Aboriginal men of high degree

"The first book to reveal the secret and sacred practices of Aboriginal shamans, Aboriginal Men of High Degree presents an extraordinary series of rites by which the young Aboriginal male begins the degrees of shamanic initiation--each marked by its own portion of esoteric knowledge. One of Australia's most eminent anthropologists, A. P. Elkin focuses on karadji, or men of high degree, who possess magical powers and who serve as channels between the Dreamtime beings and their own communities. As psychologists and psychic experts, the karadji are essential to the groups' social cohesion. They are believed to cure and kill mysteriously, make rain, anticipate future events, and appear and disappear at will. Not content to explain away these phenomenon, Elkin boldly suggests that we enter into the karadji worldview and try to understand this remarkable culture on its own terms"--Publisher description.

First sentence: Everywhere in Aboriginal Australia the young male, on approaching or reaching puberty, leaves behind him the interests of childhood.

Year

1946

Language

English

Publisher

Inner Traditions

Editions

1

Pages

224

ISBN

9780892814213

Data source: Wikidata