I. M. Lewis

About the Author

I. M. Lewis is a distinguished anthropologist renowned for his pioneering explorations into the mystical dimensions of human culture, particularly the phenomena of spirit possession and shamanism. With a career spanning decades, Lewis has delved deeply into the ecstatic practices that bridge the mundane and the divine across diverse societies, from East Africa to Siberia. His work illuminates how these rituals serve as vital mechanisms for social cohesion, gender dynamics, and spiritual expression in indigenous communities. Drawing on extensive fieldwork and theoretical insight, Lewis challenges Western preconceptions of religion, advocating for a nuanced understanding of altered states of consciousness. A professor emeritus at the London School of Economics, his scholarship continues to influence anthropology, religious studies, and cultural psychology, offering readers a profound lens into the world's hidden spiritual landscapes.