"The shaman occupies a key role as a healer, mediating between the world of the living and the world of spirits, and is a potent figure in alternative medicine. Shamanism, a richly illustrated guide, looks at both historic and present-day manifestations, from the snowscapes of Siberia to the jungles of the Amazon. " "The book discusses visions, initiations rites, shamanic chants, shamanism and mental health, the shamanic use of plants, and the political and social background of the shaman's work. Also covered are the links between the shaman's sense of unity in nature and the recent growth of ecological consciousness in Western societies. "--Jacket.