---
title: Which book should I read first?
description: "Start with *The Shamanic Journey*, the first book in the Therapeutic Shamanism series. It lays the foundations, journeying, the shamanic realms and the Power Animal**Power Animal.** The Oversoul of a wild species, met as a single Lower-World being and bonded…"
url: "https://www.therapeutic-shamanism.co.uk/wiki/which-book-should-i-read-first/"
updated: "2026-11-10"
category: Books
---

# Which book should I read first?

Start with *The Shamanic Journey*, the first book in the Therapeutic Shamanism series. It lays the foundations, journeying, the shamanic realms and the Power Animal**Power Animal.** The Oversoul of a wild species, met as a single Lower-World being and bonded with in a deep, committed, usually lifelong soul-bond of unconditional love. The practitioner's first and foremost Guide: Panther, not "my panther". [Read the full answer](/wiki/what-is-a-power-animal/), that the later books build on.

## Why start with the first book?

Because each book builds on the one before. [*The Shamanic Journey*](https://www.therapeutic-shamanism.co.uk/book/the-shamanic-journey/) introduces Therapeutic Shamanism and the core practices. [*Rewilding Yourself*](https://www.therapeutic-shamanism.co.uk/book/rewilding-yourself/) and [*Finding Your Deep Soul*](https://www.therapeutic-shamanism.co.uk/book/finding-your-deep-soul/) then go deeper into the Lower-World**Lower-World.** The realm of Mother Earth: pure, unspoilt, wild nature, with no technology and no agriculture. Home of the Peoples and of our own Soul, and completely safe: feeling threatened in a journey is a reliable sign of not having reached it. [Read the full answer](/wiki/what-is-the-lower-world/). Together the second and third books "form an in-depth description of what the shamanic Lower-World is (and what it is not), and an encyclopaedic guide to Lower-World practices."^[1](#note-1)

1. Paul Francis, [*Finding Your Deep Soul*](https://www.therapeutic-shamanism.co.uk/book/finding-your-deep-soul/), Introduction.

## What if I already have experience of shamanic journeying?

You may be able to start further on, though the first book is still the natural place to begin. *Finding Your Deep Soul* "does assume some basic experience and ability in doing shamanic journeys and some knowledge of the different shamanic realms", and suggests that anyone "entirely new to shamanic journeying" read *The Shamanic Journey* first.^[2](#note-2) Therapeutic Shamanism also uses some words in its own way, and its seemingly random capital letters have a method to them, which is explained in *Rewilding Yourself* for readers who have not read the first book.^[3](#note-3)

1. Paul Francis, [*Finding Your Deep Soul*](https://www.therapeutic-shamanism.co.uk/book/finding-your-deep-soul/), Introduction.
2. Paul Francis, [*Rewilding Yourself*](https://www.therapeutic-shamanism.co.uk/book/rewilding-yourself/), Introduction.

## Can I try a book before buying it?

Yes. There is a free chapter of each book on the website, so you can see whether the approach is right for you first. See [Do I need to read the books in order?](/wiki/do-i-need-to-read-the-books-in-order/)

- [Do I need to read the books in order?](/wiki/do-i-need-to-read-the-books-in-order/)
- [Are the books available as e-books and audiobooks?](/wiki/are-the-books-available-as-e-books-and-audiobooks/)
- [What is Therapeutic Shamanism?](/wiki/what-is-therapeutic-shamanism/)

- [*The Shamanic Journey*](https://www.therapeutic-shamanism.co.uk/book/the-shamanic-journey/)