Change the Story of Your Health: Using Shamanic and Jungian Techniques for Healing

I recommend this book for anyone seeking to learn about practical approaches to healing through Jungian and contemporary shamanism. Contemporary shamanism and other New Age approaches to healing deserve to be considered according to the work of their most thoughtful and articulate proponents, not the most most noticed or simplistic. Even (especially) if you may have some philosophical differences with these approaches, then you should also consider the thoughtful, systematic, and accessible explanations and methods described by Carl Greer in his latest book, Changing the Story of Your Health.Greer lays out a rich array of practices, especially journal-writing and guided meditation (or "expanded-awareness practices"), described in a way that any reader can do at home or in the energizing, healing presence of nature. Many of these could be very useful for anyone working through health issues or aging. He carefully lays out he his case that these are supported by Jungian psychology, shamanism, and neuroscience, which he views as compatible and overlapping. Story is central. As the title conveys, each person's health story, or self-talk and profound, personal perception of health, can be managed and can promote healing The journal and journeys help one to engage the chakras and energies and gain to insights from the individual or collective unconscious. One element of the quest for healing is an attempt to have better physical health, but it is also something deeper, a spiritual quest involving personal growth and mature acceptance. The use of substances is set aside for this book with Greer's statement, "Traditionally, shamans or medicine men or women often worked with sacred plants such as Ayahuasca to assist people in accessing and doing work in transpersonal realms, because of these plants’ ability to induce an altered state of consciousness. However, using these plants is not necessary for you to benefit from the expanded-awareness practices you will learn about here." (Chapter 4, location 1246)Greer's language is direct, specific, and accessible. He avoids the vague generalizations that appear in some self-help writings. When explaining neurological information, he keeps the technical, scientific language at a reasonable, user-friendly level. While sharing the common New Age skepticism about overdependence on institutionally managed medicine, he  does also describe many examples of complementary use of traditional and  medical approaches for positive outcomes.These include his own experience and his wife's, which do not dominate but are included where appropriate in an engaging manner. He opens with the reflection, "As I get older, like many of my peers, I’m spending more time dealing with health issues. With an ever-increasing number of health experts offering advice, and more specialists, procedures, medications, and treatments becoming available every day, making choices about health can feel overwhelming at times. But I know that each of us has a much greater ability than we think to learn from our symptoms, understand what our bodies need, and access our inner healer." (Acknowledgments, location 99). Closing, he adds, "As I finish this book, I’m in a state of unknowing about some aspects of my health story. All I can do is work with the practices that I’ve suggested in this book.  … The 'suddenlys' in our lives come unexpectedly and can turn our lives upside down. But such is life." (Chapter 9, location 3422)What Greer personally believes and practices, he describes in usable detail for others, explained in Jungian and shamanic context. You may be seeking a practical approach, things you can do for your own healing, or aging. This book has many suggestions which I think could be very useful for a grounded, yet optimistic, outlook with real benefits. Or you may simply wish to learn more about Jungian practice and shamanism from the perspective of an articulate proponent. You may, as I do, continue to prefer other perspectives yet also want to understand better what others believe and do in our time. If so, this book is a clear and thoughtful introduction to contemporary shamanism and Jungian healing.

Mr. Greer’s book is an important recipe for anyone interested in furthering their life meaning and health. There are so many important heuristics for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and outlook that this book should be read once, twice, and multiple times with tabs on important themes and techniques. Readers will have different takeaways on how they will follow the advice. Here are mine. As author Winston Groom through his character Forrest Gump would suggest, one lives life as one does. Mr. Greer illustrates how we are in control of many parts of our life destiny; in particular, the book illustrates how we have substantial control with regard to our health. Mr. Greer begins by noting the importance of western medicine. But then the book emphasizes the importance of one’s ability to complement that treatment: communing with nature and listening to what it has to say; finding strength in oneself; understanding the important of objects and self-determination and the power of belief, are but a few of the themes I took away from my first of many reads of this important work. American novelist James Baldwin said, and it seems to be a theme throughout the book, “if you don’t live the only life you have, you won’t live some other life; you won’t live any life at all.” Mr. Greer’s book and advice provides great optimism towards the ability to focus on the positives of life. He emphasizes: “You might simply allow images or words to flow naturally as you generate feelings of gratitude and hope” with regard to opening and closing sacred space (relating to shamanic traditions). A focus is on the ability to inner heal, to achieve a consciousness contrary beyond looking at the IPhone. Mr. Greer emphasizes: “Let your unconscious mind awaken and let the answer to the question your ego consciousness just asked come to you. Discover what your fear can tell you, your inner healer can reveal, what you insomnia or fatigue have to say.” A common theme is to reflect on life choices we are making and be optimistic about those choices and about addressing illnesses and general malaise. The book discusses healing techniques we can use to learn more about how your body is functioning and to encourage your immune system and your ethos to accept or address those issues and work on the healing process. The importance of understanding and using nature’s healing effect is given a good discussion. I particularly liked the reference to Pachamama, otherwise known as Mother Earth, as a source of all healing. This chapter, discussing the inter play between nature and health -- should be read, and reread, and consider the techniques on how to use nature to improve one’s health. Accepting your health situation and appreciating and understanding your situation is another important theme. We can cry about getting old, or we can accept the wisdom of being old and the natural effect of it. As we get older, Mr. Greer indicates that we have a “greater sense of appreciation for the simple pleasures of life.” Age may bring with it some deterioration of physical effect, but it is also allows for a greater awareness of the value of life. This is made abundantly clear. The book is so complete with suggestions, it is best to implement a few at a time. I particularly like his computer example, relevant to most of us who are situated in front of a computer all day. Accepting this to be a fact, we can also add a few healthy choices to our computer-controlled day, including a short meditation at the desk, exercise, and dictation away from the computer, all of which will improve your health. My advice: keep this book on your nightstand by your bed, on top of and hiding your IPhone.

This is a book that is jammed with information that I have found very helpful in my own story. This is a book that you would choose if your ready to change you story and I am. It was not exactly what I expected it to be. It is better then my expectations. I believe I will be working with this book for quite awhile. Do not expect an overnight cure. It is up to you to cure yourself the way it should be. Carl Greer just gives you a helping hand to figure out how to go about it. I am grateful I stumbled across this book.

I purchased this book couple of weeks ago, its fantastic I would recommend this book to anyone interested in exploring an alternative path to that which we often feel trapped on.

Love this book

Intellectually fascinating, personally moving.