Shamanism

Shamanism has been practised amongst communities all over the world for millennia; as one of the world's most universal and enduring spiritual traditions, it continues to survive today in both modern and ancient forms. During its long evolution from Siberia, Aboriginal Australia, Northern Europe and South America to the New Age movement and household television screen, it has provoked and enthused critics across the academic disciplines. The book gathers together perspectives from anthropology, psychology, musicology, botany and other disciplines to provide a unique overview of modern writing on shamanism. Juxtaposing ethnographic case-studies with descriptive surmises, and the ancient practices of indigenous tribes-people with new and often radically urban forms of shamanic interpretation, its cutting-edge selection highlights the diversity of approaches to shamanism in a thematic way.From grassroots political writing to established anthropological classics, the articles presented here cover topics including gender, initiation, hallucinogenic consciousness and political protest, whilst raising questions about constructions of shamanism,;its efficacy, its use and misuse as a cultu

'Graham Harvey's compilation stands out ... for the ambition and range of his vision ... it is a mark of the care and respect with which Harvey approaches his material that he recognises the existence of no fewer than five different phenomena with the category broadly labelled shamanism ...' - Ronald Hutton, Times Higher Education Supplement'A very interesting anthology of shamanic and neo-shamanic thought ... for anyone wanting to understand shamanism form a wider point of view ... it is an excellent and enjoyable read.' - Sacred Hoop

Graham Harvey has written widely on paganism and indigenous religion, and is the author of Pagan Pathways (Harper Collins, 2001) and Paganism Today. He teaches at King Alfred's College, Winchester.