The History of Shamanism

The History of Shamanism

The term ‘shaman’ originates from the word ‘saman’ in the Tungusic Evenki language in Northern Asia among the indigenous Siberian people. ‘Saman’ means “to know,” or “to see.”  

• The term ‘saman’ is itself derived from the ancient Sanskrit term ‘sramana,’ meaning ascetic, devotee or monk.

• Through the etymology of the word ‘shaman’ itself, we can see that the underlying spiritual-philosophical ideas of shamanism have spread across cultural, linguistic and geographic boundaries and are not the birthright of one particular people over another.

• Over the 20th century, anthropologists applied the term ‘shaman’ to any non-dogmatic religio-spiritual practitioner that utilized altered states of consciousness to influence natural forces.

• So the term ‘shaman’ now generically refers to any mystical tradition involving trance states to access the spirit world.  

  
  

Prehistoric African tribal culture birthed the first shamans—healer-priest-teachers who made offerings to the gods for rain and fertility. As humanity spread, so too did shamanism. From the cradle of life in Africa, throughout India, Asia and Europe, all the way to the New World, shamanism is a global phenomenon stretching back into ancient history.

• From Africa, people migrated to India where the ideas deepened evolved into the Proto-Indo-European religion, Hinduism, and the many pre-Christian religions of the Middle East and West.

• Shamanism spread throughout the Middle East and West through Europe to the British Isles, influencing the pre-Christians religions throughout the region.

• From India, shamanism spread East throughout Asia among the Mongols and indigenous Siberians, as well as stretching across the Middle East through Europe all the way to the British Isles.

• The exodus of North Asians across the Bering land bridge into North America brought shamanism to the New World.

  
  

Shamanism is considered the world’s oldest religion, and in many ways, it is the origin of all religion.

• Early human cultures attempting to grapple with the forces of nature for survival developed elaborate rituals, techniques and stories to make sense of the world and affect change within it.

• These stories and teachings became a worldview and a magical system.

• These systems gradually morphed into the organized religions. 

  
  

The Shamanic View

The great thinkers and philosophers of the West chose to focus their attention on the outer world, and in exploring external reality they developed science and the scientific worldview. However, the ancient seers, mystics and sages took a different approach: instead of scrutinizing the outer world, they chose to explore the inner world.

• Where western science focuses on outer objects to form objective knowledge, the mystics studied consciousness itself, and discovered the subjective nature of reality.

• In their outward explorations, the scientists discovered material reality, while in their inner explorations, the shamans discovered spiritual reality. 

So the shamans’ inner understanding and the scientists’ outer understanding result in two systems of knowledge that seem contradictory. But they are not truly incompatible, they just refer to two completely different levels of exploration.

• Scientists create a model of the outer world and then use analytical methods to yield results.

• Similarly, shamans create a model of the inner world and then use intuitive methods to yield results.

• The methods of scientists are linear, logical and rational whereas

• the methods of shamans are non-linear, emotional and intuitive.

• Both systems work as if they are true, but both systems are actually just human models trying to map an incomprehensible terrain. 

  
  

Altering your state of consciousness means disregarding the model you normally use to perceive reality and to temporarily adopt a different model to experience the results it produces. However, the other key distinguishing quality of the shaman is that they always return from their altered state.

• Shamanism is not about abandoning the rational model of the world, but being able to fluidly shift between the two models of rational objectivity and intuitive subjectivity, both equally powerful but in vastly different ways.

• The difference between a shaman and a delusional psychotic is that the shaman returns from the non-rational experience and yields a practical result, whereas the psychotic remains in their own reality, disconnected from the community. 

  
  

The Shamanic Call

Shamans were selected in various ways depending on the culture and needs of the time. There is no singular rule to determine who can become a shaman and who cannot. But there are some general guidelines that do overlap between tribes. 

• Most shamans usually have a traumatic experience called the Initiatory Crisis or the Shamanic Call. The Call is usually a near-death experience, a severe illness, and/or a profound mystical experience resembling a psychotic break.

• Shamans-to-be are also often marked with conspicuous birth defects, birth marks or other anomalies surrounding their birth.

• Shamans-to-be experience suffering above and beyond the average person, mostly to prepare them for the suffering they will encounter as a healer.

• This suffering usually leads them to be intuitive, empathic and emotionally sensitive individuals, but this sensitivity can easily mutate into darker qualities.

• Still others may have no special experiences or signs, but simply a strong yearning to be a healer, and so they seek out a knowledgeable teacher.

• Regardless of how a shaman is chosen, they are judged based on how effective they are. 

  
  

Shamanic Training

Shamans are trained in a variety of ways depending on culture and time. Budding shamans should study with many teachers who train them in different skills. Trainees are encouraged to learn as many techniques as they can and see what works best, eventually specializing in their strengths. 

From there, the student must use trial and error to learn what teachings are most effective to produce results for the community. 

Conclusion

• All shamanic teachings originate from a common source in the ancient past.

• From this original center, the teachings spread around the world, separating into varying threads and taking on diverse forms.

• We now live in a time where these many divergent threads are rejoining. With the advance of technology and the internet, we are in the unique position of being able to examine a wealth of shamanic teachings to determine which are the most useful in these modern times. 

Shamanism has always been an oral tradition compared to the literary scriptural traditions of the mainstream religions.