Shamanism

by Piers Vitebsky

The shaman occupies a key role as a healer mediating between the world of the living and the world of spirits and is a potent figure in alternative medicine. Shamanism, a richly illustrated guide, looks at both historic and present-day manifestations, from the snowscaps of Siberia to the jungles of the Amazon.

The book discusses visions, initiation rites, shamanic chants, shamanism and mental health, the shamanic use of plants, and the political and social background to the shaman’s work. Also covered are the links between the shaman’s sense of unity in nature and the recent growth of ecological consciousness in Western societies.

* Includes more than 250 color illustrations that present a unique pictorial record of shamanism in practice and as represented in art and artifacts

* Includes a detailed region-by-region survey of shamanism with full-color maps

* Explores both spiritual and psychological aspects of the subject, as well as the relevance of shamanism to contemporary Western culture

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion, Anthropology, Spirituality, History

184 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Piers Vitebsky is an anthropologist and is the Head of Social Science at the Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, England.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I don't have this exact book. The copy I have, I could not find on GoodReads.

The book I have is titled "The Shaman: Voyages of the Soul Trance, Ecstasy an Healing from Siberia to the Amazon" by Piers Vitebsky, copyright 1995 by Duncan Baird Publishers, 184 pages, ISB-10: 1-4351-0616-4

The information in the book is great, and is why I gave this book 5 stars. The layout of the book, however, I found to be lacking. The edition I have listed above has additional text articles in the middle of the body text of the book (like newspaper). I found the weird breaks in text (and the ideas held therein) made the book slightly difficult to read. I would have preferred the information in the sub-articles to have be included into the body text of the book.

[Roman Stadtler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great historical & cultural overview of the subject. I especially liked the sociological/anthropological approach, which included New Age shamanism (which sometimes annoys me, with it's cultural appropriation poseurs renaming themselves "Otter Willow" and such), but the bulk of the book is a serious, in-depth scholarly examination of shamanism. Cultural, spiritual, ethno- and social impacts are looked at, ancient and modern aspects are presented, even trance-like states in raves, and shamanistic healing in trauma and death are explored. Many good pictures, and old photos.

[Bekki Shining Bearheart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beginning in the early 1980s, my partner and I began teaching shamanic journey/trance work in the US. This grew out of our own experiences working together in our personal lives with healing and shamanism. He was an anthropologist (MA and PHD, U of Chicago and LSE, London) who began having spontaneous shamanic experiences in the 1970s after returning from fieldwork in Asia. Living very close to nature and focusing much of our lives on spiritual practices led to devoting decades to this work. We had been actively looking for a text of this kind for about 10 years when this book was first published by Little and Brown (1995), as part of a series. (The series included books on the Goddess, animal spirits, earth energies and more.) At some point the publisher discontinued the series, but this book was picked up by University of Oklahoma Press, and for good reason.

It is simply the best scholarly introduction to the topic that is accessible to the layman. It is not exhaustive- for a deeper look Mircea Eliade's book, "Shamanism: Techniques of Ecstasy", though a bit dated (1950s-60s), is better. I believe that the U of Oklahoma probably chose to reprint the book because it is ideal for use as a text book on shamanism, and probably a number of universities use it for any courses in their anthropology curriculum covering the topic in any depth. The book has been translated into 15 languages, which gives you a good idea of its importance.

A few reviewers here take Dr. Vitebsky to task for either being too academic, not academic enough, too brief in his descriptions, or whatever. I think they miss the point of this book. Dr. Vitebsky is one of the most respected voices in anthropology today, in terms of his knowledge of this subject. He was for years deeply involved in The International Society for Academic Research on Shamanism (ISARS), the current iteration of the International Society for Shamanistic Research (ISSR), which was founded in 1988, and which publishes a scholarly journal solely dedicated to the study of shamanism.

I know that I and my partner found it to be essential for our students, especially our advanced students. He covers all the core practices of shamans around the world, describing these in enough depth to be understood, and often noting the regional differences in practice by shamans of different cultures. He gives a good sense of the variations and differences of shamanism by region while linking cultures by what they have in common.

It is important to note here that many regional differences arise from the lands the shamans occupy, differences in flora and fauna, climate and terrain, and so on.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has a sincere interest in shamanism, and is ready to plow through a book of this depth and intensity. Don't expect to read it in an evening; take time to digest it. You will will reap the reward of your effort.

If you are hoping to get a quick download of information with very little effort, probably best to pass this one by.

[Kate Wydeven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this during the time in my life where my peoples' spirituality consumed me. I am Even & Evenki. I wanted for a while to have tattooed onto me what the Even shaman said as she described the ways a shaman heals themselves, licking hot pokers or finding a pain to bring them back down to earth; "A NEED TO PERFORM".

Something was absolved in me many times, as I learned of my peoples' spirituality. Many of the situations I experiened gained clarity and control in ways that I had not experienced after being called hopeless or crazy. Ancestors who bore my name felt rested. I'm very proud to be Even.

A great deal of respect has been given to this book by all who have interacted with it from me carrying it to and fro throughout my existence since its purchase. I feel that's a priceless, energetic understanding that makes me feel warmly about the journey I have had, and the ways this book has changed me. I believe it honors my people years before any kind of decolonial effort was made in the very colonial branch of anthropology, which I respect the author for doing so many years in advance, and I am grateful he was very respectful of the Indigenous people and shamans who have granted him such knowledge.

My copy of this book sits kindly now on my bookshelf after I have carried it with me for nearly 4 years, and I feel it is imperative to show to those who are going through a spiritual experience themselves, as I have many times, and it has helped them greatly.

[Ieva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vietomis šiek tiek chaotiška, bet galbūt dėl to, kad autorius stengiasi aprėpti viso pasaulio šamaniškas tradicijas, jas susieti bei palyginti. Labai gausiai iliustruota, daug pavyzdžių, o ne vien 'sausos' teorijos. Tikrai verta dėmesio knyga.

[Wolf Chiano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. Very informative.

[Buck Wilde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun book! Full of colorful paintings of hallucinogen-trips-turned-belief-structures and photos of filthy, unhappy indigenous people playing with animal parts. I appreciated the way Vitebsky kept explaining all the stuff about shapeshifting and astral projection and nocturnal DBZ spirit-battles as though they were all going on, instead of beginning every sentence with "The shaman BELIEVES that...". Made for a couple of double-takes, but ultimately worth the price of admission.

I got this book for $1 at a used book store. $1 well spent.

[Wasabi · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fantastic introduction to the world of Shamanism

[Eglė · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great introduction to shaman world, their beliefs and religion, which was formed over a thousands years ago.