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The Necktie and the Jaguar
Win a free print copy of this book!
2 days and 12:43:46
25 copies available
U.S. only
A memoir to help you change your story and find fulfillment
Compelling reading for anyone seeking the courage to make more conscious choices and live fully awake, The Necktie and The Jaguar is a memoir with thought-provoking questions that encourage self-exploration. Author Carl Greer-businessman, philanthropist, and retired Jungian analyst and clinical psychologist-offers an illuminating roadmap to individuation and personal transformation. Greer found security in conforming to the cultural expectations of a postwar, midwestern, middle-class upbringing after a childhood tragedy taught him to constrict his emotions. Becoming president of an independent oil and gas company, he drove his team to success and built his wealth only to find in midlife that his spiritual self was crying out for expression. Undergoing Jungian analysis and becoming an analyst himself offered some soul nourishment. So did studying and practicing martial arts, whose principles helped him navigate challenges in the world of work. Still, it wasn't until Greer took a deep dive into shamanic training and practice that he was able to embody the qualities and emotions he had long denied and turn his attention to philanthropy.
Writing about his spiritual practices and reflecting on his vulnerabilities, Greer tells of honoring his longings for purpose and meaning, journeying to transpersonal realms, reinventing his life, and devoting himself to service to others while living with deep respect for Pachamama, Mother Earth. His memoir is an inspirational testament to the power of self-discovery. As Carl Greer learned, you don't have to feel trapped in a story someone else has written for you.
Compelling reading for anyone seeking the courage to make more conscious choices and live fully awake, The Necktie and The Jaguar is a memoir with thought-provoking questions that encourage self-exploration. Author Carl Greer-businessman, philanthropist, and retired Jungian analyst and clinical psychologist-offers an illuminating roadmap to individuation and personal transformation. Greer found security in conforming to the cultural expectations of a postwar, midwestern, middle-class upbringing after a childhood tragedy taught him to constrict his emotions. Becoming president of an independent oil and gas company, he drove his team to success and built his wealth only to find in midlife that his spiritual self was crying out for expression. Undergoing Jungian analysis and becoming an analyst himself offered some soul nourishment. So did studying and practicing martial arts, whose principles helped him navigate challenges in the world of work. Still, it wasn't until Greer took a deep dive into shamanic training and practice that he was able to embody the qualities and emotions he had long denied and turn his attention to philanthropy.
Writing about his spiritual practices and reflecting on his vulnerabilities, Greer tells of honoring his longings for purpose and meaning, journeying to transpersonal realms, reinventing his life, and devoting himself to service to others while living with deep respect for Pachamama, Mother Earth. His memoir is an inspirational testament to the power of self-discovery. As Carl Greer learned, you don't have to feel trapped in a story someone else has written for you.
304 pages, Paperback
Published April 22, 2021
36 people are currently reading
20022 people want to read
About the author
Carl Greer
9 books341 followersCarl Greer, PhD, PsyD, is a retired clinical psychologist and Jungian analyst, a businessman, and a shamanic practitioner, author, and philanthropist, funding over 60 charities and more than 2,000 Greer Scholars. He has taught at the C. G. Jung Institute of Chicago and been on staff at the Replogle Center for Counseling and Well-Being, and is the best-selling author of Change Your Story, Change Your Life. His newest book is Go Within to Change Your Life: A Hidden Wisdom Workbook for Personal Transformation. To learn more, visit
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 18, 2021
Mostly an autobiography with a little bit of self-help mixed in, this book started off okay. Admittedly, I mostly skimmed over the self-help portions at the end of each chapter, but the biography portion was interesting enough. The author lost me, however, the moment he mentioned the use of stones and healing energy to cure cancer, and then lost me even more when he talked about eating mind altering plants and referred to it as "journeying" in his Shamanic practice. There are plenty of people who believe in things like that... that crystals heal people and taking psychedelics lets them see another world as opposed to just making them high, but I am not one of them. From that point on I found the rest of the book to be nonsense and was quite glad when I was finally finished with it.
May 22, 2022
This book is about Carl Greer's journey of spiritualism, psychology and shamanism along with many other intriguing parts of his life story. It was an interesting read and I particularly liked the questions he asks the reader to ask themselves at the end of each of the chapters in order for the reader to reflect in their own journey in order to consider following their own dreams and desire while knowing that they are possible. It shows how Carl himself went from a middle class childhood tainted by a tragedy to a successful career being president of an independent oil and gas company to ensuring he became spiritually fulfilled. This book showed that Carl had courage to end a marriage that had outrun its course and leave a successful career in order to follow his calling. This book includes fantastic reader engagement to get the reader themselves involved asking themselves questions which is something you don't see often. Carl has fantastic storytelling skills to ensure his history comes alive to the reader with vivid descriptions while also being relatable in many parts. I was fascinated by many elements of his story including Shamanism and the Conscious realms of Jungian Psychology, both topics which I have never read about before.
July 1, 2021
The Jaguar and the Necktie
A path of self-discovery may be a lifelong voyage of self-awareness, and in some ways, it is also an inner journey through our own connection with some eternal archetypes. Throughout time, the practice of Shamanism was adapting in response to different cultural needs and moving through tempos.
A Shamanic Memoir of a Spiritual journey
A Shamanic Journey practice is part of a deep ancestral process of understanding the essence of awakening the true human power of self-healing. The route is ancient, and it brings us access to timeless wisdom that comes directly from our archetypically structured souls. The soul is the "Axis Mundi," the center of the shamanic healing arts.
When a shaman is initiated on the shamanic path, they often learn to send their soul intentionally, on the soul flight, which is commonly called a journey or shamanic journey.
Carl Greer's book "The Jaguar and the Necktie" allow us, through a very personal and intimate point of view, to experience a glimpse of his shamanic journey through his very colorful life.
The Bravery of telling our own stories:
Realizing through deep experiences that our human soul is connected with all realms of nature and with Eternal and Cosmic elements, Greer walks us about his experiences of self-discovery through a unique prism of a Jungian Therapist.
His narrative is simple, touching, and very pungent in places, without neglecting the spiritual and magical ecstasy of these transcendental experiences during the different stages of his own development.
The many stories presented in the book surprise us with the perfect weaving of transcendent elements of Shamanism and the Conscious realms of Jungian Psychology. As a whole, the merging of dimensions, the outer dimensions intertwine and interfere with the world we inhabit, but just in some moments, we can feel, see, and hear vibrations, images, and sons of these 'other worlds.'
This new book is an important part of the author's series, "Change Your Story, Change your Life," but at the same time, he introduces important concepts, almost forgotten by our modern society, such as the element of service to others. For Carl Greer, this is a powerful element of self-empowerment and discipline.
According to him, this is one of the many ways to "tame" our Egoic tendencies and to offer ourselves in service for the good of all that is.
I kindly invite those that are interested in Shamanism or in different paths of transcendence and Self-Knowledge to contemplate the wisdom of this memoir, which for many, will work as Ariadne's thread to help and facilitate your understanding of your own journey of self-discovery. Through Greer's shared wisdom and experience, may you find the "uniqueness" and beauty of your own Mythopoetic Self.
See the Book review Trailer here:
A path of self-discovery may be a lifelong voyage of self-awareness, and in some ways, it is also an inner journey through our own connection with some eternal archetypes. Throughout time, the practice of Shamanism was adapting in response to different cultural needs and moving through tempos.
A Shamanic Memoir of a Spiritual journey
A Shamanic Journey practice is part of a deep ancestral process of understanding the essence of awakening the true human power of self-healing. The route is ancient, and it brings us access to timeless wisdom that comes directly from our archetypically structured souls. The soul is the "Axis Mundi," the center of the shamanic healing arts.
When a shaman is initiated on the shamanic path, they often learn to send their soul intentionally, on the soul flight, which is commonly called a journey or shamanic journey.
Carl Greer's book "The Jaguar and the Necktie" allow us, through a very personal and intimate point of view, to experience a glimpse of his shamanic journey through his very colorful life.
The Bravery of telling our own stories:
Realizing through deep experiences that our human soul is connected with all realms of nature and with Eternal and Cosmic elements, Greer walks us about his experiences of self-discovery through a unique prism of a Jungian Therapist.
His narrative is simple, touching, and very pungent in places, without neglecting the spiritual and magical ecstasy of these transcendental experiences during the different stages of his own development.
The many stories presented in the book surprise us with the perfect weaving of transcendent elements of Shamanism and the Conscious realms of Jungian Psychology. As a whole, the merging of dimensions, the outer dimensions intertwine and interfere with the world we inhabit, but just in some moments, we can feel, see, and hear vibrations, images, and sons of these 'other worlds.'
This new book is an important part of the author's series, "Change Your Story, Change your Life," but at the same time, he introduces important concepts, almost forgotten by our modern society, such as the element of service to others. For Carl Greer, this is a powerful element of self-empowerment and discipline.
According to him, this is one of the many ways to "tame" our Egoic tendencies and to offer ourselves in service for the good of all that is.
I kindly invite those that are interested in Shamanism or in different paths of transcendence and Self-Knowledge to contemplate the wisdom of this memoir, which for many, will work as Ariadne's thread to help and facilitate your understanding of your own journey of self-discovery. Through Greer's shared wisdom and experience, may you find the "uniqueness" and beauty of your own Mythopoetic Self.
See the Book review Trailer here:
June 24, 2021
Inspirational Journey of Wisdom and Truth
I could not put this book down. The authors’ life journey is fascinating, enlightening, and real. Each chapter ends with reflections and questions that are through provoking allowing the reader to easily look at their own life and truly see areas where positive change will make an impactful difference in their own journey. I laughed, smiled, felt sadness and joy as the story unfolded. So many life lessons to think about but without the bland academic jargon. If you are seeking ways to change your life for the better, to find fulfillment of heart and soul, to be happy and at peace, then this is the perfect place to start. You will be entertained and enlightened in this quick and easy to read, genuine, straight from the heart, tell all book. Kudos to Carl Greer for sharing his story, his love of life, and his knowledge so we, the reader, may learn, grow, and find fulfillment in our own life. Highly recommended.
I could not put this book down. The authors’ life journey is fascinating, enlightening, and real. Each chapter ends with reflections and questions that are through provoking allowing the reader to easily look at their own life and truly see areas where positive change will make an impactful difference in their own journey. I laughed, smiled, felt sadness and joy as the story unfolded. So many life lessons to think about but without the bland academic jargon. If you are seeking ways to change your life for the better, to find fulfillment of heart and soul, to be happy and at peace, then this is the perfect place to start. You will be entertained and enlightened in this quick and easy to read, genuine, straight from the heart, tell all book. Kudos to Carl Greer for sharing his story, his love of life, and his knowledge so we, the reader, may learn, grow, and find fulfillment in our own life. Highly recommended.
December 12, 2021
카지노싸이트 giveaway.
April 14, 2023
The Necktie and The Jaguar by Carl Greer is a deeply inspiring and thought-provoking memoir that encourages readers to explore their own personal transformation. Greer offers readers an illuminating roadmap to individuation and self-discovery that can be applied to anyone's life, regardless of their background or circumstances. The author's journey from a postwar, midwestern, middle-class upbringing to becoming a successful businessman, and then undergoing Jungian analysis and shamanic training, is both fascinating and inspiring.
Greer's writing is clear and concise, and his personal reflections on his spiritual practices and vulnerabilities make the book compelling reading for anyone seeking the courage to make more conscious choices and live fully awake. The book offers a powerful reminder that we do not have to feel trapped in a story someone else has written for us, and that we all have the power to transform our lives and embody our true selves.
The only reason I'm giving this book four stars instead of five is because at times, it can feel a bit dense and overwhelming with information. The writing had me taking time to process the messages and that made this book one to work through. However, overall, The Necktie and The Jaguar is an inspirational testament to the power of self-discovery and a worthwhile read for anyone seeking to live a more meaningful and purposeful life. This was a good read.
Mr Joe
Greer's writing is clear and concise, and his personal reflections on his spiritual practices and vulnerabilities make the book compelling reading for anyone seeking the courage to make more conscious choices and live fully awake. The book offers a powerful reminder that we do not have to feel trapped in a story someone else has written for us, and that we all have the power to transform our lives and embody our true selves.
The only reason I'm giving this book four stars instead of five is because at times, it can feel a bit dense and overwhelming with information. The writing had me taking time to process the messages and that made this book one to work through. However, overall, The Necktie and The Jaguar is an inspirational testament to the power of self-discovery and a worthwhile read for anyone seeking to live a more meaningful and purposeful life. This was a good read.
Mr Joe
August 18, 2023
3.5 rounded up.
This book is a lovely memoir about an interesting man who is living an interesting and privileged life, and who wishes to impart his experiences and wisdom on readers.
What made me bring my rating down to a 3.5 is that the cover claims to help one change their story and find fulfillment.
Reading this has not been helpful for me personally in helping change my story or giving direction to find fulfillment.
Perhaps if the target reading audience is coming from a place of privilege, they could change their story and/or find fulfillment..
I am not coming from a place of privilege. I have had a life chock filled with life challenging "suddenlies". I find for me personally that the sections at the end of the chapter took away from the words wisdom I gleaned from Greer's writing. I found myself pondering drastically different questions and meditating on sections of each chapter unrelated to the sections highlighted in gray.
The gray sections made me believe at times that the author was being boastful instead of informative.
But this is just my personal experience as a reader. If one is going into this book from a place of true hardship, it might be more beneficial to read the book and skip the gray sections altogether.
If I choose to reread this book in the future, I would do so without reading the gray sections.
This book is great for the person who loves reading memoirs.
This book is a lovely memoir about an interesting man who is living an interesting and privileged life, and who wishes to impart his experiences and wisdom on readers.
What made me bring my rating down to a 3.5 is that the cover claims to help one change their story and find fulfillment.
Reading this has not been helpful for me personally in helping change my story or giving direction to find fulfillment.
Perhaps if the target reading audience is coming from a place of privilege, they could change their story and/or find fulfillment..
I am not coming from a place of privilege. I have had a life chock filled with life challenging "suddenlies". I find for me personally that the sections at the end of the chapter took away from the words wisdom I gleaned from Greer's writing. I found myself pondering drastically different questions and meditating on sections of each chapter unrelated to the sections highlighted in gray.
The gray sections made me believe at times that the author was being boastful instead of informative.
But this is just my personal experience as a reader. If one is going into this book from a place of true hardship, it might be more beneficial to read the book and skip the gray sections altogether.
If I choose to reread this book in the future, I would do so without reading the gray sections.
This book is great for the person who loves reading memoirs.
January 23, 2025
I won a paperback copy of The Necktie and the Jaguar from a goodreads giveaway. One thing right away I liked about the book is the silhouette of a man wearing a hat on the front cover.
The author talks about his early life, his time at a university to become an engineer, he time as the head of a midwest company that sold gas and oil company, his training and work as an analyst, his work and training as a shaman, he also did Judo, karate and qigong. So as the author said in the book he has done a lot in his live.
And at the end of each chapter there are one or two pages with questions for the reader to think about if they want to.
For me the most interesting parts of the books had to do with Charl Greer's early life in Indiana, his time as the head of the oil and gas company. And I almost forgot I also liked reading about his foundation and the work he does with that.
One thing the book made me think about is what stories I tell myself. As I was reading the book I thought I don't tell myself stories about myself. After I finished reading the book then I started thinking about it and realized I do tell myself stories about my life. And I want to rewrite some of those stories.
Also I don't think I have ever read a book that talks about shamans so that was interesting.
So I think The necktie and the jaguar is an interesting book about a man who has done so much in his life time.
The author talks about his early life, his time at a university to become an engineer, he time as the head of a midwest company that sold gas and oil company, his training and work as an analyst, his work and training as a shaman, he also did Judo, karate and qigong. So as the author said in the book he has done a lot in his live.
And at the end of each chapter there are one or two pages with questions for the reader to think about if they want to.
For me the most interesting parts of the books had to do with Charl Greer's early life in Indiana, his time as the head of the oil and gas company. And I almost forgot I also liked reading about his foundation and the work he does with that.
One thing the book made me think about is what stories I tell myself. As I was reading the book I thought I don't tell myself stories about myself. After I finished reading the book then I started thinking about it and realized I do tell myself stories about my life. And I want to rewrite some of those stories.
Also I don't think I have ever read a book that talks about shamans so that was interesting.
So I think The necktie and the jaguar is an interesting book about a man who has done so much in his life time.
January 26, 2022
I found the autobiography very interesting. I have known Carl Greer since I was a college student and have followed his career closely. I had no idea about the situation with his father and mother, so that was an interesting and sad surprise. He is one of the most intelligent men I have ever known and he is real. I know how successful he was (and is) in business and I think a lot of his ideas could help those striving for business success. I knew about his Studies of Carl Jung and his being a therapist. I also knew that he traveled in South America to learn more about Shamanism. The details he described were fascinating to me and I’m glad he went into so much detail. At the end of each chapter he asks the reader questions and I found some of them very thought-provoking.
May 31, 2024
Disclaimer - I received a few copy from a 카지노싸이트 Giveaway.
I'll start by saying I recently retired from teaching psychology, so I have biases here. I find the book problematic in the assumption of not only other cultures' elements, but in the claiming of shamanic roles and access to spiritualism. Clearly, Greer worked hard and studied hard. He sought out experiences of transformation, but still. So, the story just has to much "Woo" for me.
I'll start by saying I recently retired from teaching psychology, so I have biases here. I find the book problematic in the assumption of not only other cultures' elements, but in the claiming of shamanic roles and access to spiritualism. Clearly, Greer worked hard and studied hard. He sought out experiences of transformation, but still. So, the story just has to much "Woo" for me.
November 7, 2023
I won a copy of "The Necktie And The Jaguar" on 카지노싸이트 First Reads. It was very interesting. I love memoirs and learning about people and their journeys in this world. Carl's book did not disappoint. I loved the questions at the end of each chapter. That allowed me to personalize what I had read with my life experiences.
June 3, 2025
It was so-so. I read it bc it was a free book provided by the publisher. I appreciated learning about the different career and collegiate steps the author took to find his calling, but it was hard to relate to this "all about me" story. The writing was stiff w/o emotion. "I did this, then I did that." The book lacks any heart or soul.
January 29, 2024
I got a copy of this book from a 카지노싸이트 giveaway. The first half was better than the last half of the book, although it took me a while to get through it. The writing style wasn't my favorite, but it could be an interesting read for someone else.
January 17, 2022
Very interesting read! Enjoyed the story.
August 20, 2022
Very interesting book.
September 17, 2022
Very good book. Could change your life!
February 24, 2023
The first half had some interesting insights, the last half was not helpful.
January 5, 2024
This book was great. It was different from most of my books but I enjoyed it. Unexpected and very interesting. Highly recommend.
June 25, 2024
Didn't finish as it started to go against my life principles and beliefs as to who is in charge of our here after. The title was misleading I thought. Rated a 3 on the first half of the book. Sorry9
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2024
I received this book as a 카지노싸이트 giveaway, and it just wasn't for me. I thought it would have more self help then an autobiography.
December 2, 2024
The author may have impressive credentials but he has missed the boat! The word is GOD.
Want to read
March 1, 2025My book was not in the package it was opened but had 2 notes inside but no book
May 14, 2022
Overall I enjoyed reading this book. I wasn't sure what to expect. I enjoyed learning about the author's life and all the many transitions he took in his life. I think I was hoping for more in depth processing of how those transitions happened and what questions he asked himself throughout the changing times as well as what difficulties he had in the decisions. Thinking about this now, I wonder if these transitions were easy for him to make and he didn't have difficulty with the transitions. I liked the questions at the end of the chapters. To be honest, I skimmed most of them. I think it would have been easier to actually read and think about the questions if they were written in more a list form. I read the questions as I read the book, continuing from one sentence to the next.
Want to read
October 1, 2024Sun, Sep 8, 12:01 AM Congratulations, you're a Giveaways winner. You will soon receive a free copy of The Necktie and the Jaguar in the mail.
July 1, 2022
I love a book that draws me into another person's mindset and perspective. This is a captivating look into the life of author Carl Greer. It is also a captivating look into the reader's own life. Well done, Carl, well done.
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