ABSTRACT
The immanent power of charisma surfaces in the revival of shamanism. An undifferentiated and monistic cosmos is embodied in shamanic practices that enable full participation in the unfolding of phenomena. As the most archaic of religious practices, shamanism makes the web of cosmic connections concretely present in, and inseparable from, charisma. Communication between the visible and invisible worlds has been pursued in a broad range of human societies that include paleolithic hunting bands as well as high-tech societies.1 Shamans connect these worlds through their ability to engage in ecstatic experience. Mastery of shamanic techniques enables movement between ordinary and non-ordinary states of consciousness. The power obtained from these techniques cannot be monopolized, since it is universally accessible to anyone who attains proficiency in shamanic practices.
