You might NOT be a shaman if...
1. Ingesting certain mushrooms, cacti, foliage or vines, and through such ingestion, talked with spirits. My own intensive study and focus on entheogens and ethnobotanicals suggests a difference between hallucination and revelation.
2. Having ancestry, near or far, of any indigenous or First Nations people. Yes, just like they where all medicine men and Cherokee princesses. *evokes Makoons*
3. Because you have shamanistic elements in your path or tradition. My tradition has lots of recipes for medicine, but that does not make me a pharmacologist.
4. Because some book made you one. Do I really need to elaborate? See: IRAB.
5. Because you talk with spirits, go on spirit journies, or otherwise follow a practice that is spirit-centric. Being in communion with the spirit world is part of many practices. Being a shaman is not.
6. Because you practice herbalism. See above.
7. Because you have animal spirits or totems that are not indigenous to North America or Europe. You do not wish to offend First Nations people by affixing that term, since even you know that not all where shamans or even uppe the term, but instead, you offend the root practices of most other people's religion.
8. Because you think you can file a church-state grievance with the government when you are busted for drug possession. I hope you fall face-first into cow dung. Fresh cow dung. Three times.
9. Because exploiting early practices, using a catchword or two, makes you feel special. The whole age = validity thing. No, you are simply exploiting very sacred and ethno-centric practices in order to authenticate your own religous concoction of which is as favorable as McWicca.
10. If you found one of the descriptions on this list offensive (other than the audacity that some would actually think such things would make them a shaman.)
Specifically, a shaman referred to a select group of north Asian (usually Siberian) proto-religous forms of priestcraft and the functions of which made that position. Shamanism, more generally speaking, is often considered an early set of practices whereby a chosen individual is invested with the authority to be a conduit between the spirit world and the people. Not only that, but such a person was often politician, judge and otherwise centric to almost all affairs within the tribe.
I would like to emphasize CHOSEN. Such a person was typically chosen early and usually by the presiding shaman. While such methods may have differed from culture to culture, a common method was through omens concerning the birth of the child or revelation given to the shaman by the spirits. Never was one a shaman because that person said so. It was a lifelong study and an apprenticeship. In many cultures, one was not officially of that position until the current passed on or became otherwise incapable of continuing the role. There were no books. In its earliest roots, writing had yet to even exist.
As per the psychedelic experience within the tribes that did engage in their use (and certainly, not all did), let's remove our own culturally-colored lenses and prejudices to best understand. The various plants and fungi (Central American) were respected and taken pure in form through a variety of methods. By whatever plant or method, the initial experience given by the ingested substance is not the end or desired result. The onset of the hallucination was considered just that- fabrications of the mind and something to overcome whereby the true revelations and communion with the spirit world would commence. It was a method to loosen the consciousness to be receptive of the unseen world. In some South America tribes, the concoction of choice was thought to be so potent that it deceived the spirits into thinking the shaman who consumed it was dead and, therefore, thought nothing of delivering the secrets of the universe to them. Simply ingesting a substance to facilitate a similar experience is not shamanism in and of itself.
Nor does ancestry have a thing to do with it. A shaman was made by his people or own shaman, not by birth or bloodline alone.
And as for shaman-like practices in modern religion- well, yes, of course. Newer religions do tend to take on bits and pieces of a previous faith. Just as Christianity has clear elements of an earlier paganism and modern paganism has touches of Christian practice, shamanic practices has also made their way into other religions. But just as neither Christianity is Paganism (or vice-versa) nor does belonging to a tradition or path that incorporates it make one a shaman. My own, of Shaktism, has a heavy dose of it in one of its arms. However, I have never heard of any Shakta calling him or herself a shaman. It is simply not a title that one can don simply because It feels right, because what you do is shaman-esque, etc. The practices are quite numerous but the qualifiers for such a title are few.
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Replies to This Discussion
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I agree with Shawn, the word shaman has grown (right or wrong I have no issue with it) to define something more then it's original meaning. As far as wither someone should call themselves a shaman... If they are practicing a "shamanic-like path" then why not?
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Permalink Reply by Dust Prophet on -
For the same reasons one should not call one's self a Wiccan for practicing a 'Wicca-like path'.
john s. said:
I agree with Shawn, the word shaman has grown (right or wrong I have no issue with it) to define something more then it's original meaning. As far as wither someone should call themselves a shaman... If they are practicing a "shamanic-like path" then why not?
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Permalink Reply by Shawn on -
Regarding this, we're talking about two different types of evolution of a word...
The word "Shaman" is actually one used in anthropology, the study of humanity, which is where it's english use comes from:
"The term shaman was a useful sort of shorthand for anthropologists. It described a certain role in society that they observed time after time in gathering-hunting cultures. They coined the term shamanism because it stood for a specific set of beliefs and practices that anthropologists began to recognize in gathering-hunting cultures around the world." Note, that while the term *did* originate in siberia (From the term "Saman," I believe, which is the male name for that type of role,) its use is world-wide now.
On the other hand, the term, "Wicca," especially in its modern mispronounciation vs. the original (which usage of died out,) was resurrected by someone to describe his own (group's?) practices, I believe. Since then, there has been pretty much a constant attempt (mostly successful now,) by people both knowingly and unknowingly, to change it's meaning.
I would say that the two terms' evolutions do not even really compare.
edit to add: I guess the other question, is whether one could find anyone from a Uralic background who would even complain, since their term, "Saman," is where the word comes from in English. The word seems much more, to me, like the word "Witch," which I believe does derive from the older "Wicce," and describes a wide range of practices (much like Shamanism does in its anthropological use.)
Yuugure said:For the same reasons one should not call one's self a Wiccan for practicing a 'Wicca-like path'.
john s. said:I agree with Shawn, the word shaman has grown (right or wrong I have no issue with it) to define something more then it's original meaning. As far as wither someone should call themselves a shaman... If they are practicing a "shamanic-like path" then why not?
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Permalink Reply by Dru on -
i shared on facebook bc i know several people who claim to be shaman. and i figured maybe this would either validate or destroy, muhahahahaha, that claim.
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Permalink Reply by Sangraal on
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Because the vast majority of people following a "shamanic-like path" follow something in accordance to one of the ten examples given above-- none of which are "shamanic" in the least bit.
john s. said:I agree with Shawn, the word shaman has grown (right or wrong I have no issue with it) to define something more then it's original meaning. As far as wither someone should call themselves a shaman... If they are practicing a "shamanic-like path" then why not?
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Permalink Reply by Daniel O'Neill (Cat wrangler) on -
I'm A guessing it's kinda Like this "Yester Day I'zz could't spell it now Today I are One"
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Permalink Reply by Craig on -
The list is all well and good, but what it really boils down to is that "shaman" is a role bestowed upon an individual as part of a community whose collective beliefs give that term its meaning. That's what a shaman is; it is not a part of an individual identity, but a group role.
But if you're going to be picky, let's be consistent and call ourselves New Agers, or post-New Agers or neo-whatevers. There's no reason to pick on the term "shaman" in exclusion (or at least none that I can think of) when there are so many anachronistic terms floating around (not the least of which is "pagan"!)
But like I said, that's if you want to be picky. I personally cannot be bothered about what other people want to call themselves.
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Permalink Reply by JaemyGem on -
What about South American pagan practices? The only word they have for what their religious leaders do is "Chaman." Their healers are "curanderos" and have some herbal overlap with the chaman.
There is a high amount of Indo-European study, redefinition, rules and restrictions, but nobody has addressed the difference when the language is not English.
Anybody?
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Permalink Reply by MJ on -
Some would ask the question, "What is in a name, for it is only a name?"
If your name is misprounounced, do you not take the time to correct the speaker?
Do you not hold value in the name given to you, or chosen by you?
Do you not take pride, in "Just a Name"?
The response, "Yes, it is only a name.
Yet, the name is mine, so please use it properly."
Thank You
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Permalink Reply by GaiaDianne on
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Yes,YES*YES* !!!
I hope it will be ok to post an article i've written on a somewhat related topic --
Plastic Shamanism, Plastic Shamans:
Why We Need to Understand The Problem
© 2009 By Gaia_d@yahoo.com ; Please don’t reproduce without permission.
There are an awful lot of mis-conceptions and mis-understandings floating around about native American spiritual paths, and many of them have been spread by NewAgers who are intrigued by (but sometimes not very knowledgeable of) these paths.
For just one example, it’s common to hear NewAgers talk about ‘Native American Religion (or Spirituality) “ -- In FACT, there were OVER 500 different Native American Nations , and each of them had DIFFERENT beliefs and practices, many of which CONFLICTED with each other. So there is no "Native American spirituality" or religion -- there are over 500 different Native American religions. We wouldn't lump together all American religions and call them "the American spirituality / religion", would we? Of course not, because we recognize that there are huge differences between the many different American religions. Similarly, we need to recognize and respect that Native Americans did NOT all believe or practice one single thing or religion.
This (racism against Native Americans) is one of the last "acceptable" forms of racism, especially found among NewAgers – it’s one of my pet peeves, so please forgive if i come on a bit strongly about it --
In fact, many Native Americans are fed up with the NewAge misconceptions and co-optation of their spirituality - -especially the tendency to sell their spiritual beliefs and practices -- or the MISTAKEN notions about them -- in hundreds of books, articles, workshops, seminars, etc. There is even a name for this phenomenon: "Plastic Shamanism", and those who practice it are called "Plastic Shamans".
(See for example, any of the following links/ sites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_shaman http://en.wikipedia.org/.../New_Age_Frauds_and_Plastic_Shamans
http://www.newagefraud.org/
http://www.williams.edu/go/native/natreligion.htm
http://muse.jhu.edu/demo/american_indian_quarterly/.../24.3aldred.html
http://www.religiousforums.com/.../19940-plastic-shamans.html
http://www.search.com/reference/Plastic_shamanHere's an excerpt from an article that explains a bit more:
"For All Those Who Were Indian In a Former Life"
From http://www.newagefraud.org/ -
Do you think you are "Indian at heart" or were an Indian in a past life? Do you admire native ways and want to incorporate them into your life and do your own version of a sweat lodge or a vision quest? Have you seen ads, books, and websites that offer to train you to be come a shaman in an easy number of steps, a few days on the weekend, or for a fee?
1. Have you really thought this all the way through? Have you thought about how native people feel about what you might want to do?
Please think about these important points before you take that fateful step and expend time, money, and emotional investment:
Native people DO NOT believe it is ethical to charge money for any ceremony or teaching. Any who charge you even a penny are NOT authentic.
Native traditionalists believe the ONLY acceptable way to transmit traditional teachings is orally and face-to-face. Any allegedly traditional teachings in books or on websites are NOT authentic.
Learning medicine ways takes decades and must be done with great caution and patience out of respect for the sacred. Any offer to teach you all you need to know in a weekend seminar or two is wishful thinking at best, fraud at worst.
Most of these FRAUDULENT operators are not the slightest bit reputable. Some, such as Robert "Ghostwolf" AKA Robert Franzone and Forrest Carter, have actually been convicted of fraud. Some are sexual predators who prey upon their followers. "Sun Bear" AKA Vincent La Duke was a serial rapist who was facing numerous charges when he died, including the rape of girls as young as fourteen.
Women should be extremely wary of any " teacher" who claims sex is part of an alleged "ceremony." Most of these FRAUDULENT operators have been caught making complete fantasies of what many whites WISH natives were like. Another way to say it is that they are outright liars and hoaxers. Some, like Carlos Castaneda, were exposed as long as three decades ago.
You probably are asking yourself, "Aren't any of these people for real and a good way for me to learn?"
We (native people and our supporters) realize that most of you do not know any better, at least not yet, but we hope you learn about these matters from more reputable sources and in a more respectful manner.
If it says "New Age" or "Shamanism" on the cover, it's not a good source for learning about natives. Find out which authors can be trusted before you pay money to operators who harm us all.
2. Please understand the following points about native spiritual ways:
Native belief systems are COMMUNAL, not focused on the individual's faith like Christianity, and are TRIBE-SPECIFIC. There is NO "generic Indian" form of spirituality. There are as many differences from tribe to tribe as there are between Hinduism and the Church of England. No one would think of teaching those two as the same and calling them "Indo-European," yet many of these FRAUDULENT operators teach a thrown together mishmash of bits and pieces of different beliefs.
TRADITIONAL elders are very cautious about changing rituals and mixing different customs, it does happen, of course, but only after lengthy discussions that can take decades. Fraudulent operators are very casual and haphazard in what they do, in a manner that shows they have no understanding of or respect for the sacred.
TRADITIONAL elders DO NOT believe that just any ceremony can be done by anyone who feels like it. It's that same caution and respect for the sacred. Yet these fraudulent operators will let anyone do their inaccurate version of a ceremony if they have the money. Vision quests, for example, are intended for young boys age 12 to 14, but boys don't have much money, so these fraudulent operators sell "quests" for hundreds or thousands to mostly middle-aged men and women.
There is also the matter of telling people they can be shamans and charging them for it. If you were interested in Judaism, would you pay money to someone who said he could make you a rabbi in just one weekend seminar? If someone did this and then claimed Jewish objections were foolish, we would recognize he was anti-Semitic. Think about the lack of respect these operators show to native people and beliefs, and to their own followers, by defrauding people.
3. Native people DO NOT use the label "Shaman."
[GAIA’s NOTE: That’s because they each have their own word for their spiritual practices, and the people who led them, based on their own language!]
Think also about how it makes it harder for natives and whites to get along when whites have been given an untrue picture of native cultures. We have to learn to get along and we can't do that as long as whites give support to operators who push a fraudulent version of what we are like.
We (native people and our supporters) realize that most of you do not know any better, at least not yet, but we hope you learn about these matters from more reputable sources and in a more respectful manner. If it says New Age or Shamanism on the cover, it’s not a good source for learning about Natives. Find out which authors can be trusted before you pay money to operators who harm us all.
Any offer to teach you all you need to know in a weekend seminar or two is wishful thinking at best, fraud at worst. Most of these fraudulent operators are not the slightest bit reputable.
Please read the following article on “PROTECTING TRADITIONS: NCAI Statement, From Chief Arvol Looking horse, To the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) 11/12/2002:
http://www.newagefraud.org/olh2.html
I think if we want to be truly respectful of Native Americans and Native American religions, we need to take this to heart, and AVOID perpetuating the misconceptions and mis-representations, and avoid falling for them ourselves.
Whenever someone makes some statement about "Native American spirituality" we need to make it clear that there is NOT a single "Native American spirituality", there are HUNDREDS.
And we need to insist on better, more factual information instead of romantic, idealistic stereotypes and fantasies. We need to STOP perpetuating the use of abusive, stereotypical images -- like the buxom "Indian Maidens" in skimpy outfits (which would be considered immodest and inappropriate for many Tribes) with impossibly long flowing (fresh-from-the-curler) hair, or the bare-chested handsome "Warriors" in appropriately heroic stance, overlooking the (fill in the blank: prairie, mountain, desert, river, stream) with the requisite feathers in their hair, or better yet, in "War bonnets" --
These are as offensive to Native Americans as "blackface" minstrel shows or the old "Amos-n-Andy" are to Black / African-Americans.
PLEASE take the time and trouble to read at least a few of the articles linked in this Message, out of respect and consideration for All Native Americans.
Thanks and Blessings -
~Gaia
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