The anthropologist who says shamanism works, even if you don’t believe

image via New Scientist

July 16, 2025, 4:00 PM

• •Shamanism's appeal lies in its ability to address uncertainty and provide direct spiritual experiences, filling a gap left by organized religion.
• •Manvir Singh's research explores shamanism's enduring nature, its potential benefits for modern medicine, and the surprising forms it takes in contemporary culture, including tech CEO culture.
• •Shamanism is a practice involving specialists entering altered states to interact with unseen realities for healing and divination, and its roots may date back at least 100,000 years.
• •Shamanism is on the rise because many people are disenchanted with organized religion and seek direct spiritual experiences and it can be seen in neo-shamans, hedge wizards, and tech CEO culture.
• •It also competes with organized religion because of the direct relationship with the divine that it allows, which can introduce new doctrine or dogma.

Shamanism, an ancient practice involving altered states for healing and divination, is experiencing a surge in popularity, particularly in the Western world. Anthropologist Manvir Singh's work explores the enduring nature of shamanism, its relevance to modern medicine, and its presence in unexpected places like tech CEO culture. Shamanism's appeal lies in its ability to provide direct spiritual experiences, addressing the desires of those disenchanted with organized religion and providing a framework for dealing with uncertainty. This ancient practice challenges traditional religious structures and is gaining traction across various aspects of contemporary society.

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