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[[File:Shaman.jpg|400px|thumb|The main shaman of Olkhon - Valentin Hagdaev]] | [[File:Shaman.jpg|400px|thumb|The main shaman of Olkhon - Valentin Hagdaev]] | ||
A '''shaman''' is a religious practitioner who interacts with the spirit world through altered states of consciousness, such as trance. The goal of this is usually to direct spirits or spiritual energies into the physical world for the purpose of healing, [[divination]], or to aid human beings in some other way. | A '''shaman''' is a religious practitioner who interacts with the spirit world through altered states of consciousness, such as [[channeling|trance]]. The goal of this is usually to direct spirits or spiritual energies into the physical world for the purpose of healing, [[divination]], or to aid human beings in some other way. | ||
Beliefs and practices categorized as "shamanic" have attracted the interest of scholars from a variety of disciplines, including anthropologists, archaeologists, historians, religious studies scholars, philosophers and psychologists. | Beliefs and practices categorized as "shamanic" have attracted the interest of scholars from a variety of disciplines, including anthropologists, archaeologists, historians, religious studies scholars, philosophers and psychologists. | ||
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===Drugs=== | ===Drugs=== | ||
An entheogen ("generating the divine within") is a psychoactive substance used in a religious, shamanic, or spiritual context. Entheogens have been used in a ritualized context, in a number of different cultures, possibly for thousands of years. Examples of substances used by some cultures as entheogens include: peyote, psilocybin and Amanita muscaria (fly agaric) mushrooms, uncured tobacco, cannabis, ayahuasca, and [[LSD]]. | An [[recreational drug|entheogen]] ("generating the divine within") is a psychoactive substance used in a religious, shamanic, or spiritual context. Entheogens have been used in a ritualized context, in a number of different cultures, possibly for thousands of years. Examples of substances used by some cultures as entheogens include: [[peyote]], [[psilocybin]] and ''Amanita muscaria'' (fly agaric) mushrooms, uncured tobacco, cannabis, ayahuasca, and [[LSD]]. | ||
Entheogens also have a substantial history of commodification, especially in the realm of spiritual tourism. For instance, countries such as Brazil and Peru have faced an influx of tourists since the psychedelic era beginning in the late 1960s, initiating what has been termed "ayahuasca tourism." | Entheogens also have a substantial history of commodification, especially in the realm of spiritual tourism. For instance, countries such as Brazil and Peru have faced an influx of tourists since the psychedelic era beginning in the late 1960s, initiating what has been termed "ayahuasca tourism." | ||
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==Modern shamans== | ==Modern shamans== | ||
In the 20th century, non-Indigenous Westerners involved in counter-cultural movements, such as hippies and the New Age created modern magico-religious practices influenced by their ideas of various Indigenous religions, creating what has been termed neoshamanism or the neoshamanic movement. It has affected the development of many [[paganism|neopagan]] practices, as well as faced a backlash and accusations of cultural appropriation, exploitation and misrepresentation when outside observers have tried to practice the ceremonies of, or represent, cultures to which they do not belong. | In the 20th century, non-Indigenous Westerners involved in counter-cultural movements, such as hippies and the [[New Age]] created modern magico-religious practices influenced by their ideas of various Indigenous religions, creating what has been termed neoshamanism or the neoshamanic movement. It has affected the development of many [[paganism|neopagan]] practices, as well as faced a backlash and accusations of cultural appropriation, exploitation and misrepresentation when outside observers have tried to practice the ceremonies of, or represent, cultures to which they do not belong. | ||
Native Americans in the United States do not call their traditional spiritual ways "shamanism". However, according to Richard L. Allen, research and policy analyst for the Cherokee Nation, they are regularly overwhelmed with inquiries by and about fraudulent shamans, aka ("plastic medicine people"). He adds, "One may assume that anyone claiming to be a Cherokee 'shaman, spiritual healer, or pipe-carrier', is equivalent to a modern day medicine show and snake-oil vendor." | Native Americans in the United States do not call their traditional spiritual ways "shamanism". However, according to Richard L. Allen, research and policy analyst for the Cherokee Nation, they are regularly overwhelmed with inquiries by and about fraudulent shamans, aka ("plastic medicine people"). He adds, "One may assume that anyone claiming to be a Cherokee 'shaman, spiritual healer, or pipe-carrier', is equivalent to a modern day medicine show and snake-oil vendor." | ||
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[[Category:Religious Concepts]] | [[Category:Religious Concepts]] | ||
[[Category:Esoteric Vocations]] | [[Category:Esoteric Vocations]] | ||
[[Category:Eastern Religions]] | |||