From Booklist
Shamanism is, arguably, the oldest form of religious experience, and the least understood. Almost every religious tradition has shamans, although they may be called prophets, healers, mystics, or miracle workers. The broad definition of
shamanism used for this encyclopedia is "a religious belief system in which the shaman is a specialist in the knowledge required to make a connection to the world of the spirits in order to bring about benefits for the other members of the community."
Volume 1 contains 55 A-Z entries on "General Themes in World Shamanism." These include Demonic possession and exorcism, Fire and hearth, Initiation, Music in world shamanism, and Offerings and sacrifice in shamanism, among others. Following the general entries, volume 1 has sections on North America, Central and South America, and Europe. Volume 2 looks at Eurasia, Korea and Japan, China, South Asia and Tibet, Southeast Asia, Australia and Oceania, and Africa. Within each of these sections, an introduction is followed by between 6 (for Australia and Oceania) and 27 (for Eurasia) articles on various aspects of shamanism among the cultures of the region. Every article is signed and has a bibliography as well as see also references. The articles vary in size from less than a page to several pages. There are many black-and-white photographs (one of Zora Neale Hurston as a Voudou dancer) and drawings. The last volume has a complete and extensive bibliography, which includes numerous titles in languages other than English; a list of contributors and their credentials; and an index. The index is key to finding information in the regional sections. Unfortunately, the index is only in the second volume and does not indicate which volume a particular page number is in, which will be inconvenient.
The fascinating text debates the validity of older theories of shamanism as they relate to newer and more inclusive theories. It investigates the practice from prehistoric times to the present. It is a fascinating, scholarly work, rather than one written for a popular audience. Academic libraries in institutions with religious curricula will want at least one copy. Larger public libraries will need this, too. Robin Hoelle
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Product Description
A comprehensive guide to worldwide shamanism, emphasizing historical and current cultural adaptations. Shamanism has its origins in early human history and is as ubiquitous as the human desire to penetrate the mysteries of the supernatural. For millennia shamans have traveled into the realm of the spirits on our behalf to hunt lost souls, heal the sick, interpret dreams, and provide guidance in human endeavors. In the wake of a rapidly transforming world, new forms of shamanism are developing and thriving. This two-volume reference is the first comprehensive exploration of shamanic beliefs from the Stone Age to the present day. In 230 detailed, readable essays, leading ethnographers and historians explain the general principles of shamanism as well as the details of widely varied practices. What is it like to be a shaman? Entries describe region by region the traits, such as sicknesses and dreams, which mark a person as a shaman, as well as the training undertaken by initiates. They detail the costumes, music, rituals, artifacts, and drugs the shaman uses to achieve an alternate state of consciousness, communicate with spirits, travel in the spirit world, and retrieve souls. But unlike most Western books on shamanism, which focus narrowly on the individual's experience of healing and trance, the encyclopedia also examines the function of shamanism in society from social, political, and historic perspectives and identifies the ancient, continuous thread that connects shamanic beliefs and rituals across cultures and millennia.
by Roger Walsh
by Fiona Bowie
by Graham Hancock
by Rick Strassman MD
