Consciousness has evolved biologically and can therefore be explained biologically.

Shamanism is not simply a component of society: on the contrary, shamanism, together with its tiered cosmos, can be said to be the overall framework of society.

Primary consciousness is a state of being aware of things in the world – of having mental images in the present.But it is not accompanied by any sense of a person with a past and future…

Primary consciousness is a kind of ‘remembered present’…

I believe it is reasonable to assume that higher-order consciousness developed neurologically in Africa before the second wave of emigration to the Middle East and Europe.

Improved memory made possible the long-term recollection of dreams and visions and the construction of those recollections into a spirit world.

Once human beings had developed higher-order consciousness, they had the ability to see mental images projected onto surfaces and to experience afterimages.

For the makers, the paintings and engravings were visions, not representations of visions.

In Lascaux and other sites, hoofs are depicted to show their underside, or hoofprint.

The portable animal statuettes were therefore far more than decorative trinkets: they were reified three-dimensional spirit animals with all their prophylactic and other powers.

Shamans submit to death in order to serve their communities.

One night alone in prayer might make us new men, changed from poverty of soul to spiritual wealth, from trembling to triumphing.

There are always practical decisions to be made about any character you're playing.

It's important for us to tell our stories.

What a man calls his 'conscience' is merely the mental action that follows a sentimental reaction after too much wine or love.

There was a girl knocking on my hotel room door all night! Finally, I let her out.

Discipline provides a constancy which is independent of what kind of day you had yesterday and what kind of day you anticipate today.

More love, more power, more of You in my life. I will worship You with all of my heart, I will worship You with all of my mind, I will worship You with all of my strength, for You are my Lord.

You that in far-off countries of the sky can dwell secure, look back upon me here; for I am weary of this frail world's decay.

Fishes live in the sea, as men do a-land; the great ones eat up the little ones.

On a personal level, just for me in my own work, I would say the most interesting thing has been getting to work with the people that I've worked with.