Contemporary shamanism and alternative spirituality : exploring relationships and intersections
Helena Dyndová
Religio June 15, 2024 DOI: 10.5817/rel2024-37979 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Shamanism |
| Key points | Argues that contemporary shamanism's compatibility with alternative spirituality's worldviews, particularly through the adaptation of energy, holism, and soul concepts, explains its success and should be seen as an asset rather than a flaw. |
Abstract
Contemporary shamanism, often referred to as neo-shamanism, is a popular spiritual practice within the modern landscape of non-institutionalized religiosity. This paper explores the relationship between contemporary shamanism and alternative spirituality (formerly also labelled as the New Age) in depth, underlining that contemporary shamanism owes much of its success to its compatibility with the religious worldviews of today’s era. In this sense, contemporary shamanism works similarly to “native” shamanisms, acting not as an independent religious system but as a configuration within distinct sociocultural and religious contexts. The article discusses the discursive transformation over the past three centuries that has led to the contemporary perception of the shaman as a healer, stressing the pivotal role of Michael Harner and his Foundation for Shamanic Studies in shaping and establishing contemporary shamanism. Drawing from extensive fieldwork in neo-shamanic communities, it shows how contemporary shamanism has adapted and “translated” the three key motifs of alternative spirituality (the concepts of energy, holism, and the soul) and uses them in healing practice. Ultimately, this article posits how contemporary shamanism fits within the broader tapestry of alternative spirituality, emphasizing that its adaptability is an asset, not an inauthentic glitch.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on shamanism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ayahuasca Shamanism in the Amazon and Beyond | 2014 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Shamanism as the Original Neurotheology | 2004 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Cognitive Neuroscience, Shamanism and the Rock Art of Native California | 1998 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| From Culture to Experience: Shamanism in the Pages of the Soviet Anti-Religious Press | 2020 | Historical analysis | |
| Anthropology, Shamanism, and Alternate Ways of Knowing–Being in the World: One Anthropologist's Journey of Discovery and Transformation | 2010 | Reflective essay or personal narrative |