Lux Ferre

Arctic – Indigenous peoples of the Arctic (including parts of Samiland, Norway, Iceland, Greenland, Canada, Alaska, and Russia) adapted to its harsh conditions in a variety of ways, and the region is

Araweté – Indigenous Amazonian people whose shamanism is similar in some respects to that of neighboring peoples, and different in others. Eduardo Viveiros de Castro summarizes his rich ethnographic account of Araweté

Animism – Arguably the proper label for the type of religion practiced among traditional indigenous people who employ shamans. Rather than being “shamanists” or adherents of “shamanism,” these people may be usefully

Animas Valley Institute – Located in southwest Colorado, in the valley of the Río de las Animas Perdidas (River of Lost Souls), and run by Bill Plotkin, “psychologist and wilderness guide” since

Animals – Shamans engage with animals in a range of significant ways. In societies that live by hunting, shamans may journey beyond their physical location or seek the aid of knowledgeable other

Angakkoq – “Visionary and dreamer”; the Greenlandic shaman (pl. angakkut; also ilisiitsoq sing., ilisiitsut pl.). Missionary Hans Egede in 1721 offered the first detailed account of shamanism on the west coast of

Andrews, Lynn – Best-selling author and neo-shaman based in Los Angeles; she has written 18 books, including Medicine Woman (1983), Jaguar Woman (1985), and Dark Sister: A Sorcerer’s Love Story (1995). These

Ancestors – While this word suggests earlier generations, the predecessors of the current generation, its precise meaning varies from one cultural context to another. It is likely that the term is equivalent

American Indian Movement (AIM) – Under the banner of self-determination, AIM has campaigned since 1968 for the rights of Native Americans, with notable success regarding treaties, sovereignty, and the U.S. Constitution and

Ambiguity – Shamans in many cultures are perceived ambiguously. While they may be called upon to heal or protect their communities and clients, they may also be suspected of being able and