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Joan Halifax
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Shamanic Voices: A Survey of Visionary Narratives Paperback – August 15, 1991

by Joan Halifax (Author)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 25 ratings
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Shamans, the physical and spiritual healers who are the central figures of many tribal cultures, share eloquent testimonies including harrowing tales of initiatory rites, vivid accounts of visionary journeys, and revealing expressions of their unique position as the link between the tribe and the cosmos.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    288 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin Books
  4. Publication date
    August 15, 1991
  5. Dimensions
    5.25 x 0.75 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0140193480
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0140193480
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books; First Edition (August 15, 1991)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0140193480
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0140193480
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.75 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 25 ratings

About the author

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Joan Halifax

Joan Halifax

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Roshi Joan Halifax, Ph.D., is a Buddhist teacher, Zen priest, anthropologist, and pioneer in the field of end-of-life care. She is Founder, Abbot, and Head Teacher of Upaya Institute and Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She received her Ph.D. in medical anthropology in 1973 and has lectured on the subject of death and dying at many academic institutions and medical centers around the world. She received a National Science Foundation Fellowship in Visual Anthropology, was an Honorary Research Fellow in Medical Ethnobotany at Harvard University, and was a Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the Library of Congress.

From 1972-1975, she worked with psychiatrist Stanislav Grof at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center with dying cancer patients using LSD as an adjunct to psychotherapy. She has continued to work with dying people and their families, and to teach health care professionals and family caregivers the psycho-social, ethical and spiritual aspects of care of the dying. She is Director of the Project on Being with Dying, and Founder of the Upaya Prison Project that develops programs on meditation for prisoners. She is also founder of the Nomads Clinic in Nepal.

She studied for a decade with Zen Teacher Seung Sahn and was a teacher in the Kwan Um Zen School. She received the Lamp Transmission from Thich Nhat Hanh, and was given Inka by Roshi Bernie Glassman.

A Founding Teacher of the Zen Peacemaker Order and founder of Prajna Mountain Buddhist Order, her work and practice for more than fifty years has focused on engaged Buddhism. Her books include: The Human Encounter with Death (with Stanislav Grof); The Fruitful Darkness, A Journey Through Buddhist Practice; Simplicity in the Complex: A Buddhist Life in America; Being with Dying: Cultivating Compassion and Wisdom in the Presence of Death; Standing at the Edge: Finding Freedom Where Fear and Courage Meet; Sophie Learns to be Brave (upcoming); In a Moment, In a Breath (upcoming).

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
25 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

David
5.0 out of 5 stars remarkably good collection
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2012
Verified Purchase
36 separate shamanic lives described. This is a remarkably good collection, it has several I was aware of, and several more I had never heard of. Well chosen.
3 people found this helpful
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tattletail
5.0 out of 5 stars happy
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2014
Verified Purchase
Joan Halifax is the definition of awesome. This book as all of hers, is absolutely brilliant. I read them many times.
One person found this helpful
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Willhum
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best.
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2007
Books on shamanism tend to be quite a mixed bunch in terms of quality. Shamanic Voices though is one of the best and most authentic (steering well clear of the flakey "new age" type of shamanism). I would also recommend highly Wizard of the Upper Amazon or any book by Jeremy Narby. Joan Halifax has collected a variety of writtings in this book, my favorite of which is the artic shamans and also the slightly sad story of the aboriginal Australian shaman who lost his power. This is one of my favorite books and comes highly recommended!
23 people found this helpful
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Feral Puma
5.0 out of 5 stars The Real Deal
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2008
This book is for the serious apprentice, though it's possible casual readers might enjoy the stories as well. Those looking for new age fluff should pass on this text, until they can learn to appreciate hands-on techniques 'solitude & suffering to transcend' and other fun topics like that. I've read many books on shamanism over the years but this one is the one I'd prefer to keep with me in place of all the others. This and perhaps Shapeshifting by John Perkins.
15 people found this helpful
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Anissa Gorka
4.0 out of 5 stars Shamanic Voices
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2000
Great book I reccomed reading the way of the Shaman first though.
7 people found this helpful
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Petrinia
5.0 out of 5 stars great read
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2014
great read
One person found this helpful
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webmaster@whisperingstone.com
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for the serious student of shamanism
Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2000
Joan Halifax has done an great job of taking important clips of information from various interviews done with various shaman from around the world. Such famous shaman as Black Elk (from Black Elk Speaks) are contained in here. She shows the similarity between all shamanic traditions as well as the differences with specific rights. Her selections of what she included were very smart, and also gives you insite as to what future books to buy, and what to avoid. A must read!
32 people found this helpful
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M. Chen
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Glimpse into a Magical World
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2006
It is amazing reading these stories from shamans all over the world. The soties are moving and tie into one another. This book leaves a mark on its reader.
7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Anna
5.0 out of 5 stars Un clásico
Reviewed in Spain on April 24, 2024
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Este libro es un clásico sobre chamanismo. Muy interesante, y se aprende mucho de las experiencias que incluye.
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Mr. Michael T. Knox
5.0 out of 5 stars This book has inspired me a great deal. I later discovered Ms Halifax is an ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 7, 2015
Verified Purchase
I first read Shamanic Voices in the 90's and was captured by the shamanic way of life and ritual initiation through the rites of passage experienced by members of the tribes. Halifax seems to focus on the different aspects of the tribes and how they all link together sharing commonalities in ritual, fasting and spiritual practices . Halifax seems to write from a perspective of being amongst the tribes and we are receiving her accounts first hand which is an eye-opener.
This book has inspired me a great deal. I later discovered Ms Halifax is an associate of the late great Joseph Campbell so for me, that says it all.
An inspiration and a wonderful read of an undiscovered country that will leave you wanting to learn more.
2 people found this helpful
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originalisa
5.0 out of 5 stars Focuses directly on the Shamans the author met and gives voice to them
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 22, 2015
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This is an early work on Shamans and Shamanism, but more to the point it focuses directly on the Shamans and gives voice to them. It is divided into nine sections and is a collection of narratives in which Shamans that the author met on her travels speak for themselves about their experiences. Included are Black Elk, Crow Dog, Sereptie, Maria Sabina, Manuel Cordova-Rios, Isaac Tens and Prem Das. It remains a valuable text on the subject and should not be ignored by anyone wanting to learn more about Shamans.

The author, Joan Halifax is an American Zen Buddhist.
4 people found this helpful
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dace delaney
3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 1, 2018
Verified Purchase
Arrived exactly as promised. Quite a lot to read... Still starting it.
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