Kevin B. Turner
FSS Director for Asia & Oceania
Kevin B. Turner, MA is the FSS Asia director, a senior faculty member, an FSS field research associate, and the author of Sky Shamans of Mongolia: Meetings with Remarkable Healers. After years of study with yogis, monks and lamas in India, Nepal, Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Japan, Kevin met Michael Harner in 1997 and began his shamanic path. Kevin has worked with indigenous shamans in Indonesia, Mongolia, Nepal, Tibet, Mexico, and Peru. In 2007 he was invited to the Yucatan to revive psychopomp work (assisting those in need to navigate the afterlife state) for the Mayan Elders of Mexico. He publishes his research in shamanism in the annual FSS Shamanism Journal, and does regular presentations at the annual FSS Council Meetings. He is also author of the new book The Secret Fire of Alchemy: Kriya Yoga, Kundalini, and Shamanism (Feb 2025).
As early as I can remember I experienced nocturnal journeys to an attic above the attic to learn from ancestors, or to a cellar below the cellar that led down to fairy-tale realms. Unable to distinguish the difference between waking, dreaming, and traveling in these worlds, I rarely spoke of them or the things I learned. I completed an MA in linguistics and quickly left for Asia to seek more understanding of these hidden worlds. When I learned shamanic journeying from Michael Harner I immediately realized what had been occurring since childhood, and now I have a framework within which to work. It was an awe-inspiring development in my life, and it’s an honor to be able to share this with others as the FSS Director for Asia.
Kevin was also associate professor at Sakushin Gakuin Univeristy, and has lectured at a dozen universities in Asia and America. He worked for Norwegian Save the Children in a Cambodia at civil war, airlines and universities in Taiwan, and IBM in Japan. Kevin was also a residential facilitator at The Monroe Institute for over a dozen years, and has been trained in Remote Viewing. Kevin has been a Kriya Yogi since 1986, and was personally initiated by Swami Hariharananda Giri, the last-living disciple of Sri Yukteswar in the original Karar Ashram in India (as described in Autobiography of a Yogi). He was initiated into the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism by H.H. the 14th Shamar Rinpoche. Though born in Arizona, Kevin has now lived in Asia for over 30 years, and is based in Bali, Indonesia. He researches, teaches, and practices shamanic healing throughout Asia. Books by Kevin:
Comments about Courses with Kevin
“Kevin’s answers to questions were not just replies but rather full of rich clues to understand the nature of shamanism more deeply. I look forward to applying these principles in my life.”
“Eye-opening, super-effective, and gave me confidence and trust. Kevin’s explanations made me feel that it was easy to access the Upper and Lower Worlds, and it was! I’m definitely registering for advanced courses.”
“I was amazed at how easy it was to enter the Lower and Upper Worlds. Kevin is full of humor and patience. His explanations were thorough and with examples pulled from a wide variety of spiritual disciplines.”
“A great workshop. Kevin displays a deep knowledge of the spirits. I look forward to learning more in advanced workshops.
“The courses are everything I hoped it would be. I look forward to practicing what I’ve learned, and I feel I received a lot. Kevin’s approach was great – he made us all feel confident as we undertook the journeys. He’s humble yet very knowledgeable, and offers a gentle but sure atmosphere. I look forward to advanced courses soon!”
“Kevin’s explanations were clear, comprehensive, easy to understand and supported by his own rich experience. I feel he’s a wonderful person in both knowledge and humanity.”
“I feel inspired and want to study shamanism more. Exciting, interesting – the courses with Kevin are just great!”
“Kevin is very knowledgeable and makes challenging concepts easy to understand. Very enjoyable and I feel fortunate to have had him as my instructor.”
Presentations and Interviews
Power Soul Retrieval: Living with Spirit interview with Kevin B. Turner
Mongolian Shamanism Presentation at the International Transpersonal Conference in Prague, Czech Republic, Sept 2017
Dream a New World with Zeina Yazbek & guest Kevin B. Turner. Core Shamanism: Part 1 Part 2
Future Primitive podcast interview with Joanna Harcourt Smith and Kevin Turner
シャーマニズムの核心に迫る：ケヴィンとエハン・デラヴィの対談 日本語
Core Shamanism: Real Rover Interview with Echan Deravy and guest Kevin B. Turner
靈魂片段復原療癒 回復完整的自己 河流雜誌 第11期 2022年9月11日 FLOW Magazine interview. Taiwan #11 Sept 2022.
Sacrifice of the Shaman: The Buryat Shanar as World Tree Ordeal/Ascension Initiation. Presentation at the 11th International Conference of the International Society for Academic Research on Shamanism. Guiyang, China, 2013.
Sky Shamans of Mongolia: Meetings with Remarkable Healers. North Atlantic Books, California 2016: English Français Español
The Occult Book Review: Sky Shamans of Mongola.
*Kevin’s new book is now available for pre-order from Inner Traditions/Bear & Co: The SECRET FIRE of ALCHEMY: Kriya Yoga, Kundalini & Shamanism Also available at all major booksellers: Amazon US, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, ITI, BAM, and Bookshop.
Articles on Shamanism
“When Shamans Climb Trees.” Turner, Kevin. SHAMANISM: Journal for the Foundation for Shamanic Studies, Issue 25 (December 2012): 2-7.
“When Shamans Climb Trees II: The Buryat Shanar as World Tree Ordeal/Ascension Initiation.” SHAMANISM: Journal for the Foundation for Shamanic Studies, Issue 26 (December 2013): 2-9.
“Shamanism in Bali: Balinese Master Shaman & Shaman Priestess of Bali.” SHAMANISM: Journal for the Foundation for Shamanic Studies, Issue 27 (December 2014): 10-13.
“Ibu Jero Gambuh: The Resurrected Healer of Bali.” SHAMANISM: Journal for the Foundation for Shamanic Studies, Issue 29 (Dec 2016): 6-11.
“The Resurgence in Mongolia: The Implications for the Worldwide Revival of Shamanism. SHAMANISM: Journal for the Foundation for Shamanic Studies, Issue 30 (December 2017): 10-13.
“The Reluctant Shaman of Bali.” SHAMANISM: Journal for the Foundation for Shamanic Studies, Issue 31 (December 2018): 6-9.
“Blessings of the Lersi Mask: Meeting a Thai Hermit Shaman.” Article co-authored with C.W. Yang in SHAMANISM: Journal for the Foundation for Shamanic Studies, Issue 32 (December 2019): 2-6.
“Brahmin Shaman of Nepal.” SHAMANISM: Journal for the Foundation for Shamanic Studies, Issue 33 (December 2020): 14-18.
