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Shaman, Sage, Raconteur

Shaman, Sage, Raconteur

Norman W Wilson, PhD

Shaman or shamanka (female) for purposes here, simplistically may be defined as a healer.The male form will be used to avoid the he/she repetition. As a healer, the shaman commands a local knowledge of medicinal herbs and plants, as well as their application to the sick. He treats everything from an upset stomach to menstruation issues.

The sage is not necessarily a shaman. Generally, the sage is the keeper of tribal wisdom. And like the healer, the sage may be either a male or female. He provides the tribe and other seekers his advice on issues of governance, marriage, child-bearing, and the waging of war.

The raconteur (singer) is the story teller. He recounts in word or song and sometimes dance, the history of  his people, their battles, heroes, their tragedies, and sacrifices. He tells the story of his people’s creation and of their relationship to the divine. He is basically a historian charged with preserving tribal culture.

A shaman may encompass the role of sage and raconteur. Depending on the culture, his role may be expansive or narrowed to a specialization. He may function as a psychopomp and other times he may function only as certain types of spirits that inhabit the spiritual realm.  The personification of these spirits may be in the form of different animals, plants, water creatures or even heavenly bodies.

Whatever the role, the shaman, the sage, or the raconteur, all are respected and powerful members of the community.

Dr. Wilson is the author and co-author of college textbooks in the humanities.  His novel, The Shaman’s Quest, will soon be available.  Additionally, Dr. Wilson has over 100 articles published on the internet. He is a reviewer for The New York Journal of Book Reviews and for NovelSpot.Net.

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