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Developing Magical Consciousness: A Theoretical and Practical Guide for the Expansion of Perception — Occult Philosophy

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Developing Magical Consciousness: A Theoretical and Practical Guide for the Expansion of Perception

Name: Developing Magical Consciousness: A Theoretical and Practical Guide for the Expansion of Perception
Price: 200.00 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781138078697

✍️ Greenwood, Susan

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Susan Greenwood invites readers to explore 'magical consciousness' not as fantasy, but as a fundamental, panhuman way of perceiving the world. This insightful work aims to forge a vital link between the profound shamanic understandings of indigenous cultures and the often-limited rationalism of the West. Through both theoretical insights and practical case studies, it presents an innovative framework for developing a deeper, more embodied sensory connection to an inspirited world, encouraging a truly ecological and holistic understanding of reality that resonates through our subconscious and conscious awareness.

Greenwood, Susan

📚 all books by this author (4) →

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Occult Philosophy

🏛 Routledge 📅 2019 📖 206 pages 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9781138078697

Fun Fact

Greenwood's 'Developing Magical Consciousness' is a vital intervention for those seeking to deepen their understanding of reality beyond conventional Western paradigms. It excels at articulating a sophisticated, non-romanticized vision of magic as an inherent perceptual mode. While it may disappoint readers seeking a practical guide to spells or a light introduction, its rigorous yet heartfelt approach successfully bridges academic anthropology with genuine spiritual inquiry. This book carves out an essential space for integrating indigenous wisdom with contemporary thought, offering a profound template for expanded awareness.

📝 Description: Developing Magical Consciousness: A Theoretical and Practical Guide for the Expansion of Perception

Offering a new template for future exploration, Susan Greenwood examines and develops the notion that the experience of magic is a panhuman orientation of consciousness, a form of knowledge largely marginalized in Western societies. In this volume she aims to form a "bridge of communication" between indigenous magical or shamanic worldviews and rationalized Western cultures. She outlines an alternative mythological framework for the latter to help develop a magical perception, as well as giving practical case studies derived from her own research. The form of magic discussed here is not fantastic or virtual, but ecological and sensory. Magical knowledge infiltrates the body in its deepest levels of the subconscious, and unconscious, as well as conscious awareness; it is felt and understood through the connection with an inspirited world that includes the consciousness of other beings, including those of plant, animal and the physical environment. This is anthropology from the heart rather than the head, and it engages with the messy area of emotions, an embodiment of the senses, and struggles to find a common language of listening to one another across a void of differences. The aim is to provide a non-reductive structure for the creative interplay of both magical and analytical modes of thought. Passion is a motivator for change, and a change in attitude to magic as an integrative force of human understanding is the main thread of this work.

💎 Expert review

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💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Greenwood offers a compelling framework for viewing magic as a panhuman perceptual mode rather than mere fantasy. The integration of indigenous shamanic insights with modern theoretical discourse provides a fresh, vital perspective on occult studies. However, readers strictly adhering to rigid scientific materialism or those seeking simple, dogmatic spell-casting instructions may find the academic tone and philosophical breadth unappealing. It demands an openness to interdisciplinary analysis and does not cater to those who prefer practical manuals devoid of theoretical justification. The work is rigorous and thought-provoking, best suited for serious students willing to engage with complex ideas about perception and reality.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking to transcend the limitations of purely rational Western thought will find immense value in this guide. It is ideal for those who feel a disconnect between ancient shamanic wisdom and modern life, offering a bridge to an inspirited world. By combining theoretical depth with practical case studies, it empowers individuals to cultivate a deeper, embodied sensory connection to reality. This book is particularly beneficial for practitioners eager to understand the universal capacity for magic as a fundamental human trait. It supports those desiring a holistic, ecological understanding of existence that resonates through both subconscious and conscious awareness, ultimately fostering a richer, more perceptive engagement with the world around them.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you seek to expand your perception beyond conventional limits, or yearn to bridge the gap between scientific thought and spiritual wisdom, this book offers a profound journey. It's for those ready to embrace magic as an embodied, ecological reality, not a mere fantasy.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Greenwood offers a compelling framework for viewing magic as a panhuman perceptual mode rather than mere fantasy. The integration of indigenous shamanic insights with modern theoretical discourse provides a fresh, vital perspective on occult studies. However, readers strictly adhering to rigid scientific materialism or those seeking simple, dogmatic spell-casting instructions may find the academic tone and philosophical breadth unappealing. It demands an openness to interdisciplinary analysis and does not cater to those who prefer practical manuals devoid of theoretical justification. The work is rigorous and thought-provoking, best suited for serious students willing to engage with complex ideas about perception and reality.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No, this book focuses on 'magical consciousness' as an expanded mode of perception and understanding, deeply rooted in sensory and ecological awareness, rather than a guide to ceremonial magic or spellcraft.

Beyond its theoretical framework, the author includes practical case studies derived from her own research, illustrating how this expanded perception manifests and can be cultivated in real-world contexts, offering tangible examples for the reader.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Panhuman Magical Awareness

Greenwood posits that the experience of magic is an intrinsic human perceptual orientation, a universal form of consciousness often overlooked or suppressed in Western societies. She explores how this innate capacity can be reawakened and integrated into contemporary understanding, revealing its presence across diverse cultures and historical periods as a fundamental aspect of human knowing.

Bridging Worldviews

The book meticulously constructs a 'communication bridge' between the holistic, animistic perspectives of indigenous shamanic traditions and the predominantly rational, scientific worldview of the West. It seeks to provide a new conceptual framework that allows Western minds to access and appreciate the profound insights offered by magical perceptions without abandoning critical thought, fostering mutual understanding.

Embodied, Ecological Magic

Greenwood distinguishes her subject from popular fantasy, emphasizing magic as a sensory, ecological experience deeply rooted in the physical world. This form of magical knowledge permeates one's entire being, connecting individuals to an 'inspirited world' where plants, animals, and the environment itself possess consciousness, fostering a profound sense of interconnectedness and felt understanding.

📜 Historical context

This work stands within a tradition of anthropological inquiry that challenges Western ethnocentrism, particularly its dismissal of non-rational forms of knowledge. It builds on decades of scholarship recognizing the validity of indigenous cosmologies, while simultaneously pushing boundaries by advocating for the *integration* of these perspectives into a revitalized Western consciousness, moving beyond mere observation to experiential understanding.

📚 Glossary

Magical Consciousness
Inspirited World
Alternative Mythological Framework

📔 Questions to reflect on

How might your daily perception of the natural world change if you fully embraced the idea that plants, animals, and the environment possess consciousness?
Reflect on moments in your life when you've experienced a sense of profound connection or 'knowing' that transcended purely rational explanation. How might these align with 'magical consciousness'?
Consider a Western cultural narrative or 'mythology' you've internalized. How might an 'alternative mythological framework' transform your understanding of your place within the larger cosmos?