An Introduction to Shamanism Book

List of illustrations vii

Preface ix

Part I Introductions 1

1 Shamanism and the issue of religion 3

2 A history of shamanic encounters 12

3 Shamanism in archaeological evidence 26

Part II Shamanic Soteriology and Ritual 39

4 Cosmology and the work of the shaman 41

5 The shamanic calling 56

6 Mediating the spirit world: shamanic roles and careers 82

Part III Examining Ritual Effectiveness 107

7 Séance, trance, and the shamanic mind 109

8 Shamans, clients, and healing 133

Part IV The Shamanic Arsenal 151

9 Music and entheogens: pathways to ecstasy 153

10 The material culture of shamanism 176

11 Shamanic verbal art 202

Part V Shamanic Politics In a Changing World 219

12 Shamanism under attack 221

13 Shamanic revitalizations 248

14 Neoshamanism 264

Epilogue 291

Bibliography 295

Index 312