What is your definition of a Shaman? Do you consider yourself to be a Shaman?

Answer 1

shaman/medicine man/witchdoctor - a person who uses the powers of the evil spirits to perform magic, usually to cure a physical disease, foretell the future, or to control supernatural or spiritual forces

Do I consider myself to be a shaman? No, I refuse to have anything to do with evil spirits or magic or fortune telling. However, if I have a cure handy, I might consider using it, unless it was a cure that necessitated magic or evil spirits. I am considered the natural enemy of any and all evil spirits.

Answer 2

A shaman uses altered states of consciousness to heal faulty energy patterns. You can't call yourself a shaman, its a title given by the community you are working for. The correct job description nowadays is shamanic counsellor.

Answer 3

Shamanism refers to a range of traditional beliefs and practices similar to Animism that claim the ability to diagnose and cure human suffering and, in some societies, the ability to cause suffering. This is believed to be accomplished by traversing the axis mundi and forming a special relationship with, or gaining control over, spirits. Shamans have been credited with the ability to control the weather, divination, the interpretation of dreams, astral projection, and traveling to upper and lower worlds. Shamanistic traditions have existed throughout the world since prehistoric times.

Some anthropologists and religion scholars define a shaman as an intermediary between the natural and spiritual world, who travels between worlds in a state of trance. Once in the spirit world, the shaman would commune with the spirits for assistance in healing, hunting or weather management. Ripinsky-Naxon describes shamans as, “People who have a strong interest in their surrounding environment and the society of which they are a part.”

Other anthropologists critique the term "shamanism", arguing that it is a culturally specific word and institution and that by expanding it to fit any healer from any traditional society it produces a false unity between these cultures and creates a false idea of an initial human religion predating all others. However, others say that these anthropologists simply fail to recognize the commonalities between otherwise diverse traditional societies.

Shamanism is based on the premise that the visible world is pervaded by invisible forces or spirits that affect the lives of the living. In contrast to animism and animatism, which any and usually all members of a society practice, shamanism requires specialized knowledge or abilities. It could be said that shamans are the experts employed by animists or animist communities. Shamans are not, however, often organized into full-time ritual or spiritual associations, as are priests.

Answer 4

North-American medicine men have been call shaman. There is also a religion of NE Asia and Europe, which holds that gods and spirits work through shamans [their high priests].

Answer 5

A Shaman is one who knows the truth of the universe....
("all is energy"..."all is oneness as being part of the original source") and uses it to create. Sometimes the creation is illusion and other times reality.
Yes I am a Shaman using the energy of the universe for the
greater good.

Answer 6

A shaman is a religious leader of the Tung people of Siberia.

It is also used (incorrectly) to describe religious leaders of other indigenous peoples.

I don't consider myself a shaman.

Answer 7

A Shaman is the same as a sorcerer in the old days.The use of incantations and spells but it is the use of mind altering drugs that seals them as Shaman and sorcerers.
No ,I'm against them.

Answer 8

One who speaks with the spirits to help his people.

You could say I'm a pseudo-shaman. I prefer my mysticism to be less personal.

Answer 9

a faith healer