Searching for the true shaman.

The term Shaman seems to have become come such a buzz word recently that its true nature has become obscured. In ultra modern societies, whose essence is far removed from that propagated by the shamanic lifestyle, the word has found fashionable status in popular culture. So what is the appeal of the Shaman and what is the true essence of Shamanic life?

The word itself originated from within a small group of hunters who lived in Siberia. To begin with the term was used exclusively to identify individuals from this region who held a particular 'religious' status. Despite this status, the Shamanic life is essentially ordinary and their daily routines would be little different to any other members of their community.

Over the last hundred years the word shaman has become more and more prevalent and its usage increasingly vague. In many respects the problem is with the practice itself. Afterall there is no doctrine that is specific to Shamanism, there is no text to adhere to, it is not a unified religion with prophets to disseminate its ideas. Despite this unrelated, Shamanic-style cultures have been identified all over the globe.

So what makes a Shaman? Is he some kind of high priest? No. A medicine man, perhaps? Healing certainly has its place in the Shamanic makeup but again this is not the answer. The truest definition of the Shaman is linked to their relationship with the spirits. A Shaman will enter a trance like state and leave the physical body. They will journey freely to spiritual planes and will 'walk with the spirits'. But, as I said earlier, it is the Shaman's particular relationship with the spirits which is defining. The Shaman seeks a mastery of the spirits - unlike passive meditations which allow spirit to work through the individual - and by doing so greatly increases the risks involved.

In the Shamanic view of life the spirits control and influence many of the essentials of life, such as food. In some respects this concept may sound familiar, particularly when thinking of primitive cultures who, for example, would offer up sacrifices to appease their gods at times of harvest, but again the Shaman's involvement with the spirits is far more active. Rather than making passive offerings, it is the role of the Shaman to travel to these spiritual realms and negotiate with the relevant spirit for the desired outcome.

The Healer.

As a healer, the Shaman may find himself in mortal combat with the spirits of evil that seek to take life. Preparation for these transcendental battles may take place in this reality with the Shaman practicing techniques which he will use on the spiritual plane. Sometimes, for example when battling the spirits that bring disease, the Shaman may find himself fighting for the lives of everyone in his community. Spirits may engage the Shaman in a physical style of combat or a more cerebral contest. Sometimes the spirit will remain inaccessible to the Shaman making it impossible for the Shaman to engage it. In these circumstances the Shaman must use his wits and what ever trickery he can muster to draw the spirit out.

Shaman seldom face these trials entirely alone, they have allies both human and spiritual. The human helpers may simply be assistants who help the Shaman prepare for the journey or pupils (those who are not scared off by their first encounters with the spirit world). Spirits can assist in different ways and may not necessarily take a human form. Sometimes the spirit will endow the Shaman with additional powers, for example an animal spirit may provide abilities which are characteristic of that species. Other times the spirit may simply be there to guide or advise. On some occasions a spirit may stand with the Shaman in battle or undertake a journey on behalf of the Shaman.

Reaching the higher plane.

In order to reach the spiritual plane the Shaman will enter a trance, over which he must retain control at all times. As previously stated the Shaman must actively harness the powers which he encounters - to lose control of the trance is to lose himself to the spirits. There are several methods which can be employed to assist entry in to this transcendental state such as sleep depravation, dancing, fasting and, of course, the use of hallucinogens.

For some, the use of these methods in themselves calls in to question the validity of the Shamanic experience. The ingestion of psychotropic plants would indeed be enough to take someone to a place and experience very different from what is perceived as reality. However for those who follow the Shamanic path there is a deep held belief that these substances help tear down the facade of the psuedo-reality around us and allow access to the true world beyond.

Why this fascination?

Why is it that the further society moves away from the spiritual needs of the individual, the more enchanted we become by ideas such as Shamanism?

Perhaps the question answers itself. The more we deny our spiritual wellbeing in the race for materialism and technological advancement, the more we find ourselves turning inward to these traditional ideas. There can be few things further removed from the banality of modern life then the experience of the Shaman, battling on the spiritual planes - and perhaps few things more unbelievable to the modern mind. Yet despite it's fantastic nature, in conventional terms, we cannot banish shamanism from our minds. Perhaps we are more in touch with our true nature than we dare to believe?

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