The author, firstly, is a shaman, and only secondarily, a poet. Embracing the Lotus is the culmination of a four decades shamanic journey deep into the Mystery, a journey that Joseph Campbell eluci...view moreThe author, firstly, is a shaman, and only secondarily, a poet. Embracing the Lotus is the culmination of a four decades shamanic journey deep into the Mystery, a journey that Joseph Campbell elucidated in his masterwork, The Hero With A Thousand Faces. The act of writing it represents the stage of the journey Campbell labeled, the Return.
Like all shamans, the author lives in two worlds: the mundane world of our material, ego-reality, and the world of the Mystery. The details of his journey in the ego-world are too mundane to record, while its counterparts in the Mystery are too extraordinary for belief. What he learned on his journeythe ideas, insights, revelations, and understandingsare contained in this poetic work and represent what Campbell labeled the Boon, the raison dtre for the whole, life-consuming process.
Importantly, the authorin the words of Carlos Castanedas shaman/teacher, Don Juanhas lost his shields, has lost his normal human defenses against psychic and telepathic noise, and like many shamans, chooses to remain anonymous.view less