The experiential foundations of shamanic healing.

An experience-centered approach reveals empirical foundations for shamanic healing. Surveys of Chinese, Japanese, Caucasian-American, and African-American populations and participant observation of over thirty Asian shamans show that shamans have a far greater propensity to experience anomalous events—such as apparitions, extrasensory perceptions, contact with the dead, precognitive dreams, clairvoyance, and out-of-body experiences—than general populations. These episodes, interpreted through folk reasoning, support belief in spirits, souls, and life after death. Shamans use these beliefs to produce ceremonies that change clients' perceptions of their illnesses. Although shamanism and Western medicine rest on different foundations, both traditions provide experiences that convince clients that specific procedural methods alleviate illness.

Study at a glance

Abstract

An experience-centered approach reveals empirical foundations for shamanic healing. This article is based on data derived from surveys of Chinese, Japanese, Caucasian-American, and African-American populations and participant observation of over thirty Asian shamans. Respondents reported anomalous events such as apparitions, extrasensory perceptions, contact with the dead, precognitive dreams, clairvoyance, and out-of-body experiences. Based on folk reasoning, these episodes support belief in spirits, souls, and life after death. Shamanic healers have a far greater propensity to experience anomalous events than general populations and to use their beliefs arising from these episodes to produce ceremonies that change clients' perceptions of their illnesses. Although the foundations supporting shamanism differ from those sustaining Western medicine, both traditions provide experiences that convince clients that specific procedural methods alleviate illness.