An Encyclopedia of Shamanism is a two-volume reference work about shamanism in its many manifestations around the world. Shamanism refers to the activities and practices of the shaman, not to an ideology, religion, or formalized system of beliefs. Shamanism is a group of shared activities, practices, and experiences that link shamans and their unique understanding of the mechanics of our world. This encyclopedia is composed of introductory essays that discuss ideas that are complex and fundamental to an understanding of shamanism, and entries that cover a range of topics that are relevant to shamanism in general or to shamanic cultures specifically. There are two types of entries: concept entries that provide a deeper understanding of concepts relative to shamanism cross-culturally and entries about peoples that provide a view into the way specific peoples practice shamanism. All entries contain cross-references in bold to other entries for additional reading. Cross-references suggest further study for a broader understanding of concepts fundamental to the entry topic. They are also useful to expand one’s investigation into the culture or practice described, as well as to compare and contrast practices around the world. The essays and many entries conclude with a list of references. The list of references is limited to English language sources. These references serve two roles. First, they provide a guide for further reading and deeper investigation into the subject. Second, they represent the major works used as scholarly references for the entry itself. These same works are also included in the bibliography.