What a beautiful episode. Thank you for sharing and planning on running down to Powells and pick up a copy of the book. Enjoy the trip headed to Montana.
I take issue with Manvir's claim that *all* attempts to prove the paranormal claims of psychics/shamans have failed. The so-called 'Million Dollar Challenge' put together by the (not) Amazing Randi was nothing but a publicity stunt, as demonstrated in this lengthy piece published many years ago in our The Daily Grail page:
Overall I really enjoyed the conversation, although I would hope Manvir's book has at least a few pages devoted to so-called 'alien abductees' as an example of modern shamanism in contemporary society. These are ordinary people who got their whole life disrupted when non-human entities 'chose' them as purported emissaries between our reality and their realm. Just like Australian aboriginal shamans, abductees get a foreign object meant to represent a link with the non human entities, and also—like many shamanic traditions—sexual intercourse with these entities is a very big part of the experience.
These are the things explored by the scholars gathered by Dr Jeffrey Kripal around the so-called 'Archives of the Impossible': the collection of files and material donated by the likes of the late John Mack and Jacques Vallee, currently kept at Rice University.
Interesting conversation. I’m surprised you didn’t bring up the placebo effect as one possible factor for the effectiveness of shamans in their role sought by others, seeking relief for their physiological or spiritual issues.
Great Podcast! Your question about AI and shamanism was so good! I spent a few weeks cruising through the Mentawi Islands and regrettably had a narrow focus on surfing. We went ashore a handful of times to deliver school supplies and provide first aid post tsunami but man I missed out on so much!
What a beautiful episode. Thank you for sharing and planning on running down to Powells and pick up a copy of the book. Enjoy the trip headed to Montana.
I take issue with Manvir's claim that *all* attempts to prove the paranormal claims of psychics/shamans have failed. The so-called 'Million Dollar Challenge' put together by the (not) Amazing Randi was nothing but a publicity stunt, as demonstrated in this lengthy piece published many years ago in our The Daily Grail page:
https://www.dailygrail.com/2008/02/the-myth-of-the-million-dollar-challenge/
Overall I really enjoyed the conversation, although I would hope Manvir's book has at least a few pages devoted to so-called 'alien abductees' as an example of modern shamanism in contemporary society. These are ordinary people who got their whole life disrupted when non-human entities 'chose' them as purported emissaries between our reality and their realm. Just like Australian aboriginal shamans, abductees get a foreign object meant to represent a link with the non human entities, and also—like many shamanic traditions—sexual intercourse with these entities is a very big part of the experience.
These are the things explored by the scholars gathered by Dr Jeffrey Kripal around the so-called 'Archives of the Impossible': the collection of files and material donated by the likes of the late John Mack and Jacques Vallee, currently kept at Rice University.
Absolutely engrossing conversation. Thanks for another banger, Chris.
Interesting conversation. I’m surprised you didn’t bring up the placebo effect as one possible factor for the effectiveness of shamans in their role sought by others, seeking relief for their physiological or spiritual issues.
Great Podcast! Your question about AI and shamanism was so good! I spent a few weeks cruising through the Mentawi Islands and regrettably had a narrow focus on surfing. We went ashore a handful of times to deliver school supplies and provide first aid post tsunami but man I missed out on so much!