Alberto Villoldo

Alberto Villoldo, Ph.D., is a Cuban-born psychologist and medical anthropologist who has studied the shamanic healing practices of the Amazon and Inka shamans for over 25 years. He graduated in 1969 with a bachelor's degree in Inter-American Studies, followed by a master's in Psychology (1972 [Villoldo, Jendresen: Island of the Sun, 1994] ), and a doctorate in psychology at the Humanistic Psychology Institute [Villoldo, Jendresen: Dance of the Four Winds, 1995] . His thesis advisor was Dr. Stanley Krippner [Villoldo, Jendresen: Island of the Sun, 1994] ), a consciousness researcher and a pioneer in the study of the paranormal phenomena, with whom he later co-authored Healing States: A Journey Into the World of Spiritual Healing and Shamanism. While on the faculty of San Francisco State University, Villoldo founded and directed the Biological Self Regulation Laboratory at San Francisco State University [Villoldo, Jendresen: Dance of the Four Winds, 1995] , where he investigated the effects of energy healing on blood and brain chemistry.

Since 1984 Villoldo directs The Four Winds Society, where he trains individuals in the practice of energy medicine and soul retrieval. The school has centers in New England, California, the UK, the Netherlands, and Utah.

A prolific author, he draws on his experiences in South America and on his knowledge of shamanic and energy healing; among his most popular books are Dance of the Four Winds, and Shaman, Healer,Sage. He also founded The Sanctuary Project, which provides support and shelter to indigenous master healers as they descend from the Andes to live in Peruvian cities.

There is a controversy between the form of participatory engagement of teachers like Alberto Villoldo and the more traditional non-participatory anthrolopogical approach. [Shamans/Neo-Shamans: Ecstasies, Alternative Archaeologies and Contemporary Pagans. By Robert. J. Wallis. London: Routledge, 2003, pg 199. ISBN 0415302021 also Donald Joralemon:The Selling of the Shaman and the Problem of Informant Legitimacy, in Shamanism: Critical Concepts in Sociology edited by Adrei Znamenski,: Routledge, 2004 ISBN 0415311926 ]

Bibliography

* "Healing States: A Journey Into the World of Spiritual Healing and Shamanism" (paperback, with Stanley Krippner); ISBN 978-0671632021
* "Dance of the Four Winds: Secrets of the Inca Medicine Wheel" (paperback, with Erik Jendresen); ISBN 978-0892815142
* "Island of the Sun: Mastering the Inca Medicine Wheel" (paperback, with Erik Jendresen) ISBN 978-0892815203
* "Shaman, Healer, Sage: How to Heal Yourself and Others with the Energy Medicine of the Americas" (hardcover); ISBN 978-0609605448
* "Mending The Past & Healing The Future With Soul Retrieval" (paperback); ISBN 978-1401906269
* "Yoga, Power, and Spirit: Patanjali the Shaman" (hardcover); ISBN 978-1401910471
* "The Four Insights: Wisdom, Power, and Grace of the Earthkeepers" (paperback); ISBN 978-1401910464
* "Courageous Dreaming: How Shamans Dream the World into Being" (hardcover); ISBN 978-1401917562

Notes

References

* [http://www.shamansociety.org/advisory.html Society for Shamanic Practitioners: Advisory Board] accessed 1/28/08
* [http://www.eomega.org/omega/faculty/viewProfile/ef0f67b0231436f463293460d6a598dc/ Omega Institute - Faculty Profile: Alberto Villoldo] accessed 1/28/08

* [http://www.esalen.org/catalog/EsalenCat1-06.pdf?-session=Reservation_Session:42F942E60802625176PlL2A8BA15 Esalen Institute - Alberto Villoldo] Esalen Catalogue Vol. XLV, Number 1, Jan-Jun 2006, pg. 93; accessed 1/28/08

External links

* [http://www.thefourwinds.com The Four Winds Society]
** [http://www.thefourwinds.com/about-alberto-villoldo.htm About Alberto Villoldo]
** [http://www.thefourwinds.com/healing-light-body-training.htm Healing the Light Body Training Program]

* [http://www.kripalu.org/article/423 - Kripalu.org: Conversation with Alberto Villoldo - Shamanic Wisdom and Healing: Cleaning Up Your River]
* [http://www.opencenter.org/content/view/1432/154/ New York Open Center: Interview with Alberto Villoldo]
* [http://www.eastwest.com/villoldo_article.html East West Bookstore: Courageous Dreaming] accessed 1/28/08