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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Harner asks aspiring shamans to refrain from:

2. What does the Jivaro shaman give to Harner to drink?

3. Harner writes that in non-ordinary reality, spirit helpers appear as what?

4. What do various cultures report noticing the shaman give off when in a shamanic state of consciousness?

5. Harner claims that when he shared his vision of dragon-like creatures that appeared from outer space with another shaman, that person:

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the participant of the exercise in Chapter 2 instructed regarding the end of the journey?

2. What does the author say shamans feel about what they see in the non-ordinary reality or shamanic state of consciousness (SSC)?

3. What does a shaman do with the tsentak to help a patient?

4. Describe the tunnel a shaman utilizes to journey into the Lowerworld.

5. Harner emphasizes in Chapter 1 that becoming a shaman involves what?

6. What are the main functions and activities of a shaman, as described in Chapter 3?

7. What are some of the similarities Harner notes in first-hand shamanic experiences reported by middle-class Americans?

8. Discuss what Harner says about the humility of shamanism?

9. Describe Harner's experience of spiritually going to a cave beneath a waterfall with a Jivaro shaman.

10. How and why is a shamanic state of consciousness (SSC) achieved?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Harner explains that in most shamanic cultures, it's important that people are woken up slowly. Explain why. Also, explain the connection between the belief that power animals travel and the reason for waking someone up gradually.

Essay Topic 2

The author thoroughly explains numerous details of shamanism, but two areas he doesn't cover in as much detail are how and why shamanism works. Offer your own explanations to fill in the blanks. How do you think shamanism works? Why does it work?

Essay Topic 3

Find contemporary similarities to the following scenarios and, for each one, draw comparisons between the shamanic practice and its contemporary counterpart:

1. A shaman consults with his or her animal guardian.

2. A shaman refrains from healing when he or she feels dis-spirited.

3. A shaman relies on synchronicities to determine whether or not he or she is on the right track.

(see the answer keys)

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