Shamanism: Facts, Quotes, Beliefs, and Resources

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What is Shamanism?

Shamanism is a term used to cover a wide range of practices of certain populations in communicating with spiritual world. The shaman, usually a charismatic figure, serves as the intermediary acting on behalf of an individual or a tribe. The shaman treats physical ailments and problems affecting a community.

What is the Origin of Shamanism?

Shamanism is rooted in animism. Animism is thought to be the oldest spiritual belief system in the world. Archaeologists found evidence of animism from approximately 50,000 years ago in a cave in Siberia. In Africa, a 70,000 year old altar to a snake spirit was recently uncovered. A date has not been put on the origin of animism. There is no exact date pinpointing the origin of shamanism. But there is archaeological evidence that is 27,000 years old. Thus it could date back even further.

7 Core Beliefs of Shamanism

1. The belief that everything and everyone is part of a pattern and thus interconnected.

2. The belief in the existence of an alternate reality, often referred to as the spirit world.

3. The belief in the ability of some individuals to achieve transcendent states of consciousness and enter the alternate reality for problem solving and healing of self and others.

4. The belief in the existence of spirit helpers and teachers who reside in the alternate reality.

5. The belief that everything, both animate and inanimate, is imbued with a personal supernatural essence or soul.

6. The belief in the existence of an impersonal power or vital force that pervades all things and is expressed as life force in animate beings.

7. The belief in the existence of a personal energy body that can be perceived by some as an aura and can be enhanced through the energy centers within it.

Ancient art is often considered by archaeologists to have served a religious function. The artwork in the tombs of pharaohs in ancient Egypt served to protect and guide them in the after-life. This is also true for cultures which predate the Egyptians. Archaeologists are increasingly uncovering religious artifacts around the world that indicate shamanic practices more than 10,000 years old. In 2008, in Israel, archaeologists announced the discovery of a 12,000-year-old shaman burial site, one of the oldest in the world.

What is the Origin of the Word Shamanism

The word “shaman” comes from the Tungus language. The word was derived from “saman” which means “to know.” A shaman is someone who is wise and knowledgeable. Ethnological examination has revealed that the Tungus obtained the word from Buddhists. The word originated in Sanskrit (sramana). It was passed on to Chinese Buddhists (scha-men) and then to the Tungus. This indicates a connection between ancient Buddhism and Shamanism. The word was used in Russian and then made its way into English.

The Tungus were a people of North-Central Asia, mostly Siberia. They were studied by Russian anthropologists in the late 19th century. An ancient tribal healing practice used by the Tungus was discovered and documented. This ritual predated all civilizations known at the time. Some form of it could be found in indigenous cultures around the world.

Where did Shamanism Start?

Siberia is thought of as the classic location of shamanism because it was populated with a mixture of ethnic groups that practice shamanism. This is also because most of the research on shamanism, such as with the Tungus people, was done in Siberia. Even in modern times it is possible to find people in Siberia engaging in shamanistic practices such as the Uralic, Paleosiberian, Samoyedic, Nganasan and Altaic peoples. A shaman seance of the Samoyedic people was recorded on film in the 1970s. The Nganasans were an isolated group and practiced shamanism until recently. With the formation of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the border between Chinese and Russian Siberia was closed. Nomadic groups that once freely traveled across Siberia were confined to limited regions. Many of the Tungus were restricted to Inner Mongolia and Manchuria. Their last shaman died in 2000.

Quotes About Shamanism

• “My own healing path has become a self-healing path for many other people and that is why I am referred to as a shaman.”
• “Eveything is made of light, he said, and the space between isn’t empty.”
• “As we press upon one another with our intentions, From our hearts fly luminous butterflies, That intermingle and crossover to be absorbed. In abeyance our hearts await.”
• “He (the Shaman) is a self-reliant explorer of the endless mansions of a magnificent hidden universe.”
• “The darkness fosters trust, respect, connection”

Although shamanism was practiced throughout the ancient world, it was largely eradicated in Europe and the ‘New World’ by the Inquisition and by Communism in Russia and Asia. Today it exists among some indigenous populations, especially in South America and Africa, in the form of mestizo shamanism. Because of the push in these cultures to adopt modern Western practices, forms of shamanic practices survive today basically in isolated rural regions such as jungles or arctic locations.

Resources about Shamanism

The Foundation for Shamanic Studies is dedicated to the preservation, study, and teaching of shamanic knowledge for the welfare of the Planet and its inhabitants.
Alice Johnson Shamanistic Healing talks about: What is Shamanism?, What is ecstatic trance?, Variations of Shamanism, Interface between Shamanism and psychiatry, How Shamanism is used for healing, A spiritual side to medicine, Things to be careful about
Information about Shamanism “The Shaman: A poorly understood, fascinating, and useful ancient universal role”

Resource by T.Price

I am a mom of 2 boys who loves to spend time with them doing fun things outdoors. In my spare time I have my own things I enjoy doing such as gardening, reading old books, and being a closet history buff.

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