Joseph Campbell
An American mythologist and writer, Campbell is known for his work on comparative mythology and the role of myth in human culture. His ideas about the "hero's journey" and the archetypal motifs that appear in myths and stories around the world have influenced many modern interpretations of shamanic practices.
Sandra Ingerman
Sandra Ingerman is a renowned author, shamanic practitioner, and teacher who has dedicated her life to the study and practice of shamanism. She was born on February 28, 1948, in New York City, USA. Ingerman received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles and later earned a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies.
Ingerman was first introduced to shamanism during her travels in the late 1970s, where she discovered the transformative power of shamanic practices. She studied under various shamanic teachers from different cultures, including the Huichol people of Mexico, the Tibetan Bön tradition, and the indigenous people of North America.
In 1980, Ingerman founded the Foundation for Shamanic Studies with the aim of promoting and preserving shamanic traditions from around the world. She has also been a faculty member at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies and the Esalen Institute, where she has taught shamanic healing and transformational workshops.
Michael Harner
An American anthropologist, Harner is widely credited with introducing the practice of shamanic journeying to the Western world. He founded the Foundation for Shamanic Studies in 1979, which has since become a leading organization for the study and practice of shamanism in the West. Harner's books on Shamanism, such as "The Way of the Shaman," have been influential in popularizing shamanic practices in the West.
Carlos Castaneda
A Peruvian-American author and anthropologist, Castaneda is known for his controversial books on shamanic practices in Mexico. His books, including "The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge," have been widely criticized for their accuracy and authenticity, but have also had a significant impact on popular culture and the development of New Age spirituality.
Wade Davis
A Canadian anthropologist, ethnobotanist, and writer, Davis is known for his work on indigenous cultures and their relationship with the natural world. His book "The Serpent and the Rainbow," which explores the use of plant-based hallucinogens in Haitian voodoo, has been influential in popularising the idea of shamanism as a means of exploring altered states of consciousness.
Terence McKenna
An American ethnobotanist, philosopher, and writer, McKenna is known for his work on the use of psychedelics and other plant-based substances in shamanic practices. He popularised the idea of the "stoned ape" theory, which suggests that early humans evolved their cognitive abilities through the use of psychedelic mushrooms.
Robert J. Wallis
A British scholar of religion and anthropology, Wallis is known for his critical analysis of the concept of Shamanism and its relationship to Western ideas of spirituality and religion. His book "Shamanism: A Biopsychosocial Paradigm of Consciousness and Healing" offers a new theoretical framework for understanding shamanic practices and their relationship to human consciousness.