One year ago: Mercy Medical Center in Merced created a written, formal policy -- believed to be the first in the nation -- for Hmong shamans, allowing the traditional healers to work alongside doctors to help patients recover.

“2012: Time for Change,” 85 minutes of naïveté with the occasional interesting idea thrown in, gives Daniel Pinchbeck another chance to flog his 2012-theme books (“2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl”) and the notion that a little over a year from now Something Big is going to happen.

SIRAHA: Siraha district vice chairman of Madheshi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik Bechan Mahato set out on early Saturday morning to Lalpur VDC-8 to visit tantrik Baue Lal Singh. Mahato was accompanied by his wife and two sons. The reason behind his reaching there was none other than to seek treatment for his dog-bitten sons by the witch doctor.

Experience an unprecedented event in Native American art with the opening of "Infinity of Nations: Art and History in the Collections of the National Museum of the American Indian." Featuring over 700 works representing North, Central and South America, the exhibition showcases rare and wonderful artifacts guaranteed to thrill.

With hopes of employing folk religion in providing relief to bereaved families of those who have committed suicide, the Japanese government has begun funding research on shamans known as "itako."

The study was launched this past August by a group of researchers including Aomori University of Health and Welfare Professor Hirohide Fujii, with funding provided by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).