Shamans and animism from the Stone Age to the present day

What to know

In this lecture, historian of ideas Rune Engelbreth Larsen gives you a modern, nuanced and easy-to-understand perspective on animistic worldviews and shamanistic practices both past and present. Are some stones alive? Can the trees in the forest see you? And do animals really talk to shamans? New archaeological finds indicate that shamans have been a central part of human history - from the Stone Age through the Viking Age and right up to the present day. Also in Denmark and our surrounding areas At that time, the worldview was animistic: the world was perceived as alive and full of spirits in both nature and the home. Animism, however, was far from limited to "primitive" cultures. The ancient Greeks and Romans shared this worldview, as did the Vikings. And throughout history, countless cultures have had an animistic relationship with their surroundings. In fact, this worldview lives on today among millions of people in South America, Africa, and Asia. At the same time, shamanism is experiencing a significant resurgence in the West. - Date: 8 October 2026 - Time: 13:00–15:00 - Venue: FOF Humletorvet - Address: Humletorvet 27, Copenhagen V, Denmark - Admission: From DKK 200