A deep list of Shamanism links and resources from erowid.org. This is a treasure trove of information.

Note, some of the links are dead or not updated; you can use Wayback Machine to dig them out.

Automated ChatGPT summary:

Shamanism

Shamanism is a spiritual practice found in various cultures worldwide, characterized by practitioners known as shamans who interact with the spirit world through altered states of consciousness, such as trance. Shamans serve as intermediaries between the human and spirit realms, aiming to heal, divine, and guide their communities.

Core Beliefs and Practices

  • Spiritual Intermediaries: Shamans communicate with spirits to address issues affecting individuals or the community, such as illness or misfortune. They may enter trances to journey to the spirit world, seeking guidance or healing. Source

  • Healing: Shamans often act as healers, diagnosing and treating spiritual or physical ailments believed to be caused by spiritual imbalances. They may use rituals, herbal remedies, and spiritual journeys to restore health. Source

  • Rituals and Ceremonies: Shamanic practices frequently involve rituals that include drumming, dancing, chanting, and the use of sacred objects. These ceremonies are designed to facilitate communication with the spirit world and bring about desired outcomes, such as healing or successful hunts. Source

Regional Variations

Shamanism manifests differently across cultures:

  • Siberian Shamanism: Often considered a classic example, Siberian shamans use drumming and ecstatic dancing to enter trance states, communicating with spirits for healing and divination. Source

  • Amazonian Shamanism: In the Amazon, shamans may use entheogenic plants like ayahuasca to induce altered states of consciousness, facilitating spiritual journeys and healing practices. Source

  • Korean Shamanism (Muism): In Korea, shamans, known as mudangs, perform rituals to communicate with spirits, seeking solutions to problems such as illness or misfortune. Source

Modern Context

While traditional shamanic practices have declined in some areas due to modernization and religious changes, there has been a resurgence of interest in shamanism, both within indigenous communities seeking to preserve their cultural heritage and among individuals in other societies exploring spiritual practices. Source

For a more in-depth exploration of shamanism, including its various traditions and practices, you can visit the Erowid page on shamanism: https://www.erowid.org/spirit/traditions/shamanism/shamanism.shtml