Illumination: The Shaman’s Way of Healing

I love Alberto Villoldo's work and have read much of what he has written. I also practice the Process of Illumination as taught in his school.Sadly, this book is NOT about his Process of Illumination, the fantastic technique he "brought back" and/or synthesized from his travels in the Andes; it's about Initiation; The Shaman's Way of Healing Self. I do wish I'd known this when I bought it. I thought I was buying a more detailed explanation of Illumination.The editing is at times atrocious: "Like Mark Antony, even ordinary people sometimes risk everything they once valued to follow love, succeed in a career, or in be good parents." ?? what? (page 6, paragraph 2)Punctuation is not always complete or balanced: ending quotations and parentheses are left off occasionally.Although a relatively good read for what it is, I feel a little bit misled.

Illumination is a profoundly good book that opens up your mind and lets you explore yourself. Though hard to follow, I found myself rereading many a paragraph several times, Illumination gives the reader exercises that let you relax the old brain that deals with emotions and opens up a higher brain that deals with feelings.I fist purchased Illumination for my Kindle but then purchased a hard copy to lend several og my “thinking” friends for them to read.CaseyCamp Wood, Texas

I had been a student of a very wise old professor at the University of Chicago named Mircea Eliade in the 1870's, who had written the acknowledged Masterwork of Scholasatic Shamanism (called "Shamanism"). When it came time to write a thesis I used ideas from Eliade and noted Chicago Anthropologist Victor Turner's classic "The Ritual Process," which dealt extensively with tribal initiations, particularly from childhood to sdulthood. My thesis, which dealt extensively with initiatory efforts in the counter/youth culture.of that time which the author would see as incomplete initiations because a lot of it was based on non sacred use of psychedelic drugs; like in the then very popular books by Carlos Castaneda about the sorcerer Don Juan and "the Yagui way of knowledge" which were ideals that were aspired to but never really reached mainly because of the hedonism that permeated that age.The reason I mention Eliade and Turner (and my own less evolved work) is that Villodo's work is somewhat a synthesis of their work transposed into a modern message of hope in a world careening out of control. Villodo feels, like with the counter culture of the 60's and 70's, that most initiations (e, g, adulthood, marriage, parenthood,death) are shallow and incomplete.Look at a typical coming of age movie which is mostly about externals like cars, infatuation, maybe drugs,and sports. These are indicative of arrested spiritual/shamanic development. According to the author in many cases we are adult children, who are unstable and incomplete, and, at the core, very unhappy and angry.In order to reach true personal development we must go through deep personal symbolic processes. To this end, Villodo likes to refer to Carl Jung's alchemical allegory of going beyond ego consciousness to true individuation as an example of authentic, and totally complete, spiritual transformation.Villodo spends a lot of time writing about the seven deadly sin of Christianity: Pride,Greed,Envy,Lust,Sloth,Anger,Gluttony.He sees these "sins" as blocking spiritually meaningful initiations, and his background as clinical psychologist (no longerpracticing adds depth and credibility to his argument. However Shamanism, in Villodo's, view is not only for the archetypal spiritual "medicine man.," but is possible, at least in my interpretation, too anyone who fallows the initiatory spiritualpath, which is a fairly unique vision of shamanism, in particular, and spiritual traditions in particular.Villodo's recommendation is that we take bold initiatory and transformative action to fully develop, overcome the scourge of the seven deadly sins and "essentially" save the world as they save themselves. But at the same time we should be very patient in this process and let go of the fear and compulsiveness that characterizes our age and trust that development will come if we wait and patiently, and let truth, love and beauty unfold. As poet T. S. Eliot wrote in transcendent, and very spiritual masterpiece "The Four Quartets: "we must be still and still moving" to achieve spiritual rebirth in the span of one, or many, lifetimes.This is a very idealistic message, but beautifully crafted and inspirational. It may seem like a bit of a dream, but it may be a dream that needs to come true before it might be too late. And although highly critical of modernity, and post modernity, it offers a captivating, and engrossing, vision of authentic self realization.

This will be one of those books that I will read over and over. I have a couple of his other books but this one speaks to me. What a great book.

This is my first book kind of venturing in spiritual awakening type/genre and I kept an open mind. It wasnt difficult because it had an easy, natural flow and the author is likeable but most importantly, humble so I saw a lot of good out of it. I am surprised with how much of it paralleled with my life as I was going along reading intermittently for over 6 months. Theres only a few places where I felt it started to get too new-agey but overall, I would definitely recommend it as an intro to someone looking for a book for enlightenment or defining meaning in their personal life.

Each book Villoldo writes is amazing. This one is quite inspiring. Helps to put everything into perspective, particularly if you're still stuck in your life after going through a lot of healing work and you are still suffering. This book will bring up some "Ah-huhs" for you and enable you to see your life's patterns from a different perspective. What the author does so well is make this information accessible and understandable to those of us who do not have a background in therapy or psychology. Most of all, this book will appeal to your creative side if you like to do ceremony.

All of Villoldo's books are excellent. He is an anthropologist and mystic who writes like an award winning writer. Nothing dull in his books, but lots and lots of helpful information.

It is a nice book in overall. Author has an interesting outlook on shamanism and the way to achieve real spirituality.

Another excellent book from this well respected author. A must for your spiritual journey and you will find yourself putting the book down and thinking about what you have read. I have a few of his books and because I have had that much from them, I have ended up buying all the others.

A great book articulately written and full of passionate observation. I loved it

Simple and yet enough to set the seeking mind into wanting to explore more of ourselves in a purposeful way.

Brilliant book

Alberto is a wonderful writer who infuses every word he writes with compassion. This book is ideal for anyone that feels that they may be lost on life's great journey. Highly recommended.