Shamanism, a system of beliefs or practices that emphasize communication between the physical and spiritual worlds, predates the other organized religions on the planet. A tribal system that persists today in cultures without a tradition of literature, shamanism emphasizes that there are links between the human world and the world of spirits, and that practiced intermediaries known as shamans, can serve as the conduit to pass communication between them.
The shaman, sometimes called a witch doctor or spiritual healer, serves as the messenger from humans to the various spirits. The word shaman derives from the Turkic “saman” which describes a priest or priestess who uses magic to heal the sick.
Ancient humans sought explanations for events taking place in their environment. Many events, though, were inexplicable within the base of knowledge that existed at the time. It was common to attribute to unseen “spirits” blame or credit for events that seemed beyond mere human control. In such an environment, there existed those who were thought to be able to enter the spirit world and communicate with its inhabitants. These spiritual messengers, far from just healing those who were afflicted with illness, did a variety of things. The shamans were responsible for restoring the balance between the realms, and acting as mediators between humans and spirits. Shamans were also the keepers of tribal or cultural traditions, and were charged with preserving them.
Shamans performed and perform a variety of special functions, depending upon the culture or type of spirit they have to deal with. Some shamans are called upon to bless the planting to ensure a bountiful harvest, or to intercede with the spirits that inhabit the animals for a good hunt. Shamans bless newborns, or the unborn, to prevent them being cursed by the spirits. They are also called upon in some cultures to drive out evil or malevolent spirits, much like the Catholic exorcism of demons.
The Shaman’s function of preserving culture or tradition is particularly important in those cultures without a literary tradition. In the absence of writing, the story-telling of the shaman is often the only way a tribe or culture has of ensuring the transmission of knowledge from generation to generation.
The best known role of the shaman is healing. In ancient cultures, before there was knowledge of germs and viruses, illnesses were believed to be caused by evil spirits; or by the afflicted having somehow offended the spirit world. The shaman, with his or her knowledge of the spirits, and the ability to make the transit between the human and spiritual realms, is called upon to intercede with the spirits to have the ‘curse’ or illness removed from the sufferer.
Shamanism is often thought of as a primitive belief system, but as mentioned previously regarding the Catholic exorcism ceremony, a lot of shamanic beliefs have found their way into organized religion. In a sense, the idea of priests or preachers serving as the intermediaries between their flocks and their deity is an outgrowth of the pre-literature shamanism of the ancient people.
