This definitive study of shamanic theory and practice was developed through a four-person collaboration: three Tohono O'odham Indians--a shaman, a translator, and a trained linguist--and a non-Indian explicator. It provides an in-depth examination of the Piman philosophy of sickness as well as an introduction to the world view of an entire people.

The ancient path of shamanism is alive and well in contemporary society. Physicians, therapists, and spiritual seekers are among those who are rediscovering the shaman's methods—such as drumming, visualization, and storytelling—as effective tools for healing and self-transformation. In this collection of previously unpublished writings, leading figures of the neo-shamanism movement explore the origins and practices of shamanism and its relevance to the modern world. Are shamanic healing methods compatible with Western medicine? Can shamanism help in crises or difficult life transitions? Is it relevant to the search for meaning amid the wasteland of industrialization and runaway technology? Will it help in healing the planet and preventing ecological catastrophe or nuclear holocaust? These are just a few of the questions addressed by Michael Harner, Joan Halifax, Stanley Krippner, Serge King, Jeanne Acheterberg, Stanislav Grof, and twelve other contributors to this comprehensive anthology.