Shamanism

Shamanism is a practice by several cultures and tribes in the world. The shamanic journey is one that, the Shaman enters the spirit realm through the axis mundi, or center of the world. They do this in order to commune with spirits or heavenly beings in the quest to gain knowledge, guidance, advice, or instruction on either concerns or situations facing the tribe. As there are many different cultures that practice shamanism, practices differ in ways as do some beliefs.

[edit] Practices and beliefs that are held by all those who practice Shamanism

• The shaman is able to control, manipulate, and work with the spirits in order to benefit the tribe or culture.
• Spirits and the spirit realm play a big role in the scope of human lives and in the shamanic journey itself.
• Spirits that are communicated with can come from the heavenly realm or from the lower spirit realms which are considered negative or evil in nature.
• Animals are believed in all shamanistic cultures as those who are spirit guides, some animals are portended to bringing either good or bad omens, and can work as message bearers to and from the spirit plane.
• All shamans are held in awe and respect in their culture and are known as wise men as well as practice shamanism healing.
• Some cultures believe that shamans can bring on disease and dysfunction of the human body as well as perform shamanism healing.
• All shamans perform certain rituals in order to prepare for their shamanic journey to the spirit realm. Some do use mood altering herbs or chemicals in order to go into a trance to enter the realm. Others use singing, dancing, drumming and meditate to accomplish this.

[edit] Shamans are believed to be able to perform the following functions

• By practicing shamanic healing, are able to remove sickness, disease, and injury of the mind, body and spirit.
• Control spirits in order to accomplish tasks to benefit the tribe such as increasing the game killed on hunts or finding new hunting grounds.
• The ability to control the weather or be able to predict upcoming weather and weather related disasters.
• The ability to tell the future due to their communication with the spirit realm.
• The ability to forewarn the tribe of upcoming sickness and other events that can cause the tribe unrest.

Shamans are able to interpret the dreams of others, and make key decisions concerning those dreams or prophesies.Shamans represent the tribe in matters of wisdom and in those of religion they function for their community the same role as priests do in the Christian culture.

Shamanic journeys are held for the existence of their lives. It is considered a life journey and an honor to be selected by higher beings and trusted with this task in life. As a shaman enters his waning years, he consults the spirit realm to appoint an apprentice who is taught by the old shaman, until his passing. Then the role is passed on to the apprentice.

Shamans have a very important role as has been described above. It is very interesting to note that in history shamans are traditionally all male roles. A woman could take the role of wise woman or medicine woman but could not become a shaman. However, in modern times, shamans are of both sexes in today’s world.