Colleen Deatsman - The hollow bone : a field guide to shamanism

If you've ever wondered what shamanism really is, and how the practice of this venerable tradition blesses our lives and modern worldor if you live and work within a shamanic worldview and need a boost then consider yourself fortunate to have Colleen's passionate voice and compassionate nature as one who knows through The Hollow Bone. Colleen has done a masterful job in showing how shamanism fits into our world today, why it is important, and how to find your own way in making this world a better place for all. Read this book as soon as you canand see the soul of the world in every rock, stream, bird, and cloud.

Nan Moss and David Corbin,

authors of Weather Shamanism:

Harmonizing Our Connection with the Elements

This guide to spiritual knowledge and wisdom empowers the reader to find their spiritual path and the connection of all lifeanimate and inanimate, visible and invisible. Colleen shines a light on ancient ways while helping you to integrate tools and spirituality into daily life to elicit powerful personal and global transformation. A must read for a beginner on the path!

Margaret Ann Lembo, author of Chakra Awakening:

Transform Your Reality Using Crystals, Color,

Aromatherapy and the Power of Positive Thought

A fascinating look at a worldview that is both ancient and timeless. Like any shamanic practice worth its salt, reading The Hollow Bone will challenge cherished beliefs and stretch readers way beyond comfort. Open it, read it, and apply itonly if you dare.

Mark Stavish, author of Between the Gates: Lucid Dreaming,

Astral Projection, and the Body of Light in Western Esotericism

Although it is ancient, shamanism has never been more important than it is today. In addition to personal healing, it also holds the key to healing a planet distressed by human folly. The Hollow Bone is a magnificent and beautiful guide to this world of power that combines magic with the true science of nature and offers the hope of a better world for future generations.

John Perkins, author of Shapeshifting and the New York Times

bestselling Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

In The Hollow Bone, Colleen Deatsman reveals how the ancient ways of the shaman offer time-tested pathways to the heart and soul of living in deep wholeness. Stepping back into relationship with the spirit of yourself, nature, and the cosmos can provide you with a joy that is both lasting and profound!

Evelyn C. Rysdyk, author of Modern Shamanic Living:

New Explorations of an Ancient Path and founder of Spirit Passages

The Hollow Bone is a treasure trove of information on the origins, symbolism, and history of shamanism, humankind's first spiritual discipline. The text is experiential, guiding the reader through the author's apprenticeship and initiation into the spirit world of the shaman, and it demonstrates that Spirit is still vibrant and active in our hearts, as it has been since the beginning of time. A must read for everyone journeying on the shaman's path.

Larry Peters, PhD, Tibetan shaman

and leader of Nepal Spirit Excursions

Comprehensive and easy to follow.

Lynn Andrews, bestselling author

of the Medicine Woman series and Writing Spirit

Colleen Deatsman is one of the successful pathfinders in the world of shamanism and speaks with a trustworthy voice. The Hollow Bone an inspiring and practical guidewill take you, heart and soul, into the amazing world of the shaman.

Tom Cowan, author of Fire in the Head:

Shamanism and the Celtic Spirit

A comprehensive and scholarly book on shamanism that will bring this ancient and powerful spiritual practice into the contemporary world at a time when it is most needed.

Steven Farmer, PhD, author of

Earth Magic and Animal Spirit Guides

A must read for anyone interested in shamanic life and practice. This book delivers the vital message that shamanism is both heart-centered and earth-honoring and shamanic healers are hollow bones of the Spirit. I am putting it at the top of my students' book list.

C. Michael Smith (Mikkal), author of

Jung and Shamanism in Dialogue

A comprehensive exploration of shamanism and its modern application, The Hollow Bone brings clarity to a word often misused and misunderstood. True to Colleen Deatman's expressed purpose, her words are a bridge between the worlds and bring the possibility of Spirit to the collective challenges we all face. Over the years, I have hoped for a book that demystifies shamanic work and makes it accessible to a wider audience. This is that book.

Myron Eshowsky, shamanic mediator/trauma

healing activist, and author of Peace with Cancer:

Shamanism as a Spiritual Approach to Healing;

First published in 2011 by Weiser Books, an imprint of

Red Wheel/Weiser, llc

With offices at:

665 Third Street, Suite 400

San Francisco, CA 94107

www.redwheelweiser.com

Copyright 2011 by Colleen Deatsman

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Red Wheel/Weiser, llc. Reviewers may quote brief passages.

Barton, Barb. Circles, 1993, From the Eye of Hawk album. Reproduced with permission. www.barbbarton.com

Nepo, Mark. What Sustains. From his forthcoming book, Reduced to Joy. Reproduced with the author's permission.

Bailey-Lessirard, Michele. She Knew. From the author's blog, New Moon

Journal. Reproduced with permission. www.newmoonjournal.blogs.com/the_new_moon_journal/220_chironthe_bridge_builder

ISBN: 978-1-57863-498-9

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Deatsman, Colleen, 1960

The hollow bone: a field guide to shamanism / Colleen Deatsman.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-57863-498-9 (alk. paper)

1. Shamanism. I. Title.

BF1611.D326 2011

201'.44--dc23

2011023354

Cover design by Jim Warner

Interior layout by Jane Hagaman

Typeset in Adobe Garamond Pro

Printed in Canada

TCP

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials Z39.48-1992 (R1997).

To Pat

My beloved husband and life partner, on all levels, in all things. With you by my side, my love, I am able to be the best me that I can be. I am truly blessed and deeply grateful to share this journey of life with such an impeccable man and beautiful soul. Thank you for your deep, unwavering love and rock-steady light. You have a unique and special way of helping me stay connected with the Earth while I am exploring the Cosmos and beyond, and that helps me fully open to Spirit flow, so beautiful living and healing books like this can happen.

A way of life is dissolving right before our eyes, and everywhere people are looking for inspiration. We need to know that there are solutions to the challenges we are facing, including finding new livelihoods as our careers evaporate before our eyes; stemming a climate crisis that is already wreaking profound havoc; raising children to be able to handle a future filled with uncertainties; finding uncontaminated, healthful foods to eat; and caring for a generation of elders whose bodies are outliving their spirits.