Eliade emphasizes the "initiatory sickness" many shamans experience, which involves a visionary death-and-rebirth ritual. This process often includes the "dismemberment" of the candidate's body by spirits before being "remade" with new powers.
Eliade’s work is noted for its immense geographical range, tracing shamanic roots from the Siberian tundra (the tradition's often-cited origin) through the Americas, Indonesia, Tibet, and China. He argues that these diverse practices share a common source in the original religion of humanity from the Palaeolithic era. Legacy and Modern Scrutiny Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy
This journey typically involves an ascent to the sky or a descent to the underworld to interact with spirits. Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy