ADJUSTED STYLES OF COMMUNICATION

(ASC)

In contrast with the common claim that shamanism is fundamentally a matter of achieving, controlling, and utilizingaltered states of consciousness(also ASC), it may be preferable to think of shamans as adjusting their styles of communication. Inanimistcultures, shamans are (among other things)ritualleaders whomediatewithother-thanhumanpersonsby means of respectful etiquette. The advantages of this reconfiguration of “ASC” are that it avoids claims about individuals’ immediate experiences (which are likely to be inaccessible) and focuses attention on shamanic practices, actions, orperformances— which are central to the concerns of those who employ shamans and may be seen as signs of the relationship between shamans and those whopossessorhelpthem.