The indigenous practice of shamanism has been under siege for as long as Western European societies have practiced colonialism and Christian missionary work. Only very recently has there been a backlash condemning the cultural chauvinism that labels indigenous shamanism "primitive." Increasingly, shaman-centered cultures are respected for values of community, environmental consciousness, and first-hand spiritual experience. What is not widely known is that Western civilization itself, beneath layers of Christianity and industrialism, stands upon its own shamanic foundation. This book is a detailed examination of this suppressed heritage.