About the author
Michael Harner (1929-2018) was an American anthropologist widely credited with introducing shamanism to a general Western audience. After conducting fieldwork among Indigenous peoples in the Amazon and North America, he developed what he called core shamanism, a method distilled from cross-cultural shamanic practices, and founded the Foundation for Shamanic Studies to teach it. His best-known book, The Way of the Shaman, first published in 1980 and represented here in its anniversary edition, remains a standard introduction to the subject and to journeying practice in particular. Cave and Cosmos (2013) returned to the subject later in his career, extending his account of shamanic cosmology and comparing his own findings with those of practitioners he trained. Harner's work shaped how shamanism is taught and discussed outside its originating cultures, and both books are commonly cited as foundational texts in the modern shamanic revival.
📖 Where to start with Michael Harner
💬 What our editors say about Michael Harner's books
“Harner delivers a robust manual for accessing non-ordinary states, appealing strongly to pragmatists in the occult community. However, this book is not for those seeking complex metaphysical theory or historical analysis of…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Cave and Cosmos: Shamanic Encounters with Another Reality
“Harner’s work remains an indispensable guide for exploring shamanic practices, offering a seminal overview of universal techniques. However, it is not suited for those seeking deep anthropological nuance or strict adherence to…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on The Way of the Shaman (Anniversary)
