Encyclopedia of Native American Shamanism: Sacred Ceremonies of North America - Hardcover

by William S. Lyon (Author)

Encyclopedia of Native American Shamanism focuses on "medicine" or sacred ceremonies conducted through shamans in which the power of the Creator is made manifest for all to behold.

Historically, Native American peoples believed that life was to be lived in a sacred manner. There were ceremonies for nearly every act of life that formed the very basis of Native American religious life and were a means of invoking good fortune. Entries include the names and results of medicine ceremonies, renowned shamans famous for their powers, techniques used by shamans to acquire and control the power of sacred ceremonies, technical terms used by anthropologists, biographies of anthropologists who research these ceremonies, cross-cultural symbolic motifs, plants and sacred paraphernalia associated with ceremonies, and recurring themes that structure these ceremonies.

Scholars, students, and everyone interested in Native American cultures or shamanism will find this work fascinating and informative.

Author Biography

William S. Lyon is professor of anthropology serving on the graduate faculty of the Center for Religious Studies at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO, where he specializes in Native American religion. He is the author of several books for ABC-CLIO.