Shamans: The Visual Culture of Animism, Healing and Journeys to Other Planes

Around the world, shamanic traditions dating back thousands of years are being revived, recovered, and reinvented. Many people are increasingly turning to shamanic practices and rituals for community, connection to nature, and spiritual direction. Focusing on an expertly curated selection of ritual artifacts and visionary images, this book skillfully explores the roles of shamans around the world and throughout history, from the Mesolithic shamans of Germany and the Evenki shamans of northern and central Asia to the shamans of the Shang dynasty and the booming populations of neo-shamans in the West.

Beginning with a clear explanation of what we mean by "shaman," author Max Carocci identifies three key elements of shamanic worldviews and practices: animistic models of the cosmos; communication between realities; and healing of body and soul. Beautifully illustrated throughout, this book features a compelling narrative text interspersed with analytical presentations of the key artifacts, artworks, and rituals pertinent to the chapter themes. Shamans examines a diverse range of visual subjects and decodes their symbolism, including the powerful adornments of a Siberian shaman’s coat, the psychotropic plants that facilitate trance states and interdimensional journeys, and the carved effigies that reveal the remarkable transformation of shamans into animals. Carocci makes the manifold meanings encoded in the forms, colors, and purposes of shamanic images and objects clear, painting a vibrant and in-depth picture of shamanic cultures past and present.