(Penguin)
Since they are essentially the same book, these two books will be reviewed together. The short volume, Shamanism Volume III, focuses on finding and contacting your “medicine animal”. However, the book contains short pithy paragraphs for a wide variety of animals. The longer book, Shamanic Wisdom II, has fewer animals but more expansive discussions.
In their presentation of the animals, Dolfyn and Swimming Wolf did extensive research. They discuss the differences among members of animal families such as “Squirrel” and “Badger”. Since the authors are practicing New Age shamans, they often use the phrase “invoke the animal’s medicine” when applying a particular’s animal’s lesson. However, neither Dolfyn nor Swimming Wolf discuss the meaning of “medicine”.
Excerpted from Shamanic Wisdom II is the following teaching for Penguin. “While molding the contours of his body to the demands of his environment, Penguin also tailored his social practices to those requirements.” In clear language, the authors discuss what Penguin has to teach. They finish with “Penguin medicine teaches us how to enrich our lives through satisfying interaction with a wide variety of people while keeping our primary commitment strong and secure.”
(Manatee)
In the smaller book, Shamanism Volume III, Dolfyn writes about Manatee. “The gentle, placid, slow moving Manatee is so trusting, serene, and calm; she will let humans approach her and pet her. Invoke Manatee medicine for serenity, gentleness, and trust.”
The books suffer from two things. First, the lack of a proofreader makes for spelling and grammar errors. Second, Dolfyn groups several animals together as if they were one. (“Boar & (sic) Wild Pig”, “Crocodile, Alligator and Plover”, “Frog and Toad”, “Rabbit and Hare”, “Raven and Crow”, and “Turtle and Tortoise.”) On the plus side, the smaller book has animals that the larger book does not. Use the two books together for animal teachings.
Return to Individual “Animal Wisdom” Book Reviews page
Return to the Main Animal Page
You can also buy both books from Amazon.com.
Va. Carper
August 9, 2005