Cover of The World of Shamanism: New Views of an Ancient Tradition

The World of Shamanism: New Views of an Ancient Tradition

Fascinating, comprehensive, and eminently readable, this guide explores shamanism—the world's most enduring healing and religious tradition—in the light of modern medicine, psychology, neuroscience, consciousness disciplines, and religious studies.

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Praise for The World of Shamanism

"As if on cue, just when I am beginning to think that shamanism is the ground from which all religions spring, along comes this book. I cannot imagine a book that would be more helpful to me in thinking through this important subject."

—Huston Smith, author of The World's Religions

..".Unquestionably the most rounded compact introduction to shamanism, particularly the inner world of shamans, available today. A door-opening book for students of consciousness and spirituality."

—Georg Feuerstein, Ph.D., M.Litt, author of The Yoga Tradition

"A splendidly clear and timely survey of shamanism."

—Jean Achterberg, Ph.D., author ofImagery in Healing

"Quite simply, this book is a major step forward in understanding the vital phenomenon of shamanism. I recommend it highly."

—Charles Tart, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Psychology, University of California at Davis, author of States of Consciousness

..".Eminently useful and inspiring. A brilliant integrative work that pushes the frontiers of consciousness in insightful, practical, and powerful ways."

—Angeles Arrien, Ph.D., Cultural Anthropologist, author of The Four-Fold Way and The Second Half of Life

..".Unique in bringing together the full range of anthropological, psychological, and psychiatric literature on this vital subject. It does so with admirable scholarship yet still manages to be sensitive and clear."

—Christie W. Kiefer, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, University of California at San Francisco

Themes
religion
Audience
adult
Length
medium · 325 pages

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Liked The World of Shamanism: New Views of an Ancient Tradition? Here’s where I’d start.

These suit anyone who liked The World of Shamanism: New Views of an Ancient Tradition. Sign in and mark a few books for picks shaped around your own taste.

  1. Shamanic Journeying Shares shamanism, nonfiction, philosophy
  2. Cave and Cosmos: Shamanic Encounters with Another Reality Shares shamanism, religion, nonfiction
  3. Plant Spirit Shamanism: Traditional Techniques for Healing the Soul Shares shamanism, pagan, philosophy
  4. In the Shadow of the Shaman: Connecting with Self, Nature, and Spirit Shares shamanism, pagan, nonfiction

“People who read The World of Shamanism: New Views of an Ancient Tradition tend to reach for these next.”

  1. Shamans Through Time
  2. Animals and Psychedelics: The Natural World and the Instinct to Alter Consciousness
  3. Fire in the Head: Shamanism and the Celtic Spirit
  4. The Celtic Shaman: A Handbook

“If you want more of the same (psychology about religion), start with these.”

  1. Seven Theories of Religion
  2. The Meaning and End of Religion
  3. Living Religions
  4. Anatomy of the Sacred: An Introduction to Religion

“If it was the shamanism that hooked you, try one of these.”

  1. Song of the Shaman: A Novel
  2. Shamanic Voices
  3. The Reluctant Shaman: A Woman's First Encounters with the Unseen Spirits of the Earth
  4. Awakening to the Spirit World: The Shamanic Path of Direct Revelation

“These start from a similar idea, even if they go somewhere else with it.”

  1. The Shaman
  2. The Woman in the Shaman's Body: Reclaiming the Feminine in Religion and Medicine
  3. Shaman Pathways - The Druid Shaman: Exploring the Celtic Otherworld
  4. Singing to the Plants: A Guide to Mestizo Shamanism in the Upper Amazon