Portals of Power: Shamanism in South America
The Latin American Anthropology Review March 1, 1994 Michael F. Brown 3 citations
This edited volume examines shamanism across South America, arguing that shamanic practices function as 'portals of power' that mediate social, political, and spiritual realms. The collection presents ethnographic case studies from various indigenous groups, analyzing how shamans negotiate authority, healing, and cosmology. The editors and contributors demonstrate that shamanism is not a static tradition but a dynamic system embedded in historical and cultural contexts, often serving as a site of resistance and adaptation. The book offers a comprehensive overview of regional variations, emphasizing the centrality of altered states of consciousness and ritual performance in shaping indigenous worldviews.