Introduction
Understanding Siberian shamanism
"Siberian shamanism" is not a single religion. The term refers to comparable specialists and practices, but each people has its cosmology, songs, rules of initiation and history.
Humans, animals, ancestors and spirits of the places participate in a relationshipal world.
To be retained
Four essential principles
- "Siberian shamanism" is not a single religion.
- Humans, animals, ancestors and spirits of the places participate in a relationshipal world.
- shamanism is here a relational function recognized by a community, not a universal individual technique.
- This tradition is rooted in Siberian history and cultures.
Small timeline
A tradition shaped by history
Origins and training
Humans, animals, ancestors and spirits of the places participate in a relationshipal world.
Historical developments
Several cosmic levels are often imagined, connected by a tree, a mountain or an axis.
Ritual life and teachings
Humans, animals, ancestors and spirits of the places participate in a relationshipal world.
A living and plural tradition
The disease can be interpreted as loss of soul, intrusion or rupture of a relationship, without these patterns being identical everywhere.
History and development
Humans, animals, ancestors and spirits of the places participate in a relational world. Several cosmic levels are often imagined, connected by a tree, a mountain or an axis.
The disease can be interpreted as loss of soul, intrusion or rupture of a relationship, without these patterns being identical everywhere.
Worldview, beliefs and practices
Humans, animals, ancestors and spirits of the places participate in a relational world. Several cosmic levels are often imagined, connected by a tree, a mountain or an axis.
The disease can be interpreted as loss of soul, intrusion or rupture of a relationship, without these patterns being identical everywhere.
Texts, symbols and transmission
Oral transmission, ritual objects, drums and costumes. Iron, wood, birds, cervids and cosmic tree are common, but do not have universal meaning.
The Soviet era strongly repressed these specialists; revitalizations have existed since the end of the 20th century.
What research can and cannot say
Psychology and neurosciences study trance as a human state, without severing spiritual interpretations. Western "neo-chamanism" often borrows decontextualized elements and should not be confused with Siberian traditions.
References