Question by kris261191: What really are Shamans and do they exist? and if they do can anyone become one?
i really want to know if they do exist and if they do what do they do and can people become one and if so what do shamans do?
Best answer:
Answer by philosophyangel
Shaman is an ethnic name for “witch doctor” “medicine man” or sorcerer. It is used a common term now but originally specifically referred to a tribal magical folk healer in a certain part of Eurasia. Plenty of people these days are identifying themselves as self-styled or initiated “shamans” because they may have studied some form of native folk magic. There are plenty of books on the subject. Browse amazon.com and get an eyeful.
What do you think? Answer below!
shamans can go back along time and with many apperent powers like the answer before me said witch doctor is found in most things i have ever read there practices range from curing simple disease to as far as raising the undead back to life depending where and what you get your context from…. becoming a shaman that as far as i know is going to school for 12 years or how ever many it is and becoming a regular doctor lol
A STUDY IN SHAMANISM
Shaman (pronounced SHAH-maan) is a word from the language of the Tungus people of Siberia. A Shaman is a man or woman who enters an altered state of consciousness at will. The Shaman does this to
contact and utilize an ordinarily hidden reality to acquire knowledge, power and to help others. The Shaman usually has at least one or more spirits in his or her personal service.
The trance or “ecstatic” state of consciousness the Shaman enters can be termed as the Shamanistic State of Consciousness (SSC). The Shaman does not enter this state for play, but only for serious purposes. The
Shaman must also know the basic methods of accomplishing the work in the SSC before entering such a state. For example, if the Shaman wishes to recover a patient’s guardian animal, he must know the techniques for reaching the Lowerworld, entering it, finding the
spirit animal and bringing it back safely. Subsequently, he must know what instructions to give the patient in the Ordinary State of Consciousness (OSC).
The Shaman is an accomplished see-er who works in the dark, or at least with the eyes covered, in order to see clearly. For this reason, the Shaman usually engages in such practises at night.
This should give you a start. If you want more info contact me.
shamanism is a religion. shamanism is the belief that spirits occupy all living objects and some other objects as well, a shaman is someone who can contact these spirits and ask them for boons or favours
Over tens of thousands of years, our ancient ancestors all over the world discovered how to maximize human abilities of mind and spirit for healing and problem-solving. The remarkable system of methods they developed is today known as “shamanism,” a term that comes from a Siberian tribal word for its practitioners: “shaman” (pronounced SHAH-mahn). Shamans are a type of medicine man or woman especially distinguished by the use of journeys to hidden worlds otherwise mainly known through myth, dream, and near-death experiences
It is a common misconception that experiencing Shamanic ecstasy or embarking on that first Shamanic journey makes you a Shaman. It is more complicated then this. Not everyone can become a Shaman…it is a terrible experience to survive a calling and thus one should not “wish” to be a Shaman.
However, anyone may still benefit from the experience of practicing Shamanic techniques and ecstasy without being a Shaman.
A Shaman is a master of the Shamanic abilities, journeying, ecstasy, even healing. A Shaman is also one depended on by some form of a group or community, while I believe one might be a Shaman to their own brotherhood or family, in most cases this is a village or some nation of people.
To these people, the Shaman is their window between the worlds. So to answer the question, there are three ways most Shamanic traditions agree one can become a Shaman.
1- By birth into a Shamanic family, one can receive the hereditary right to be a Shaman.
2- One might be called as a Shaman. Often a person will become seriously ill (physically, mentally or psychically) during this calling. They will then realize, or be informed of, their calling. Once the person begins their training and accepts their calling, they will be freed of their illness. This calling is not a request, but rather a divine command. Once may be raised in a Christian family which rejects the path of the Shaman, but to ignore the call would not be acceptable. Most Shamanic cultures believe that rejecting a call is a fatal mistake. Surviving the call is what gives the Shaman the experience needed to begin healing others.
3- One may choose to become a Shaman. This involves an intense, personal quest towards being a Shaman, including
the traditional training and studying. According to “orthodox” beliefs, a Shaman who chooses his path is less powerful.
Many cultures believe there is no such thing as one who chooses to be a Shaman and such a person is either fake or simply unrespectable. Survival of the calling is part of the experience and to choose this path is to surpass the calling. Regardless of the way one initiates the journey, it is a very tough and devoted path to follow. A Shaman must endure intense physical discipline, days in sweat lodges, seeking visions, long journeys between the worlds, and deep study of deities, myths, the secret language, and their heritage.
This is why Shamanism is not a religion but a way of life that becomes the nature of the individual.