does anyone know what shamanism is all about?

Question

i've read this and it seems kinda interesting:
http://www.articleated.com/Article/Magickal-Oils-of-Indonesian-Shamanism-Part-1/676
http://www.articleated.com/Article/Magickal-Oils-of-Indonesian-Shamanism-Part--2/677

Answer 1

Shamanism is a term coined by Michael Harner that comes from a Siberian tribal word for its practitioners who were called “shaman". You can check out his website

http://www.shamanism.org

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 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.

In the tribal tradition not just anyone could become a shaman, he or she had to be initiated. A shaman may be initiated thru various methods such as visions they received during a near death experience, or sickness, however there is an experience called a Shamanistic Death, which is a symbiotic death and might be like being eaten or dismembered ect and being put back together again or reborn. Once the person is identified as being a potential shaman he or she would of course train for many years.

We today in our modern society do not have access to such ancient knowledge of the earth, plants and animals nor do we generally have access to people that would be able to explain our experiences or to initiate us.

However I feel that you do not have to a shaman to practice shamanism if you feel that shamanism feels right to you try it. The best book to start with is Michael Harner’s “The Way of the Shaman” you might discover that you have a talent for it.

Answer 2

shamanism is religion/belief system 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

Answer 3

Shamanism is primarily a set of spiritual techniques
used to enter into a trance state called ecstasy in which
the pratitioner travels to Other Worlds in order to diagnose,
heal, gain information, guide souls, etc. Traditionally these
purposes have included locating or attracting game for the hunt, weather control, and mediating between the sacred and profane dimensions.

Answer 4

not a question really
.. if the external world were within you and you reached deep inside to experience it ... thats shamanism