Spiritwalker: Messages from the Future

... Show More
"I am about to tell you a most unusual story, a chronicle of something that happened to me while I was living on the flank of an active volcano on the island of Hawai'i.  I'm a scientist. I mention this because I do not feel that I was in any way predisposed for what was about to occur. In fact, my scientific training would seem to have preprogrammed me against such an experience ." -- From Spiritwalker

The astonishing true story of an anthropologist's quest into a spiritual world of magic, mysticism, and meaning.

Not since Castaneda's tutelage under the Yacqui Indian guide Don Juan has there been a spiritual autobiography quite like Spiritwalker.

Hank Wesselman's incredible story of a series of encounters that would forever change his life began with what he at first tried to explain away as particularly vivid dreams, but which grew increasingly intense and insistent, ultimately propelling him on twelve fantastic journeys across time and space. Over the next three years, his journeys proved to be far more important than mere reason could explain. Eventually, Dr. Wesselman became convinced that he'd been granted a visionary encounter with what tribal people from millennia past have called the "spirit world."

During his epic travels,  Dr. Wesselman met shape-shifting entities, spirit helpers, and guardians, and found himself traversing a mental, physical, and
spiritual landscape on a path intersecting that of a fellow traveler, a Hawai'ian kahuna mystic named Nainoa. Five thousand years into the future, Nainoa had been sent by his Chief on a journey into what used to be America, a once-powerful land of machines and magic, from which no previous voyagers had ever returned. What did Nainoa seek from Dr. Wesselman? What did the anthropologist have to learn about his own world from this exotic traveler from another time and place? Together, scientist and mystic are initiated into knowledge of non-ordinary levels of reality and given foreshadowings of imminent environmental, political, and spiritual challenges to their civilization.   Without abandoning his scientific objectivity, Dr. Wesselman abandoned himself to the mystical, sometimes frightening, yet always luminous experiences that brought him beyond the boundaries of ordinary consciousness.  The result is a fascinating and suspenseful adventure, an exciting and important archeological discovery, and the story of how a hard-headed scientific-realist stumbled on an important piece of the puzzle of human evolution.

Socially urgent and disturbingly prophetic, Spiritwalker has a universal mythic resonance and an undeniable relevance for today as it challenges our
perceptions of our world, our reality, and our future.

Community Reviews

Rating(4 / 5.0, 55 votes)
5 stars
17(31%)
4 stars
21(38%)
3 stars
17(31%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
0(0%)
55 reviews All reviews
July 15,2025
... Show More
This is an incredibly profound insight into the future.

It is truly and terribly sad to even contemplate that our beloved country could be in such a state of shambles.

While it is a fact that the Earth, often referred to as Mother Nature, ultimately governs what occurs, humans, with their relatively short life spans compared to the vast age of the planet, have managed to do something truly remarkable.

He has somehow connected with a person from the future to gain a glimpse of what might lie in store for us.

This book offers a unique perspective and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who has an open mind and is willing to explore the possibilities and potential consequences of our actions.

It makes us think deeply about the future of our country and the world as a whole.

July 15,2025
... Show More
This book stands out from the ones I typically read.

It is extremely well-written, yet initially, it was a bit dull due to the lengthy passages about nature - not my usual cup of tea or something I had a great eagerness to read. However, once I delved into the book, I let myself go and started reading it like a novel. That made a difference. Then it became quite addictive.

The book provides a true account of the process of an anthropologist (the author) who starts to have strange sensations when falling asleep, ultimately leading to his being transported into the body and consciousness of a man named Nainoa who lives 5000 years in the future in California.

Surprisingly, Nainoa leads such a primitive life that one might think it was 5000 years in the past. The reason is that there was a catastrophe in the past, i.e., the author's near future, which practically wiped out life on Earth, so those who survived had to start over from scratch.

Nainoa is a clerk to the High Chief Kaneohe and has a close relationship with him. Their people were apparently of Hawaiian origin but had journeyed to the American coast. Now, the chief wants Nainoa to embark on a solo journey into the interior of the American continent to explore and find out what lies there.

The bulk of the book is about Nainoa's journey, which is seen through the author's eyes during his astral journeys via the eyes of Nainoa, who is apparently his descendant. (The author has two young children at the time of the described experiences.)

During his travels, Nainoa encounters a primitive community (the Ennu) that has survived the great ordeals on Earth (presumably the Shift). William, an elderly spiritwalker, saves Nainoa who has been attacked by a bull and injured. Later, Nainoa takes William's daughter Kenojelak as his wife. This woman greatly resembles the author Wesselman's own wife, Jill.

When Wesselman merged with Nainoa, it was as if the two existed "simultaneously within one physical body", and Nainoa seemed unaware of the other's presence.

One of the curious facts revealed in the book is that a stone discovered by Wesselman in the sea, which he later carved, turned up as a revered "spirit stone" of great power in the society where Nainoa originally lived. Apparently, Wesselman found it in Hawaii, where he was living, and transported it to his home in California. Chief Kaneohe termed it "the stone that journeys".

The crucial points of interest in the book are Wesselman's altered-state experiences, including his encounters with the "Shadow", the leopard-man, and later the spirit of Pele, a Hawaiian volcano. Nainoa himself begins to experience these states and meets the same personages, though his "leopard-man" is called the "tiger man". Nainoa makes similar journeys into Wesselman's body, experiencing various episodes in the latter's life. Wesselman then becomes aware of these things through Nainoa. It's all a bit complicated but fascinating.

Both William, Nainoa, and Wesselman himself are "spiritwalkers" who "journey across time and space". At one point, Naianoa/Wesselman fly in the body of a hawk in true shaman style. Towards the end of the book, there is a description of how Nainoa and Wesselman actually meet and communicate with each other (in spirit).

During Wesselman's process of development via his various altered-state experiences, he sees visions and gains much insight regarding human history and "the vast collective mind of the universe".

There is extensive use of Hawaiian terms, which in some places makes understanding difficult. It would have been easier if there had been a list at the back of the book explaining these terms, as it was challenging to remember their meanings, given there are so many of them.

It is suggested that catastrophic earth changes will soon occur (presumably at the end of 2012), but the author does not mention this.

Actually, in my understanding, there are many possible futures, and no future is predetermined. It all depends on us. And there is no mention of any ascension into the 4th dimension, as indicated by other sources. (Our Earth, Gaia, our sun, Ra, and the other planets in our solar system, along with us, are expected to ascend on 21st December, 2012). But since Gaia's soul is ascending, our 3-dimensional Earth would be left soulless in the time thereafter, and I don't understand how this would work. But this is apparently beyond the scope of this book.

Anyway, nevertheless, this is a quite fascinating book, especially perhaps for those new to the world of Shamanism, and it is well worth reading.
July 15,2025
... Show More

Very interesting. This thought keeps lingering in my mind. Maybe I am a spiritwalker? The idea is both thrilling and a bit mysterious. It makes me wonder about all the possibilities that could come with such a title. What if I could traverse different realms, unseen by the naked eye? What kind of adventures would I have?


And what about you? Maybe you are a spiritwalker too. Hmmmm? The thought of us both sharing this potential ability is quite fascinating. Do you ever have those moments when you feel like there's more to this world than what meets the eye? When you sense something beyond the ordinary?


Could it be that we are part of a hidden community, those who have the gift or the curse of being spiritwalkers? It's a concept that makes me want to explore further, to uncover the secrets that might lie within this extraordinary phenomenon. Maybe one day, we'll truly know if we are indeed spiritwalkers and what that means for us.

July 15,2025
... Show More
This book was written by the instructor for a course I took at ARC - Magic, Witchcraft and Religion.

He was most definitely an interesting character.

The instructor had a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field, which he shared with us through this book.

The book covered a wide range of topics, including the history of magic and witchcraft, different religious beliefs and practices, and the relationship between magic and religion.

It was written in an engaging and accessible style, making it easy for students to understand and enjoy.

Overall, this book was a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about magic, witchcraft, and religion.

It provided a comprehensive overview of the subject and introduced us to some of the key ideas and concepts.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in exploring this fascinating area of study.
July 15,2025
... Show More
I have an intense love for this book. It has truly captured my heart and soul.

Every time I pick it up, I am immediately drawn into its captivating world. The story is so engaging and the characters are so vivid that I find myself completely immersed in it.

I have already decided that I will read it again as soon as my friend KZ returns it to me. I can't wait to experience all the emotions and adventures that this book has to offer once more.

It is one of those rare books that leaves a lasting impression and makes you want to keep coming back for more. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good read.
July 15,2025
... Show More
Reality is what we believe it to be. This statement holds true when it comes to evaluating Wesselman's book, "Spiritwalker."

If, while reading, one can accept Wesselman's story as reality, then surely this book will offer a mind-blowing experience. However, if you're like the author and dubious about the whole affair, your evaluation will be more muted.

Wesselman claimed to have visions where he traveled through space and time to infiltrate and share the consciousness of his ancestor from the future. According to this future ancestor's memory, humanity was nearly wiped out due to climate change and rising sea levels. Human ingenuity was not able to do much, and almost everyone drowned and died, except for some native hunter-gatherers and Hawaiians.

Moreover, his future ancestor is described as being 7 feet tall, handsome, talented, and making love often with a woman who looks remarkably like Wesselman's wife.

The way he initiates these improbable journeys is by making love to his wife. Then, POOF!

"Spiritwalker" did not qualify as a nonfiction memoir for the author. There is just too much lovemaking, wish fulfillment, and male fantasy for them to buy in. However, it is an interesting work of fiction that is quietly propelled forward by its narrative motor.

The author believes that the story told is what Wesselman perceived as his reality. This probably means that Wesselman was crazy, but aren't we all a bit nuts? At least he had an interesting story to tell.

Think of "Spiritwalker" like a spiritual, hippified, ecological version of Philip K. Dick's "VALIS."

The best aspect of this book is that it was recommended by the author's dad, their OG librarian and reading mentor. The author will never tire of exchanging books, thoughts, ideas, and analysis with their pops. So, thanks dad!

Story - 8, Language - 7, Ideas - 9, Characters - 7, Enjoyment - 7, Overall - 7.5
July 15,2025
... Show More
I absolutely loved this book. It has been my favorite for a long time.

I have reread it at least five times, and each time I discover something new and exciting.

The story is so engaging and the characters are so well-developed that I can't help but get lost in it.

It's one of those books that you can pick up again and again and always enjoy.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good read.

It's a classic that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it.

I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next.

This book has truly become a part of my life, and I'm so grateful to have discovered it.

I will continue to reread it and share it with others for years to come.
July 15,2025
... Show More
This book was truly, truly fascinating, and I found it extremely difficult to put it down!

The author, who is both an academic and a scientist, unexpectedly has shamanic experiences, such as visiting the future through spirit travel. At the time of the first experience, he was living in Hawaii. So, he began to explore Hawaiian shamanism in an attempt to understand what was happening to him. Meanwhile, he was also grappling with the scientist and skeptic within himself.

I really enjoyed following the author's internal process of not only having incredible experiences but also trying to reconcile them with his identity as a scientist and with modern life. The book is well-written and has a personable tone. I will definitely keep this one as it offers a unique perspective on the intersection of science, spirituality, and personal growth.
Leave a Review
You must be logged in to rate and post a review. Register an account to get started.