Shamanic Dimensions of Psychotherapy

Shamanic Dimensions of Psychotherapy
Author: Robin van Löben Sels
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 356
Release: 2019-11-13
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 1000739791

In Shamanic Dimensions of Psychotherapy: Healing through the Symbolic Process, Robin van Löben Sels uniquely and honestly recounts her personal journey toward a shamanic understanding of psychotherapy. Exploring the disruptive breakthrough of visions and dreams that occurred during her analysis, personal life, and psychoanalytic training, van Löben Sels illustrates how the phenomenology of ancient shamanism is still alive and how it is a paradigm for the emergence and maturation of the psyche in people today. This original book delves into van Löben Sels’s personal experience of the shaman, identifying such eruptions as a contemporary version of the archaic shaman’s initiatory call to vocation. The book is split into two parts. It begins by outlining the shamanic personality in history, recognizing this as an individual that has been called out of a collectively sanctioned identity into a creative life, and the unconscious shaman complex they consequently face, especially in psychotherapeutic relationships. Practical as well as theoretical, the second part outlines the shamanic attributes that underline psychotherapeutic relationships - silence, sound, mask, rhythm, gesture, movement, and respiration - and usefully describes how to use them as asanas for consciousness, or vehicles toward psychological awareness. With clinical examples and personal stories throughout, this book’s unique Jungian perspective addresses contemporary expressions of the shaman complex in our current world. Shamanic Dimensions of Psychotherapy: Healing through the Symbolic Process will be essential reading for Jungian analysts and psychotherapists in practice and in training, as well as for academics and students of Jungian and post-Jungian studies. It will be especially helpful and illuminating to those who have experienced an involuntary plunge into the depths and who seek ways to articulate their experience.

The Shaman's Way of Healing

The Shaman's Way of Healing
Author: August Thalhamer
Publisher:
Total Pages: 266
Release: 2022
Genre:
ISBN: 9783709501238

Shamanism, Family Constellations, Psychotherapy, the Christian Healing Tradition - their similarities and differences, illustrated with examples from a practitioner of all these methods. August Thalhamer, Austrian Catholic theologian, psychotherapist, and urban shaman is answering his calling to build bridges. Over the last half century, Thalhamer has been able to discover the harmony resonating between these (seemingly mutually-exclusive) worldviews, in theory and in practice. Here, he outlines the academic and intuitive paths that led to his own shamanic way of healing. This guide is a one-stop reference work for anyone interested in Shamanism. If your curiosity has ever left you wondering: What value does shamanic wisdom, ancient and contemporary, have for the Western world and how can we integrate it into our lives? This book will provide you with a solid harbor for launching your own personal journey, one you can always return to for inspiration. Univ.-Prof. Dr. H. H. Büttner, Wismar, wrote in the Ärzteblatt Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 8/2015 (the medical journal for the German edition): This book actually belongs in the hands of medical students and young doctors, because, by the way, it conveys western education, tradition and partly humanistic dimensions of medicine. We should again seek out the foundations on which the edifice of our philosophical and religious culture rests, also with regard to our mental health. Today's medical students would, of course, be recommended to study philosophy again in addition to physics (which, by the way, was abolished by the Prussian Ministry of Culture in 1861). I enjoyed reading and thinking a lot.

Psychomagic

Psychomagic
Author: Alejandro Jodorowsky
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 259
Release: 2010-06-18
Genre: Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN: 1594779562

A healing path using the power of dreams, theater, poetry, and shamanism • Shows how psychological realizations can cause true transformation when manifested by concrete poetic acts • Includes many examples of the surreal but successful actions Jodorowsky has prescribed to those seeking his help While living in Mexico, Alejandro Jodorowsky became familiar with the colorful and effective cures provided by folk healers. He realized that it is easier for the unconscious to understand the language of dreams than that of rationality. Illness can even be seen as a physical dream that reveals unresolved emotional and psychological problems. Psychomagic presents the shamanic and genealogical principles Jodorowsky discovered to create a healing therapy that could use the powers of dreams, art, and theater to empower individuals to heal wounds that in some cases had traveled through generations. The concrete and often surreal poetic actions Jodorowsky employs are part of an elaborate strategy intended to break apart the dysfunctional persona with whom the patient identifies in order to connect with a deeper self. That is when true transformation can manifest. For a young man who complained that he lived only in his head and was unable to grab hold of reality and advance toward the financial autonomy he desired, Jodorowsky gave the prescription to paste two gold coins to the soles of his shoes so that all day he would be walking on gold. A judge whose vanity was ruling his every move was given the task of dressing like a tramp and begging outside one of the fashionable restaurants he loved to frequent while pulling glass doll eyes out of his pockets. The lesson for him was that if a tramp can fill his pockets with eyeballs, then they must be of no value, and thus the eyes of others should have no bearing on who you are and what you do. Taking his patients directly at their words, Jodorowsky takes the same elements associated with a negative emotional charge and recasts them in an action that will make them positive and enable them to pay the psychological debts hindering their lives.

Shamanism and Spirituality in Therapeutic Practice

Shamanism and Spirituality in Therapeutic Practice
Author: Christa Mackinnon
Publisher: Singing Dragon
Total Pages: 322
Release: 2012-06-15
Genre: Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN: 0857010689

Increasing numbers of professionals in the fields of psychology and therapy are seeking to incorporate elements of spirituality into their therapeutic oeuvre, addressing not only mental and emotional issues, but also the soul. This book discloses how indigenous traditions can be adapted to offer practitioners a highly effective repertoire of insights, psycho-spiritual approaches and therapeutic tools. The underlying concepts and world-views of indigenous and contemporary shamanism are explained and tied in with current developments in psychology and science. After clarifying altered states of perception, concepts of integrative wholeness of mind, body, soul and spirit and transformative shamanic 'healing' approaches, the book goes on to outline concrete contemporary tools and techniques that can be applied directly to work with clients. It presents research, examples and case studies throughout. This will be enlightening and compelling reading for psychologists, therapists, counsellors and coaches looking for profound insights and innovative methods of practice that cater for the whole human psyche, reaching beyond contemporary Western mind and body approaches.

Journeying

Journeying
Author: Jeannette M. Gagan
Publisher:
Total Pages: 168
Release: 2020-08
Genre:
ISBN: 9781649610836

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 application of shamanic technique to the healing of emotional and developmental wounds. Anchored in theory and supported by case examples, Journeying is suited for anyone invested in healing, practitioners and lay persons alike.

Soulfulness

Soulfulness
Author: David England
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 282
Release: 2018-05-08
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 0429905149

This book brings the wisdom of the ancient healing practice of shamanism together with the insights of contemporary psychology to provide an integrated approach to the treatment of traumatic symptoms.'Soulfulness' has two historic shamanic roots: Mayan and Native American psychology - a psychology of Self - as expressed in the many aspects of the Medicine Wheel, the wheel of health and wholeness; and the Shamanic Journey and Soul Retrieval, as practiced in traditional societies throughout the world, notably the Tungus tribes of Siberia. This book presents the ancient wisdom of shamanic theory and practice in a form which is fit for use within the mainstream of twenty-first century psychotherapeutic endeavour, including an extensive explanation of Shamanic Psychology and a practical description of the ceremonies of the Shamanic Journey and Soul Retrieval.

Manual of Psychomagic

Manual of Psychomagic
Author: Alejandro Jodorowsky
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 261
Release: 2015-01-30
Genre: Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN: 1620551616

A workbook for using symbolic acts to heal the unconscious mind • Provides several hundred successful psychomagic solutions for a wide range of specific psychological, sexual, emotional, and physical problems, from stuttering, eczema, and fears to repressed rage and hereditary illnesses • Details how practitioners can develop unique psychomagic solutions for their patients • Explains how psychomagic bypasses the rational mind to work directly with the unconscious for quicker and more enduring change Traditional psychotherapy seeks to unburden the unconscious mind purely through talk and discussion. Psychomagic recognizes that it is difficult to reach the unconscious with rational thought. We should instead speak directly to the unconscious in its own language, that of dreams, poetry, and symbolic acts. By interacting on this deeper level, we can initiate quicker and more enduring change to resolve repressed childhood trauma, express buried emotions, and overcome deep-seated intimacy issues. Through the lens of psychomagic, illness can be seen as the physical dream of the unconscious, revealing unresolved issues, some passed from generation to generation. In this workbook of psychomagical spells, legendary filmmaker and creator of psychomagic Alejandro Jodorowsky provides several hundred successful psychomagic solutions for a wide range of psychological, sexual, emotional, and physical problems from stuttering, eczema, and fear of failure to repressed rage, hereditary illnesses, and domineering parents. Each solution takes the same elements associated with a negative emotional charge and recasts them into a series of theatrical symbolic actions that enable one to pay the psychological debts hindering their lives. Explaining the shamanic techniques at the foundation of psychomagic, the author offers methods for aspiring practitioners to develop solutions for their own unique patients. Jodorowsky explains how the surreal acts of psychomagic are intended to break apart the dysfunctional persona with whom the patient identifies in order to connect with a deeper, more authentic self. As he says in the book, “Health only finds itself in the authentic. There is no beauty without authenticity.”

Alternative States of Consciousness in Shamanism, Imaginal Psychotherapies, Hypnotherapy, and Meditation Including a Shamanism and Meditation Inspired Personal and Professional Training Program for the 21st Century Psychotherapist

Alternative States of Consciousness in Shamanism, Imaginal Psychotherapies, Hypnotherapy, and Meditation Including a Shamanism and Meditation Inspired Personal and Professional Training Program for the 21st Century Psychotherapist
Author: Allen Holmquist
Publisher: Universal-Publishers
Total Pages: 599
Release: 2009-08
Genre: Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN: 1581123574

Shamanism, hypnosis, imaginal psychotherapies, and meditation are based on the use of what we in the modern western world think of as non-ordinary human consciousness. These four modalities have fundamental similarities and differences in purpose, theory, technique, type of alternative consciousness, and their application of non-ordinary reality. Shamanism, the oldest and most intertwined with the cultures in which it is practiced, will be explored as a model for individual healing and transformation and professional training. The shamanic way will also be explored as a model of consciousness and a world-view that offers individuals, groups, and society much needed coping mechanisms, healing techniques, and transformative values that may be helpful in dealing with this trying and important transition time for humanity. Imaginal therapies, meditation and hypnosis all have their roots in shamanism, although in some parts of the world at certain times in history, shamanism borrowed from meditation in its adaptation and development.

The Sacred Heritage

The Sacred Heritage
Author: Donald F. Sandner
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 310
Release: 2013-10-18
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 1135236232

The contributors to this volume describe the many facets shamanism and depth psychology have in common: animal symbolism; recognition of the reality of the collective unconscious; and healing rituals that put therapist and patient in touch with transpersonal powers. By reintroducing the core of shamanism in contemporary form, these essays shape a powerful means of healing that combines the direct contact with the inner psyche one finds in shamanism with the self-reflection and critical awareness of modern consciousness. The contributors' draw from experiences both inside and outside the consulting room, and with cultures that include the Lakota Sioux, and those of the Peruvian Andes and the Hawaiian Islands. The focus is on those aspects of shamanism most useful and relevant to the modern practice of depth psychology. These explorations bring the young practice of analytical psychology into perspective as part of a much more ancient heritage of shamanistic healing.

Ecstatic Soul Retrieval

Ecstatic Soul Retrieval
Author: Nicholas E. Brink
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 262
Release: 2017-03-16
Genre: Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN: 1591432626

A guide to integrating ecstatic trance, soul retrieval, and psychotherapy to overcome emotional challenges and deepen your connection to all life on Mother Earth • Describes the methodologies of ecstatic trance and psychotherapy, explaining how they can be integrated in a way that feels familiar and safe • Illustrates five ecstatic postures for strengthening identity, uncovering the root of suffering, and aligning with a spirit guide • Includes three in-depth case studies to illustrate how to override negative beliefs and habits and experience oneness with the Earth and all life Sharing the wisdom of shamanic healing, Nicholas Brink creates an accessible link between psychotherapy and the ritualized use of ecstatic trance postures. He explains how ecstatic trance triggers the imagery that allows us to override negative beliefs and retrieve the lost innocence of the soul. He shows us how to broaden healing beyond the resolution of individual emotional and behavioral issues to create harmony in family, community, society, and the world around us. Integrating cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, and dream analysis, the author provides a unique model for tapping into the universal mind in a way that feels familiar and safe. He illustrates five ecstatic postures for emotional and spiritual growth, moving from finding a place of relaxation in which to strengthen your sense of self to the soul retrieval experience, which leads to the death of dysfunctional beliefs and restoration of your original innocence. The author shows how spirit guides can support us as we achieve the spiritual consciousness of the shaman and recognize the interdependence of all cultures and all living things on the planet. Using three in-depth case studies, Brink demonstrates how these practices can be used to resolve common psychological issues such as agoraphobia, panic attacks, irrational anger, mood swings, obsessive behaviors, and control issues. Allowing you to find your inner shaman--your ability to heal yourself and, in turn, to contribute to the healing of all life on our planet--ecstatic soul retrieval helps you overcome emotional and behavioral problems, override negative beliefs, and experience oneness with all life on Mother Earth.