Cave and Cosmos

In 1980, Michael Harner blazed the trail for the worldwide revival of shamanism with his seminal classic The Way of the Shaman. Now, in this long-awaited sequel, he provides readers with dozens of fascinating narrative accounts of the experiences of contemporary Westerners during shamanic ascension. Extracted from the decades-old archives of the Shamanic Knowledge Conservatory, the striking similarities between the case studies suggest that these celestial realms, as well as the beings who live in them, do indeed exist.

But Dr. Harner doesn't just stop there--he shows readers how to discover these realms for themselves in the privacy of their own home and without the ingestion of mind-altering substances. Using his innovative "sonic driving" technique, readers will learn how to use rhythmic drumming to journey to the Upper World, where they can explore and map their discoveries, find and communicate with their own personal spirit teachers, and return later at will for additional healing and advice.

Written by a bonafide shaman and the world's leading expert on shamanic studies, Cave and Cosmos is a must-read for anyone interested in shamanism, spirituality, comparative religion, near-death experiences, healing, anthropology, and the works of Carlos Castaneda.

Praise for Michael Harner and The Way of the Shaman

"What Yogananda did for Hinduism and D.T. Suzuki did for Zen, Michael Harner has done for shamanism--namely, bring the tradition and its richness to Western awareness. Michael Harner is widely acknowledged as the world's foremost authority on experiential and practical shamanism, and has had an enormous influence on both the academic and lay worlds." --from Higher Wisdom, by Roger Walsh and Charles S. Grob

"Wonderful, fascinating.... Harner really knows what he's talking about." --Carlos Castaneda

"An intimate and practical guide to the art of shamanic healing and the technology of the sacred. Michael Harner is not just an anthropologist who has studied shamanism; he is an authentic white shaman." --Stanislav Grof, author of The Adventure of Self Discovery

"Harner has impeccable credentials, both as an academic and as a practising shaman. Without doubt (since the recent death of Mircea Eliade) the world's leading authority on shamanism." --Nevill Drury, author of The Elements of Shamanism