The Roots of Shamanism
(This is an excerpt from a University Of Metaphysical Sciences course at www.umsonline.org, please feel free to visit the school website)
The
roots of shamanism are the same as the roots of humanity itself, as humans
have always had communications with alternate realities, even if only
through dreams and visions. The development of the ability to journey
to alternate realities at will, and communicate with spirit beings, is
a most ancient practice. Many of the prophets of the world’s great
religions could be called shamans, as they received their revelations
directly from spirit beings. Shamanism could be considered to be the oldest
spiritual system or religion ever practiced. In The Way Of The Shaman
(1980), Michael Harner tells us, “Shamanism represents the most
widespread and ancient methodological system of mind-body healing known
to humanity. Archaeological and methodological evidence suggests that
Shamanic methods are at least twenty or thirty thousand years old.”
Evidence can be found of shamanistic practices as far back as the Neolithic
period, and the esoteric forms of the world’s great religions still
echo these practices. In European traditions, this is seen in the Nature
religions of the Celts, the Druids, and in the Great Goddess traditions.
In Asia, the Tibetans, the Tuvas, the Mongols, and the Manchu peoples
all practiced forms of shamanistic spirituality, and Tibetan Buddhism
still maintains much of this flavor. In Hawaii, the Kahunas are masters
of channeling energy, and though these sacred practices became highly
secretive in order to be safely continued, the Kahunas are still a very
vital part of Hawi’ian culture. In South America, the Ayahausqueros
mediate between the worlds with the help of “Grandmother,”
the ancient spirit teacher embodied in the Ayahuasca plant. Similarly,
in the deserts of Northern Mexico, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, indigenous
people have been journeying with Peyote, “Grandfather,” or
simply “medicine,” for untold generations. In Australia, the
practices of “walkabout,” and the entering of dreamtime are
deeply powerful shamanic practices.
The roots of shamanism can be seen in early, nature based cultures all
over the planet, just about anyplace where people still live close to
nature. The reason for this has been debated, and some believe that these
similarities can be traced back to the migrations of peoples, which spread
these teachings. Others believe that these teachings are universal because
they come from a source which is available to all beings who are open
to this flow of information, and all on the planet who journey inward
will eventually gain this knowledge and wisdom.
There is some confusion and dispute as to the use of the word shaman to
describe the great variety of cultural traditions employing these methods.
The word itself stems from the language of the Siberian Tungus tribe.
Other terms which have been known to describe similar practices are “medicine
man/woman," “witch/wizard,” “conjurer,” “brujo/bruja,”
“currandero/a,” “geomancer,” “alchemist,”
“magician,” “nagual,” “yogi/yogini,”
“sorcerer/ess.” There are others as well, yet the word shaman
has caught on as an all-encompassing term in the “new age,”
and gained popularity through the books and teachings of Mircea Eliade,
Michael Harner, Carlos Castenada, Alberto Villoldo, Don Miguel Ruiz, Malidoma
Some,’ Kenneth Meadows, Lynn Andrews, and Angeles Arrien, among
others. These various multicultural styles of healing and spiritual practice
all have similar themes, threads of commonality, and we have come to call
these cultural practices shamanism, as a broad term to describe this natural-law
based original form of spirituality and healing. Not all of the traditional
indigenous healing styles mentioned fit into this category, but if looked
at closely, most do.
Some traditional peoples, including some culturally indigenous North American
people, do not wish to have their practices labeled as shamanism. Despite
the many similarities, some prefer to maintain an autonomous identity,
particularly since their cultures have been “white washed”
and assimilated to such a great degree by the dominant (European based)
culture. These concerns are highly valid, yet for the purpose of this
course, we will consider all practices which contain similar elements.
Where there is another more culturally appropriate name for the practice
or practitioner, it will be included.
The purpose of this course is to look at these universal practices, how
they have benefited humanity, and their current applications. As humanity
enters an age of enlightenment, and more and more people are becoming
aware of alternate realities and spiritual truths, these ancient and timeless
teachings and practices can greatly accelerate spiritual growth and realization
of the underlying connectedness of all life.