Haw many shamans?

Originally Posted by Archemetis

iv been told by the one shaman iv met in my life that it is also nessesary for an individual to have physically died in this lifetime to be shaman, which i didnt know and found interesting.

he completly pulled that out of his ass. Speaking of quack job shamans, i think you might have met one.

i dont know much about this fellow, but i do know that he has indeed died, and he is indeed a powerful healer.

his background made me believe his story...as he came from siberia from a family with a history of shamanism, and underwent his first initiation at the age of 5.

there were a few things about his character though that could make me question his motives, ($$$)

The shaman may appear to be a member of the culture, but hes broader, wider, deeper, and higher than the culture that created him. People go to shaman to seek advice, because he has a larger view of the culture, he understands more because he see's past the illusion.

Archemetis, are you sure he didn't mean his ego died? You wouldn't be talking to a physically dead person.

It's 6pm... do you know where your shaman is?

Originally Posted by Archemetis

iv been told by the one shaman iv met in my life that it is also nessesary for an individual to have physically died in this lifetime to be shaman, which i didnt know and found interesting.

Well, thats someone what true. I've read people who got struck by lightning and lived, or someone who got sick to the point of death and fought back and returned are said to be great shaman. This could be because of their skills and experience with trance like states, and because they have a strong soul and will to live.

Originally Posted by heron

So shamans have no personallity or seek entertainment? they sit in caves everyday of their life?

Nice stereotyping everybody. I know native shamans that have emails and make newsletters, and all kind of shit.

Granted, like I said, chances are they arent "shamans" all running around on here, but you can use such a general brush in your argument as to why.

Well actually, true shaman live in their own hut on the brink of the village and are only called upon during crisis (such as death or illness) or politics because of his wide view and knowledge that goes beyond the clan/clans. He sits next to the headmaster during decision making and returns to his hut. He is part of the culture, but he transcends the culture that created him. That is the shaman's job. That's not to say there aren't people who study shamanism, but like you said, someone can just claim to be a shaman. They must have in depth knowledge of botanical substances as well as experience dealing with hyperdimension's that occur during these trances when under the influence of such substances as ayahuasca, DMT, and psylocibin in siberian regions as well as mexico with the mushroom cults. I'd like to meet these shaman using computers, they must be interesting intellectuals from the sound of it.

It is a death experience, or near death, not real death, and that depends on the tradition. It exists in a ritual form too, depending on the tradition.

Im sure the siberian guy was after money, as most are.

and r33f3r, that is retarded, the "they live in a hut on the edge of the villiage to be true"? Goddamit man, what is this 3000 bc?

Where do true witches live? gingerbread houses in the forest?

Actually, shamanism goes back to even the South America's, which is stricken with poverty as I would think you know. I am citing from the work of Terrence Mckenna, who studies shamanism very well. And people still live like it was 3000 b.c.

What do all shaman's have to live in houses these days? Or do you gather advice from an elite shaman group who strictly live in houses and are part of modern day culture.

Originally Posted by r33f3r_m4dn3ss

What do all shaman's have to live in houses these days? Or do you gather advice from an elite shaman group who strictly live in houses and are part of modern day culture.

No, i have yet to make such absolute comments as to where shamans live, it has been you and another making such assertions.

I say yes, shamans live in huts, some live in cabins, some in teepees, some live in trailers and some live in houses. Ones residence does not determine ones connection with nature and the spirit worlds.

yes, indigenous tribal shamans live in huts, etc, but the time period in which their culture has frozen does not make them more authentic than a 21st century shaman that might actually work by day at Wal-Mart. They are no more true, and the later no more false.

i agree with you, residence doesnt determine it, but i was referring to the classic indigenous shaman and old style shamans, ones who familiar with substances and botanicals only available to the region in which they live, such as south america and siberian regions which is not necessarily somewhere with a wal-mart. unless of course your referring to native american shamans, then i agree that he probably works at a wal-mart and is still a shaman.