Abstract
The book Czech Shamanism in Dialogues introduces the world of Czech contemporary shamanism and at the same time it is the first publication that deals with the topic of current shamans and shamanism in the area of the Czech Republic. In nine semi-structured interviews the author let the shamans to present their ideas and opinions on the shamanism and its practising.
All the shamans are highly and significantly engaged in Czech shamanic milieu, practicing shamanism for a long time and often teach other Czech spiritual seekers. The aim of the book is to point out the diversity and uniqueness that every realization of shamanic practice can turn into.
The interviews will reveal a variety of themes such as searching for a vision, the power of stories and storytelling, working with nonphysical entities, traveling to other-worlds, or the principles of shamanic work ethics. The dialogues will also reveal the possible synthesis of shamanism and psychotherapy, quantum physics, modern medicine or ecstasy, or compatibility with the ancient religion of the Slavs.
Despite this diversity, however, the interviews show a strong effort for managing and working with the spiritual forces that go beyond ordinary human understanding and perception, the shamans' struggle for finding authenticity, meaning and courtesy in the today's world. The interviews are preceded by a theoretical study intending to introduce shamanism in its duality; on the borders of archaic and spiritual worlds, constructed and experimental religion and in dialogues between the world of academic research and living practice.