"Shamans are spiritual specialists who can induce ritual ecstasy while fully conscious and have the impression that their soul is leaving the body and traveling to the afterlife"
What is shamanism? Shamanism is the oldest holistic healing system known to mankind - proven to be at least 30,000 years old, probably even older. Shamanism in its living form is called shamanism. Shamanism was widespread all over the world, on all continents and in all cultures. There was also a shamanic culture in Europe in earlier times. This knowledge was almost wiped out by the migration of peoples and the associated wars and, above all, by Christianization and the church inquisition (witch burnings). Today, "this ancient knowledge" is once again coming to the fore and is returning to the consciousness of us Europeans.
So what is a shaman? A much-used word in today's world: polarizing, healing but also fraught with resistance. Let's first take a closer look at the linguistic usage.
The word shaman originally comes from the Tungusic peoples of Siberia and was only used there until the 17th century. Anthropologists who carried out scientific research used this term in their books and in translations. Subsequently, the word "shaman" for a way of life similar in essence was also adopted outside Siberia in the linguistic usage of other regions of Europe. The commercialization of this term has now led to a situation where healers of indigenous peoples want to be addressed exclusively by their original term and sometimes even reject the word "shaman".
As we can see, shaman does not always go where shaman is written
A shaman is a healer and a spiritual guide. He is a mediator between the worlds. A master of ecstasy and trance. He has a permanent ecstatic bridge to the universe. When he speaks to the universe and takes action, the universe responds.
Distinction from religion and priesthood: Shamans are not priests and shamanism is not a religion. It is a path of knowledge and not of faith. It is not dogmatic and, above all, it can be experienced and proven. Shamans mediate to the transcendent, whereas priests administer a religious cult. Shamans are always independent of the local faith, whereas a priest is completely dependent on his institution.
How do you become a shaman? Nobody becomes a shaman voluntarily. You are called by the spiritual world and must follow your call. If you don't, you are forced to do so by the spirits. Initiators often go through a painful initiation process. Physical illnesses or severe crises are not uncommon. The disciples go through a year-long process of purification and learning. Symbolically speaking, the initiate's body is "dismembered" and then reassembled. With one more bone. Expanded by the aforementioned permanent ecstatic bridge to the universe. The students thus attain their new consciousness, the connection to their higher self, so to speak.
"Hidden" shamanism in modern life I am sure that almost everyone has had direct or indirect contact with shamanism, because many therapeutic approaches and almost all spiritual currents as we know them today have their origins in shamanism. It is the original form of psychotherapy. Family constellations, NLP, Gestalt therapy, hypnosis, quantum healing, craniosacral therapy and much more have emerged from it. Shamanism is more often hidden behind common, widespread healing practices than most people realize.
