Courageous Dreaming: How Shamans Dream the World into Being

To tell the truth, I have avoided Aberto's work for fifteen years because of negativity I've encountered by others who worked with him: these negative views often circulated around Alberto's efforts to promote a cottage industry around the ancient wisdom he holds. That aside, I finally broke down and purchased his book, Courageous Dreaming, and found it be filled with insights, power, and a deep awareness of the traditional peoples still holding this wisdom for humanity. I also confess to knowing nothing about Aberto's business enterprises so cannot speak about it, but really also have no interest in judging the man outside the obvious contribution of the value of his wisdom within the indigenous teachings. The book holds much insights worthy of the price of admission. Like all traditional peoples who practice and teach that our lives are the product of our dreaming minds: we create beauty - or a nightmare - depending on where we decide to focus our energy. While I have heard everything before with my own association with the Earth Keepers on several continents, Alberto tackles this information in a manner that is forthright, and without too many holes in it. Particularly insightful is the author's social critique grounded on depth psychology principles. While he subtly disses judgment by offering proclamations about not making proclamations, the critique is nevertheless right on-the-money in my view. But if our ultimate goal taught by the wisdom is to enter the heart, methinks a key aim of indigenous wisdom in dreaming forth new circumstances and life giving waters of our soul, then we need to confront our own dragons on a daily basis. I am certainly not excluded, nor is Villoldo. Within the dynamic of psychological critique he asks us to reject projection even if he gets off a few rounds of his own. But that in and of itself, is no reason to ignore or reject the book. In rejecting projections in our lives, the author tells us that our dreams are not goals, thus conflicting with many new thought models which affirm that prosperity is the goal of our thoughts. This assertion takes us into a more human centered place because it is not all about personal hubris but seeks to extend into the common square we all share. While I am interested in generating an honest income like most, it is not an obsessive over riding norm in my life, where I miss all the other wonders life has to offer; and I think this is one of Alberto's main points if I am reading him correctly. Whatever money we do bring into our experience is honored by our vibration, and not because of our obsessive compulsive social conditioning. If we seek to use new thought paradigms for selfishness alone, we are walking the dark side of dreaming. In other words, our integrity generates what we need when we need it. All is well in the world, and we are safe. Living in the moment the only necessary condition we need, and everything else flows from that natural state. We don't i

Alberto Villoldo is a wonderful writer, and a humble healer. I love the gentle way that he shares information. This was the first book that I have read by Alberto and now I want to read all of his work. He inspires you to be your true authentic self...

Courageous Dreaming: How Shamans Dream the World into Being This is the sixth of Alberto Villoldo's books I've read - in this instance am still reading - and as with the prior five, I am ever challenged to 'get out of my self' and just 'live or be' with his experiences and thoughts. "Courageous Dreaming" offers a 'blueprint' as to how we might alter our(my and yours) thoughts and beliefs so we each can live and become 'who we are.!!!' Make no mistake - it is not "'easy fix stuff'" he presents. ~~ I recommend that anyone seeking to 'connect' with our 'roots' as both physical and spritual beings read Villoldo's works.

This book is about become lucid dreamers in our waking life. "Moreover, by dreaming courageously - that is, living a life that's in sync with your soul's desire for peace, meaning, and happiness - you'll find yourself starting to feel joyous and fulfilled no matter what is going on around you. You'll stop feeling trapped in that nightmare." From the book - page 23. So many of us get into a rut, and we don't even know we are in one. Maybe we get the impressive house, and the beautiful car and have successful careers - but find we are still unhappy. This makes no sense because society tells us that we should be happy because we have society's ideal of what the perfect life is. But when we are not paying attention to our soul's desires, we will always be unhappy and unfulfilled. We will always feel lost. I loved this book, because it tackles all those problems, and guides us back to the path of true, heart centered living. He talks about the four levels of consciousness (also the four archetypal animal forces of the earthkeeper shamans): Eagle, Hummingbird, Jaguar and Serpent. He also speaks of the importance of connecting in to humanity, living with intent, truth and integrity, clearing out negative thoughts patterns (judgment, fear, and other disempowering beliefs), and the importance of letting go of our old negative stories and traumas. I've read many a book on dreaming and consciously creating, and some of the information in this book was not knew to me. However, I still found it to be insightful, inspiring, and filled with new and helpful information. I think it's really important to tap into this aspect of ourselves, and consciously live our lives. When our soul is happy, fulfilled and peaceful, we are too!

A wonderful book that teaches us how to rethink and become whole in mind, body, soul & spirit. It is very well written and gives exercises that causes your brain to lay the neural pathways for you to achieve success in your life. It sets us free from old thought patterns that play out drama in our lives. This book helps teach us to recreate our life and our world, but we have to be willing to do the work. I also suggest Dr. Villoldo's book Shaman,Healer,Sage- how to heal yourself with energy medicine of the America's. I highly respect this man's body of work. S.A./ Arkansas