Before the advent of numerous religions, shamanism, including a huge number of rituals and rules, was especially widespread. Until now, there are tribes, and even peoples, run by shamans. It is believed that these are elected people who have the ability to communicate with the Higher Powers.
What is shamanism?
The early form of religion, based on the communication of a person with spirits in a state of trance, is called shamanism. He has a close connection with magic, animism, fetishism and totemism. According to the conducted studies shamanic practices were known even during the Neolithic and Bronze Age. There are different national and religious forms of shamanism, for example, Korean, Yakut, Altai and so on.
Shamanism is a polytheistic religion, where various phenomena of nature are usually regarded as deities, and all surrounding objects endowed with soul. The shamans claim that only the conscious belonging of man to the universe gives a chance to get rid of fear and feelings of injustice. They have the ability to travel to other worlds and communicate with different spirits, gaining power from supernatural sources.
The shaman is considered to be the chosen one, and he can receive his gift through "shamanic illness" - a condition that looks like a lethargic dream. Of great importance is meeting with the spirit-guardian, who is the protector from the negative. A state when a shaman is in a trance is called kamlanie, and it is accompanied by drum beats, dances and spells. The modern shaman performs several functions: a priest, a soothsayer, a medicine man, an adviser, and others.
Shamanism as a religion
Although some elements of shamanism can be found in almost all religions, it can not be called a separate religious trend. It includes a combination of ecstatic and therapeutic techniques that allow you to interact with parallel worlds. Religion, shamanism and magical directions are different concepts, which, one way or another, are intertwined with each other.
Symptoms of Shamanism
As already mentioned, a person receives magical powers, if the spirits decide to reward him. There is a version that shamanism and shamanism can be inherited. There are some signs on which you can determine your chosenness.
- On the body may be unusual notes, for example, birthmarks, or physical defects are taken into account, so in Siberia the sign of the presence of forces is an extra finger on the hands or feet.
- It is necessary to be guided by personal traits, so potential shamans love solitude in nature. Such people are closed.
- The presence of supernatural forces in man, which are manifested in visions of the future, in prophetic dreams, the opportunity to see the souls of the dead and so on.
- The desire to study shamanism, and it must be strong and have no validity. During the execution of special exercises, aspirations only increase.
Shamanism and Orthodoxy
Many people are interested in how the church relates to different areas that have an attitude toward magic. According to the clergymen, shamanism and Christianity are two incompatible things, because everything that makes a person believe in spirits, demons and other supernatural beings is forbidden and is considered a manifestation of devilry. All magical directions are a barrier to a person to achieve unity with the Lord.
Shamanism in the modern world
Recently, the magic of shamans began to interest a large number of people who are eager for spiritual growth and wish to gain strength for healing. The times when people sought to find the chosen have passed, and in the modern world they themselves try to study the shamanic rituals, passing training and initiation. If earlier knowledge was passed from mouth to mouth, then thanks to writing a lot of information is available to the average person.
Shamanism is a magic that requires a lot of training, and you can start by reading the special literature. Popularity is the book M. Harner "The Way of the Shaman". The received knowledge, it is necessary to apply constantly in practice, as shamanism can be comprehended only through experience. It is also recommended to spend a lot of time in nature, studying its possibilities and learning to hear its advice.
Shamanism - interesting facts
In different parts of the world shamanism has its own characteristics, which depend on geographical location, color and other characteristics.
- In Australia, researchers found only the rudiments of shamanism, and their representatives were called biraraarka.
- Interesting facts: the shamans of South America were called machi, and they cured people of diseases caused by the action of evil spirits. During the ritual, they invariably took an object from the patient's body.
- In Bolivia, shamans called the bar and they contacted the spirits, made predictions and had the ability to witchcraft.
- In Korea, only women were engaged in shamanism and they were called mu-dan. It is important to note that the forces and knowledge were transmitted only by inheritance. In addition to the basic abilities of shamans, they knew how to make amulets, guessing and conjuring.