In the Spring of 2024, I had the profound experience of sitting with Shaman Paching Hoe Lambaiho in Costa Rica. A small group of apprentices had gathered for a four-ceremony process near the ocean. Exotic birds and creatures of all kinds welcomed us, and the ocean gently beckoned in the mornings after ceremonies, creating a beautiful setting for release and grounding.

During this time, Marie Chieze and Shaman Pascal were in the process of writing their book, and they shared the first few principles with us. I read through the initial chapters several times, deeply contemplating the principles they presented. Before each ceremony, we discussed these principles and shared our journeys and experiences from previous ceremonies. This was a powerful experience, greatly facilitated by the insights from the book.

The principles in this book form the framework within which Shaman Paching Hoe conducts his ceremonies. He has a remarkable ability to see the core of who you truly are, including the fallacies, patterns, beliefs, and actions that hide your true self. He possesses a strong faith in people's ability to confront the darkness, confusion, past traumas, and ancestral patterns and beliefs that have caused pain and limited their progression toward their true selves. He guides individuals to let go, heal, and move on to a brighter future.

Change can be scary, unnerving, and unsettling. When we identify trauma and painful ancestral and cultural patterns as part of our core self, facing and letting go of these aspects can seem like a form of death. This book helps us ponder the fallacy of these misguided understandings and recognize what truly defines us and what we have control over. Through reading this book and the discussions before ceremonies, I found the courage to shed some of my false identity, allowing more of my true self to emerge. These ceremonies connected me to my unconscious, enabling a monumental shift within myself, allowing me to love myself on a much deeper level. This process of nourishing and embracing my true self felt miraculous. The teachings in this book instilled greater confidence in my journey, a journey that extends beyond this lifetime. It also deepened my sense of love from my Creator.

Reading this book now, several months later, brings back the peace and joy I felt while there. The book invites the reader to contemplate key principles, not just blindly believe or follow them. It encourages you to consider how you respond to these quotes, what thoughts and beliefs surface, and whether these beliefs guide you towards a productive, joyful, and nurturing life for yourself and others. What feelings emerge as you contemplate these subjects? This is not a quick read, despite its brevity. It is a dense book meant for contemplation, for opening and nourishing the soul.

I appreciate Marie Chieze's dedication to articulating these principles and bridging the gap between Shamanic teachings and modern psychiatric fields. The principles often dovetail with other religious, philosophical, and contemporary psychiatric methods. The comparison and contrast across various fields are enlightening and useful for both laypersons and professionals in a variety of disciplines.

I have especially appreciated Shaman Pascal's viewpoint, which may differ from some Shamans who strictly adhere to traditional views, such as the belief that those who struggle are possessed by devils. For Shaman Paching Hoe, trauma causes struggles within the soul that can be healed. His ceremonies enable people to face these traumas without re-traumatizing them, assisting in their healing process and helping them reclaim their lives.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Shamanic processes and those in related fields such as philosophy, spirituality, religion, and psychiatry. It is a book that can help focus the minds of those embarking on spiritual journeys and processes. It can awaken you to walk a more empowered life journey.