Shamanism Course

Anne Marie Brooks

Shamanism Course

This has been extremely interesting not just because of the material and history of shamanism but because I am in the process of completing a dissertation. The dissertation will show that a shamans, religious mystics/psychics and psychotics not only exhibit similar behaviors but also have similar brain activity. The other aspect is that culture dictates how the person is viewed. Much of the information in this course confirms my theory.

I did not realize that shamans could be found all over the world. I was surprised that there were some of the first shamans in Russia. I did find it just a bit confusing in that initially the course indicated the differences between shamans, medicine men and healers. And there was obviously wide difference in whether women could be shamans or not.

There was consistency in the altered states of consciousness and personal behaviors noted in many different tribes. These same altered states of consciousness and behaviors can be found in psychics/mediums and religious mystics. The early signs of shamanism whether through birth line or from a calling are much the same. Some tribes use natural drugs found in their environment. The information provided in the history of Shamanism confirms my hypothesis that depending on where you are born will determine how you are viewed. There are cultures that value shamanism. If a young person exhibits early signs of anxiety, altered stages of consciousness, and are typical symptoms of psychosis such as visual and auditory hallucinations. Often these young people are taken by an elder or an older shaman and taught how to use these gifts and how to protect themselves and others. Many are sent on a vision quest to allow them to fully experience a shamanic episode.

Many of the very same behaviors, beliefs and altered states of consciousness are found in those who are considered religious mystics such as speaking in tongues and lying on of hands. Like with cultures that revere shamanism they are both viewed as gifted or blessed to have the abilities they have.

In the western world, we have the America Indians while there are still many shamans/healers/medicine. These individuals are still revered, trained, and accepted by their culture. If these same beliefs, behaviors and altered states of consciousness are seen in a child or adult there is quite a different reaction. Having worked in mental health my whole career I now question whether or not some of these people were what our culture refers to as psychics and were wrongly treated for a mental illness.

I learned a lot I didn’t know about Shamans and I also found a lot of material that support my hypothesis.

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