Shamanism: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 04:54, 22 July 2006

Revision as of 04:56, 22 July 2006

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The [[New Age]] movement imported some ideas from shamanism as well as Eastern religions. As in other such imports, the original users of these ideas frequently condemn New Age use as misunderstood and superficial[http://www.aics.org/war.html].

At the same time, there is an endeavor in [[occultism|occult]] and [[esotericism|esoteric]] circles to reinvent shamanism in a modern form, drawing from [[core shamanism]], a set of beliefs and practices synthesized by [[Michael Harner]] and often revolving around the use of ritual drumming and dance; various indigenous forms of shamanism, oftenoccasionally focusing on the ritual use of [[entheogens]]; as well as [[chaos magic]]. Much of this is focused upon in [[Europe]], where ancient shamanic traditions were suppressed by the Christian church and where people compelled to be shamans often find it improper to use shamanic systems rooted in other parts of the earth. Various traditional shamans express respect for this endeavor, sharply distinguishing it from "light" New Age shamanism. Some anthropologists and practitioners have discussed the impact of such 'neo-shamanism' as 'giving extra pay' (Harvey, 1997 and elsewhere) to indigenous shamanisms, particularly as many pagan- or heathen-'shamanic practitioners' call themselves by specific names derived from older European traditions - the [[völva]] or seidkona ([[seid]]-woman) of the sagas being an example (see Blain 2002, Wallis 2003).

Sometimes, however, people from Western cultures claim to be shamans, often associated with either the New Age or [[Neopaganism]] movements. This is considered offensive by many indigenous practitioners, who view these New Age, Western "shamans" as hucksters out for money or affirmation of self. Many shamanistic cultures feel there is a danger that their voices will be drowned out by self-styled "shamans," citing, for example, the fact that [[Lynn Andrews]] has sold more books than all Native American authors put together.