Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy

This is the definitive account of Shamanism, and a feat of aggregating world knowledge along the lines of Joseph Campbell and Fraser, although more scholarly (and probably accurate). While it might be tough sledding, it is the worth the expenditure .Not only are we given the importance of the three cosmic zones but also the Shamanistic approaches to navigating them. We are also told about the Center of the World, the path of navigation but most fascinating to me was the almost universal concern among all humans with how to recall the souls of the dead. And in each of these Eliade can very thoroughly track their particular manifestations in societies throughout the world, though his starting place is Siberia. The other linking premise is show more that the journey of the Shaman is different from possession, it is something that must be learned and there is, inevitably, an initiation though there is some variety culturally between those who have inherited the gift of the spirit language and those who were called. As the title says, ecstasy is the key differentiator between the shaman and the witch, magician or fakir. If this subject interests you, this is the mother lode. Look no further. show less

A brilliant reference book on the inner practices and history of the same ...
Very well researched, well indexed, well footnoted.
Our current culture may have some technological advantages yet has to play catch-up to what has gone before, and this book is a great start to that.
When preceding cultures are ignored due to the current narratives then we miss out in the overall scheme of history.
This book fills the gaps in role of expanding understandings in Conscious-Conscious-ness in so many ways.

A brilliant reference book on the inner practices and history of the same ...
Very well researched, well indexed, well footnoted.
Our current culture may have some technological advantages yet has to play catch-up to what has gone before, and this book is a great start to that.
When preceding cultures are ignored due to the current narratives then we miss out in the overall scheme of history.
This book fills the gaps in role of expanding understandings in Conscious-Conscious-ness in so many ways.

First published in 1951, Shamanism soon became the standard work in the study of this mysterious and fascinating phenomenon. Writing as the founder of the modern study of the history of religion, Romanian émigré--scholar Mircea Eliade (1907-1986) surveys the practice of Shamanism over two and a half millennia of human history, moving from the Shamanic traditions of Siberia and Central Asia--where Shamanism was first observed--to North and South America, Indonesia, Tibet, China, and beyond. In this authoritative survey, Eliade illuminates the magico-religious life of societies that give primacy of place to the figure of the Shaman--at once magician and medicine man, healer and miracle-doer, priest, mystic, and poet. Synthesizing the show more approaches of psychology, sociology, and ethnology, Shamanism will remain for years to come the reference book of choice for those intrigued by this practice.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title. show less

The first work to treat shamanism in a comprehensive, scholarly way.

The foundational work on shamanism now available as a Princeton Classics paperback

Shamanism is an essential work on the study of this mysterious and fascinating phenomenon. The founder of the modern study of the history of religion, Mircea Eliade surveys the tradition through two and a half millennia of human history, moving from the shamanic traditions of Siberia and Central Asia—where shamanism was first observed—to North and South America, Indonesia, Tibet, China, and beyond. In this authoritative survey, Eliade illuminates the magico-religious life of societies that give primacy of place to the figure of the shaman—at once magician and medicine man, healer and miracle-doer, priest, mystic, and poet. Synthesizing the approaches show more of psychology, sociology, and ethnology, Shamanism remains the reference book of choice for those interested in this practice.

Source: Princeton University Press, 2020 Edition show less

ability to travel in spirit world for knowledge and locating lost spirits, etc. core of shamanism, use of drugs and dance sign of decadence, shares techniques and lore with other types of magical practitioners