From host Barbara

I’ve been wanting to do an episode comparing and contrasting ecastatic spirit initiation (commonly called shamanic initiation) and alien abduction experiences for a while now, but my personal squeamishness around abduction narratives held me back.

However, in doing research on anomalous light phenomena, which has a significant overlap with alien abduction narratives, I have broadened my reading on the topic and have made my peace with it. I might talk about my familial and personal abductionesque narratives in a subsequent episode but not for a while.

But here it is, and I couldn’t have asked for a better guest for this topic than Alexandra. She’s deeply knowledgeable on both academic anthropology, and ecstatic spirit practices, and she did some of her doctoral research on the subject of mirrors and light in the context of shamanic practice, and we had a great time going back and forth and around and through the subjects listed in the title.

I don’t want to give too much away, so I’ll leave my description of the episode at that. If you like what you hear in this episode, Alexandra is fine with listeners getting in touch with her to discuss these sorts of topics. She can be reached at forestwyrdwork@gmail.com . She’s also teaching a beginners shamanic journeying workshop here in the Athens area November 4th and 5th. She’s open to allowing students to use Zoom to virtually attend the class as well. Class size is limited to 8 students, so if you’re interested, contact Alexandra using the email above. We both hope you enjoy this episode and find listening to it an enlightening experience. But, I’m not done, because I have to list books and papers that are mentioned in the podcast.

Books
Mircea Eliade: Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstacy
Micheal Harner: The Way of the Shaman
Karla Turner: Masquerade of Angels
Whitley Streiber: Communion
Thomas Bullard UFO Abductions: The Measure of a Mystery Papers
Nicholas J Saunders: “Stealers of Light, Traders of Brilliance: Amerindan Metaphysics In The Mirror of Conquest.”
Siv Kristoffersen: “Half Beast—Half Man: Hybrid Figures in Animal Art”