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The Way of the Shaman is a 1981 non-fiction book by Michael Harner and published by Harper & Raw publishers Inc.

Summary
Michael Harner's book The Way of the Shaman provides a basic review of shaman rituals and techniques.

There are a total of seven chapters in this book. The first handful of chapters establish the tone for the book and hook the reader with a thorough account of Harner's Ayahuasca — and other mind/mood-altering drug — experiences.

Not all Shamans use psychedelics, and Harner goes into great detail on various techniques to generate altered states of consciousness, such as drumming, crystal quartz, and meditative exercises.

Background
Michael Harner raised awareness about shamans and his own path. In 1956-57, Harner began exploring shamanism while studying with the Ecuadorian Amazonian tribe Jivaro. In 1960, Harner began training with shamans among the Conibo tribes of the Peruvian Amazon. Harner would travel back and forth to Peru and Ecuador to learn with shamans; after some time, indigenous shamans acknowledged Harner as a shaman. Harner earned his Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley in 1963 and has taught at Columbia University and Yale University. "Harner was recognized in 2003 for his shaman studies, and he continued his journey as a shaman, teaching the methods of a shaman and their deeds."

Plot
Michael Harner embarks on a mystical soul journey. Harner goes deep into the Amazon of Ecuador and Peru to observe the life of a shaman. Harner begins to feed his knowledge among the tribe of Ecuador and Peru. Harner finds himself training and learning the ways of being a shaman. The Amazonian tribe admires this effort and recognizes Harner as a shaman. Harner begins learning and uses what he has learned for himself. He begins to understand that shamans are called by all these mystical names known as a “witch”, “witch doctor”, wizard’, “seer”. Harner is taught to always remember that not every witch doctor or medicine man is a shaman. A shaman is someone who enters an altered state of consciousness and interacts with and employs otherworldly realities to gain information and power for the benefit of those in need.

As Harner continues through his journey, he comes across the practices of a shaman. Harner observes how important the use of drums is. He sees how the sound and beat of the drums aid in the shamans' spiritual trance. "Why drums?" Harner asks, The shamans explain that the beat of the drum aids shamans in their journey to the "lower or higher world".

Harner gets closer to mother nature by being taught how we as humans must meditate and harmonize with mother nature. The shamans tell Harner, that their skills and abilities were derived from the power of animals, plants, the sun, and the earth's flowing energies It is critical for shamans to have a healthy, respectful relationship with nature.

As the journey continues through the greens of the amazon forest, Harner learns something amazing. He unravels a mysterious belief that he's never heard of. He learns that shamans learn a process on how to turn into animals. With hallucinogenic drugs or not, the shaman achieves the state of consciousnesses of the animal or spirit animal that is there to guide them. He learns and sees when a shaman is transforming into an animal, Shamans will dance and replicate the animal's noises. Harner claimed to have overheard a shaman declare, "When I dance, I don't act; I simply follow your power, I just follow the route of your strength". As the shaman took on the form of the animal.

The shiny quartz is shining its power. Harner discovers that you don't need psychedelics all the time to obtain a soul awakening. Harner is brought on to the knowledge that quartz crystals are used to achieve a divine connection. The shamans teach Harner that Quartz crystals are said to be "solidified light," which requires clarity and perception. Shamans show Harner how they press or scrape their bodies or those seeking assistance in order to transfer the crystal's healing abilities to the individual. For shamans, Crystals are said to be connected with the light of the sun.

Harner feels that he is content with the knowledge he has gained from shamans, he takes what he has learned and uses it on his day to day journey. Harner is thankful to have experienced such a beautiful time in the Amazon.