Ritual Healing and Spiritual Experiences

Dr. Michael Winkelman, a leader in neurotheological perspectives on shamanism, traditional healing practices, and altered states of consciousness, will give a presentation at the University of Oregon on Monday, November 16, 2015, 3:30 pm in the Browsing Room, Knight Library. In this presentation, Dr. Winkelman examines the cross-cultural features of shamanism involving specific healing rituals and alterations of consciousness that reveal an underlying biological basis. He explores how these features reflect adaptations that occurred in the course of hominine evolution that enhanced our capacity for social bonding, extra personal cognition and symbolic modulation of emotions. Shamanism reflects aspects of our evolved social psychology that still has relevance for understanding healing processes, spiritual experiences and our propensity for seeking to alter consciousness in community rituals. These perspectives bring new approaches to the treatment of current health conditions, especially contemporary problems involving addictive behaviors. His books include Shamanism: A Biopsychosocial Paradigm of Consciousness and Healing; Supernatural as Natural (with John Baker), Pilgrimage and Healing (with Jill Dubisch), and Altering Consciousness (with Etzel Cardena).