The Renewal of Shamanism
Raymond L. M. Lee, Susan E. Ackerman
May 8, 2018 DOI: 10.4324/9781315185682-9 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Topics | Shamanism |
| Key points | Argues that shamanism embodies charisma as an immanent, universally accessible power that cannot be monopolized, since anyone who attains proficiency in shamanic techniques can move between ordinary and non-ordinary states of consciousness and connect the visible and invisible worlds. |
Abstract
The immanent power of charisma surfaces in the revival of shamanism. An undifferentiated and monistic cosmos is embodied in shamanic practices that enable full participation in the unfolding of phenomena. As the most archaic of religious practices, shamanism makes the web of cosmic connections concretely present in, and inseparable from, charisma. Communication between the visible and invisible worlds has been pursued in a broad range of human societies that include paleolithic hunting bands as well as high-tech societies.1 Shamans connect these worlds through their ability to engage in ecstatic experience. Mastery of shamanic techniques enables movement between ordinary and non-ordinary states of consciousness. The power obtained from these techniques cannot be monopolized, since it is universally accessible to anyone who attains proficiency in 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 |