Customer Reviews:
 Hidden Treasures Lie In Wait - 5 Stars And Nothing Less will Do! May 9, 2008
Zen is More (UK)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
It `s not often that I feel compelled to write a review of either a book or a CD, unless I find them truly worthy of praise - but such was my enjoyment when reading this book, and the obvious validity of this man's story concerning his apprenticeship within a shamanic tradition that is actually still practised within Britain today, and so I felt compelled to share my thoughts, on what is a something of a 'Treasure'. Especially as it is so unusual to discover a book that is not only a very worthy read, whilst proving enlightening, but has the subject matter and writing style to inform, inspire and move the reader.
For those familiar with other books detailing apprenticeships within a shamanic tradition - such as Castenada, it is all too easy to either see them as having little to do with real life, or as something we could never have access to. Which is why I was surprised and inspired by Simon Buxton's The Shamanic Way of the Bee - because of the way he relates his story not only is it totally believable, but is written with a real sense of the beauty, poetry and a passion that I'm sure most of us aspire to have in our lives.
The author not only skillfully and gradually leads us into the hidden world and depths of what on the surface is referred to as bee keeping, but he does so in such a way, that one moment he is describing the colours and fragrances of his teachers garden, the next he is relating the means by which it is possible to stop time. And he manages to do so without being overly wordy or academic, but having a real sense of the beauty and simplicity that he discovers within this shamanic tradition.
The key events are described with great lucidity, and it is very easy to find oneself almost being present. But what is also remarkable is that all this takes place under our very noses in Britain.
Most of the books I have previously come across, regarding shamanism or spiritually based stories tend to be by people from far flung places, that make them feel removed from the everyday, whether it is the America's or Siberia, - whilst this positively rings with an authenticity and genuineness, not simply because it is an existing, thriving, shamanic tradition that has it's roots in Britain and Europe, but is told in such a way as to be nothing less than believable.
I for one would never have considered the art of bee keeping as being a means by which one could train in an ancient (and thriving) form of Shamanism - But this book is such an example, not only is it a wholly engrossing and enjoyable read because of it's lyricism and poetic richness; the language perfectly fitting the what is both a challenging, yet exciting world view - that thanks to the author, has been made available to us.
I can without reservation whole heartedly recommend this book to the converted, the mildly interested AND the sceptics!
Who's Being Initiated Here? May 8, 2008
Dr. R. A. Mohr (Dublin, Ireland)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
It's extremely rare to witness a true initiatory rite of passage, but this book is a sustained account of just that, and in an area that has never been revealed to those outside the tradition. The erudition and anthropology supporting the account is solid, but it's more than that. It's a personal account of the author's experiences as a boy and a young man, who endures the surprises and awe of true initiation. This makes it a personable read. Simon Buxton is not only an elder of the shamanic bee cultus; he's a born storyteller with the ear of a poet. Once he grounds you in the material events of ordinary reality, he begins the cross-over through the veil into extra-ordinary events. It's important that his poetic skill is strong because those events need a strong metaphoric tongue to tell them. Indeed, the reader needs a developed sense of metaphor to perceive the truths at the heart of these mysteries. Yes, it's as much a challenge for the reader as it must have been a test of the writer to bring them out. A first reading grasps the narrative. A second reading perceives the myth. A third reading gets to the spirit. Such depth in a book, I've not seen in a long time. If you can hold all three levels in one reading, bravo!
Revealing! July 11, 2007
Mr. R. C. Auty (England)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
Despite all the negative, one star reviews I bought this book. How glad I did! Informative, a genuine european shamanism, almost lost to us. I think the one star givers may have taken Simon's story far to literally. Journeying, which I think Simon's adventures mostly involved, can be fantastical and outworldly. One suggestion in one of the bad reviews is that Simon suggested he had sex with a bee??? Where in the book? He was clearly journeying at the time! Well written, indeed it was fantasy like, but then who cares, interesting and rich in content. I for one, would love to read more about this ancient 'Path of Pollen'.
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