We Borrow the Earth: An Intimate Portrait of The Gypsy Shamanic Tradition and Culture - Tapa blanda

The first book about Gypsy life written by a true Romani. Reveals the inner traditions of the Gypsy way, their healing and magic, their historical migrations, and why gypsies believe they should only `borrow’, rather than own, the earth.

The Gypsies have always been a source of both fascination and fear. They have lived among us for thousands of years and yet we know little about them. In this book Jasper Lee takes us on a journey to the heartland of the Gypsy people.

Jasper Lee practises the healing arts of the Gypsy shaman, preserving the ancient customs of his people with an openness rare among those of Gypsy blood. His story shows how he believes that by preserving them and revealing these customs to the non-Gypsy world, he will lift the curse which has afflicted his family since they chose to buy their land, rather than borrow the earth as their ancestors did.

Romani Gypsy shamanism has been practised in Britain and Europe for hundreds of years but the lives of the Gypsies remain a mystery. They have always been treated with a mixture of fear and fascination, either heavily persecuted (which has stopped them from speaking openly about the sacred elements of their culture) or over-romanticised, with images of wild nomads, decorative wagons and psychic fortune-tellers.

In fact Gypsies are the living practitioners of Britain's own shamanic tradition, the inheritors of a deeply enriching and healing craft which combines power, passion, light-heartedness and strong elements of magic and sorcery, much of it the very stuff of our childhood fairy tales. This craft is always practised in accordance with our ancient natural laws and the Earth's natural cycles.

This book reveals the inner Romani shamanic path through the experiences and knowledge of one of the few remaining 'chovihanos' (Gypsy shamen) still practising in Britain. Drawing on his personal experiences and the story of his lineage, Patrick Lee explores the history and culture of his people and their knowledge of the ancient arts of healing and prophesy. He includes chapters on their origins and customs as well as looking at their portions, spells, charms and curses in an open and accessible way. The fact that Gypsies have never before written about their own culture makes this a unique and fascinating work.