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In this vivid and paradigm-shifting memoir, Malidoma recounts his journey home—and his initiation into the healing traditions of the Dagara culture, where the natural and supernatural blend together, and every person is encircled by family, community, and the wisdom of ancestors. By turns humbling, harrowing, magical, and transcendent, Malidoma’s spiritual awakening imparted ancient wisdom that he would spend the rest of his life sharing with others around the world—as an antidote to alienation, a tool for self-transformation, and a bridge between cultures and worlds.","forthcoming":false,"isbn13":"9780140194968","publication_date":"19950501","publisher":"Penguin Publishing Group","slug":"of-water-and-the-spirit","subtitle":"Ritual, Magic, and Initiation in the Life of an African Shaman","title":"Of Water and the Spirit"},"discovery":{"categories":{"all":[{"bisac_code":"OCC036030","confidence_band":"high","label":"Shamanism","score":0.804,"source":"bisac_hint_model"},{"bisac_code":"OCC011020","confidence_band":"medium","label":"Prayer & Healing","score":0.7283,"source":"bisac_hint_model"},{"bisac_code":"HIS001050","confidence_band":"medium","label":"West African History","score":0.7139,"source":"bisac_hint_model"}],"hint":[{"bisac_code":"OCC036030","confidence_band":"high","label":"Shamanism","score":0.804,"source":"bisac_hint_model"},{"bisac_code":"OCC011020","confidence_band":"medium","label":"Prayer & Healing","score":0.7283,"source":"bisac_hint_model"},{"bisac_code":"HIS001050","confidence_band":"medium","label":"West African History","score":0.7139,"source":"bisac_hint_model"}],"publisher":[{"bisac_code":"BIO002000","confidence_band":"high","label":"Cultural Heritage Lives","score":1,"source":"onix_publisher_code"},{"bisac_code":"OCC036030","confidence_band":"high","label":"Shamanism","score":1,"source":"onix_publisher_code"},{"bisac_code":"REL029000","confidence_band":"high","label":"Ethnic & Tribal Religions","score":1,"source":"onix_publisher_code"}]},"genres":[{"label":"Shamanism","score":0.804,"slug":"shamanism"},{"label":"Prayer & Healing","score":0.7283,"slug":"prayer-healing"},{"label":"West African History","score":0.7139,"slug":"west-african-history"}],"reader_fit":["Good for readers who enjoy Shamanism","Good for readers interested in spiritual","Good for fans of Spirituality"],"related_lists":[],"series":null,"similar_books":[{"authors":["Carl Greer"],"book_id":"9781844094646","cover_image_url":"https://img.bookfrontier.com/9781844094646.jpg?v=20260417T162657Z%3A2026-04-17T16%3A26%3A57Z","score":11.6121,"title":"Change Your Story, Change Your Life","url":"https://bookfrontier.com/books/9781844094646"},{"authors":["Deborah Stewart Jungian Analyst","Joseph Lee Jungian Analyst","Lisa Marchiano LCSW","& 0 more"],"book_id":"9781649631206","cover_image_url":"https://img.bookfrontier.com/9781649631206.jpg?v=20260417T162657Z%3A2026-04-17T16%3A26%3A57Z","score":11.0812,"title":"Dream Wise","url":"https://bookfrontier.com/books/9781649631206"},{"authors":["Esther De Waal"],"book_id":"9780385493741","cover_image_url":"https://img.bookfrontier.com/9780385493741.jpg?v=20260417T162657Z%3A2026-04-17T16%3A26%3A57Z","score":10.3885,"title":"The Celtic Way of Prayer","url":"https://bookfrontier.com/books/9780385493741"},{"authors":["Barry M. 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