Douglas Sharon

in English and Spanish.

Wizard of the Four A Shaman’s Story is the text that introduced the outside world to shamanic healing in northern Peru. The story of don Eduardo Calderón (who was elevated to almost legendary status as a result of Sharon’s research), this book inspired a generation of academics and shamanic seekers alike. Back, finally and by popular demand, this long-awaited and completely revised second edition presents a detailed discussion of Sharon’s own experiences as the curandero’s apprentice as well as summaries of more than 40 years of scholarship (including Sharon’s own extensive work) into the lives and healing arts of other Peruvian shamanic practitioners. More than 70 pages of updated appendices compare and contrast the ritual symbolism of don Eduardo Calderón’s mesa with shamanic tools and practices found throughout ancient and modern Mesoamerica and South America. Wizard of the Four a Shaman’s Story is, now more than ever, an indispensable tool for any serious student of Peruvian shamanism!

This book is a modern story of the centuries-old practice of curanderismo, or folk healing, and a fascinating portrait of a unique individual, Eduardo Calderon Palomino. Eduardo is a literate and worldly man, a sculptor and a teacher, a practicing Catholic -and a Peruvian shaman. More than a biography, this is an insightful analysis of a contemporary folk healer's view of the world, his curing art, his struggles as a man, and his personal search for meaning. "Wizard of the Four Winds" blends personal experiences and objective analysis to provide a rare glimpse into the life and world view of a modern shaman. It is an uncommon work of anthropological, religious, and psychological significance.