Shamanism and Mediumship: Confluence and Difference

Abstract

The status of shamanism as a subject of serious scientific enquiry has undergone some substantial changes in recent years, moving from a rather marginal position (Hubbard, 2003) to one which is the focus of considerable interdisciplinary interest. For example, some years ago, Peters (1989) remarked that the study of shamanism and 'the Shamanistic State of Consciousness ... is the focus of much current psychological interest' (p. 115). Peters' contention is supported by the publication of numerous experimental (e.g., Bittman, et aI., 2001; Harner & Tryon, 1995; Kremer & Krippner, 1994; Woodside, Kumar, & Pekala, 1997), nonexperimental (e.g., Houran, Lange, & Crist-Houran, 1997), methodological (Rock & Baynes, 2005; Walsh, 1993a,b, 1995), and theoretical (e.g., Krippner, 2000, 2002; Walsh, 2007) studies broadly situated within the domain of psychology. Indeed, shamanism is generating increasing interest as a complementary therapeutic strategy in the traditional medical and psychological arenas (e.g., Bittman et aI., 2001). For example, several studies (e.g., Harner & Tryon, 1995; Rock, 2009; Rock, Abbott, & Kambouropoulos, 2008) have reported that shamanic practices are associated with reductions in mood disturbance (e.g., depression anxiety). Thus, the principles of shamanic practice may prove relevant to clinical psychologists (Krippner, 2002).