Shaman

The magician or "medicine man" of primitive tribes, with powers of healing, prophecy, or paranormal phenomena. The term is thought to derive from Tungus shaman and Sanskrit sramana (ascetic). As distinct from priests, shamans have no ritualistic knowledge, but operate rather as occult adepts. Their primary ability, at least in their Siberian setting, was the power of astral travel. The gift of shamanism is often a hereditary function, and its nature is communicated orally from one shaman to another.

Shamanism has been studied among the Eskimos and in Scandinavia, Tibet, China, Japan, Korea, Siberia, Manchuria, Mexico, Yutacan, Guatemala, and the North Pacific coast. A shamanistic performance often includes dancing, a mediumistic trance, and spirit possession. The role of the shaman (and shamaness) became the subject of a new movement in the West that began in the 1980s primarily through the work of Michael Harner and a number of popular teachers (many with Native American backgrounds) who have developed a neo-Shamanism that draws on many themes emphasized in the New Age movement. Neo-Shamanist leaders have varied: some, such as Sun-Bear, have attempted to translate traditional Native American themes into useful practice for those outside of the Native American community. Other have developed new systems claiming Native American esoteric traditions as a base (Lynn Andrews) and still others have simply taken traditional occult teachings upon which they have placed a Native American overlay.

Sources:

Andrews, Lynn V. Star Woman. New York: Warner Books, 1986.

Eliade, Mircea. Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1964.

Harner, Michael. Way of the Shaman: A Guide to Power and Healing. New York: Bantam Books, 1982.

Sun Bear. Path of Power. Spokane, Wash.: Bear Tribe Publishing, 1983.