Introduction to Shamanism

Angela Thompson Smith, Ph.D.

Shamanism is commonly accepted in many cultures of the world.

Some of the topics of this Introduction are:What is shamanism?How does one become a shaman?Shamanic traditions and cultureOrigins and roles of shamanism

Introduction to Shamanism

Stanley Krippner Shamans of the 20th Century“A shaman is a magico-religious practitioner

who self-regulates their attention so as to access information not ordinarily available to members of the social group who sanctioned the practice and whose physiological, psychological and spiritual conditions they attempt to ameliorate including stress and illness among members of their community.”

Definition of Shamanism

Practitioner who can voluntarily alter his or her state of consciousness

The shaman’s practice is socially-sanctioned by the practitioner’s community

The Four D’s of ShamanismDreamingDance DrummingDivination

The Four D’s of Shamanism

Requirements of ShamanismReveries or trance states

that transmit the thoughts of another person

Dreams where they are in faraway places

Rituals which may predict future happenings

Mental procedures to produce effects on distant physical objects or living organisms

Shamanism works the constraints of time, space and forceOperates outside of our current knowledge of physicsWorks for the benefit of the communityDoes so in various altered states of consciousness

Time and Space

Mircea Eliade (1988)“A shaman is a man or woman who journeys

in an altered state of consciousness, usually induced by rhythmic drumming or other type of percussion sounds, or in some cases by psychoactive drugs.”

Another Definition

Such journeys are generally undertaken to help other people such as members of the community:

Diagnosing and treating illnessDivination and prophesyAcquisition of powerEstablishing contact with guides

or teachers in a non-ordinary realityAnd contact with spirits of

the dead

Uses of Shamanism

Doore (1988)The shaman usually remains conscious and in

control of his or her own facultiesTypically suffers no amnesia upon return to

ordinary reality

References on Shamanism

Winkelman (1984)Magico-religious practitioners who:Occupy a socially-recognized roleWho have developed the ability to interact

with non-ordinary dimensions of existenceHave specialized knowledge of spiritual

entities

Who are the Shamans?

Winkelman (1984)Magico-religious practitioners who…”have

special powers to influence the course of nature and human affairs in ways not ordinarily possible and who occupy a culturally recognized role involving the supernatural, having special access to spiritual entities.”

And…..

Winkelman, 1984Have special powers that allow them to

influence the course of human affairsAffect nature in ways not normally accessible

to ordinary human functioning and abilities

What do Shamans do?

Winkelman (1984)Four basic types of shaman practitionerComplex consisting of all types of shamansShaman-healersPriests, priestesses and sorcerersDiviners, seers and mediums

Types of Shamans

Rogers (1982)The shaman is a “practitioner of mystery

beyond the understanding of most members of his or her community.”

Further Definition

Siberian, Central Asian and Finno-Uralic (Finland and the Urals)

Celtic (Northern European)Native American in North AmericaSouth AmericaSouth and East Asia

Shamanism by Culture

A person may be born with a propensity towards many of the abilities that are shown by shamansThey may then train in shamanic practicesHowever, unless they are accepted by their community and use their abilities for thebenefit of their community, they

cannot be fully accepted as shamans

Born or Chosen?

Considered wise men and women of their community who demonstrate a wider view of reality and possess the ability to intercede for and aid members of their community

They may be chosen at birth, either through a hereditary link to a shaman relative or through a process of initiation and training

May be “special” from childhood and recognized by the elders of their community

World View of Shamans

Heinz (1991) describes the process of becoming a shaman, consisting of three divisions

The CallInitiationTraining

The Call to Shamanism

Heinz (1991)Initiation preceded by a selection process that

may consist of being called to serve, the role may be inherited or the individual may decide for themselves to become a shaman and look for a teacher to train and initiate them

The Call

Rogers, 1982 – The call may come through:Revelation and mystical experiencesSeeing visions or having epileptic seizuresDisplaying erratic behaviorSurviving a deadly diseaseBeing struck by lightningHaving an unusual birthingHaving unusual birth defectsBeing born a twin

Call may come through………

Sharon (1978) says it is agreed that:Shamans are unusually gifted or perceptive

members of their communityMay be bestowed on someone who has had

NDE, OBE or who has inherited the giftUsually an inner voice from the spirit world is

heard followed by a change in behavior

Characteristics of Shamans

Nicholson (1982) Initiate goes through varying degrees of physical and psychological ordeals such as:

Forced rhythmic dancingSensory deprivation & seclusionFasting and dehydrationBeatings & other physical ordealsSleep deprivationHyperventilation (fast breathing)Ingestion of hallucinogens (only within a shamanic or religious context)Involve cultivation and control of imagery

Initiation

Heinze (1991 – quoting Eliade) cites 4 major criteria for shamanic initiation and training

Shaman is expected to experience “dismemberment and rebirth” during training

Expected to go on an ecstatic journey and act as a guide for wandering souls

Expected to master the fear of fire, andExpected to have animal guardians and to assume animal form

Initiation and Training

Shamans emerged during thehunting phase of human civilization (Rutherford, 1993)

Celtic cave paintings from around 30,000 BC show shaman dressed in skin and antlers of animal being hunted

Acted as diviner of rich hunting fieldsIntercessory between hunters and huntedConciliation between animal spirits and

hunted

The Ancient Shaman

Rutherford (1993) shamancall, initiation and training intended to produce bridgebetween worlds – death andrebirth, enlightenment, awakening and rebirthTeachings typically conveyedby word of mouth

Bridge between Worlds

Heinz (1982) described study of demographics

Shamans aged 17 to 70 years of age70% accepted vocation when over 30 yearsGender of shaman not important to clientsClients “attracted to the shaman with the

most powerful spiritual connections.”

Who becomes a Shaman?

Shamans enter an altered state of consciousness or trance state in order to fulfill their intercessionary roles with the spirits, for spirit intercession, divination and for healing

Trance states in Shamanism

Many shamanic teachers employ rituals to generate an altered state of consciousness and to train shamans

Some involve artistic traditions such as the Tattwa symbols, sand painting and cave art

Ritual in Shamanism

Shamanic cultures know the potential of rhythm and took advantage of “resonant cavities”, caves and kivas, that could amplify the effects of these rhythms

Ancient musical cultures developed instruments that aided trance such as drums

Modern research confirms the findings that certain rhythms facilitate trance state

Rhythm and Shamanism

Shamans are able to utilize altered states of consciousness to mentally travel to other dimensions and locations

This is often known as spirit or astral travelThe shamanic term “magical flight” appears to

be similar to Out-of-Body Experience or OBEDr. Felicitas Goodman studied trance

postures and found that they facilitatedcertain types of healing and divination states

Spirit Flight

One of the shaman’s roles is that of healer Doore (1988)Physical, mental, emotional and spiritual ill health may be helped by the shamanCurrently, western medicine has no place for shamanic healing

Healing and Shamanism

Usually apprenticed to an older shaman who teaches knowledge to the young studentuntil pupil is old enough or ready to participate in an initiatory ceremony in which the student overcomes a danger, either physical,mental or both.

The Training of a Shaman

Dangers involved in entering the spirit worldFirst done in training, then during initiation

ceremonyStudent becomes aware of both malevolent

and beneficial entities, both human and animal, some of which he employs as allies

Shamans are not usually self-taught

The Training of a Shaman

Shamanism has traditionally used certain plants and plant extracts to facilitate spirit travel in its rituals

Shamans have also stressed that the ability to develop spirit travel can be obtained through mastery of their spiritual and physical selves

Spirit travel was usually accomplished by experienced shamans

Hallucinogens and Shamanism

Shamanism also includes the ability to enter an altered state of consciousness or trance state in order to access information for individuals or for the community

This might be achieved through the use of certain rituals, ritual objects, dance or dreams

Divination and Shamanism

The shaman perceives a world of total aliveness in all parts, in all parts sentient, in all parts capable of being known and being used. This pan-animism yields to the practicing shaman its powers and principalities and these, in turn, can be used for healing, for renewal, and for bringing into the profane world the transformational power of sacred time and space. Nicholson (1987)

A Modern Definition

So, apart from traditional shamans who can call themselves by that title?Heinze states that only the following can think of

themselves in that way:They can alter their state of consciousness at

willCan fulfill the spiritual needs of their communityAre mediators between the sacred and the

profaneAnd use symbols and rituals

Modern Shamanism?

Today modern science views shamanic skills as evidence of mental illness. However, shamanism is culture specific

Heinze’s 1982 survey found that shamans considered themselves chosen and were able to move easily from one reality to another. They operated on altruistic motivation and none showed signs of mental illness

Modern Interpretations

Can we be modern shamans?Do you have healing abilities?Do you have divination abilities?Can you voluntarily alter your state of

consciousness to access information?Can you affect your external environment?Are your specific abilities sought by and

sanctioned by members of your community?You may be a modern shaman!

Techno-Shamans?