Neoshamanism
Encyclopedia
Neoshamanism is a term signaling a "new" form or a revival of an old form of "shamanism
", a system that comprises a range of beliefs and practices concerned with communication with the spiritual world.
Neoshamanism is sometimes used as a disclaimer or qualifier, where revivalists are trying to piece back together shattered systems that no longer exists as a whole due to significant changes in the original culture, often as the result of colonisation
, globalisation, or genocide
. Neoshamanism is not a single, cohesive belief system, but a collective term for many such philosophies. However, certain generalities may be drawn between neoshamans. Most believe in spirit
s and pursue contact with the "spirit-world" in altered states of consciousness which they achieve through drumming, dance, or the use of entheogen
s. Most systems might be described as existing somewhere on the animism
/pantheism
spectrum.
Many members of traditional, indignenous cultures and religions are suspicious of neoshamanism, believing it to rely too heavily on cultural appropriation
, or that it is an excuse by fraudulent shamans
to cover up inconsistencies in their ceremonies.. According to York (2001) one difference between neoshamanism and traditional shamanism is the role of fear . Neoshamanism and its new age
relations tends to dismiss the existence of evil, fear, and failure. "In traditional shamanism, the shaman’s initiation is an ordeal involving pain, hardship and terror. New Age, by contrast is a religious perspective that denies the ultimately [sic] reality of the negative, and this would devalue the role of fear as well"http://www.ull.es/congresos/conmirel/YORK.html.
Shamanism
Shamanism is an anthropological term referencing a range of beliefs and practices regarding communication with the spiritual world. To quote Eliade: "A first definition of this complex phenomenon, and perhaps the least hazardous, will be: shamanism = technique of ecstasy." Shamanism encompasses the...
", a system that comprises a range of beliefs and practices concerned with communication with the spiritual world.
Neoshamanism is sometimes used as a disclaimer or qualifier, where revivalists are trying to piece back together shattered systems that no longer exists as a whole due to significant changes in the original culture, often as the result of colonisation
Colonisation
Colonization occurs whenever any one or more species populate an area. The term, which is derived from the Latin colere, "to inhabit, cultivate, frequent, practice, tend, guard, respect", originally related to humans. However, 19th century biogeographers dominated the term to describe the...
, globalisation, or genocide
Genocide
Genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group", though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been subject to much debate by legal scholars...
. Neoshamanism is not a single, cohesive belief system, but a collective term for many such philosophies. However, certain generalities may be drawn between neoshamans. Most believe in spirit
Spirit
The English word spirit has many differing meanings and connotations, most of them relating to a non-corporeal substance contrasted with the material body.The spirit of a living thing usually refers to or explains its consciousness.The notions of a person's "spirit" and "soul" often also overlap,...
s and pursue contact with the "spirit-world" in altered states of consciousness which they achieve through drumming, dance, or the use of entheogen
Entheogen
An entheogen , in the strict sense, is a psychoactive substance used in a religious, shamanic, or spiritual context. Historically, entheogens were mostly derived from plant sources and have been used in a variety of traditional religious contexts...
s. Most systems might be described as existing somewhere on the animism
Animism
Animism refers to the belief that non-human entities are spiritual beings, or at least embody some kind of life-principle....
/pantheism
Pantheism
Pantheism is the view that the Universe and God are identical. Pantheists thus do not believe in a personal, anthropomorphic or creator god. The word derives from the Greek meaning "all" and the Greek meaning "God". As such, Pantheism denotes the idea that "God" is best seen as a process of...
spectrum.
Many members of traditional, indignenous cultures and religions are suspicious of neoshamanism, believing it to rely too heavily on cultural appropriation
Cultural appropriation
Cultural appropriation is the adoption of some specific elements of one culture by a different cultural group. It describes acculturation or assimilation, but can imply a negative view towards acculturation from a minority culture by a dominant culture. It can include the introduction of forms of...
, or that it is an excuse by fraudulent shamans
Plastic shaman
Plastic shaman is a pejorative colloquialism applied to individuals who are attempting to pass themselves off as shamans, holy people, or other traditional spiritual leaders, but who have no genuine connection to the traditions or cultures they claim to represent...
to cover up inconsistencies in their ceremonies.. According to York (2001) one difference between neoshamanism and traditional shamanism is the role of fear . Neoshamanism and its new age
New Age
The New Age movement is a Western spiritual movement that developed in the second half of the 20th century. Its central precepts have been described as "drawing on both Eastern and Western spiritual and metaphysical traditions and then infusing them with influences from self-help and motivational...
relations tends to dismiss the existence of evil, fear, and failure. "In traditional shamanism, the shaman’s initiation is an ordeal involving pain, hardship and terror. New Age, by contrast is a religious perspective that denies the ultimately [sic] reality of the negative, and this would devalue the role of fear as well"http://www.ull.es/congresos/conmirel/YORK.html.
See also
- Core ShamanismCore ShamanismCore Shamanism is a system of shamanic beliefs and practices synthesized by Michael Harner. Core shamanism does not hold a fixed belief system, but instead focuses on the practice of shamanic journeying and may on an individual basis integrate indigenous shamanism, the teachings of Carlos...
- NeopaganismNeopaganismNeopaganism is an umbrella term used to identify a wide variety of modern religious movements, particularly those influenced by or claiming to be derived from the various pagan beliefs of pre-modern Europe...
- Michael HarnerMichael HarnerMichael Harner is the founder of the and the formulator of "core shamanism." Harner is known for bringing shamanism and shamanic healing to the contemporary Western world...
- Carlos CastanedaCarlos CastanedaCarlos Castaneda was a Peruvian-born American anthropologist and author....
- Noble savageNoble savageThe term noble savage , expresses the concept an idealized indigene, outsider , and refers to the literary stock character of the same...
- Sacred Hoop MagazineSacred Hoop MagazineSacred Hoop Magazine is a UK based, international magazine on the subject of Shamanism. Founded in 1993, the magazine is published four times a year in both paper and electronic formats, and is currently based in Abercych, Pembrokeshire, West Wales in the UK.The magazine was founded by Jan Morgan...
Further reading
- Nicholas Wood, 'Voices From The Earth,' Godsfield Press, 2000, ISBN 1-84181-015-0
- Sacred Hoop Magazine - a leading international magazine on the subject of shamanism link
External links
- Society for Shamanic Practitioners (organization supporting the re-emergence of shamanism into modern, western culture)
- http://www.krupar.com/index.php?file=www/en/gallery/gallery.html&cat=21 Photos by Stanislav Krupar
- Andrei Znamenski, Cultural History of Shamanism in the West(in English, German and Russian)
- The Foundation for Shamanic Studies (Michael Harner)
- Michael Harner's Foundation for Shamanic Studies (in French)
- The Four Winds Society (Alberto Villoldo's school rooted in Peruvian shamanism and wisdom teachings)
- Institute for Contemporary Shamanic Studies (Sweet Medicine Sundance, Canada)
- Shaman Portal (the resource for all things shamanic)
- Scandinavian Center For Shamanic Studies (Jonathan Horwitz & Annette Høst)
- Francesca Dubie's 3rd Road (Wicca)
- Swedish forum on shamanism (Trolltrumman, Sweden's biggest forum on shamanism)
- Shaman on the Stage (Shamanism and Northern Identity) by Tatyana Bulgakova, writing about some Nanai shamans who experienced performances on the stage as dangerous, believing that inappropriate (untimely, superfluous) invocationInvocationAn invocation may take the form of:*Supplication or prayer.*A form of possession.*Command or conjuration.*Self-identification with certain spirits....
of the helping spirits can raise their anger. - Sacred Hoop Magazine a leading international magazine for those involved in shamanism and neoshamanism