Shamanism

Anthropologist Piers Vitebsky, Head of Anthropology and Russian Northern Studies at the Scott Polar Research Institute, has been doing fieldwork among shamanic cultures since 1975. His researches range from Siberia to India to Sri Lanka and beyond. In this book he has provided a clear, non-technical introduction to a badly misunderstood field. Included: bibliographic information (including citations of his own studies) and a glossary. The book begins with a discussion of shamanism and its worldview, moves on to regional traditions, talks about shamanism from the shaman's viewpoint, and ends with a brief discussion of the new shamanic "movements" (fads).As with "Far Eastern wisdom" reinterpreted and sold by people educated in the West, shamanism has been the target of intense cultural appropriation. A worldwide esoteric spiritual tradition has been diluted into self-help, with guided imagery exercises sold as "shamanic journeying." As Vitebsky notes, "Many forms of neo-shamanism use elements from North American native religions which I have characterizedin this book as not strictly shamanic. In addition...native organizations have started to criticize some of these systems for cultural imperialism or intellectual piracy." It would seem to be a characteristic of the empire psychology so many of us share but do not see that we feel entitled to uproot practices and traditions that grew up in very different societies instead of exploring our own.A strength of this book is its presentation of shamanism as actually studied in its indigenous contexts. This frees it of the choking layer of common mischaracterizations (e.g., shamanism as dark night of the soul, self-improvement method, or spiritual path for people taking drumming lessons). I often recommend this book in my graduate holistic studies classes because here in California everyone and their mother think of themselves as shamans after attending some workshops and watching a few videos. The real shaman does not decide to become one but is selected from a long shamanic lineage by imaginal guides ("spirits") whose manifestations vary across cultures. The selectee then works as a shaman if he or she survives the initiatory illness (some do not). Nobody who has lived through the illness would choose to walk it as a spiritual path. It has nothing to do with self-improvement, and genuine shamans sometimes report feeling wounded by it for decades after enduring it.Bonuses of this book include the glossy text stock and beautiful photography. Most of the pictures are small, but evocative, especially the agonized expressions of the shamans who appear throughout the book (e.g., pages 10, 58, 65, 98, and 156). The book also discusses the arduous training the shaman will need for a lifetime of dissociating and painful ecstatic trances that (in the shamanic view) hold the energies of the world community in balance beyond the healing work done with an occasional human client.

Very readable and fascinating. Focuses on Shamanism around the world, with a slight emphasis on Siberian Shamanism. I learned so much from this book - recommend it to scholarly types and those looking to explore "alternative" spiritualities.

I simply cannot figure what may have prompted me to buy this book. I’m a research archaeologist studying the US Southwest/Mexican Northwest prehistoric. I offered two stars because it is a book as advertised but it’s probably not what you think.

I have yet to complete the entire book, however I am pleased with the attention to detail given regarding the term 'Shaman' and the concept "ism". The Shamanic Practitioner is more than the commercialized overused term we know as "Shamanism". I recommend this book, in addition to other sources that explore what it means to be a shaman from a traditional perspective.

Loads of information. Well written and divided into great chapters. The author is interesting and really understands his subjects. I am still reading this book and highly recommend it.

This is a dispassionate and dry overview of shamanic practices in the ethographic and historic records. The content was stilted and laborious reading on what I usually find to be a fascinating topic. Couldn't fight my way through it.

This is a fantastic book that compiles traditional shamanism from around the world. I'd recommend it for anyone even remotely interested in the topic, or if you're looking to integrate shamanic practices into your own spiritual work.

Very nice in content and well put together.

All good.