{This is a modification of the original attempt to touch upon the topic of shamanism. The original was woefully inadequate and I am quite sure that that this rendition will possess many holes as well.}

      This is a short and quick description of shamanism and is not intended to be "definitive". My goal is to introduce some of the basic concepts of shamanism to those who may not be familiar with it.

      As with all things, response from my readers is vital. Both those new to shamanism and those who have lived it for years are encouraged to give suggestions and ask questions. This is a work in progress and as such please help me to provide the most accurate information and clear up any points where more information is needed.




The basics.

      To begin with, shamanism is not necessarily a religion; many faiths have their roots in shamanism; it is a spiritual practice and as such requires no predefined belief system. Existing shamanic cultures have a variety of social/religious tenants embedded into their religious structure, but "core shamanism" works even without these preconceptions. Shamanism is often thought to be out of place in our modern world of subway systems, supersonic planes and computers; however, shamanism has undergone a resurgence and prospers in today's world.

      At the heart of shamanism is the belief that the practitioner can discorporate his/her spirit (or consciousness if you like) and go forth to other realms in search of knowledge and power. This is normally done through the rhythmic use of percussion instruments such as the drum and rattle. In many circumstances the practitioner has a "spirit guide" who leads them to the information that they seek.




A common shamanic perspective of life

      From the shamanistic perspective the universe is comprised of spirits. Everything that has physical form also has a reflection of it in the spirit world. Humans, animals, trees, and even stones have a spirit. Illness and disease are viewed as intrusions by hostile spirits which have overcome the individuals resistance(this might sound odd, but remember that a virus is a physical object, and to the shaman it also has a spirit).

      Most modern people are familiar with the theory of evolution (the idea that all creatures evolved from a common ancestor). Shamanic cultures have viewed the world this way for thousands of years. To many shamanic peoples the only difference between humans and the other animals is in their appearance.