Robert Grenier has referred to the "sinceritas and
Taoism and many of the Confucian virtues" of
Hollo's poetry. Grenier also called his behaviour
"erratic, tribal and profound" (Reisman, 2012). It
is important to note that shamans are often
portrayed, like this, as marginal figures. In
shamanic theory "journeying", "soul projection"
and imaginal trance are vital elements. In
addition, we see "adjusted styles of
communication" (e.g. ASC). In the poem
"Journey", 1966 we see many of these shamanic
elements as we, the reader, are directly addressed
and taken on a trip that recalls T.S Eliot "though
rooms and streets, the blueing desert, encased in
time" to "a place with many old Gods on the
walls" with the reader acting as the "light, in the
dark"…" that shines beyond the walls or time".
Here the reader becomes the muse or shamanic
"medium". Hollo is adamant that he wants to take
the reader on a shamanic styled journey as he
states in "shed the fear"…"The Sufi masters
insisted “The world is a wedding”…why not go
with them”. Shamanic initiation and work can
sometimes employ considerable “humour”.
“Combative Shamanism” can often employ
“satirical humour”.
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