Question by Probie: What is Shamanism? What do they believe?
Wow I’m asking tons of questions about different religions….. LOL
What do they believe and what are their religious practices?
Best answer:
Answer by Rake
Shamanism, essentially, is a kind of spiritual (not religious) practice common especially among “primitive” hunting cultures. It tends to emphasize individual spiritual insights, often gained through horrifically challenging ideals and guided by totem animals. Many native American cultures hold shamanistic beliefs, along with the steppe peoples of Mongolia, and very likely early prehistoric human societies.
The cave paintings at Lascaux (is it?) have a shamanistic feel to them, and certain elements of Celtic poetry and culture (especially those that emphasize the power of the shaman-poet to transform into beasts of various sort) seem like they have a shamanistic past.
Early Nordic beliefs also suggest a shamanistic history, especially the Berserks, who went to battle with no armor, worked themselves into rages, and were thought sometimes to be able to take on the form of bears of wolves. The Saga of Hrolf Kraki has a shamanistic warrior character who turns into a bear and is the basis of Tolkien’s character of Beorn in “The Hobbit.”
Another interesting modern novel that deals with shamanistic beliefs is Leslie Marmon Silko’s “Ceremony,” about a young Pueblo Indian who has returned to his community after serving in the Pacific in World War II and is trying to recapture his sense of selfhood and regain the cultural identity that was ripped from him when he entered the army.
What do you think? Answer below!
To correct a point or two from my predessors answer…yes it is a Religious aspect of certain cultures religious meaning a set of beliefs passed generation to generation. I’m from a very long hertitage/bloodline of Shamans I’m Celtic and part Chamorrow (Island of Guam in both,on both my Celtic and Island lines I have at least 2 documented Shamans..each These people are the spiritual hub so to speak of the culture the healer, advisor and always highly psychic! They work their Divination using mainly Animal totems/guides.
Hope this helps 🙂