The Tree of Visions - by David Nez (Paperback)

About the Book

This book traces the lineage of western esotericism. Beginnings in paleolithic then neolithic shamanism, it follows the development in the sacred-magical traditions of ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt and Greece to the present day. Nez illustrates how ancient beliefs and practices are still alive in contemporary magic, neopaganism and neoshamanism.

Book Synopsis

The Tree of Visions brilliantly traces the lineage of thought and practice of western esotericism. Winding throughout our history and within many cultures, this book illumines our desire and quest to be fully human, fully planetary and fully alive. It beginning with paleolithic and neolithic age shamanism, and follows its development in the sacred-magical traditions of ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt and Greece to the present day. Written by visual artist, astrologer and ritual magician David Nez, the book shows that shamanism forms the deepest stratum of human culture, myths and spiritual practices worldwide. Nez illustrates how these ancient beliefs and practices are still alive, albeit in new forms, in contemporary magic, neopaganism and neoshamanism. Multiple excerpts and references from authorities in the fields of history, archaeology, ethnology, neuropsychology, psychology, comparative mythology and other fields support this work. The book has several illustrations and an extensive bibliography.

Review Quotes

David Nez has shown in this wide-ranging book that a tradition that gives life has no need to reinvent itself: it has a continuity of its own. From all over the world, he brings together the visionary experiences that have been at the heart of shamanism, the ancient mysteries, magic and the spiritual technologies of many ages and peoples, revealing their essential likeness. -- Caitlín & John Matthews, authors of Walkers Between the Worlds and Lost Book of the Grail

At a time when a new human awareness of our kinship and partnership with the Earth is struggling to bloom, it's important to see that this blossoming has ancient roots. Not simply a "New Age" or modern phenomenon, the call to embody a "Gaian consciousness," a sense of oneness with all life seen and unseen, is part of our most ancient human heritage. In this tour de force, David Nez brilliantly traces this lineage of thought and practice which, winding throughout our history and within many cultures, illumines our desire and quest to be fully human, fully planetary, fully alive. By seeing where we've been, we can have hope for what we can become.-- David Spangler, author of Subtle Worlds: An Explorer's Field Notes and Journey into Fire