Shamanism is a practice that involves a practitioner reaching altered states of consciousness in

order to perceive and interact with what they believe to be a spirit world and channel these
transcendental energies into this world.[1]
Beliefs and practices that have been categorized as "shamanic" have attracted the interest of
scholars from a wide variety of disciplines, including anthropologists, archaeologists, historians,
religious studies scholars, philosophers and psychologists. Hundreds of books and academic
papers on the subject have been produced, with a peer-reviewed academic journal being
devoted to the study of shamanism. In the 20th century, many Westerners involved in counter-
cultural movements have created modern magico-religious practices influenced by their ideas of
indigenous religions from across the world, creating what has been termed neoshamanism or the
neoshamanic movement.[2] It has affected the development of many neopagan practices, as well
as faced a backlash and accusations of cultural appropriation,[3] exploitation and
misrepresentation when outside observers have tried to represent cultures to which they do not
belong.[4][5]