Shamanic Healing: Traditional Medicine for the Modern World

236 Pages·2016·1.44 MB·English

by  Itzhak Beery

To Margalit for the lifelong adventurous journey we embarked
on and for Ariel, Tal, and Shira, who make it worthwhile. To
Don José Joaquin Piñeda and Bernardo Peixoto, Ph.D.,
(Ipupiara Makunaiman) for their generous treasured teachings
and open hearts.
SHAMANIC
HEALING
“This intriguing book is a call to action and a challenge to integrate
shamanic knowledge about health care with modern science. Itzhak’s
latest contribution to this body of wisdom guides us along that path. I
highly recommend it.”
JOHN PERKINS, AUTHOR OF THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER CONFESSIONS
OF AN ECONOMIC HIT MAN
“Shamanic Healing is an important book for the times we live in, as so
many people in the Western world are searching for alternative ways of
healing. This book provides a wealth of shamanic healing methods from
indigenous cultures that can be integrated into anyone’s life and/ or their
work with clients. Itzhak Beery did a brilliant job bringing this work to
us.”
SANDRA INGERMAN, M.A., AUTHOR OF SOUL RETRIEVAL AND SPEAKING WITH
NATURE
“Belief structures tend to put a fence around our consciousness, as
Itzhak Beery shows in his new book on shamanic healing. He creates a
bridge between ideals that no longer serve us and the ancient, yet
current, practices of ancient shamanism up until today. Beery’s book
offers a new model to transform our sick care into holistic health care.”
LYNN V. ANDREWS, AUTHOR OF COMING FULL CIRCLE
“In Shamanic Healing, Itzhak Beery has created an extraordinary book
that records generous teachings brought to life through his accounts of
adventures and healing stories from which readers may extract
techniques and insights that may enrich their lives. Itzhak is a medicine
man, and he has created very good medicine indeed.”
HANK WESSELMAN, PH.D., ANTHROPOLOGIST, AUTHOR OF THE
SPIRITWALKER TRILOGY, AND COAUTHOR OF AWAKENING TO THE SPIRIT
WORLD
“Shamanic Healing supports the ongoing revolution in health, as the
modern world discovers alternative methods can be effective for many
types of maladies—physical, psychological, and even spiritual. Itzhak
Beery’s book provides a clear, coherent introduction and overview of
these ancient practices, which are evermore popular.”
DANIEL PINCHBECK, AUTHOR OF HOW SOON IS NOW?
“Through crisp narrative and excellent storytelling, Itzhak Beery takes
on the timely and powerful subject of shamanic healing and its relevance
in our modern world. In a world where we find our medical model
bankrupt and too often causing illness and death instead of healing,
people are seeking alternatives, including the ancient, effective ways of
shamanism. Here you will find an excellent and comprehensive
introduction to the world of shamanic healing based on South American
traditions. His book is a real contribution to shamanic literature.”
JOSÉ LUIS STEVENS, PH.D., AUTHOR OF ENCOUNTERS WITH POWER
“Izhak Beery’s passionate love of shamanism gives us a glimpse at how
rich and fulfilling shamanic work can be in one’s life. He writes with an
urgency to embed shamanic healing practices into our Western world, so
we may align all our senses harmoniously with the supportive energies
of the Earth and assure the survival of our species. An excellent book for
all who seek to deepen their understanding of shamanic healing
practices.”
TOM COWAN, AUTHOR OF FIRE IN THE HEAD
“Itzhak Beery has written a spectacular book. This honest, nonlinear
journey into the very heart and soul of shamanism rekindled my heart’s
flame and strengthened my commitment to the shamanic path that we
share.”
LINDA STAR WOLF, PH.D., COAUTHOR OF SOUL WHISPERING
“Itzhak Beery’s heart and compassion encompass all of his teachings,
and his fierce commitment to the integrity of this work is an inspiration
to all who come in contact with him. His brilliant writing will open you
to the beauty and elegance of walking the shamanic path.”
MICHAEL STONE, TEACHER, ACTIVIST, WRITER, AND RADIO HOST
Acknowledgments
To all the medicine men and women by many names throughout the world who
have kept this age-old wisdom alive despite the obstacles modern life presented
them, there are not enough words to thank you. Thank you for showing us the
way to the future.
Deep gratitude to Leah De Santo and especially Glori Anne Di Toro and
Meghan MacLean for their hard work in making sense of my manuscript and
their honest feedback, which contributed greatly to the final book. To my dear
friend Ariel Orr Jordan for continually finding the right words to instigate,
inspire, and sharpen this book’s vision.
To Ehud Sperling and all the Inner Tradition team for making this book
happen. Credit goes to Joe Kulin, my agent, whose guiding hands and friendship
I value a great deal.
Thanks to the core members of the New York Shamanic Circle, which I
cofounded and whose backing gave me wings to fly on for the last twenty years.
A special thank you to all my clients throughout the world: your trust in me
taught me more than I could ever imagine possible and mostly about myself and
the great mystery.
Finally, I owe deep gratitude to my big-hearted teachers who I was so
fortunate to encounter and work with on this long path of healing. Thank you for
your faith in me, especially the yachak Don José Joaquin Piñeda of Ecuador and
the pajé Ipupiara Makunaiman of the Brazilian Amazon. Thanks also to Don
Alberto Taxo; Don Esteban Tamayo and his two sons, Jorge and Jose; Don
Jacho Castilo; Donna Maria Juana and her husband, Don Antonio Yamberla;
Don Oscar Santillan; Don Shairy-José Quimbo Pechimba; and Susana Tapia
Leon—who all come from the high-energy volcanic-charged Ring of Fire of the
Andes of Ecuador. Many thanks also to the Amazonian Shuar’s Uwishin Daniel
Guachapa, the Inuit uncle Agaangaq Angakkorsuaq, and Native Americans
Lewis Mehl-Madrona and Nelson Turtle, along with John Perkins, Hank
Wesselman, Michael Harner, Lynn V. Andrews, Nan Moss, David Corbin, and
Tom Cowan, who enriched my world beyond words as well. I thank you all.