Читать книгу The Shaman's Way of Healing - August Thalhamer - Страница 11

Since these three traditions often view each other with suspicion, and sometimes meet each other with hostility, I wanted to use this book to build a bridge. My aim is to show their differences and similarities, illustrated by examples, from a practitioner of all three of these healing methods’ point of view.

The book is an introduction to humanity’s oldest form of healing. This book also makes it clear that these abilities are slumbering in every one of us.

Here, I share my personal shamanic experiences. I also show how they could be explained from a psychological point of view and how they fit into the Christian tradition. What’s new about this approach is my attempt at reconciling these three seemingly irreconcilable orientations.

Is shamanic healing really so different from psychological treatment – as it seems to be at first glance? Even if the trappings of shamanic rituals seem exotic, their therapeutic principles are surprisingly consistent with the results of psychological research and the experiences of psychotherapeutic practice. They are also very compatible with theological views, especially the experiences of the mystics.

Despite all the differences between these views of life and our physical reality, I suggest that we are dealing with the same processes. On the one hand, they are experienced and explained within the psyche and, on the other hand, externally. Regardless of whether I use the wisdom of the (collective) unconscious to resolve a problem or I am inspired by good powers, (which, from a psychological viewpoint, are projected as external entities): The way we explain it seems irrelevant when it comes to the effectiveness of the therapeutic process.

My intention was to write the book in a personal and understandable way, while also conforming to accepted scientific standards.

In the hope that you find it inspiring,

August Thalhamer

Psychologist and psychotherapist,

Roman Catholic theologian and urban shaman

Linz, Austria, March 27th, 2021

Translator’s note: Biblical citations are taken from the New Revised

Standard Version Catholic Edition found at www.biblegateway.com.