introduction to shamanism angela thompson smith, ph.d
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Introduction to Shamanism Angela Thompson Smith, Ph.D. Introduction to Shamanism. 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 culture - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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?