shamanism

noun ! Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about shamanism at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

1. Any animistic religion similar to Asian shamanism (especially as practiced by certain Native American tribes).
2. An animistic religion of northern Asia having the belief that the mediation between the visible and the spirit worlds is effected by shamans.