Schamanismus und archaische Ekstasetechnik

First published in 1951, "Shamanism" soon became the standard work in the study of this mysterious fascinating phenomenon. Writing as the founder of the modern study of the history of religion, Romanian emigre--scholar Mircea Eliade (1907-86) surveys the practice of Shamanism over two a half millennia of human history, moving from the Shamanic traditions of Siberia Central Asia--where Shamanism was first observed--to North South America, Indonesia, Tibet, China 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 medicine man, healer miracle-doer, priest, mystic poet. Synthesizing the approaches of psychology, sociology ethnology, "Shamanism" will remain for years to come the reference book of choice for those intrigued by this practice.