Three scholars from different humanities fields examine the contested concept of 'shamanism'—coined in the late 19th century by V. M. Mikhailovsky—and its current status as both an analytical category in historical research and a source of spiritual revitalization among indigenous peoples in post-Soviet Siberia. The book includes an introduction and critical afterword by historian of religions Ulf Drobin, with essays addressing key issues in cultural history and the history of religions.
Stanislav Grof's Holotropic Therapy System, though not widely known, provides a theoretical framework that can encompass many traditional psychotherapies. Grof fully recognizes the psyche (soul) in therapy, where trans-egoic experiences during sessions facilitate movement to full psychological health and human potential. The system's origins, theory, and practice are described, along with its relationship to traditional therapies. Grof developed a cartography based on 4000 clients' therapeutic experiences, categorized as psychodynamic, perinatal, or transpersonal. Healing occurs when these experiences are relived and integrated into adult waking consciousness.