THE JOHN DEE LIBRARY
Comparative Studies Section
This section of the library includes resources on comparative studies of religion and myth, including shamanism across cultures. See also the Philosophy and Religion Sections. All of the John Dee Library is a work-in-progress. All of the John Dee Library is a work-in-progress. If you have a work to recommend for inclusion, please use the "Contact Us" link on the left-side menu. To help us add suggested readings quickly, give your email the subject line "suggested library addition." Thank you.
Essays
Animals in People's Mind and in the Language of Folklore by Henni Ilomäki (?). An essay on how people perceive animals in relation to their own experiences from the Electronic Journal of Folklore, vol. 21.
Australian Folklore Yesterday and Today: Definitions and Practices by John S. Ryan (?). An article on the state of current revival in interest within Australia in the diverse folkloric heritage of the Australian nation from the Electronic Journal of Folklore, vol. 8.
Comparative Religious Traditions by Peter Ochs in Journal of the American Academy of Religion 74:1 (March 2006), 125-128. A counterargument to Ochs' essay by Robert K. Segal is presented immediately afterward in this same volume. Available via the MUSE project at libraries that are members.
Huna Kapua by Serge Kahili King. A very brief introduction to Hawaiian shamanistic practice, this article relies on the work of Max Freedom Long about whom there has been huge debate as to the accuracy of what he purported to have learned from Hawaiian kahunas.
Magic and Science by Alferian Gwydion MacLir (2006). A brief article reflecting on the historical and philosophical relationships between magic and science, including remarks on magical thinking.
Magic to Science - Lecture Notes by Andrew Gregory, University College, London.
Modern Shamanistic Practise by Annette Høst of the Scandinavian Center for Shamanic Studies (2001). One opinion on what modern shamanism is.
Neopaganism and New Age in Russia by Anne Ferlat (?). A somewhat inconclusive discussion on the development of these movements within modern Russia from the Electronic Journal of Folklore, vol. 23.
Northern European Shamanism: A Preliminary Reconstruction by Leigh Ann Hussey (1989). This essay represents one of the attempts made after the explosion of interest in the occult and in native religions in the 1980s to explain early European-based shamanism.
The Psychedelic Secrets of Santa Claus by Dana Larson (2003). An article from Cannabis Culture that discusses a possible shamanist forerunner for Santa Claus.
Science, Spirits, and Core Shamanism by Michael Harner (1999). A look at the presumptively more holistic approach of the shaman to spirituality and science.
Science and Folk Sentiments by Undo Uus (?). An essay regarding whether science and folk ideas such as common-sense are mutually exclusionary from the Electronic Journal of Folklore, vol. 15.
A Shamanic Look at the Turning of the Ages by Daniel Giamario (1997-2006)
Shamanism in Gaelic Culture (or What Do We Call Our People?) by Iain Mac an tSaoir
Shamanism in a Postmodern Age by Mihaly Hoppal (?). An essay on the relevance of shamanism in the modern age from the Electronic Journal of Folklore, vol. 2.
Why Wicca Is Not Celtic by Iain Mac an tSaoir and Dawn O'Laoghaire
Witch and Priest Juxtaposed: Two Figures from Irish Traditional Narratives by Deirdre Nuttall (?). An essay on characterizations of stock pagan and Christian figures in Irish narratives from the Electronic Journal of Folklore, vol. 9.
Books available in electronic formats
Frazer, Sir James George. The Golden Bough (1922)
Reade, W. Winwood. The Veil of Isis; or, Mysteries of the Druids (1861)
Books not available in electronic formats
Adler, Margot. Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers,and Other Pagans in America Today, various editions (Beacon Press, 1979, 1986, 1997, 2006)
Bett, Henry. English Myths & Legends (repr. 1992)
Cashdan, Sheldon. The Witch Must Die: The Hidden Meaning of Fairy Tales (Basic Books, 1999)
Conway, D. J. By Oak, Ash, & Thorn: Modern Celtic Shamanism (Llewellyn Publications, 1995)
Eliade, Mircea. Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstacy (Princeton University Press, 1951, 1972)
Galenorn, Yasmine. Totem Magic: Dance of the Shapeshifter (The Crossing Press, 2004)
Harner, Michael J. The Way of the Shaman (HarperCollins, 1990)
Kieckhefer, Richard and George D. Bond, eds. Sainthood: Its Manifestations in World Religions (University of California Press, 1988)
Stutley, Margaret. Shamanism: A Concise Introduction (Routledge, 2003)
Thurston, Robert W. Witch, Wicce, Mother Goose (Longman/Pearson Education, 2001)
Wicker, Christine. Not In Kansas Anymore: a Curious Tale of How Magic is Transforming America (HarperSanFrancisco, 2005)
Links to Other Research Resources Online
Textual Resources, Libraries, and Museums
Bibliography on Korean Shamanism Prepared by the University of Hawaii’s Center for Korean Studies, this bibliography will lead the student to several works on comparative studies that are not well-known in the West.
eBooks.com A commercial site from which individuals may download texts for a fee. Some libraries have subscriptions to this or similar services and patrons may download free of charge.
Electronic Journal of Folklore Covers mainly Estonian folklore and shamanism; articles available online.
Internet Sacred Text Archive A large collection of sacred texts from around the world that covers many cultures and periods of history. Some of the regions and periods covered include African Religion and Mythology, Asian Traditional Cultures and Myth, Aboriginal Australian Religion and Mythology, Celtic Folklore, Myth, Myth-history, and History, Native American Cultures, Religion, and Mythology, and Shamanism and Animism.
The Joseph Campbell and Marija Gimbutas Library Collection of much of the work by as well as the libraries of these two scholars in comparative studies of culture, mythology, and history.
Judaism, Christianity, Religious Studies, Mysticism This is a list of some rather useful sites for comparative studies prepared at the University of Washington.
List of Religious Studies Journals This is another useful compilation of journals in comparative studies that are either available online or via the various library database portals.
Religion-online.org has put together a linked list of texts and commentaries that are available online. Some of these are terrific, some are questionable - be certain to read critically. Heavily, though not entirely, Christian in focus.
Druid Orders and Religious Organizations
Ar nDraiocht Féin - A Druid Fellowship (ADF)
Ancient Order of Druids in America (AODA)
Bandarach Council and College of Druids
British Druid Order (BDO)
Druid Network
The Irish College of Druids
Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids (OBOD)
The Order of Whiteoak
New Druid Order
Shamanism related Organizations
Dance of the Deer Foundation: Center for Shamanic Studies
The Foundation for Shamanic Studies
The Incantator - Studies in Siberian Shamanism and Religions of the Finno-Ugrian Peoples
The Path of the Feather
Sacred Hoop Magazine
Shaman Links
Shamana - The Raven Lodge
Shamanism at Civilization Canada
Shamanism at Deoxy
Shamanism - Working with Animal Spirits
Shamanism FAQs
World Asian Shamanizm Association
Wiccan and Witchcraft related Organizations
Church of All Worlds (CAW)
Circle Sanctuary
Covenant of the Goddess (COG)
New Moon Rising - a magickal pagan journal
The Nine Houses of Gaia
Pagans.Org
The Wiccan-Pagan Times
Widdershins - the Northwest Pagan's Choice
The Witches' Voice
last updated February 11, 2007
