An Introduction to Shamanism

by Thomas A. DuBois

Shamans are an integral part of communal religious traditions, professionals who make use of personal supernatural experiences, especially trance, as a resource for the wider community's physical and spiritual well-being. This Introduction surveys research on the topic of shamanism around the world, detailing the archaeology and earliest development of shamanic traditions as well as their scientific 'discovery' in the context of eighteenth and nineteenth century colonization in Siberia, the Americas, and Asia. It explores the beliefs and rituals typical of shamanic traditions, as well as the roles of shamans within their communities. It also surveys the variety of techniques used by shamans cross-culturally, including music, entheogens, material culture and verbal performance. The final chapters examine attempts to suppress or eradicate shamanic traditions, the revitalization of shamanism in postcolonial situations, and the development of new forms of shamanism within new cultural and social contexts.

Genres: History

330 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2009

Reviews

[Wendelle]

Shamanism, this book says, has 4 distinguishing elements: a) belief that humans have spirits; b) belief that surrounding nature has spirits; c) a shaman exists among humans who can navigate between natural and supernatural worlds; d) the shaman can intercede with supernatural spirits for humans' behalf. This is a well-structured book, organized according to chapters like the shamanistic cosmology, the nature of trance, and beliefs about the healing abilities of shamans, enlivened by numerous examples of shamanistic beliefs gathered from all over the world. I did not know shamanism was so prevalent, from Siberia to Laos to Trobriand Islands to South Africa (debated) and Peru.HOWEVER in an attempt perhaps to protect his subject matter from imposition of Western bias, the author swings his pendulum all the way to 'uncritical' mode. He appears too derogatory of the Enlightenment and the Christian Church's contact with shamanism, instead of being neutral or acknowledging that change in cultures is natural among points of contact.

Furthermore he refrains to balance the book with challenges of the claims of shamanism. He challenges Western medical science without giving worthwhile credence to claims that shamanistic healing is more holistic, and shamanistic trances are not bogus. He also writes of shamanism within the framework of its own worldview, without giving notice that he is doing so. For instance he would just put in sentences like "shamans use their great powers to cross the spiritual plane" instead of "shamans claim they use their great powers to cross the spiritual plane."

[T H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started skimming it (on the recommendation of a professor for a semi-related project) and just could not put it down. I was hooked by DuBois' stellar research. Each paragraph is packed with neat info.

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent, well-researched, and meaningful addition to a shamanism library. DuBois covers the subject with respect and objectivity. This book was written for a class he taught on shamanism and it makes me very much want to take the class, or take another from him; he seems like he would be an excellent instructor.