In popular culture, such diverse characters as occultist Aleister Crowley, Doors musician Jim Morrison, and performance artist Joseph Beuys have been called shamans. In anthropology, on the other hand, shamanism has associations with sorcery, witchcraft and healing, and archaeologists have suggested the meaning of prehistoric cave art lies with shamans and altered consciousness. Robert J. Wallis explores the interface between 'new' and prehistoric shamans. The book draws on interviews with a variety of practitioners, particularly contemporary pagans in Britain and north America. Wallis looks at historical and archaeological sources to explore contemporary pagan engagements with prehistoric sacred sites such as Stonehenge and Avebury, and discusses the controversial use by neo-Shamans of indigenous (particularly native American) shamanism.
Reviews

'Wallis has some intersting and insightful things to say about the pagan movement today,' - The Cauldron

'Wallis's book is a well-documented addition to ... [accounts of contemporary spiritualities] ... demonstrating scholarly sensitivity to some complex issues, avoiding the pitfalls of both the overly rational approach as well as the defensive insider.' - Journal of Contemporary Religion, Vol 19, No. 2, 2004

' ... Wallis' book does a wonderful job of systematically reviewing the complexity of issues and interests surrounding the topic.' - Journal for the Academic Study of Magic

Book Information
ISBN 9780415302036
Author Robert J. Wallis
Format Paperback
Page Count 326
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 620g