|
Shamanism
Shamanism is a tribal system that exists today in cultures without
a tradition of literature, shamanism emphasises that links exist
between the human world and the world of spirits. Practiced
intermediaries known as shamans,
act as a type of conduit to pass communication between both
these worlds.
Shamanism still exists throughout the world today, despite the
persistent attempts of missionaries, religious zealots and fanatics
to eradicate it.
Shamanism
has enjoyed a resurgence of interest in the last twenty years.
Many books on the subject
have contributed to the heightened interest. Many indigenous
shamans have come forward in recent years to help train others
and share their knowledge. They believe their prophecies have
urged them forward and that the time is now. One
of the basic principles of shamanism is the belief that everything
has a spirit and is alive. The tree has a spirit, the rock has
a spirit, If everything has a spirit and is alive, we humans
then find ourselves in a position of equality rather than dominance.
Most importantly, shamanism can make a practical difference
in this world we live in, it can bring about a change.
back
to top ^
.
Shaman
Over
many thousands of years, our ancestors all over the world discovered
how to maximize human abilities of the mind and spirit for healing
and problem-solving. The remarkable system of methods they developed
is today known as "shamanism," a term that comes from
a Siberian tribal word for its practitioners: "shaman"
(pronounced SHAH-mahn). Shamans are a type of medicine man or
woman especially distinguished by the use of journeys to hidden
worlds usually known through myth, dream, and near-death experiences.
Most commonly shamans do this by entering an altered state of
consciousness often using monotonous percussion sound.
What we know today about shamanism comes from the last living
bearers of this ancient human knowledge, the shamans of dying
tribal cultures scattered in remote parts of the world. Few
of them are left today, due to the destruction of their peoples
and cultures, and to deliberate attempts to eradicate the shamans
and their knowledge, even though shamanism is not a religion,
but a methodology.
A shaman is one who goes into an altered state of consciousness
at will. During this altered state, the shaman makes a conscious
choice to journey to another reality, a reality which is outside
of time and space. This other reality is composed of three layers:
the lower world, the middle world and the upper world and is
inhabited by helping spirits. The shaman is able to establish
relationships with these spirits and to bring back information
and healing for the community or the individual.
Now, at the last moment, open-minded Westerners are beginning
to discover for themselves that the shamanic methods can yield
astonishing results in problem-solving and healing, both for
themselves and for others. As a result of their use of these
ancient methods, people are acquiring a new awareness of their
spiritual unity with all beings, with the Planet, and with the
Universe. They are also discovering that there is a dimension
of reality beyond that ordinarily perceived.
back
to top ^
.
Shamanic
Books and E-Books
back
to top ^
.
History
of Shamanism.
The
practice of shamanism is derived from ancient teachings and
is practised worldwide. Although ancient, (it is estimated that
shamanism may have originated over 10,000 years ago) its practice
also exist in the modern world, it survives in areas such as
Tibet, North & South America and within various African
tribes. Shamanism is used to restore balance and healing to
both people and the planet we live in. The practice of shamanism
involves shamanic practitioners making journeys or soul-flights
to other realities in order to bring back advice, help or soul-parts
for the individual/community.
Shamanism has existed since the beginning of time on every continent
of the planet.
It is the oldest way of healing the individual, dating back
as far as to the Stone Age. A shaman/shamanka (feminine) is
an individual that can alter his/her state of consciousness
and travel at will between this world and otherworlds to find
healing, guidance and knowledge for themselves, the community
and the environment.
Aspects of shamanism were encountered in later, organised religions,
generally in their mystic and symbolic practices. Greek paganism
was influenced by shamanism, Some of these shamanic practices
of the Greek religion were later adopted into the Roman religion.
There is a strong shamanistic influence in the Bön religion
of central Asia, and in Tibetan Buddhism. Buddhism became popular
with shamanic peoples such as the Tibetans, Mongols and Manchu
beginning in the eighth century. Certain forms of shamanistic
ritual became combined with Tibetan Buddhism and became institutionalised
as the state religion under the Chinese Yuan dynasty and Qing
dynasty. One common element of shamanism and Buddhism is the
attainment of spiritual realisation, often mediated by entheogenic
(psychedelic) substances.
In Europe, starting around 400 AD, the Christian church brought
about the collapse of the Greek and Roman religions. Many temples
were destroyed and important shamanic ceremonies were outlawed.
Starting with the Middle Ages and continuing into the Renaissance,
much of remaining areas of European shamanism were wiped out
by campaigns against witches often orchestrated by the Catholic
Inquisition.
This repression of shamanism continued as the Christian influence
spread with Spanish colonisation. In the Caribbean, and Central
and South America, Catholic priests followed in the footsteps
of the Conquistadors and were instrumental in the destruction
of the local traditions, denouncing practitioners as "devil
worshippers" and having them executed.
Later in North America, the English Puritans conducted periodic
campaigns against individuals they perceived as witches, and
more recently, attacks on shamanic practitioners have been carried
out at the hands of Christian missionaries to third world countries.
back
to top ^
.
Definitions
of some Shamanism Concepts.
1) The 3 Worlds or Layers of Shamanism
- Upperworld
The Upper World is the spiritual realm which contains the
realm of the stars. It is the world where the blueprints of
life may be seen. Teachings about healing and identity are
derived with the help of guides and the lessons of mutual
responsibility are found.
- Middleworld
The
Middle World is that world in which we live and breathe. This
world is shadowed by the otherworld, which constantly overlaps,
so that we may move from one dimension to another
- Underworld
The Under World is the realm of ancestors and spirits - the
root of our deepest thoughts and emotions, the depths of our
psyche. It is the place where the light within the earth may
be accessed to bring healing and growth
.
2)
Animism
Animism (from Latin anima "soul, life") is a philosophical,
religious or spiritual idea that souls or spirits exist not
only in humans but also in animals, plants, rocks, natural phenomena
such as thunder, geographic features such as mountains or rivers,
or other entities of the natural environment. Animism may further
attribute souls to abstract concepts such as words, true names
or metaphors in mythology. Animism is found widely in the religions
of many indigenous peoples, and also in Shinto, and some forms
of Hinduism, Sikhism, Pantheism and Neopaganism.
back
to top ^
.
|
