The Shamanic Renaissance: What Is Going On?
David Kowalewski
Journal of Humanistic Psychology March 1, 2019 DOI: 10.1177/0022167816634522 (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 the revival of shamanism over the past half-century stems from a global-historical conjuncture: popular alienation from governments, religions, and sciences, along with their failure to address global crises, has driven people to reclaim ancient spiritual roots, while currents within those structures have also supported the movement. Traditional shamans attribute a key role to spirits in rekindling shamanic practices. |
Abstract
A surprising development over the past half-century has been the revival of the ancient tradition of shamanism. Evidence for the renaissance is everywhere. But what is going on? I offer a structural view, suggesting that a global–historical conjuncture is responsible. The most important structures of civilization—governments, religions, sciences—have all suffered from popular alienation, most recently failing to adequately address global crises, prompting many in developed and developing countries, facilitated by global infrastructure, to reach back to their ancient spiritual roots. At the same time, in response to popular alienation, currents within these very structures have converged to buoy the movement. Traditional shamans, for their part, in spite of criticism at home for teaching modern peoples, say that the spirits have played a key role in rekindling shamanic practices.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cites 3
- Varieties of anomalous experience: Examining the scientific evidence. American Psychological Association eBooks 2000
- What we can learn from shamanic healing: brief psychotherapy with Latino immigrant clients. American Journal of Public Health October 1, 2002
- Shamanic Experiences: A Developmental Analysis Journal of Humanistic Psychology July 1, 2001