What is shamanism?

Answer 1

From what I know, it's a sort of ritual practiced by tribal people. The shaman normally serves as the headman and is very powerful in determining things in the tribe. They also practice voodoo (or something like that) and strongly believe in anamism. I guess this shamanism can be found in Africa or South America. There may exist in other parts of the world, too.

Answer 2

Shamanism is a term that comes from a Siberian tribal word for its practitioners who were called “shaman" (checkout Michael Harner's website below)

The practice of Shamanism is ancient going back probably ten of thousands of years and I look at it as the root of all religion. Shamanism is not really a religion it is more of a spiritual practice. Shamans were the wise man and women of the tribe. They were healers, counselors and problem solvers. They knew the secrets of the world around and used their intimate knowledge to aid the tribe, they knew what plants cured what illness, what the behavior of animals meant ect… They also knew the secrets of the world beyond, the lower and upper worlds the world of spirits. Shaman’s with the aid of their power animals and teachers could safely journey between this world and the others to find information and heal.

The journey would involve the use of dancing, drumming, chanting and in some cases the use of native plants with narcotic qualities. The journey is like visualization. The Shaman will travel to the lower world by going down into the earth or the upper world by going up into the sky. There they will meet their power animal(s) who will be their guide and protector. Once there the Shaman will ask their power animal a question, search for something or perform healing ect. During the journey the Shaman’s mind is kind of in two places at once. It is almost like a dream that you are just waking up from, while you will see, hear, feel and smell things during the journey you are still slightly aware of the drumming or chanting going on in the background.

Power animals are commonly connected with Shamanism however there are teachers as well. Teachers could be a deceased relative, friend or any divine being (God, Angels, Saints ect) The various Power animals and teachers are honored and thanked for their protection and their guidance.

Cave drawing and paintings for example. I believe there were done to depicted the animals that the tribe killed during the hunt to honor the spirits of the animals so that the tribe would have continued successes.

If you are looking to purchase a good book on Shamanism the best book to start out with is Michael Harner's "The Way of the Shaman" Mike is credited with the revitalization of Shamanism. Excellent book! You can check out his website http://www.shamanism.org

Answer 3

Shamanism refers to a range of traditional beliefs and practices concerned with communication with the spirit world, mostly animal spirits. There are many variations in shamanism throughout the world, though there are some beliefs that are shared by all forms of shamanism: The spirits can play important roles in human beings. The shamans are to control and cooperate with the spirits for the community's benefit. The spirits can be either good or bad. Shamans get into a trance by singing, dancing, entheogens and drumming. The songs and dances describe the spirit's journey or the shaman's own personal journey to the other world.[citation needed] Many shamans imitate many animals and bird spirits. This happens when the shaman's spirit leaves the body and enters into the supernatural world. The shamans can treat illnesses or sickness. The main purpose of shamanism is to understand nature and heal the sick. The most important object is the drum;[citation needed] it symbolizes many things to a shaman. Sometimes drums are decorated with rattles, bells or bones to represent different spirits and animals, depending on the region and the community. Many shamans sacrifice animals such as lambs. They believed that it would help people in healing and gain support from the spirits.

Answer 4

I'm no expert, but from classes in architectural history, some science classes, and history, I've learned a shaman is the medicine man or woman from a North American or possibly South American Indian tribe. So shamanism in the historical sense is the belief in the power of a shaman. This has been twisted in today's philosophical supermarket, but that's a general idea.

Answer 5

Definitions of Shamanism on the Web:

1) The religion of many of the ancient less-developed civilizations of the world. Some societies today are shamanistic. Shamanism is characterized by the ability of the Shaman to communicate with the spirit world to provide healing, guidance or wisdom.. The shamanâ€â„¢s soul is sometimes believed to leave the body during a trance at which time the shaman will speak with beings from the other worlds or assume animal forms.
site.lunamyst.com/filelocker/glossary.html

2) Shamanism is one of the oldest tribal healing traditions found in many cultures around the world. The shaman, in an altered state of consciousness, uses forms of journeying to spirit worlds, along with prayer and ceremony to connect with the spirit animals or totems of the client. It is through this guidance the practitioner helps their client find a state of balance and well-being.
www.footnotesforhealth.com/definitions.html

3) This is a "system of religious and medical beliefs and practices that centers on the shaman, a specific type of magico-religious practitioner...who specializes in contacting and controlling the supernatural." 1 Usually male, his main task is healing. Shamanism was originally centered in central Asia and Siberia.
www.religioustolerance.org/gl_s1.htm

4) (bon ‘gyer). In this book the term has the negative connotation of rituals performed for selfish or superficial mundane aims.
www.rangjung.com/books/lotus-born_glossary.htm

5) A system of healing based on spiritual practices present in most indigenous cultures. The shaman acquires knowledge, wisdom and spiritual power from personal helping spirits encountered on journeys into other realities. They return with vital information about healing. Shamans are considered “walkers between the worlds” and retrievers of souls.
www.healingartistsofsac.com/Glossary.htm

6) Spiritual and natural healing performed by medicine women and men.
www.spaworldtravel.com/gloss.html

7) An ancient spiritual and medical tradition practiced in native cultures around the world. Using ritual, shamans often enter altered states of consciousness to promote the healing of their clients. Shamans regard themselves as conductors of healing energy or sources from the spiritual realm.
www.cma.asn.au/glossary.htm

8) Shamanism is the oldest and most widespread form of Energy Medicine on the planet (along with plant-based medicine). And we are all blessed to have an increasing number of shamans in service – opening their gifts to non-traditional communities.
www.quantumhealing.ca/quantum_glossary_Q_Z.html

9) A MetaPhysical Orientation of Experiential Spiritual Methodology intervention on the behalf of others in the spiritual planes, with intent of results in normal reality. Shamanic methodology is ordinarily characterized by a Practitionor entering into other Reality States to assist a specific Individual or group often with Spiritual concerns but with Physical, Mental and other concerns also. ...
gardenoflifetemple.com/02WhoWeAre/DefinitionsS.html

10) A system in which a group of people rely on a shaman (he who knows) who can enter an ecstasy and perform the supernatural
137.122.151.29/BIO1120/Includes/Glossary.htm

11) Any animistic religion similar to Asian shamanism (especially as practiced by certain Native American tribes)
an animistic religion of northern Asia having the belief that the mediation between the visible and the spirit worlds is effected by shamans
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

12) Shamanism is a range of traditional beliefs and practices that involve the ability to diagnose, cure, and sometimes cause human suffering 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.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamanism

Answer 6

Ancient medicine men and sometimes women. They have been in every culture.