Historical Dictionary of Shamanism

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.

Graham Harvey is Professor and Head of Department of Religious Studies at the Open University, UK. His research largely engages with the performances and rhetorics of religion among indigenous peoples, Pagans and Jews but also seeks improved understanding of everyday relational religioning.

Robert J. Wallis is Professor of Visual Culture, Associate Dean of MA Programs, and Convenor of the MA in Art History and Visual Culture at Richmond University, the American International University in London. His research engages with prehistoric and indigenous art and religion, and the ways in which people reproduce, reinterpret and make claims to prehistoric art and religion today.