The Shamanic Odyssey

Homer, Tolkien, and the Visionary Experience

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Mind & Body, Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism
Cover of the book The Shamanic Odyssey by Robert Tindall, Inner Traditions/Bear & Company
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Robert Tindall ISBN: 9781594775017
Publisher: Inner Traditions/Bear & Company Publication: November 16, 2012
Imprint: Park Street Press Language: English
Author: Robert Tindall
ISBN: 9781594775017
Publisher: Inner Traditions/Bear & Company
Publication: November 16, 2012
Imprint: Park Street Press
Language: English

Reveals the striking parallels between indigenous cultures of the Americas and the ancient Homeric world as well as Tolkien’s Middle Earth

• Explores the shamanic use of healing songs, psychoactive plants, and vision quests at the heart of the Odyssey and the fantasy works of J. R. R. Tolkien

• Examines Odysseus’s encounters with plant divinities, altered consciousness, animal shapeshifting, and sacred topography--all concepts vital to shamanism

• Reveals how the Odyssey emerged precisely at the rupture between modern and primal consciousness

Indigenous, shamanic ways of healing and prophecy are not foreign to the West. The native way of viewing the world--that is, understanding our cosmos as living, sentient, and interconnected--can be found hidden throughout Western literature, beginning with the very origin of the European literary tradition: Homer’s Odyssey.

Weaving together the narrative traditions of the ancient Greeks and Celts, the mythopoetic work of J. R. R. Tolkien, and the voices of plant medicine healers in North and South America, the authors explore the use of healing songs, psychoactive plants, and vision quests at the heart of the Odyssey, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and Tolkien’s final novella, Smith of Wootton Major. The authors examine Odysseus’s encounters with plant divinities, altered consciousness, animal shapeshifting, and sacred topography--all concepts vital to shamanism. They show the deep affinities between the healing powers of ancient bardic song and the icaros of the shamans of the Amazon rain forest, how Odysseus’s battle with Circe--wielder of narcotic plants and Mistress of Animals--follows the traditional method of negotiating with a plant ally, and how Odysseus’s journey to the land of the dead signifies the universal practice of the vision quest, a key part of shamanic initiation.

Emerging precisely at the rupture between modern and primal consciousness, Homer’s work represents a window into the lost native mind of the Western world. In this way, the Odyssey as well as Tolkien’s work can be seen as an awakening and healing song to return us to our native minds and bring our disconnected souls back into harmony with the living cosmos.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Reveals the striking parallels between indigenous cultures of the Americas and the ancient Homeric world as well as Tolkien’s Middle Earth

• Explores the shamanic use of healing songs, psychoactive plants, and vision quests at the heart of the Odyssey and the fantasy works of J. R. R. Tolkien

• Examines Odysseus’s encounters with plant divinities, altered consciousness, animal shapeshifting, and sacred topography--all concepts vital to shamanism

• Reveals how the Odyssey emerged precisely at the rupture between modern and primal consciousness

Indigenous, shamanic ways of healing and prophecy are not foreign to the West. The native way of viewing the world--that is, understanding our cosmos as living, sentient, and interconnected--can be found hidden throughout Western literature, beginning with the very origin of the European literary tradition: Homer’s Odyssey.

Weaving together the narrative traditions of the ancient Greeks and Celts, the mythopoetic work of J. R. R. Tolkien, and the voices of plant medicine healers in North and South America, the authors explore the use of healing songs, psychoactive plants, and vision quests at the heart of the Odyssey, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and Tolkien’s final novella, Smith of Wootton Major. The authors examine Odysseus’s encounters with plant divinities, altered consciousness, animal shapeshifting, and sacred topography--all concepts vital to shamanism. They show the deep affinities between the healing powers of ancient bardic song and the icaros of the shamans of the Amazon rain forest, how Odysseus’s battle with Circe--wielder of narcotic plants and Mistress of Animals--follows the traditional method of negotiating with a plant ally, and how Odysseus’s journey to the land of the dead signifies the universal practice of the vision quest, a key part of shamanic initiation.

Emerging precisely at the rupture between modern and primal consciousness, Homer’s work represents a window into the lost native mind of the Western world. In this way, the Odyssey as well as Tolkien’s work can be seen as an awakening and healing song to return us to our native minds and bring our disconnected souls back into harmony with the living cosmos.

More books from Literary Theory & Criticism

Cover of the book Rethinking the Gods by Robert Tindall
Cover of the book Twelfth Night: Language and Writing by Robert Tindall
Cover of the book Secrets, Lies and Children’s Fiction by Robert Tindall
Cover of the book A propos de la Princesse de Bagdad by Robert Tindall
Cover of the book The Complete Folktales of A. N. Afanas'ev, Volume II by Robert Tindall
Cover of the book De l'intime by Robert Tindall
Cover of the book La Poésie catholique en Allemagne - Oscar de Redwitz by Robert Tindall
Cover of the book Bad Ol’ Boy by Robert Tindall
Cover of the book Beyond Sambation by Robert Tindall
Cover of the book CliffsNotes on Tan's The Kitchen God's Wife by Robert Tindall
Cover of the book Death of a Red Heroine by Qiu Xiaolong Summary & Study Guide by Robert Tindall
Cover of the book Outstaring Nature's Eye by Robert Tindall
Cover of the book Histoire du vers français. Tome VI by Robert Tindall
Cover of the book Letters to a Young Poet by Robert Tindall
Cover of the book Il libro e i Frammenti dei Poeti Nuovi by Robert Tindall
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy