Changes

* The shaman can employ [[trance]] inducing techniques to incite visionary ecstasy.

* The shaman can employ [[trance]] inducing techniques to incite visionary ecstasy.

* The shaman's spirit can leave the [[body]] to enter the [[supernatural]] world to search for answers.

* The shaman's spirit can leave the [[body]] to enter the [[supernatural]] world to search for answers.

* The shaman evokes animal images as spirit guides, [[omen]]s, and message-bearers. Shamanism is based on the premise that the visible world is pervaded by invisible forces or spirits which affect the lives of the living.[http://www.kirasalak.com/Peru.html] In contrast to organized religions like [[animism]] which are led by priests and which all members of a society practice, shamanism requires individualized knowledge and special abilities. Shaman operate outside established [[religion]]s, and, [[tradition]]ally, they operate alone. Shaman can gather into associations, as Indian tantric practitioners have done.

* The shaman evokes animal images as spirit guides, [[omen]]s, and message-bearers. Shamanism is based on the premise that the visible world is pervaded by invisible forces or spirits which affect the lives of the living.[https://www.kirasalak.com/Peru.html] In contrast to organized religions like [[animism]] which are led by priests and which all members of a society practice, shamanism requires individualized knowledge and special abilities. Shaman operate outside established [[religion]]s, and, [[tradition]]ally, they operate alone. Shaman can gather into associations, as Indian tantric practitioners have done.

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

==Function==

==Function==

Shaman perform a plethora of functions depending upon the society wherein they practise their art: healing;[http://www.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/changing/journey/healing.html] or leading a [[sacrifice]] preserving the [[tradition]] by [[storytelling]] and songs; [[fortune-telling]]; acting as a ''psychopomp'' (literal meaning, “guide of souls”). In some cultures, a shaman may fulfill several functions in one person.  

Shaman perform a plethora of functions depending upon the society wherein they practise their art: healing;[https://www.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/changing/journey/healing.html] or leading a [[sacrifice]] preserving the [[tradition]] by [[storytelling]] and songs; [[fortune-telling]]; acting as a ''psychopomp'' (literal meaning, “guide of souls”). In some cultures, a shaman may fulfill several functions in one person.  

The [[necromancer]] in Greek mythology might be considered a shaman as the necromancer could rally spirits and raise the dead to utilize them as slaves, soldiers and tools for divination.

The [[necromancer]] in Greek mythology might be considered a shaman as the necromancer could rally spirits and raise the dead to utilize them as slaves, soldiers and tools for divination.

The functions of a shaman may include either guiding to their proper abode the souls of the dead (which may be guided either one-at-a-time or in a cumulative group, depending on culture), and/or curing (healing) of ailments. The ailments may be either purely physical afflictions -- such as disease, which may be cured by flattering, threatening, or wrestling the disease-spirit (sometimes trying all these, sequentially), and which may be completed by displaying some supposedly extracted token of the disease-spirit (displaying this, even if "fraudulent", is supposed to impress the disease-spirit that it has been, or is in the process of being, defeated, so that it will retreat and stay out of the patient's body) --, or else mental (including psychosomatic) afflictions -- such as persistent terror (on account of some frightening experience), which may be likewise cured by similar methods.  

The functions of a shaman may include either guiding to their proper abode the souls of the dead (which may be guided either one-at-a-time or in a cumulative group, depending on culture), and/or curing (healing) of ailments. The ailments may be either purely physical afflictions -- such as disease, which may be cured by flattering, threatening, or wrestling the disease-spirit (sometimes trying all these, sequentially), and which may be completed by displaying some supposedly extracted token of the disease-spirit (displaying this, even if "fraudulent", is supposed to impress the disease-spirit that it has been, or is in the process of being, defeated, so that it will retreat and stay out of the patient's body) --, or else mental (including psychosomatic) afflictions -- such as persistent terror (on account of some frightening experience), which may be likewise cured by similar methods.  

Usually in most languages a different term, other than the one translated "shaman", is applied to a religious official ("priest") leading sacrificial rites, or to a reconteur ("sage") of traditional lore; there may be more of an overlap in functions (with that of a shaman), however, in the case of an interpreter of omens or of dreams.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaman]

Usually in most languages a different term, other than the one translated "shaman", is applied to a religious official ("priest") leading sacrificial rites, or to a reconteur ("sage") of traditional lore; there may be more of an overlap in functions (with that of a shaman), however, in the case of an interpreter of omens or of dreams.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaman]

==See also==

==See also==

*'''''[[Paper 90 - Shamanism, Medicine Men and Priests|Shamanism, Medicine Men and Priests]]'''''

*'''''[[Paper 90 - Shamanism, Medicine Men and Priests|Shamanism, Medicine Men and Priests]]'''''

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: Religion]]

[[Category: Religion]]