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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. What does the author encounter when he drinks maikua?

2. With the help of spirit helpers and two tsentak inside his mouth, the shaman can help the patient by:

3. Shamans pass through what kind of planes?

4. In his attempt to find spirit helpers with the assistance of a Jivaro shaman from Ecuador, what does the author do?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. Harner compares rock-seeing to what Western practices?

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

3. What does Akachu question when he and Harner are getting to know each other?

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

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

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

7. Explain the connection between an individual and his or her guardian spirit.

8. In the step-by-step instructions for going on a first shamanic journey that the author supplies for the reader in Chapter 2, how does he ask the participant to prepare?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author strives to show commonalities between the world's various shamanic traditions and systems.

Part 1) Describe spiritual and practical commonalities Harner describes between different shamanic traditions.

Part 2) Why do you think there are similarities in shamanism even between cultures that are geographically separated and have had no contact with each other?

Essay Topic 2

When the shaman journeys to the Lowerworld, he or she passes through a portal that has a physical component and an imagined aspect. Both are significant to the shaman. Answer the following:

1. What might the Lowerworld portal look like in ordinary or physical reality?

2. How have different shamans seen the portal in non-ordinary reality?

3. What is the significance of passing through the portal into the Lowerworld?

Essay Topic 3

Harner names humility, respect for nature, and the ability to honor an experience as three traits needed by a good shaman. Explain why each is important in shamanic practices. How do the three traits work together to help the shaman? the patient?

(see the answer keys)

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