The role of the modern shaman

As far as we know, the shaman or medicine man/woman has held a place in tribal society for thousands of years. Out of all the neo-pagan faiths that have sprung up shamanism has the 'purest' claim to an unbroken lineage; yet has that served in its favour?

In order to reduce wordage I shall refer to the various 'walkers between worlds' by the term 'shaman' only for ease, and accept that it is a term not overly liked by some. However, it is a term of my own ancestry, so I feel I can use it with honour.

The 'priest-warrior-healer' archetype and the 'walker-between-worlds' figure are motifs that are buried deep within our psyche. In the past, they were figures of both reverence and revulsion, as their journeying created the psychotic schisms necessary to function in multiple realms. The role of the shaman was not one that was aspired to by the youth of the tribe, yet it called into itself those it needed. The initiate was often sickly, and in some tribes they were epileptic; and this was seen as a sign of a 'loose spirit'. Other candidates were those who had died and come back, again possessors of a loose spirit.

Throughout the history of shamanism, and across the world, this idea of a 'loose spirit' was the underlying attribute of any candidate. The thought that they could 'detach' themselves from their body and journey with ease to the spiritual realms. In some tribes, the loosening of the 'ties that bind' were accelerated by the intake of drugs; whilst drumming, dancing and repetitive chanting could induce epileptic-like conditions.

Once the initiate had shown they could leave their body, their shamanic teacher would begin the process of identifying the hierarchy of guides, possessing spirits and local animistic deities. At this stage the initiate would never be allowed 'out on their own' and often served as helpers to the shaman so they could learn their future path. Thus is apprenticeship born.

Each spirit that the initiate is introduced to must be subdued, now this is important as far as neo-pagans go because the tendency is to ignore this process. The tendency is to believe that spirit is there to help at all times and will not harm you. Thousands of years of planetary shamanic training has shown this to be not true.

When you walk as a shaman, you are in part a warrior; but not of this world, and you are taught the ways of controlling spirit in all its manifestations. Sometimes it can take months or even years to gain the help of the hardier spirits. There has never been a researcher, or even literate shaman, that has claimed the shamanic path is easy. Our spirits are real and can hurt us, our power animals are real and can hurt us, and what we are doing is real and can hurt us.

Because of all of this there was generally one shaman to each tribe with possibly up to two apprentices at any time (in case one died). This was certainly true of my fathers people, and my father was apprenticed to his father alongside his own best friend. The shaman was responsible for the good health both spiritually and physically of the tribe, in some cases they were also responsible for the pursuit of the warriors prey.

Mircea Eliade probably wrote the most extensive scientific work on shamanism around the globe. Well worth the read and very grounding and humbling.

In the last few decades the interest in shamanism has increased with the publication of 'popular' works. The idea of shamanic paths and shamanic training have become widespread in western culture in a 'poptastic' kind of way.

There is a need for the shaman probably now more than ever, as people begin spiritual journeys unprepared for the consequences of their actions. Though the idea of the 'tribe' has changed,the role of serving hasn't and it is one of serving your own small group. A shaman must be a physical presence in their tribes life, not a metaphor or image on the ether of the Internet. They are needed physically to help, and as such are unlikely to be running around doing workshops but more likely to be working with a small 'family' group.

A lot of people ask me about becoming a shaman, and my first question is 'who will you serve?'
If they have the idea that they can become a shaman and simply toddle off to earn lots of money doing workshops and becoming famous, they are not for me.

I once met a young man who was going to medical college not because he wanted to help heal the sick, but, because there was a good living to be made in cosmetic surgery.

A true shaman doesn't sell out, doesn't do it for the money or the glory. They do it because they were born to and there is nothing they can do to get out of it, and before you argue the toss; go and ask at least 100 real shamans.

The tendency of modern popular culture is that it infects a system and then neuters that system by producing a watered down version that can be consumed by those who would never make the grade. That is what has happened to Wicca and is happening to many other sacred faiths caught up in the media headlights. My belief is the powers that be want that to happen, they want to cripple any power that can be a threat to them or that can help the masses.

There is a place for the modern shaman, it is not the market place and there is never an excuse.

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