Shaking Out the Spirits: A Psychotherapist's Entry into the Healing Mysteries of Global Shamanism

"I dislike giving a self-proclaimed "holy man" a bad review, but honestly, at times I couldn't stop laughing while reading of his experiences. A whole lotta shakin' goin' on does not a holy man make. I would never deny him his unique method of connecting to spirit. What I would perhaps question is the stature he gives himself. See, Keeney never met a holy man, guru, avatar, medicine woman, psychic, shaman or Spiritual Director he didn't like, or who didn't offer to make him their "heir apparent." From Black Elk to Buddha he is universally adored. And why shouldn't they? Keeney is so exalted that Jesus Christ himself is Keeney's "spirit guide." Yeah, that's what The Christ is involving Himself with these days. But somehow, no matter who blesses, embraces, or aids Keeney, it's never enough. He has a guru jones, each one needing to be "higher" and more enlightened than the last. Thing is, there are pages here and there in the book that have real truth in them, especially in the beginning. But one wonders if he simply mouths these truths or lives them. Of course, the book came out in 1994, and with all those "helpers," Keeney would have had no choice but to grow and learn -- and hopefully to develop some self-awareness and humility.

And then there's "Marion." Took awhile to figure out who she was -- for Keeney wasn't very forthcoming. Eventually, one realizes that it is Marion, his wife, who was often holding the whole show together while Keeney indulged in self-pity and doubt. But she gets little credit from him and often disappears from the book when she should be starring in it.

A lot of the book is boring -- a list of actions and suffering that are only interesting to the one it's happening to. His last prayer in the book is reminescent of Jesus' prayer in the Garden. Keeney writes that he "cried out to the Creator, 'I'm not sure I can live with this responsibility. . . You must help me endure and show you are with us.'" I'm thinking: Endure what? After all his travels, he still doubts that Great Spirit is with him? Then God answers by making a pot appear on his dresser. Nice.
"
~ Written on 2007-11-21

"I will put forward my impression of SOtS, perhaps at the risk of appearing somewhat of a devils advocate. I am of two minds about this book - there can be no doubt about the sincerity of Keeney's experiences, the depth of his insights, or the beauty and magic of the life that he has chosen for himself and that he describes in SOtS. I will leave these to be pointed out by other reviewers. However, beyond the most mundane clichés, I see very little connection between Keeney's experiences and psychotherapy as we know it or ecology.


In this book Keeney describes his journeys around the world. Perhaps my greatest reservation with this book is that the man is like a butterfly - he constantly flits from one shaman to the next, never learning a tradition or a ceremony, never learning anything, really. His shamanic practice basically consists of a mediumship, where his body/mind is taken over by assorted "spirits", accompanied with shaking, speaking in tongues and total loss of conscious control. This, as one can imagine, can lead to humorous situation in a Native American sweat lodge, one of which Keeney was unceremoniously expelled following his antics, but is received with great affection and respect in different African traditions, including those of the Zulu, Bushmen and African-Americans. The descriptions of his meetings with Bushmen were particularly poignant and beautiful. The downside of mediumship is, I suppose, that one never really learns a technology of working with the alternate reality (whatever it is), or with energy. Moreover, this has nothing to do with psychotherapy, which strives for conscious control (rather, letting go) and understanding of subconscious complexes and contractions. The psychotherapeutic theory in the book is, at best, rather simplistic; K is simply not interested in it. Given his experiences, I can see why.

Although Keeney is very good at playing the humility game, he can't help mentioning throughout the book how assorted indigenous people called him "a very holy man, indeed". Heh... yeah! There are many photographs in the book of the medicine people he met and perhaps 70% include the humble holy man Keeney himself.

These comments notwithstanding, here is a man with the guts to meet all kinds of interesting people and to talk about his innermost sacred experiences to the whole world. This in itself, I believe, something worthy of respect. "
~ Written on 2005-04-12

"A fantastic story about one person's journey into spirit! Bradford has been guided by his waking and sleeping dreams and visions, to journey to sacred teachers in the United States,North, South, and Central America,Africa, and Japan. The message is one of global healing and love, through shamanic and universal eyes. May your life be as magical and full. This book will be a catalyst to your spiritual journey. One of my top 10 favorite books. Inspiring, exciting,transformational. It knocked my socks off and knitted me another pair. :) In Spirit, Sakanta Running Wolf, Th'e Chupe ke ya ka Pah, Walks in Freedom"
~ Written on 2001-01-21

"Dr. Keeney, a well-known author and teacher in psychotherapy, writes a moving story of his own journey in and through the shamanic circles. His lifetime of call to know the people, ideas, and experiences of the spiritual realm lead him from the sweat lodges of the Lakotah to the Kalahari Desert bushmen, from the healers of South America to the wisdom-keepers of Japan. This book will frighten some, enlighten most, and expand the possible for all -- I highly recommend you read this as both anthropology and autobiography. Frank Thomas, PhD"
~ Written on 1998-10-22