Of Water and the Spirit
Ritual, Magic, and Initiation in the Life of an African Shaman
Penguin Publishing Group · Print & ebook · May 1, 1995
A renowned healer and shaman’s life-changing journey of discovery, healing, and wisdom “Malidoma has kept faith with the ancestors and with his own heart.
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- Who it’s for
- A reflective account of initiation, spirit practice, and the making of a worldview.
- Genres
- Shamanism, Cultural Heritage Lives, African Studies
- Published
- Penguin Publishing Group, May 1, 1995
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RitualMalidoma Patrice Some74% matchShares Shamanism
HomecomingThema Bryant Ph.D., Ina King52% match
The Tears of a Man Flow InwardPacifique Irankunda49% matchShares Cultural Heritage Lives
For younger readers: The Shaman's Apprentice, Forest of the Pygmies, Somadina
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Start with this bookAbout this book
A renowned healer and shaman’s life-changing journey of discovery, healing, and wisdom “Malidoma has kept faith with the ancestors and with his own heart. His journey is a shimmering ‘missing piece’ in the story of the earth.” —Alice Walker When he was a young boy growing up in Burkina Faso, Malidoma Somé was taken from his village and brought to a Jesuit mission school, where he spent years being harshly indoctrinated in European ways of thought and worship.
Continue reading
In this vivid and paradigm-shifting memoir, Malidoma recounts his journey home—and his initiation into the healing traditions of the Dagara culture, where the natural and supernatural blend together, and every person is encircled by family, community, and the wisdom of ancestors. By turns humbling, harrowing, magical, and transcendent, Malidoma’s spiritual awakening imparted ancient wisdom that he would spend the rest of his life sharing with others around the world—as an antidote to alienation, a tool for self-transformation, and a bridge between cultures and worlds.
Initiation Path
A reflective account of initiation, spirit practice, and the making of a worldview.
Come here for
- ritual, magic, initiation
- a contemplative spiritual memoir
Expect
- African spiritual traditions
- slow, sustained reading
Where it sits
| Shamanism | 81% |
|---|---|
| Cultural Heritage Lives | 48% |
| African Studies | 35% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Cultural Heritage Lives
- Shamanism
- Ethnic & Tribal Religions
- Authors
- Malidoma Patrice Some, Malidoma Patrice Somé
- Publisher
- Penguin Publishing Group
- Published
- May 1, 1995
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Reading lane
- Cultural Heritage Lives