Cross Cultural Impact 

Books:
Crazy Like Us by Watters
The Geography of Thought by Nisbett

Utilizing Neurotheology to Explore the Shamanic Mind

Although spirituality has become something that has reached the point of being categorized as a phenomena, the scientific research to supplement the definition becomes a rarity in itself. When delving deeper into studying this, looking at the levels of consciousness achieved cross-culturally is seemingly an important step towards understanding the components that are experienced differently by each individual.   As a practice, the Shaman actively engages in an Altered State of Consciousness (ASC) on a regular basis in which aides their ability to fulfill their role in their community. Within this notion, states of consciousness that can be defined as spiritual experiences will be explored through a neurotheological lens in order to expand the understanding of these components of the human mind.

Books:
Baars, B. (1997). In the Theater of Consciousness. New York: Oxford University Press.
Gersi, D. (1991). Faces in the Smoke:  an eyewitness experience of voodoo, shamanism, psychic healing, and other amazing human powers. Los Angeles, CA:  Jeremy P. Tarcher, Inc.
Hoppál, Mihály (2005) (in Hungarian). Sámánok Eurázsiában. Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó. ISBN 963-05-8295-3 2. pp. 77, 287
Kent, J. (2010). Psychadelic Information Theory: Shamanism in the age of reason. Seattle, WA: PIT Press.
Siegel, D. (2010). Mindsight: the new science of personal transformation. New York, NY: Random House, Inc. 
Walsh, R. (1990). The World of Shamanism: New views of an ancient tradition. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications.
Winkelman, M. (2000). Shamanism: the neural ecology of consciousness and healing. Westport, CT: Bergin & Garvey.

Articles: 
Blanke, O., Landis, T., Ortigue, S., and Seeck, M. (2002). Neuropsychology: Stimulating illusory own-body perceptions. Nature, 419, 269-270.
Gajilan, C.  (2007-04-05). "Are humans hard-wired for faith?". Cable News Network. http://cnn.health.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Are+humans+hard-wired+for+faith%3F+-+CNN.com&expire=&urlID=21822630&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2007%2FHEALTH%2F04%2F04%2Fneurotheology%2Findex.html&partnerID=2012. Retrieved 2011-04-09.
Williams, M. (2010, June 14). Inside the Shamans’ Mind. Retrieved from http://blog.prehistoricshamanism.com/18/inside-the-shamans-mind/. (2011, April 4)
Winkelman, M. (2004). Shamanism as the original nuerotheology. Zygon, 39,( 1), 193-217.

Websites:http://www.shamanism.org/

The Importance of Self-Care for Depression

Depression is a multi-faceted illness that many people are diagnosed with, and who have to deal with the symptoms of the disease everyday.  There is no one right way to treat depression, and with a multi-faceted approach to treatment, there is a better chance of significantly decreasing the amount and frequency of the symptoms experienced by those with depression.  With alternative and holistic therapies, it is relatively easy for depression sufferers to take their depression into their own hands, and to gain control of their symptoms.  

Resources: 
Blacker, P. (2008) “Auricular Acupuncture and Substance Misuse: A Clinical Audit” The Journal of Chinese Medicine, 57(4).
Depression and anxiety shouldn't be treated with drugs alone.  Nov 2010 v7 i11 p4 (2) Healthy Years, 7, 11. p.4 (2). 
Kern, D. & Baker, J.B. A Comparison of a Mind/Body Approach Versus a Conventional Approach to Aerobic Dance. http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/a_comparison_of_a_mindbody_approach_versus_a_conventional_approach_to_aerobic_dance.html
Gussak D. The effectiveness of art therapy in reducing depression in prison populations (2007) International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 51 (4), pp. 444-460. 
Hopfe, L., & Woodward, M. (2007). Religions of the World. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson: Prentice Hall.
Lowry, A. (2007). Nia: The Fountain of Youth. New Life Journal: Carolina Edition, 8(7), 20. Retrieved from Alt Health Watch database
Rosas, C. & Rosas D. (2004) The Nia Technique. Broadway Books: New York
Shapiro, D., Cook, L., Davydov, D., Ottaviani, C., Leuchter, A., & Abrams, M. (2007). Yoga as a Complementary Treatment of Depression: Effects of Traits and Moods on Treatment Outcome. Evidence-based Complementary & Alternative Medicine (eCAM), 4(4), 493-502. doi:10.1093/ecam/ne1114.
www.webmd.com/depression/tc/depression-medications

Accessing Qi with Your Mind

Resources:
Chung-Ying, C. (2009) Li and Qi in the Yijing: A reconsideration of being and nonbeing in Chinese philosophy.Journal of Chinese Philosophy, 36, 73-100.Higgins, M. (2004) Encounter with a Qi Whiz. Prevention, 10, 174-207.
Gulmen, F. (2004) Energy Medicine. American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 5, 651-658.
Lee, M. (2005) Effects of Qi Therapy (External Qigong) on symptoms of advanced cancer: a single case study. European Journal of Cancer Care, 5, 457-462.
Luskin, F. (2004) Transformative Practices for Integrating Mind-Body Spirit. Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, 10, 15-23.
Myeong, L. (2004) Effects of External Qi-Therapy On Emotions, Electroencephalograms, and Plasma Cortisol. International Journal of Neuroscience, 11, 1493-1502.
Myeong, L. (2005) Qi-Training (Qigong) Enhanced Immune Functions: What is the Underlying Mechanism? International Journal of Neuroscience, 8, 1099-1104. Wachholtz, A. (2005) Is Spirituality a Critical Ingredient of Meditation? Comparing the Effects of Spiritual Meditation, Secular Meditation, and Relaxation on Spiritual, Psychological, Cardiac, and Pain Outcomes. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 4, 369-384.
Young, S. (2011) Biologic effects of mindfulness meditation: growing insights into neurobiologic aspects of the prevention of depression. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, 2, 75-77 Zhen, Q. (2009) A Forty-Five Year Follow-Up EEG Study of Qigong Practice. International Journal of Neuroscience, 4, 538-552