Shamanism and the psychology of C.G. Jung : the great circle

Shamanism is one of the earliest and farthest-reaching magical and religious traditions, vestiges of which still underlie the major religious faiths of the modern world. The function of the shaman is to show his or her people the unseen powers behind the mere appearances of nature, as experienced through intuition, in trance states, or during ecstatic mystical visions. Shamans possess healing powers, communicate with the dead and the world beyond, and influence the weather and movements of hunting animals. The psychological exaltation of shamanism trance states is similar to the ecstasies of Yogis, Christian mystics and dervishes. Shamanism: An Introduction traces the development of shamanism in its many fascinating global manifestations. Looking at shamanic practices from Siberia to China and beyond, it provides an accessible guide to one of the world's most ancient, notorious and frequently misrepresented spiritual traditions. Placing special emphasis on the climate, geographic and cultural pressures under which shanic customs arose and continue to be observed, Margaret Stutley summarizes and clearly explains the logic of a faith whose fantastical elements hold a special place in popular imagination. World religions expert Margaret Stutley provides an authoritative guide to one of the world's most ancient, notorious and frequently misrepresented spiritual traditions. Stutley unravels the history, ideologies and rites of shamanism, demystifying practices such as:*how the shaman's dual souls can roam the world of the dead*why the Yukaghir people wear 'grandfather' amulets, made of dead relatives' flesh and bones*how the androgynous Chukchi shamans induce ritualistic sex change*the lost secret language of the Siberian shamans.Shamanism particularly explores the climatic, geographic and cultural pressures under which shamanic customs arose and continue to be observed.The fantastical in Shamanism has a special place in the popular imagination: this guide will appeal to those interested in alternative religions and spirituality as well as to students of religion and anthropology. Tracing the history, ideology, and rites of the shamans' fascinating belief system in its many global manifestations, this book looks at the forms and functions of shamanic practices from Siberia to China and beyond. Authoritative and accessible, the guide investigates some of the most notorious and frequently misrepresented aspects of shamanism.