Traveling between the Worlds: Conversations with Contemporary Shamans

by Hillary S. Webb

For this book, Webb interviewed 24 shamans from various traditions, including Tibetan, Native American, Peruvian, and Judaic. Conversations with shamanic teachers such as Oscar Miro-Quesada, John Perkins, Gabrielle Roth, and more provide unique insights into the role of shamanism in modern times.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2004

About the author

Hillary S. Webb, PhD, is a cultural anthropologist, author, and mixed-media storyteller focusing on theater anthropology and cross-cultural perspectives on human consciousness.

She is the author of The Friendliest Place in the Universe: Love, Laughter, and Stand-Up Comedy in Berlin (University Professors Press, 2022), Yanantin and Masintin in the Andean World (University of New Mexico Press, 2012), Traveling Between the Worlds (Hampton Roads, 2004), and Exploring Shamanism (New Page Books, 2003) as well as various articles, essays, and encyclopedia entries.

When she's not lurking around the Berlin stand-up comedy scene, Webb resides in Southern Maine.

Reviews

[Lannan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. Only two of the interviewees really seemed genuine to me. The rest seemed bland at best and fraudulent at worst. Cultural appropriation up the wazoo and lots of "love and light" in here. Glad I got it from the library.

[S. Harrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was required reading for a course I took, and I wasn't excited about having to read it. The murky waters of neoshamanism are often challenging to tread and I wasn't sure what to expect. I come from a reconstructionist tradition on several fronts, and most often find that modern shamans who claim a specific lineage, thus cultural slant in their work, really aren't connected with it at all, but to what they interpret it to be. Not the same thing, and a point of contention in how this kind of work is presented to potential clients who are misled.

I was pleasantly surprised that the neoshamans not raised in a shamanic culture or lineage not only pointed out that fact themselves, but distinguished that while they feel connected to a specific culture they do not call themselves discrete shamans of those cultures--others do. Having read the words of these noted modern shamans, such as Geo Trevarthen, Tom Cowan, Rabbi Gershon Winkler, Christina Pratt, and Sandra Ingerman to name a few, I feel affirmed in the modern shamanic movement, specifically that while we do not have a uniting culture of shamanic awareness, we share the roots of timeless responsibility to our ancient and indigenous soul travelers.

Webb, herself, does not give direct commentary on the issues facing modern shamans, though through the course of talking with these dynamic speakers concerns emerge. In these introspective and educational interviews, Webb carries us far forward of the limiting, archaic views of shamanism thrust into the western consciousness by Eliade and even Harner, addressing issues such as where allopathic fits into shamanic work, the role of women in modern shamanism, and how many contemporary soul travelers face balancing the need for income with devotion to spiritual work. Wildly inspiring and deeply profound, this book is a great resource for anyone wanting to understand the path of a modern shaman, and to gain insight into the many ways that path can manifest.

[William · Rating 1 out of 5]

Odd collection of interviews.

Most of the interviews are with people who have transmogrified shamanism into crass commercial projects.

[Cari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Traveling Between the Worlds: Conversations with Contemporary Shamans by Hillary S. Webb was very interesting, but I'm going to be honest here... It took me quite a while to get through it because it kept putting my butt to sleep. 🙈🙈 I assure you, it wasn't because it was boring, it was just very peaceful and relaxing and almost put me into a meditative state at times. (I also fall asleep while meditating. I am who I am.)

I like how the author found Shamans to interview from different cultures all over the world. Before reading this, the word 'shaman' typically made me think of Native American medicine men, but this book opened my eyes to the presence of shamans in indigenous cultures across the planet. Each culture has different rituals and uses different methods to pass on their shamanic traditions, but what was probably most interesting to me was the similarities between their traditions, despite deriving from different continents. Some of it was difficult to wrap my "Western" head around, such as shape-shifting and I feel like someone also mentioned flying, but maybe I dreamed that part during one of my mid-book naps.

Irregardless, if you have any interest in learning more about shamans, especially about the ways in which many of them have adapted and incorporated modern technologies and Western medicine into their traditional shamanic practices, this is certainly a good place to start.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and informative... published in 2004, I’m a little late in getting to this in 2018. Gave me some perspective on the practice as it exists in the world today and how those who teach view their communities, past and present. It’s a different world and shamans are solving different problems with a different language than in the past... I don’t understand those who criticize newcomers who adapt to the inevitable change, it’s called evolution. How else can traditions be carried forward. Not sure how a purist attitude does any good if it potentially causes extinction of an honorable and necessary practice of healing. 🤔

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's always a pleasure to read about other shamans and their practices, specific to their cultures and upbringing. They speak to topics that I care about, they are big picture and hold the ultimate compassion for all humanity. There's so much to learn from shamans, they really are the secret to our salvation in the Aquarian age. That is, no one is doing to save us, we need to save ourselves.

[BriAnna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as a First Reads Giveaway Winner. I really enjoyed this book. I found it gave me very interesting things to read about and new subjects to explore. I find the different viewpoints from different religions amaazing. Especially some of the shamans from religions you wouldn't normally think of as shamanic like Judaism. This was a great book that has given me more to think about and do and explore. I look forward to reading it again.

[Teresa Biggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a lot of info in this book. I wish the chapters would have been a little bit longer with some of the interviewees. I did not know anything about shamanism and I am not sure I do now. There seems to be lots of different kinds and opinions on what it is and what it entails.

[Swami Tirtha · Rating 5 out of 5]

fascinating to learn of many different shaman paths; much of the work is parallel on each path and in the work I do

[Joanne Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview of the many varieties of contemporary shamanism.