Historical Dictionary of Shamanism (Historical Dictionaries of Religions, Philosophies, and Movements Series)

A remarkable array of people have been called shamans, while the phenomena identified as shamanism continues to proliferate. This second edition of the Historical Dictionary of Shamanism contains with examples from antiquity up to today, and from Siberia (where the term “shaman” originated) to Amazonia, South Africa, Chicago and many other places. Many claims about shamans and shamanism are contentious and all are worthy of discussion. In the most widespread understandings, terms seem to refer particularly to people who alter states of consciousness or enter trances in order to seek knowledge and help from powerful other-than-human persons, perhaps “spirits”. But this says only a little about the artists, community leaders, spiritual healers or hucksters, travelers in alternative realities and so on to which the label “shaman” has been applied. This second edition contains a chronology, an introduction, and extensive bibliography. The dictionary contains over 500 cross-referenced dictionary entries on individuals, groups, practices and cultures that have been called “shamanic”. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Shamanism. "Historical Dictionary of Shamanism explores the common ground of shamanic traditions and evaluates the diversity of both traditional indigenous communities and individual Western seekers through an introduction, a bibliography, a chronology, and hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries that explore the features of shamans, the purposes of shamanism, the functions and activities of the shaman, and the cultural contexts in which shamanism makes sense."--BOOK JACKET. Containing A Chronology, An Introduction And An Extensive Bibliography, This Dictionary Has Over 500 Cross-referenced Entries On Individuals, Groups, Practices, And Cultures That Have Been Called Shamanic. Graham Harvey And Robert J. Wallis. Includes Bibliographical References. Contents Editor’s Foreword Preface Reader’s Note Acronyms and Abbreviations Chronology Introduction THE DICTIONARY A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Bibliography About the Authors