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Therapy Definitions
Shamanism
A complex pattern of diverse rites and beliefs, shamanism is a tribal
religion in societies without a literary tradition. Healing is one function of
the shaman and the most important along with prophecy. The shaman uses mystical
powers to journey to other worlds or realities and communicate with spirits in
order to bring about a balance between the physical and spiritual worlds.
Benefits
Shamanism is based on the belief that the condition of the soul must be
addressed in order for healing to occur. Relief of pain, anxiety, and stress, as
well as spiritual and emotional healing, are common benefits of a shamanic
healing.
Shamans believe that there are realities that exist beyond the dimension that we
experience on Earth. They believe that all creation is alive—rocks, plants,
animals, trees, fish—and work regularly with these forces of nature.
The role of the shaman is to mediate between different realities to treat
disease and create harmony between the physical and spiritual dimensions.
Shamanism is a combination of "magic" and medicine. A shaman is a warrior who
uses his power to combat disease, demons, and practitioners of black magic. They
also perform rights to assure success in hunting and fishing, to protect the
tribe's lands, and increase and develop the family. Although shamans have
traditionally been male, there are many female shamans in contemporary Asia and
Africa.
Shamans can see and exorcize spirits, perceive when a person's soul has fled
from the body, and return souls to their rightful owners. They specialize in
soul healing, healing physical sickness, and delivering a deceased person's soul
to the underworld of death. They also communicate with ancestral spirits, gods,
and demons through ceremony, sacred dance, vision quests, by visiting places of
power, and through dreams and out-of-body experiences.
The basis of a shaman's work stems from his or her mastery of the ecstasy
technique, in which he or she enters an altered state of consciousness known as
the trance state. During this state, the shaman's soul leaves his or her body to
travel to nonphysical realities, in order to communicate with spirits and gain
information for healing.
The state of ecstasy is brought about in several ways, depending upon the
shaman's culture. Native American shamans use drumming, dancing, and chanting to
enter the trance state. Some Central and South American shamans use peyote or
other hallucinogenic plants to enter a state of altered consciousness.
During their spiritual journey, shamans may travel to heavens and hells, higher
levels of existence, parallel physical worlds, or other regions of the world.
The shaman is protected during his travels by spirit helpers and such animal
guides as bears, wolves, stags, hares, and birds.
According to Central and North American shamanism, disease is caused when the
soul strays or is stolen from the body. To restore health a shaman goes in
search of the spirit, captures it, and persuades it to return. Illness may also
be caused when the body becomes possessed by evil spirits, or by a magical
object such as a pebble or insect that has been telepathically implanted in the
body by sorcerers of black magic. The shaman removes the item by sucking it out
of the patient's body.
Shamans often wear ritual costumes such as feathers, masks, or animal skins.
They may also use ritual objects, charms, and herbs.
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