hear" right along with him - what an exiting reading experience it was! You may think that since the visions were about human society 5,000 years in the future, that this book will be filled with amazing technology - like the Jetson's - but you'll be surprised to find out that all technology had been wiped out, and the people living at that time were living "off the land" - like our ancestors did many, many years ago. Overall, if you're looking for a real "page turner", and enjoy books on various metaphysical phenomena, then this book's definitely for you! I can't recommend it highly enough!

Beautifully written book

This is the second in the amazing series of books written by Hank Wesselman. Having met the man, and taken a class from him, I can only believe that what he has writen is true. The beauty of these books is that he is a wonderful writer. Wether you take the story as truth, or just an intertaining read, you will not be disapointed. Truely fasinating, and a book that cannot be put down until you reach the very end.

Unusual? Yes! Beautifully written and thought provoking.

Go ahead, read this book! If you feel yourself "gravitating" toward this book; if inexplicably you find yourself wishing you "had time" to read 'that sort of "fanciful" (or whatever your own qualifying word is for it) book,' just go ahead and do it! Read the book, and you won't be sorry. This is a book of beauty and honesty. You may wonder how Wesselman recreates the vivid detail of setting, action and dialogue of his mystical experiences. --But if something like this has ever happened to you, or if you really Want it to (your spirit yearns for such experience), you will understand that the reality of other dimensions reaches out to us in as much as we reach out to it-- and that all perception is ultimately a product of our own heart. The chapter I liked best, that I thought was very beautiful, was Chapter 7, where Wesselman takes a walk along a streambed and visits a pool and rocks called "The Narrows" at the Tassahara Zen retreat. If you have spent a day in the sun, near the water, and drawn closer to all joyful, atomistic and interconnected aspects of the Universe-- you'll feel as if You were there, too. ...After all, You were!

Fascinating adventure through time

Dr. Wesselman, an anthropologist, has written a paranormal narrative that is convincing, and entertaining enough that it's hard to put this one down. (There are obvious comparisons to Carlos Casteneda. I wonder if Dr. Wesselman's peers have received his story with any more open-mindedness.)Meeting your own descendant, (or perhaps your own reincarnated self) 5000 years into a post-apocalyptic future makes for a pretty incredible read. Also interesting is the description of a dig in the Rift Valley of Africa where Wesselman and colleagues find the most ancient human remains--along with a few mystical encounters. This story raises many questions about the destiny of our planet, and our spirits: the workings of visionary journeys, and reincarnation in relation to the Grand Scheme; and, particularly, about the time line. Just how unalterable, or malleable might it be? The end of the story left me wondering how Dr.W copes with the apparent knowledge that his descendant, Nainoa, lives in a world that is testament to the decimation of human civilization by catastrophic global warming. Does he believe that there may still be hope (to alter our collective course in time)?