Interpreters (blog 1)

This is my first blog--EVER. I have posted on forums many times but never a blog (whats the difference anyway?).
My first thoughts on this book were that this material is way over my head. I flipped through the book and was really interested in the subject matter but as I began to read, I become a bit overwhelmed, to be honest. However after sticking with it, the readings became involving, particularly about Shamans, Joseph Beuys and several contemporary artists like John Lennon and Bob Dylan. Shamans are mysteriously able to transcend the mortal self and interpret the world around them through animals perspectives. Musicians can follow the same course by channeling the seldom seen 'otherworld' through lyrics. Rave dancers take psychotropic, mind-altering drugs to follow Shaman ways through dance and rhythm.

Another interesting point was the perception of the mind and how it choses, or forces, the brain to see things that aren't there at all. The multi-tasking brain section made me realize why I could never play the guitar, and why some people seem to be born to play it, and other instruments that require the right side of the brain to control both sides of the body at once. Multi personality disorder is a rare and in my opinion, commonly over diagnosed; Sybil's case history examined her 16 different personalities. It is fascinating that someone can carry so many different personalities (and keep them straight!) and at the same time manifest them in different sexes. This is yet another example of the Shaman in humans, where the self is representing both sexes at once.