> Le récit extraordinaire de l’histoire vécue par un professeur d’anthropologie au cours de voyages chamaniques et qui lui a permis de communiquer avec le futur. Le nouveau Castaneda. Un livre exeptionnel.
—Pocket

> Babelio : https://www.babelio.com/livres/Wesselman-Celui-qui-marchait-avec-les-esprits/365...

This book differs from those I usually read. Though extremely well-written, at first it was somewhat boring because of the long passages about nature - not what I'm used to reading or have any great desire to read. But once I got into the book I relinquished myself to it, and just started reading it like a novel. That helped. Then it became quite addictive.

The book comprises a true description of the process of an anthropologist (the author) who begins to experience strange sensations when falling asleep, which end in his being transported into the body and consciousness of a man called Nainoa who lives 5000 years in the future in California.

Actually, Nainoa leads such a primitive life that you might be inclined to think that it were 5000 years back in the past, the explanation being that there had been a catastrophe in the past, i.e.the author's near future (Surprise, surprise!) that practically wiped out life on Earth, so those surviving had to start again from the beginning.

Nainoa is a clerk to the High Chief Kaneohe and enjoyes a close relationship with him. Their people were apparently Hawaiians in origin, but had journeyed to the American coast. The chief now wants Nainoa to go on a journey alone into the interior of the American continent in order to explore, and thus find out what is there.

This journey of Nainoa is what the bulk of the book is about It is seen through the author's eyes during his astral journeys via the eyes of Nainoa, who is apparently his descendant. (The author has two young children at the time of the described experiences.)

During his travels Nainoa encounters a primitive community (the Ennu) that has survived the great ordeals that took place on the Earth (presumably the Shift). William, an elderly spiritwalker, saves Nainoa who has been attacked by a bull and injured, and later Nainoa takes William's daughter Kenojelak as his wife. This woman greatly resembles the author Wesselman's own wife. Jill.

When Wesselman merged with Nainoa it was as though the two existed "simultaneously within one physical body", and Nainoa seemed unaware of the other's presence.

One of the curious facts revealed in the book is that a stone discovered by Wesselman in the sea, which he later carved, turned up as a revered "spirit stone" of great power in the society originally lived in by Nainoa. Apparently, Wesselman found it in Hawaii, where he was living, and transported it to his home in California. Chief Kaneohe termed it "the stone that journeys".

The crucial points of interest in the book are Wesselman's altered-state experiences, including his encounters with the "Shadow", the leopard-man and later the spirit of Pele, a Hawaiian volcano. Nainoa himself begins to experience these states and meets the same personages, though his "leopard-man is called the "tiger man". Nainoa makes similar joruneys into Wesselman's body, experiencing various episodes in the latter's life. Wesselman then is cognizant of these things through Nainoa. All a bit complicated, but fascinating.

Both William, Nainoa and Wesselman himself are "spiritwalkers" who "journey across time and space". At one point Naianoa/Wesselman fly in the body of a hawk in true shaman style. Towards the end of the book there is a description of how Nainoa and Wesselman actually meet and communicate with each other (in spirit).

During Wesselman's processs of development via his various altered-state experiences he sees visions and gains much insight regarding human history and "the vast collective mind of the universe".

There is much use of Hawaiian terms which in places renders understanding difficult. It would have been easier had there been a list at the back of the book explaining these terms, since it proved difficult to remember their meaning, there being so many of them.

It is indicated that catastrophc earth changes will soon occur (presumably at the end of 2012) but the author does not mention this.

Actually, it is my understanding that there exist many possible futures, and no future has to happen, it all depends on ourselves. And there is no mention of any ascension into the 4th dimension, as indicated by other sources. (Our Earth, Gaia, our sun, Ra, and the other planets in our solar system, together with us ourselves, are expected to ascend on 21st December, 2012). But since Gaia's soul is ascending, our 3-dimensional Earth would be left soulless in the time thereafter, and I don't comprehend how this would work. But this is apparently a matter beyond the range of this book.

Anyway, nonetheless this is quite a fascinating book, particularly perhaps if one is new to the world of Shamanism, and it is well worth reading. ( )

This book blew my mind! Whether you believe that it really happened or not, the insights portrayed in this book are amazing and inspirational. ( )