Shamanism: An Overview

Many people mistake Shamanism as a religion but it is a term that embraces a diverse number of beliefs and practices that are mainly aimed at helping the living communicate with the spirit world. As with so many other religious or philosophical belief systems, the practice and interpretation of Shamanism is unique in cultures around the globe. Others view Shamanism as forming the root of Ancient Oriental medicine, as Shamans are considered to be healers who can cure the sick. According to Eppich (1), a Shaman is "a man or a woman who is able to enter into an altered state of consciousness for the purpose of embarking upon a spirit journey into alternate dimensions and realities in order to access hidden knowledge or power to help others." The main goal of this journey is for the Shaman to get in contact with "spirit helpers" that lend him or her divine powers (Eppich 1).

Developed in ancient cultures, Shamanism is often practiced in contemporary times and is increasingly viewed by healthcare providers as a legitimate form of alternative medicine. This analysis will provide a discussion of Shamanism in ancient and contemporary times, including the role of the Shaman and how he or she is viewed by his or her community. A conclusion will address why Shamanism continues to be popular in contemporary times.

Shamanism stems as a practice from ancient times. Altered states of consciousness were often evoked by Shamans in the healer and the sick by

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f symbols which acts to establish powerful, pervasive, and long-lasting moods and motivations in men by formulating conceptions of a general order of existence with an aura of factuality." In most cultures that practice Shamanism, the Shaman is viewed as having several roles (doctor, psychiatrist, minister, etc.), but Eppich (2) notes the following functions are typical of all Shamans: 1) healing the diseased; accessing new or ancient knowledge from the Otherworld; and, 3) foretelling the future. Blackburn (13) maintains that the Shaman is closely aligned with the concept of "Divine Man" or Theios Aner in Greek, a concept that designates a religio-philosophical hero or legend that is characterized by "great virtue, wisdom, and morality" so that they take on characteristics of the Divine. The ability of the Shaman to connect with the spirit world posits them as the individual in the community who is most able to defend it from bas spirits, illness, and other negative energies. Shamans are viewed as individuals capable of "touching in both realms," capable of serving as a "conductor between man and the Divine" (Archetypes 2). Among Native Americans, "medicine" was a bond with the supernatural world. "Medicine

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