Rating: 
Summary: Core Shamanism from an academician
Review: Mr. Harner studied Shamanism with the Jivaro and Conibo indians, and relates his experiences. Mr. Harner began by using halucinogenic substances when he received initiation by Jivaro shamans. However; in the book he gives techniques that do not use halucinogenic substances. I also recommend: "Secrets of Shamanism..." Jose and Lena Stevens "Shamanism: as a Spiritual practise..." Tom Cowan
Rating: 
Summary: Early work, but still with merit
Review: One of Harner's early works, "The Way of the Shaman" describes several basic shamanic techniques but is perhaps not as well suited to the beginner as Harner intended. This is definately a book for anyone interested in Shamanism although the beginer should also read Leo Rutherford's "Shamanism." Attend the Foundation for Shamanic Studies Basic Workshop ...)to learn both practical techniques for the Shaman practicing alone, and to practice many of the techniques in this book.
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Summary: truly a great book
Review: The author gently leads you into shamanic practice, through story telling and practical instructions. This is a very well rounded book, and is the closest i've come so far as to haveing an actual shaman teaching me techniques.
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Summary: Whatever it takes
Review: There will be people who are thrilled to read this book and other people who will be disappointed that Mr. Harner does not present shamanism is it traditional form and does not expect us to endure the training of traditional shamans. Fair enough. I would just like to point out that teachers of every tradition or lineage that has either come from The East or is trying to be revived in current Western society has had to accomodate itself to the lack of a context that enables people to follow the traditional training. Whether it's Tibetan Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, Hindu, or Sufi lineages, or even Christian monastic practice, all have had to adjust to the fact that our scientific, materialistic rationalism makes it very difficult to
find support for individuals, especially those with families, or who are not independently wealthy to pursue "the Old Ways." I'm just not as fussy as I used to be. That purity business was just my own fantasy. I applaud anyone with the persistence of Michael Harner to keep plugging away and just planting seeds into the minds of people of the reality of other forms of consciousness. Why don't we wait until we grow up as a culture before we insist on "purity" which is too often just another way of saying "my way is the best."
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Summary: Good Introduction to Shamanism
Review: This book appears to be a good introduction to shamanism and both its universal teachings and applications that can be found in shamanism throughout the world, separated by oceans and continents and yet with universal concepts beyond the individual tribal codes and interpretations. I think this is a good book for the Westerner to be introduced to basic shamanism, but not for someone from an actual tribe that practices shamanism, as this book is very limited, ignoring or excluding the individual codes based on ethnic and tribal beliefs
As a cultural relativist and somewhat of a deconstructionist and instrumentalist, I pragmatically consider all conceptions, and especially those spiritual frameworks, religious interpretations and the identifying of entities, in this case power animal spirits and plant spirits with journeys to the lowerworld visualized in the shamanistic state of consciousness, as all perceived through the human interpretative mind, the mind that filters, interprets, categorizes and projects reality according to its linguistic, social, tribal and cultural preferences. Therefore I take Shamanism face value while simultaneously recognize the serious limitations it occurs.
Shamanism interprets the trance as an entry into a lowerworld, with various spirit guardians and techniques to achieve their presence, as well as the techniques to remove the evil or negative powers spirits that cause illness to others. So there are many specifics you must believe in, in order to accept the whole shamanistic teachings.
Ultimately, I find you must be under the influence of a sacred psychedelic plant (as many Shamans are) to understand or perceive reality outside the limited human mind, and once you do you can interpret reality entirely different or with a broader view in perspective. It is under this trance of wider perception, of a "mind at large' (Huxley) that you can at least perhaps enter areas of genius and radical wonder beyond the rational discursive mind, into the world of imagination and visionary realms of non-empirical but entirely "real," despite its subjective nature. The use of psychedelic or etheogenic plants I think is crucial to perceiving reality beyond the Western logic into shamanistic dimensions. And even then reality is limited to our understanding and we must make choices as to the existence of lowerworlds and power animal guardian spirits.
And yet there is a level of medicine that modern technology does not cover, another dimension. And it appears that the shaman's consciousness is symbolic for something much different than modern medicine, a realm of emotional, spiritual, neurological that in someway is tapped into with shamanism. This guide, may be a powerful animal spirit, or perhaps our higher selves or our through our DNA messaging us. This guide, or helper could be our own neurological make up, or God, however what it really is beyond the symbols of tunnels, plants, animals and insects is phenomenally not known, however its with shamanism that this part of the human consciousness is touched on and used. So it appears to me that there is something very significant about shamanism despite its lack of explanation through our rational and modern scientific minds.
On page 175, Harner writes: "Possibly science will eventually find that the unconscious mind of the shaman's patient, under the influence of sonic driving, is being 'programmed by the ritual to activate the body's immune system against disease. . . The burgeoning field of holistic medicine shows a tremendous amount of experimentation involving the reinvention of many techniques long practiced in shamanism, such as visualization, altered state of consciousness, aspects of psychoanalysis, hypnotherapy, meditation, positive attitude, stress-reduction, and mental and emotional expression of personal will for health and healing. In a sense, shamanism is being reinvented in the West precisely because it is needed."
Rating:
Summary: If you're looking for application, this is it
Review: This book is application and technique. It shares some of Harner's personal experiences but it's also a workbook. Harner takes common elements of shamanism from around the world and presents them in a solid format that's useful, consise and easy to understand.
Rating: 
Summary: Harnerism not Shamanism
Review: This book is commercialized shamanism. Although interesting and well written it is one of the many tools Harner has used to make a name for himself at the expense of others. He has studied different forms of Shamanism extensively, but he takes their "core" and fits it into a nice neat package with an artistic cover. Taking Shamanism out of context is degrading to the cultures for whom Shamanism is an integral part of their life. Harner has taken the opportunity to put someone elses spirituality up for sale. I suggest readers of this book to read Paul C. Johnson's article "Shamanism from Ecuador to Chicago: A Case Study in New Age Ritual Appropriation." It can be found in the journal Religion (April 1995).
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Summary: Good Book on topic
Review: This is very good book for basics of shamanism. A good book and worth it!!
Rating:
Summary: A validation of the shaman's path....
Review: When I first read this book I thought that it was the greatest thing I had ever found. Not only did it describe experiences that I thought were unique to myself, but I found that there was actually a name for such things- shamanism. I had never even heard the name before. Yet, I knew exactly what was being described.
That's just it, though, this book's importance to me was in its validation of the path that I had already traveled- alone. When I see people claiming that they are shamans, or "neo-shamans", based on reading a few books or attending a workshop or two, I can only shake my head. I mean, I see nothing wrong with such things, no more than I see anything wrong with dabblers in Wicca, it is just that I don't personally believe that it is shamanism. I don't say this out of arrogance, self-righteousness, or a sense of superiority- it is just that I have found that the transition involved in crossing over to the spirit world is absolutely life shattering and soul transforming. There is a good chance that it may kill you. Actually, in a sense, it does kill you, for to be a shaman means to die and be reborn. It is not the sort of thing that a bored yuppy can do on a weekend to demonstrate his "spiritual sensitivity."
Personally, I think shamans are either born, or they result from a certain type of near death experience. As much as I respect Native American medicine people, I do not think that they have any sort of inside track or "secret knowlege." Their advantage lies in being outside of the artificial hell of the modern world- and perhaps in having more of an "opportunity" to hit bottom and reflect on it. They also have open minds- they KNOW the realities of spirits and of a world beyond. These are the advantages of any outsider....
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