Shaking Medicine

In this exploration of ecstatic healing traditions, Bradford Keeney—an anthropologist, psychotherapist, and longtime student of indigenous spiritual practices—examines the phenomenon he calls “shaking medicine.” Drawing on fieldwork and direct encounters with healers from cultures in Africa, the Americas, and elsewhere, Keeney investigates spontaneous shaking, trembling, and ecstatic movement as pathways to transformation and spiritual power. He presents these embodied practices not as curiosities but as sophisticated healing arts that challenge Western assumptions about therapy, spirituality, and the body. Blending personal narrative, cross-cultural research, and reflections on psychology and ritual, the book invites readers to reconsider the role of ecstasy, rhythm, and physical expression in restoring balance. It will interest those curious about shamanism, indigenous wisdom, somatic healing, and alternative approaches to spiritual and psychological well-being.