Neoshamanism

Neoshamanism, or Neo-Shamanism, is a term that refers to a revived shamanic practice within modern Western culture in many different forms. The prefix "neo-" refers to the fact that shamanic roots are lost in the modern civilised world, and the practice is not an organic continuation of the practices of our fathers and grandfathers (while in traditional societies this is the case).

Neoshamanism is sometimes used as a disclaimer or qualifier, where revivalists are trying to piece back together shattered systems that no longer exists as a whole due to significant changes in the original culture, often as the result of colonisation, globalisation, or genocide. Neoshamanism is not a single, cohesive belief system, but a collective term for many such philosophies. However, certain generalities may be drawn between neoshamans. Most believe in spirits and pursue contact with the "spirit-world" in altered states of consciousness which they achieve through drumming, dance, or the use of entheogens. Most systems might be described as existing somewhere on the animism/pantheism spectrum.^[1]

Many members of traditional, indignenous cultures and religions are suspicious of neoshamanism, believing it to rely too heavily on cultural appropriation, or that it is an excuse by fraudulent shamans to cover up inconsistencies in their ceremonies.^[2][3]. According to York (2001) one difference between neoshamanism and traditional shamanism is the role of fear. Neoshamanism and its new age relations tends to dismiss the existence of evil, fear, and failure. "In traditional shamanism, the shaman’s initiation is an ordeal involving pain, hardship and terror. New Age, by contrast is a religious perspective that denies the ultimately reality of the negative, and this would devalue the role of fear as well"[1].

Another possible cause observed that can make traditional shamans cautious: some Nanai shamans experienced performances on the stage as dangerous, believing that inappropriate (untimely, superfluous) invocation of the helping spirits can raise their anger.^[4]

See also

• Animism
• Core Shamanism
• Neopaganism
• New Age
• Pantheism
• Paganism
• Plastic shaman
• Shamanism
• Michael Harner
• Carlos Castaneda
• Cultural appropriation
• Noble savage

References

1. ^ Karlsson, Thomas (2002). Uthark - Nightside of the Runes. Ouroboros. ISBN 91-974102-1-7. 
2. ^ Hagan, Helene E. (September 1992). "The Plastic Medicine People Circle". Sonoma County Free Press. http://www.sonomacountyfreepress.com/features/spirg-hagan.html. 
3. ^ Hobson, G. (1978). The Remembered Earth. Red Earth Press. 
4. ^ Shaman on the Stage (Shamanism and Northern Identity) by Tatyana Bulgakova

Further reading

External links

• Society for Shamanic Practitioners (organization supporting the re-emergence of shamanism into modern, western culture)
• http://www.krupar.com/index.php?file=www/en/gallery/gallery.html&cat=21 Photos by Stanislav Krupar
• Andrei Znamenski, Cultural History of Shamanism in the West(in English, German and Russian)
• The Foundation for Shamanic Studies (Michael Harner)
• Michael Harner's Foundation for Shamanic Studies (in french)
• The Four Winds Society (Alberto Villoldo's school rooted in Peruvian shamanism and wisdom teachings)
• Institute for Contemporary Shamanic Studies (Sweet Medicine Sundance, Canada)
• Shaman Portal (the resource for all things shamanic)
• Scandinavian Center For Shamanic Studies (Jonathan Horwitz & Annette Høst)
• Francesca Dubie's 3rd Road (Wicca)
• Swedish forum on shamanism (Trolltrumman, Sweden's biggest forum on shamanism)
• Shaman on the Stage (Shamanism and Northern Identity) by Tatyana Bulgakova, writing about some Nanai shamans who experienced performances on the stage as dangerous, believing that inappropriate (untimely, superfluous) invocation of the helping spirits can raise their anger.