Drawing Down the Spirits: The Traditions and Techniques of Spirit Possession
✍️ Kenaz Filan, Raven KalderaCurrently unavailable
This book is sold out right now. Leave your email — we'll let you know if it comes back, and you'll get 10% off any book today.
In stock now — readers of this book also loved:
Drawing Down the Spirits offers an unparalleled, intimate look into the global phenomenon of spirit possession, from ancient shamanic rites to contemporary neo-pagan practices. Authored by initiated practitioners Kenaz Filan and Raven Kaldera, this essential guide transcends mere theory, providing vital, hands-on techniques for preparation, ensuring safety, managing aftercare, and navigating potentially harmful encounters. It reveals how diverse cultures engage with spirit embodiment across the world, while unequivocally stressing that spirits possess their own formidable will and agendas, making every encounter a powerful, unpredictable journey.
Praise for this book
“Are you ready to have your mind blown? Seriously, are you looking for a book that will force you to confront and/or reevaluate your thoughts on the very prospect of God or Gods themselves? . . . Hidden within this informative, straight forward text, is a philosophical discourse that is fascinating. Once you open this book, you'll find it hard to put down.”
📝 Description: Drawing Down the Spirits: The Traditions and Techniques of Spirit Possession
📑 What's inside
- Prologue: Wild Horses Kenaz's Story Raven's Tale Introduction
- Part one The Past
- 1 Metaphysics and History: A Long View of Spirit-Possession
- 2 The Geography of Spirit-Possession
- Part two The Present
- Kenaz's Story
- Raven's Tale
- 3 Cosmologies
- 4 Different Riders: Comparing and Contrasting
- 5 Gathering Culture: When Worlds Collide
- Part three The Spirits
- 6 On the Nature of Spirits
- 7 Spirit and Flesh: How Possession Works
- 8 Hearing Gods: A Guide for the Head Blind
- 9 Sacred Spaces: Permanent and Ephemeral
- Part four Possession
- Kenaz's Story
- Raven's Tale
- 10 The Horse: Safety, Sanity, and Consent
- 11 The Ride: Preparation, Aftercare, and Harmful Possessions
- Part five The Community
- Kenaz's Story
- Raven's Tale
- 12 Keeping the Community Safe
- 13 Recognizing Fakes and Frauds
- Part six The Future
- 14 Touching Gods: The Future of Possession in the Neo-Pagan Community
- Raven's Tale
- Appendix: Asphodel's Ritual Structure for Public God-Possession Notes Index
💎 Expert review
📖 Why choose it
Why this book is worth reading
Practitioners seeking to understand the profound and unpredictable nature of spirit embodiment will find this book indispensable. It moves beyond theoretical abstraction to offer vital, hands-on techniques for preparation, safety, and aftercare during possession rites. Readers interested in how diverse cultures engage with the unseen will appreciate the global perspective provided by these initiated authors. It is essential for those who recognize that spirits have formidable wills and agendas, ensuring every encounter remains a powerful journey rather than a controlled experiment. This guide empowers practitioners to navigate potentially harmful encounters with respect and preparedness.
⭐ Reader reviews
Reader rating
This text provides an intimate look at spirit possession, emphasizing the unpredictable agency of the entities involved. While valuable for serious students of folk magic and neo-paganism, it is not suitable for casual readers seeking light entertainment or those who prefer strictly theoretical anthropology without practical application. It does not guarantee control over spirits but rather prepares the body and mind for their arrival. Those expecting a simple instructional manual on summoning may find its focus on safety and aftercare too cautious. However, for initiated practitioners, it offers necessary warnings and techniques that respect the formidable will of the unseen.
❓ Frequently asked questions
📖 Who should read this
If you're a serious practitioner of shamanism, neo-paganism, or other traditions involving direct spirit interaction, this is for you. This book is for those ready to delve into advanced spirit work, seeking practical guidance, and unafraid to confront the profound power and autonomy of the spirit world.
🎯 Key themes and symbolism
Global Possession Practices
This book meticulously details how spirit possession manifests across diverse cultures, from the vibrant rituals of Bali and Korea to the ancient practices found in Greece and Scandinavia. It illustrates the universal human impulse to connect with the divine through embodiment, offering a rich tapestry of examples that reveal the varied forms and significance of spirit interaction worldwide.
Practical Spirit Engagement
Far from theoretical, the authors provide indispensable, actionable guidance for those considering or already practicing spirit possession. It covers crucial steps for ritual preparation, establishing protective boundaries, techniques for safe integration and release, and essential aftercare. The emphasis is firmly on responsible, informed engagement, acknowledging the inherent power and unpredictability of working with spirits.
The Independent Spirit
A cornerstone of this work is the frank acknowledgment that spirits are autonomous entities with their own motivations and power, fundamentally challenging any notion of absolute human control. The book underscores that there's no guaranteed 'safe' possession, urging practitioners to approach these powerful beings with profound respect, humility, and a deep understanding of their independent will.
📜 Historical context
📚 Glossary
- Spirit Possession
- Shamanism
- Drawing Down
📔 Questions to reflect on
- Reflect on your personal boundaries and ethical considerations regarding inviting non-corporeal entities. What safeguards would you put in place for your own practice?
- Considering the book's emphasis on spirit autonomy, how might your understanding of 'control' or 'safety' in spiritual work need to evolve?
- Explore the concept of 'sacred exchange' in spirit possession. What do you believe is given and received by both the spirit and the practitioner?
📖 Read on the blog
✍️ More books by this author Filan, Kenaz; , Kaldera, Raven
All books by this author →🏛 Books from this publisher Destiny Books
All books from this publisher →You might also like
See more →Have a question about this item?
Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.