ABSTRACT
The original argonauts of the dream world were shamans. They lived and practised in premodem cultures that did not make exclusive distinctions between waking life and other realms of non-waking consciousness. In these cultures, shamanic dreaming was a power in itself because it was the gateway to unique experiences and special knowledge. Dreams played a vital role in the shaman’s initiation and in his quest for healing powers. This was well documented by Mircea Eliade who pointed out that for shamans, ‘[i]t is in dreams that the pure sacred life is entered and direct relations with the gods, spirits, and ancestral souls are re-established’.1 Shamanic dreaming was no mean feat for individuals who sought knowledge and power beyond the confines of waking life.
