A new theory of shamanism combines four existing ideas: that mystical experiences are shaped by culture, that shamans take on roles in their communities, that mental imagery is a learned cultural practice, and that the universe is fundamentally mental (panpsychism). This framework allows for recognizing genuine experiences in shamanic altered states while respecting cultural differences. The author argues that spirit is another word for mind, and shamanism is an exploration of consciousness by means of consciousness.
An ethnographer's Avá-Guaraní ritual sponsor named and ensouled him, embedding him in kinship and cosmology. During fieldwork he participated in all-male activities, studied shamanic rituals, and shared dream discussions. After returning home, viewing recordings of male shamans weeping over cultural and forest loss made him weep. Over years he realized this was soul loss, not reverse culture shock, requiring community healing. Raised with "boys don't cry" masculinity, he learned to cry to unlearn and grasp embodied relational knowledge. This suggests male Avá-Guaraní shamans cultivate charismatic relationships through emotional displays of care for their communities.