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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. Shamans from Venezuela, North America, Australia, and other regions all report having similar what?

2. The author states that the humility in shamanism lies in what?

3. What does Harner say that middle-class Americans report experiencing on their shamanic attempts?

4. The author emphasizes that not all tribes use what in their shamanic practices?

5. One person who tried Harner's step-by-step guided journey exercise reported bringing back what by accident?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Harner's journey with Akachu.

2. Describe an environment that's conducive to the shaman being most effective while in a shamanic state of consciousness (SSC).

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

4. What are other names the author mentions for guardian spirits, and what cultures call them by these alternate names?

5. Harner says that apprentice shamans report similarities in how they get out of difficulties. What are some of the difficulties he mentions?

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

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

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

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

10. Summarize the first shamanic journey exercise presented to the reader in Chapter 2.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Define, compare, and contrast the shamanic state of consciousness (SSC) and the ordinary state of consciousness (OSC).

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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