Shamanism Research Paper

There are many traditions of shamanism throughout the word, which have been shaped by the people who live in unique cultures and religious communities. Mostly though a shaman is a person who allows themselves to enter a different consciousness in order to have a spiritual experience. As Stutley says, shamans “are found throughout the vast regions of Central Asia and Siberia, and to a lesser extent in Europe and other countries especially North and South America” . Some traditions focus on the eating of ritual plants or drinks, and other focus on the magic element of dance or trance states. The traditions of the shamans are influenced by the natural world where the shamans are living. For example, shamans living in the mountains might have a …show more content…
The shaman uses different rituals to develop a connection with the spirit world and help others do the same. Example of these rituals include using entheogens like mushrooms or ergot, singing music and songs, fasting, sweat lodge, and magic items like drums, hats, and others . Practices of the shaman might be to pray for the sick, do a dance at a specific time of year, or do something when something bad has happened to someone in the community. Shamans help people to feel in control of their live and have a tradition to heal or change their …show more content…
There are places in Central and South America where tourists today can do the traditional ayahuasca ceremony with shamans and have a spiritual experience, and also there are modern shamans operating in the form of the psychics, mediums, tarot etc. As Stutley says there are many beliefs in Shamanism that are common across cultures and the shaman has a role in the group. Usually the shaman must go through an initiation and learn from another shaman, and then comes into his own ability. He is then responsible to use his power wisely and have a present in the