Shamanism is a term used to describe the rituals of various cultures around the world. In Western culture, the term is often used to describe newer traditions that borrow from different cultures or create their own practices. Many people have found fulfillment, knowledge, or the ability to help others through all kinds of shamanism, but remember that traditional and non-traditional shamans don't always agree.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Studying the Types of Shamanism
Step 1. Study the history of shamanism
The word "shaman" comes from the Siberian Evenki language, the exact meaning of which is unclear. From this obscure beginning, anthropologists have used the term to describe spiritual practitioners in various cultures, and the term "shamanism" has been adopted by many Native Americans and other groups. There are still many types of traditional shamanism practiced throughout the world.
Step 2. Understand neoshamanism in Western culture
In the 20th century, Mircea Eliade, the historian, and Michael Harner, the anthropologist, separately argued that many kinds of spiritual traditions around the world could all be defined as "shamanism," with core principles at the heart of various practices and beliefs. the different. This directly led to the formation of many new traditions, mostly started by white Westerners, such as "core shamanism," and many types of "neoshamanism" or "New Age shamanism."
Step 3. Understand the controversy
Traditional shamanism, in its hundreds of different forms, is still alive today, and its practitioners (as well as religious academics) have had mixed reactions to the newer shaman tradition. There are many sides to this discussion, and not all types of shamanism or shamans agree with all of these ideas, but you may want to find out as you begin to learn about shamanism:
- While it's not uncommon for shamans to charge for their services, some new "shaman businesses" are often judged to be fake.
- Most of the new-style shamans use traditions from other cultures. This can be done with respect and knowledge, or in a perfunctory or improper manner that many may find offensive.
- Western shamanism is often taught as a self-improvement technique, whereas many older traditions harm the shaman, including "evil" or "grey area" practices, or a focus on helping the community.
Step 4. Study Western neoshamanism
If you decide that you want to learn more about the modern tradition of shamanism, you can find a lot of material online or in mass-published books. Most of these are unique theories and practices developed by a single person, but some of the sources listed below are examples of highly influential theories. You can also read more about the general trends in this movement in the section below on practicing shamanism.
- "The Foundation for Shamanic Studies" promotes "core shamanism," claiming to teach the basic principles at the core of shamanic traditions around the world.
- "Cleargreen Incorporated" practices a 20th century semi-Mexican shamanism called "Tensegrity."
- Terence McKenna was an influential proponent of shamanism in the 1990s, tying to many New Age theories and psychedelic experiments.
Step 5. Learn traditional shamanism
Methods for becoming a traditional shaman vary for different cultures, but usually involve sudden supernatural events, inheriting the position, or training as an apprentice. If you are not a member of a culture with a shamanistic tradition, you may want to visit a native community to learn from a shaman or someone in a similar role. You can also learn more about these traditions by reading books written by anthropologists and others that describe the shamanistic practices of a particular culture:
- Interview and description of an Oroqen shaman in northeastern China.
- The book Ancient Land, Sacred Whale by Tom Lowenstein describes the rituals and myths of Alaska's Tikigaq whalers.
- This article describes the shamanistic traditions that live and thrive throughout Nepal, and discuss how they differ from other ritual practices.
Part 2 of 2: Practicing Shamanism
Step 1. Get into a trance to the beat of the drums
Entering the spirit world, or discovering another world parallel to our own, is one of the most common practices of shamanism. One of the many ways to do this is to enter a trance. Try covering your eyes with a cloth and hitting the drum at a regular rhythm for a few minutes, or until you enter a different level of consciousness.
Step 2. Meditate
Another way to enter a trance, or become in tune with your subconscious, is to practice meditation. Many people view meditation as a solid foundation for any spiritual path, and a source of health benefits that fit perfectly into some of the traditional shamanic messages of self-improvement. There are many schools of meditation, but they all start with closing your eyes and sitting in a quiet place.
Step 3. Watch your dreams
Dreams are often important to people who practice shamanic rituals. Dreams may possibly hold truths, revelations, or other great spiritual importance. Keep a dream journal so that when you wake up, you will be able to write down or draw pictures of your dreams.
Your image may contain power. Beware if you do not know the meaning of the image
Step 4. Interact with spirits and other entities
There is no one universal way to encounter entities, but in many traditions, you cannot become a shaman without doing so. When you are in a trance, meditation, or sudden unexpected experience, you may be able to encounter an entity. These can be natural spirits, spirits in the afterlife, or even entities that are considered gods by some. No single pantheon or worldview can explain what you encounter, but an experienced shaman can help you identify these entities and teach you how to make covenants with them, serve them, or rule over them, depending on the traditions you follow.
Keep in mind that some of these entities may be malicious or difficult to deal with. Oftentimes, rituals involving drugs, sacrifices, or other sources of power attract the attention of potentially more dangerous entities
Step 5. Find a teacher
While you can develop your own shamanistic practice, almost everyone finds the guidance of a teacher or fellow shamanic practitioner very helpful. This can be obtained from a shaman who practices traditional shamanism from his culture, or a shaman from the "neoshamanism" tradition. This step is recommended before trying any of the steps below, or if you encounter a dangerous or frightening spirit.
Step 6. Be careful with drugs
Entheogens, or "entity-forming within," substances can be powerful partners in influencing our consciousness, but drugs are not always necessary. Learn how to improve your skills as a practicing shamanism before using medicine in your practice, and learn how to use medicine with a trusted human being to watch over and watch over you.
Many legal substances are used in the shamanistic tradition, such as tobacco. In the United States, drugs such as peyote and ayahuasca are legal or in a legal gray area when used by people who can prove they are part of a traditional culture
Step 7. Perform a healing ritual
Healing is the main task of many experienced shamans. Rituals vary, of course, and are usually passed down by teachers. This can involve many techniques:
- Dance, sing, or play a musical instrument to attract the spirit's attention.
- Making offerings to spirits in the form of food, drink, tobacco, and other substances. (Sometimes, the spirit is put into your body first.)
- Pulling disease out of the body and transferring it to an animal, object, or symbol.
- Go to another world as an intermediary to speak with spirits on behalf of a sick person.
Step 8. Do the forecast
Many New Age shamans used divination sticks, séances, crystals, or other divination tools. Some shamans seek to see into the future, while others use these tools to seek guidance for their own lives, or to communicate with spirits in the afterlife.
