Shamanism

Shamanism is a practice where a practitioner reaches altered states of consciousness. Supposedly, the shaman perceives and interacts with a spirit world, and channels these energies into this world.^[1]

A shaman is a person regarded as having access to, and influence in, the world of good and bad spirits. They usually enter into a trance state during a ritual, and do divination and healing.^[2] To become a shaman, a person has to have had a near death experience (a "shamanic illness").^[3]

The name "shaman" comes from the Evenki people in Siberia.^[3]

Shamans play a central role in these movements, as they can be in both worlds, this one, and the world of spirits.

1. ↑ Hoppál, Mihály 2007. Is shamanism a folk religion?. Shamans and Traditions, vol 13. Bibliotheca Shamanistica. Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó. ISBN 978-963-05-8521-7
2. ↑ Oxford Dictionary Online^{[permanent dead link]}.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Stern, David. "Shamans: Masters of Ecstasy". National Geographic. Archived from the original on 17 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.