5 Top Books About Shamanism

Have you always wanted to discover the best books about shamanism? Because it’s quite hard to find really relevant and eye-opening books to learn more about shamanic practices and rituals. That’s why we teamed up and pitched in the best books that we read about shamanism and we came up with a list of 5 top books about shamanism, that everyone who is interested in this practice should start off with! Are you ready to learn more about shamanism? Let’s begin!

1. Way of the Shaman by Michael Harner

If you are looking for a book to introduce you to the subject and teach you a few beginner shamanic practices then this is where you can start off your shamanic learning journey. From the very first few pages, Harner catches your attention:

If you see something frightening, you must not flee. You must run up and touch it.

Michael Harner, The Way of the Shaman

He starts off his book with a short autobiography of his personal shamanic journey, through which you can identify many of the things that you will pass and discover on your very own journey. Then, he shares a few simple shamanic practices and explains how to do them on your own.

Incidentally, no matter how fierce a guardian animal spirit may seem, its possessor is in no danger because the power animal is absolutely harmless. It is only a source of power; it has no aggressive intentions. It only comes to you because you need help.

Michael Harner, The Way of the Shaman

2. Shadows in the Twilight: Conversations with a Shaman by Lujan Matus, W.L. Ham

If you are looking to submerge yourself into the shamanic world and see things from a very different perspective, then the teachings of Lujan are perfect to do so. One of the greatest quotes from this book that simply shook us to the bone when reading it is:

In the end we are the sum total of our doings and we will be faced by those doings at the moment of our death. Or is it our death in every moment that we live that faces us with what we do?

Lujan Matus, Shadows in the Twilight: Conversations with a Shaman

Although he was a student of Don Juan as well, Lujan manages to convey his experiences and teachings from a completely different perspective. Although they are shocking beyond imagination, they truly widen our perspective. It’s one of the most amazing books ever written about shamanism, and it’s truly a must-read for anyone who wishes to learn shamanic practices.

The only path that has any meaning is one that resolves your being in the feeling that your heart is empowered by doing what is necessary for your existence.

Lujan Matus, Shadows in the Twilight: Conversations with a Shaman

3. Wisdom of the Shamans: What the Ancient Masters Can Teach Us about Love and Life by Don Jose Ruiz

One of the ways Toltec shamans transferred their ancient teaching, knowledge, and wisdom was through storytelling. By keeping the stories alive from generation to generation, shamans taught the whole tribe, and not just future shamans.

The simple truth is that every person is an artist, and the art that we create is the story of our life.

Don Jose Ruiz, Wisdom of the Shamans: What the Ancient Masters Can Teach Us about Love and Life

In this book, the shamans are portrayed in their true nature – not as witch doctors, but rather for who they truly were in the community – healers, friends, psychologists, and wise man. Through their teachings, the whole tribes were able to lead fulfilling lives, filled with love.

Life as you perceive it is a reflection of your perceptions and beliefs. It is not real, but rather a dream. To some, this may sound negative, but in fact, it is positive because if your life is a dream, and you become aware of the fact that you are the dreamer, then you can consciously create the dream you want to see and live the life you want to live.

Don Jose Ruiz, Wisdom of the Shamans: What the Ancient Masters Can Teach Us about Love and Life

4. The Wheel of Time: The Shamans of Mexico Their Thoughts About Life Death & the Universe by Carlos Castaneda

One of the most famous books on shamanism is a part of a series by a world-renowned writer called Carlos Castaneda. His journey started when he met up with a man who had great knowledge of herbs, especially in psychedelic ones in which Castaneda was interested in learning more about.

Upon meeting this man, his whole life changed because he became his student. After ten years of teachings, he sat down, went through his notes and wrote these few books that explain various shamanic teachings.

We loved all of them, but the most interesting one for us was definitely The Wheel of Time, where time is explored from a different perspective. We recommend reading the whole series of books!

Man’s predicament is that he intuits his hidden resources, but he does not dare use them. This is why warriors say that man’s plight is the counterpoint between his stupidity and his ignorance. Man needs now, more than ever, to be taught new ideas that have to do exclusively with his inner world—shamans’ ideas, not social ideas, ideas pertaining to a man facing the unknown, facing his personal death. Now, more than anything else, he needs to be taught the secrets of the assemblage point.

Carlos Castaneda, The Wheel of Time: The Shamans of Mexico Their Thoughts About Life Death & the Universe

5. Spirit Hacking: Shamanic Keys to Reclaim Your Personal Power, Transform Yourself, and Light Up the World by Shaman Durek

If you are looking for a way to understand how ancient shamanic teachings can be conveyed and used in our modern world, then this is the book that you should pick up. Shaman Durek is a sixth generation of shamans, and he not only shares the knowledge that was conveyed to him, but he also explains it in a modern context. It’s an amazing book to pick up!

Shamans perceive reality through an expanded perspective that acknowledges the life force, the sacredness, and the divinity in all earthly life-forms, including those in the animal kingdom and those in the plant kingdom. Shamans are bound by nether third-dimensional constraints nor the five senses. No one is, really. But most humans are programmed to reject their extrasensory capabilities and to reject the spiritual realms altogether. But mostly, humans are programmed to reject their own power, which has a lot of people stubbornly beholden to a very narrow, very limited material experience of reality as perceived through the standard-issue five senses.

Shaman Durek, Spirit Hacking: Shamanic Keys to Reclaim Your Personal Power, Transform Yourself, and Light Up the World

Tune in to our blog for more books on Shamanism!