[Vilturj] Review - Gift of the Dreamtime by Kelley Harrell

[moonvoice]

Gift of the Dreamtime: Awakening to the Divinity of Trauma
by S. Kelley Harrell

publisher: Spilled Candy Books
year: 2004


I am not generally a fan of Core Shamanism, but I am quite a fan of some of the shamanists and Shamans it's produced. Kelley Harrell is an example of such a Shaman, and while her writing style is extremely conversational and sometimes a little too informal; the journeys described are inspiring, and the journey of healing itself warming to the heart. Harrell comes across as a genuine Shaman, and practices as a psychopomp on behalf of others in real life.

Gift of the Dreamtime by Kelley Harrell is one of those books which highlights a shamanic journey (using a Core Shamanic framework) that focuses on the resolving of trauma and the creation of new pathways of healing, growth and spirit work. Through a series of chapters, we are introduced to different spiritual worlds that Harrell visits, the guides, deities and animals she meets along the way, and the purpose of each journey and how it helps her to heal her own experience of sexual abuse.

Harrell's writing style is - as mentioned above - extremely informal. There is a lot of italics for emphasis, a lot of loose dialogue, and journeying experiences have a strong and almost fictional-style narrative. Harnell manages to employ all of the above to great affect, and the flow of each chapter is strong, interesting and filled with rich imagery.

The story / journey itself is about the transformation of a past narrative of abuse into an assimilated series of events that lead to understanding and eventually the ability to employ the abuse itself as a foundational basis for healing the self and acting as psychopomp for others. The sexual abuse itself is treated with sensitivity and carefully explored from different angles. What I found particularly interesting was the narratives surrounding subsequent physical ailments as a direct response to the abuse (in this case, recurrent UTIs) and potential paths, philosophies and healing related to this.

At the end of the book there is a small section on journeying and the intent to journey, the otherworlds (upper / middle / lower) and also a meditation to meet an animal spirit, and then a spirit guide. This information was encouraging and persuasive, and typically to Core Shamanism, completely forgets to mention the potential for any risk or harm to occur in the otherworlds. I am willing to excuse this, because I feel that this book doesn't necessarily encourage people to journey to external otherworlds, but instead internal worlds (I differentiate between the two) where harm is less likely to happen, because the person can exert far more control within their internal universe.

The formatting was a little bit painful. The publishing house is independent and not very well know, which could have something to do with it, but I generally get sick of loud fonts for chapter titles. The quality of editing on all levels is - I feel - exceptional, and the narrative flow itself is fairly clear, and interesting, with internal conflicts and moments of revelation in particular being shared very well.

The joy of this book is that it is an interesting story for sexual abuse survivors who have no interest in shamanism, but might like to explore visualisation as a path for healing. This makes it valuable outside of shamanism, and a useful tool for those looking to create internal support systems.

5 / 5

Comments

[grondfic.livejournal.com]

This sounds interesting. I too have a few reservations about "core shamanism"; but have used shamanic techniques. (I kinda prefer the non-core sort really - ie. attached to a culture or region).

Do you know if the book is widely available? (I know I could look it up on the Internet, and even buy it, but I'm a wimp about online purchase and have a horror of identity theft).

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

Because it's an independent publisher, I don't think it is widely available, and Amazon.com might be the best way to go (though maybe call around some of your local bookstores and see if they'll order it in for you). :)

I am like you, I prefer things to be attached to a culture or religion, or even a mix, rather than to be too vague. But even though a lot of her stuff was quite... non-culture specific, I still found the story quite fascinating.

[grondfic.livejournal.com]

I agree with your first comment too - that a lot of core-shamans and writers seem like decent people; and I get a lot from their work. But, for myself, I just prefer the workings to be anchored somewhere (in my case, whatever I can scrape together of Celtic, Norse and folkloric shamanic practices).

I must say I adore what you're doing in your art, and its connection with the land(s). The fossil-marsupial stuff is also fascinating; and not something I'd come across at all before. Now I have a vision of lines of ancient roos scuttling around on all-fours with their bums up in the air. Interestingly, the latest thinking on dinosaurs (at least, according to all the CGI reconstructions) has THEM with the air-bum thing too.

[lupabitch.livejournal.com]

I second moonvoice--it'll be tough to get from a store because of limitations in distribution that small presses have. You can order it direct from the publisher (http://www.spilledcandybookstore.com/Gift_Of_The_Dreamtime.html) (and I'm sure you could probably email them and see if you can just mail them a check).

[lupabitch.livejournal.com]

Darn, they took away the feature to edit comments :(

Anyway, the email address is Staff at SpilledCandy dot Com - the Contact page (http://www.spilledcandybookstore.com/Contact.html) has their mailing address, so I would assume it's just a matter of double checking with them to be sure they take checks, and to get a total with shipping.

[grondfic.livejournal.com]

Thnx for the info. I'll check them out and see what can be done.

If'n ya don't mind...

[perzephone.livejournal.com]

What is 'core shamanism'? I've never heard the term before.

Re: If'n ya don't mind...

[grondfic.livejournal.com]

"Core shamanism" was a term coined by Michael Harner; and means - as I understand it - the elements of shamanism that are common to all shamanic practices throughout the world.

What I was saying to moonvoice was that I like my shamanism with flavour! ie. I prefer to work in a specific tradition - eg. Siberian or Norse shamanism; rather than just dealing with rather washed-out "common elements".

[greensh.livejournal.com]

When you say, "I am not generally a fan of Core Shamanism, but I am quite a fan of some of the shamanists and Shamans it's produced.", do you mean people who did not have indigenous training, and instead "came up through the ranks" via the pursuit of practices popularized by Michael Harner?

I found the following examples of practices associated with core shamanism: rapid drumming to attain 'Shamanic State of Conciousness', communication with "power animals", and ritual dance.

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

do you mean people who did not have indigenous training, and instead "came up through the ranks" via the pursuit of practices popularized by Michael Harner?

Yes.

But otherwise the philosophy of Core Shamanism itself I feel dilutes cultural practice and lore and amalgamates what was never really intended to be amalgamated.

Michael Harner is an excellent philosopher and researcher, I just think he took it too far. I commend him for bringing shamanism into the New Age, but also regret how many 'shamanists' actually have no idea about the individual cultures that their practices came from.

[iphin.livejournal.com]

This book sounds excellent:) If you were impressed with it, I know that I shall be, too. Thank you for this review, babe. *HUGS*

[copperbeech.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your review of my book! I appreciate your thoughts!

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

My pleasure, I have recommended this book to so many people since reading it, as my own path in shamanism brings me to people who have experienced similar assault to me. And right now I am helping a woman and one of the first things I said was; 'right, there is this book you need to get,' ... lol.

In terms of practical benefit, and how much I recommend it, I really need to change the rating too! It's strange, and problematic with reviewing, that you can never know how a book will really impact you until you take its energy around with you for a while.

I hope you don't mind, but I've friended you, I had no idea you had a LiveJournal!

[copperbeech.livejournal.com]

You're right about carrying a book's energy around with you. That's a good way to put it. I've experienced that phenom but not had a way to describe it.

Thanks again for your kind words. I'm glad the book is making its own way.

Thanks for the friend! That's awesome!