Forbidden Sacraments The Survival of Shamanism in Western Civilization

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.