The AWFUL History of Shamanism - A story of Colonization, Exploitation and Cultural Appropriation
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- Опубліковано 12 лип 2024
- This weeks video is a very important one. I'm going over the awful history of the terms shamanism and shaman - a story full of colonization, exploitation and cultural appropriation.
Resources:
Das Rätsel der Schamanin - Harald Meller & Kai Michel
Shamans: Siberian Spirituality and the Western Imagination - Ronald Hutton
The Beauty of the Primitive: Shamanism and the Western Imagination - Andrei A. Znamenski
Shamanism in Siberia: Russian Records of Indigenous Spirituality - Andrei A. Znamenski
The Conquest of a Continent: Siberia and the Russians Hardcover - W. Bruce Lincoln
Plastic Shamans and Astroturf Sun Dances: New Age Commercialization of Native American Spirituality - Lisa Aldred
The Rise of the White Shaman as a New Version of Cultural Imperialism - Gary Hobson
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00:00 - Intro
03:38 - The first image of the shaman as a priest of the devil
10:18 - Russias Colonization of Siberia
12:45 - Exploitation during the Enlightenment
14:47 - Enemy of the working class during the Soviet Union
17:43 - A fetishised, culturally devoid new form of shamanism
28:12 - A summary
30:57 - Where do we go from here?
I am from Mongolia and we have a long history of Shamanism. It is believed to be our ancestral religion, but we do not know when we started Shamanism. During the influence of Manj era our religion was pushed and buddhism was booming at that time, but now days we are back into our religion and almost every household has Shamans. I dont know much details but I know that you have to have a mark to be Shaman. Not anyone can be a Shaman, you have to have a mark from the heavens, and only that person's ancestor's spirit is allowed to come down from the heavens to the Shaman's body. I have been to many Shamans and the experience is very controversal, yet very unique. Our family do not hava a Shaman but my husband's family does. Usually the ancestral spirits that come down are great great great great (I dont how many greats) grandfathers or grandmothers. And when they talk we no not understand the language because of the time period they lived in. Again the experience is very unique. Sorry for my grammar 😅😅, if you are interested more about our Shamanic culture please let me know.
Have you ever heard of that "mark from the heavens" being (or looking like) epilepsy?
Such a great topic! Everyone touts themselves as a shaman, and i find that so uncomfortable. It's so watered down now, and im sure it came from a very important indigenous position.
well these days, every second person on the internet thinks they're a witch or psychic, even when they have not a single spiritual ability. In fact, it's harder to find a person who does NOT claim to have magical powers, supernatural guides, etc, than the other way around.
This was an eye opener. I was so surprised to hear this I wanted to double check the word "shaman" in the Oxford English Dictionary. Yup, Russian word. Crazy. The word has definitely been usurped by so many to mean something else, including indigenous peoples trying to explain their practices. Clearly, most people have no idea of the etymology, and I'm sure other people just don't care. Not a word I used much, but something I will now avoid given its tragic history. Nice research and well done. 👍
What drives me insane on top of that is that shamanism is used a lot when talking about the spiritual work of our prehistoric ancestors. I received a shaman's oracle based on the “ancient shamanic knowledge” of our prehistoric ancestors, and I couldn't believe how bad the whole deck was. It used outdated and long debunked scientific theories from the 60s and 80s (The deck was published in 2017!!!) The entire deck and book are not cited once! The complete archeological context was missing. Culture reference missing. The fk time period was completely ignored. And still...it was sold as this ancient, mysterious shamanistic knowledge. I got so angry I'm still thinking about making a video debunking all of it!!
Yeah it seems like when it comes to shamanism a lot of the time people don’t look back further than maybe the 70s 🥲
Do it! I’d love to see this video. 😱😍
Great topic and so important to acknowledge the really terrible history of colonization and exploitation. We need a better set of words for these practices, most people I meet think 'shamanism' refers to the indigenous practices of North and South America, not Siberia.
Perhaps ironically, just as in witchcraft spaces, you can see those who have worked to master these core techniques and have formed networks and connections to work for their communities and you also unfortunately see those who are grifters, who by their nature grab more attention.
It's a mess without an easy solution. But an important step is to be clear the problems with describing things as 'shamanism'. Hopefully better terms will arise in common usage rooted in a clearer understanding of the history.
Agreed! I don’t really have a problem with people calling these practices shamanic practices as long as they’re aware of what that actually means… we just don’t have another word for it. I’d love to just invent one and force everyone to use it 🤣🤣
@@TheNorseWitchyou absolutely should lol. I thing lots of people already contextualise their use of the word shaman, often a case of people doing better once we know more. Harner and Eliade were academics and looked on as reliable sources in their day, as I suppose was Margaret Murray too. Personally I believe Harner meant well, looking for an underlying set of techniques to unify spirit/trance/ecstatic methodologies, but there's no ignoring all the harm our Western commercialism has done.
Yeah I definitely don’t believe that Harner and Eliade acted out of bad intent! Back in the days people were just a little bit less sensitive when it comes to other peoples cultures 😅
It is so sad how many times humanity has done this throughout history and that it is still happening in different ways today. When will it ever end?! It sounds very similar to the "Celts" and Druids along with many other cultures and indiginous peoples and their practices. It is just heartbreaking and really just feels hopeless when modern people try to connect with their ancestral, cultural and spirital practices. So much has been lost and that can't be replaced. Thank you for doing a thorough job researching this topic and sharing your findings. As sad and unfortunate as this is, we need to understand the reality. Also, completely off the subject, but I absolutely love your tattoo artwork. It is just beautiful. I am not always the biggest tattoo fan and I do not have any myself, however, I can certainly appreciate beautiful artwork when I see it. I like your tattoo artwork because first of all, oak leaves, acorns, plants and cats, but also the clarity and colors, shading and the artisitc style are just superb in my humble opinion! Thank you again for your work, dedication and contribution.
I really wish games (RPGs, computer games, etc) would move away from using this language. And games take their cues from anthropology and modern western magical writings. So many levels to this.
Thank you for this video!
I am so grateful that you are among the many brave folks within the modern spiritual community to broach this topic. Anytime I bring up these problems it is never well received. Also, I didn't know about the verb usage of "Shaman". In the witchcraft community specifically, many of us use some type of ecstatic state in our communion with the spirits of the Otherworld (during workings, divination, devotion, etc.) Among the terms used to describe these states are hedge riding, crossing the hedge, spirit flight, astral flight, journeying, or trance. I get the impression that the New Age community has repackaged these concepts and presented a more "enlightened" version that could be served to an "edgier" crowd to widen their profit scope and thus they themselves have become the grifters. Thanks for the inspiration to revisit this conversation.
I’ve always assumed that genuine Shamans are chosen by their community…..that it’s not supposed to be a self appointed title 🤷🏻♀️
I’ve never been able to take seriously anyone who either isn’t from an indigenous culture, or hasn’t been trained by an indigenous culture in person, when they call themselves a Shaman. It just doesn’t feel authentic to me.
Very thought promoting video thank you. I hadn’t realised the term came from just one tribe in Siberia.
Got my gummy bears ready! 🐻 love the intro already sister 😊❤
Well done! You have given the best historic analysis I have heard and I have been interested in this topic for a long time. The topic of nature spirituality, I hate the term "shamanism, but I do not know the right term, really is depressing. It is important to note that cultural appropriation, fetishism and the colonialization of indigenous traditions is still going strong. Unfortunately. A lot of this is due to the New Age "experts", and Michael Harners's ignorance of indigenous traditions. It is important to understand that Michael Harner authenticated Carlos Castenada's work. And Castenada authenticated Harner's work. Castenada admitted that he made up everything he wrote about and made a lot of money doing it. Harner was an anthropologist who did not grow up in an indigenous community, and did not have any real cultural context for his standardized version of shamanism, He got a lot of things wrong and he ignored some things which indigenous people in North America consider very dangerous. His arrogance in teaching and commodifying the practice of so called "core shamanism" which he really did not understand in the first place has led to a lot more appropriation of indigenous traditions. This is very problematic for First Nations people here in North America who are really struggling to hold onto their own spiritual traditions and facing problems of the exploitation of their own Medicine People as well as destruction and attacks from evangelical so called christian's. The demonization of indigenous culture is still going on thanks to the evangelicals. Many indigenous Elders are alarmed about the destruction of their spiritual traditions and the damage this is doing to the very foundations of their cultural beliefs. I am a non indigenous person who grew up in an indigenous community of Inuit and Dene people in the Canadian Arctic and I have been interested in both indigenous and European spiritual traditions for a long time, and your history of exploitation in Siberia really resonates with me. I have seen documentaries of Michael Harner's students from his Foundation of Shamanic Studies going across the Americas and Europe teaching so called "shamanism" and doing ceremonies that mock and insult the ceremonies of indigenous North Americans. These supposed experts in "shamanic" traditions are completely unaware that they are mocking the traditions of First Nations people. The other thing I saw that was really cringeworthy was of "shamans" from Harner's school in Ireland teaching native Irish people "shamanism" to help them get in touch with their own ancient traditions. As someone of Irish decent this was ludicrous. The propaganda of the Russian Empire in Siberia was mirrored by Caesar writing about the savagery of the Druids in his Conquest of Gaul 2000 years age. Anti Celtic propaganda. While Irish mythology has a rich tradition of journeys to the Otherworld, Christianity wiped out the ancient gods of the Irish landscape long ago. Many still feel the loss. Seeing Irish people claim that this process was helping them connect with their ancient roots while chanting and drumming in a ceremony clearly misappropriated from North American indigenous people was funny and sad at the same time. There are some aspects of Harner's "shamanism" that First Nations people here have a real problem with. The most obvious is that in their tradition a healer or Medicine person, as you said works for the community, and never to make money. The New Age "experts" who teach and work on self development and charge high prices are both corrupt and greedy in indigenous terms. In my view the whole western concept of learning a skill to gain and sell expertise in spiritualty and healing is based on the exploitative abuse of power. That in itself is a form of cultural imperialism that says that everything in the landscape can be exploited by people whenever they choose. That is a dangerous concept in this day and age`. The idea of power`hierarchy, and power over other beings, has to go. The other big problem with New Age "shamanism" is that It messes with traditions and practices which are culturally specific and outsiders do mot understand. My sister speaks fluent Inuktitut and her husband did practice "shamanism". She lived in an Inuit community for more than fifty years and she says she would not presume to understand Inuit cosmology. In that and most other indigenous traditions in North and South America, secret teachings are never never shared with outsiders. Especially non indigenous people. Outsiders can never understand these traditions because they did not grow up in that culture. Who would give their secrets to their colonial masters. There is no core shamanism. All practices are culturally specific and incomprehensible to other cultures. "Shamans" and Medicine people spend their whole lives learning how to navigate the spirit world so outside experts who claim to have been taught to be shamans in months or a few short years are full of shit. Harner and Castenada were delusional and never really understood the traditions they were supposedly taught. Being able to make something up and extrapolate from what you read does not make you either authentic or an expert. You and I could make up stuff and package it in a believable way and be very convincing. Maybe we could even sell it on Oprah, but that is just not ethical. This is just a continuation of the cultural imperialism that is still doing so much damage to the people the information was stolen from. Very destructive at a time when indigenous people are working hard to preserve their culture and build a strong positive identity. Pretendians have done big damage in North America . The other thing to consider from a First Nations view is that "shamanism" is dangerous. My sister told me about a man in her Inuit community who was initiated into "shamanism" by spending six days underwater in the Arctic. Some initiates do not survive. Working with spirts is a dangerous proposition and partnership with spirits and animal spirits often does not go well. Who is controlling Who? This can lead to serious mental illness as well as physical danger. Harners teaching does not seriously consider the dangers of 'shamanic' prasctices. We all want a spiritual connection with nature and deeper meaning in our lives but we need to develop new systems that are not appropriated from other people. European ancient knowledge may be lost but we can learn from nature herself if we can focus on direct connection with the natural world. Have to let go of the need to interpret what our experience means to us and just learn from nature. I do this by healing the landscape through water using Reikii. Everything around us is aware of us and what we are, while we know little about the network that we are a small part of. I would love you to respond!
You are wise and enlightened, thank you for this. Please keep sharing your wisdom.
My father is German, my mother was Belarus/Siberian (Tuva), so you could imagine the "war' I've seen in attempts to follow the prompts of my soul in order to maintain some tradition to pass down to my future ones.
It's snowing out, a perfect day to make a hot coffee and listen to you all day.
Thank you so much for this! ❤ It was so interesting! It sadly didn’t surprise me, it’s usually what humans do to things they don’t understand unless it benefits them in some way 😭💔 such a shame that none of it was properly documented and at least some artifacts kept just for historical reference that the descendants of that tribe could piece bits back together with, along with the stories people surely passed down from that generation and maybe even the odd techniques? It’s just so sad when things get wiped out and lost completely 😭💔 I always thought it was a widespread name for a kind of trance using spiritual practitioner, so it was so interesting to learn it all came from just one little tribe in Siberia! Thank you so much for sharing this with us 🥰❤️❤️😘😘 xxxx
Thank you for the positive feedback 🥰 I was very worried I’d get a ton of backlash
Thank you for this!!! I knew I never wanted to use "shaman" as a title for myself because of the history of it. But this video was super informational and helpful. Thank you for your bravery in sharing this stuff, I know it can be controversial but I think it's super important for people to hear.
I knew the term and people claiming to be shamans was problematic but I'm so glad you explained not only why but how it started. Thank you for this in depth lesson, I hope more people watch it and learn from you!
I haven't reached past the chapter on Enlightenment yet, but this all sounds awfully familiar. It's like hearing the song "The Shaman and the Thief" by Moddi and Mari Boine, about the Sámi people clashing with Norwegian Christian colonizers back in the days. The song's based on an old Sámi song that was gathered by a priest in the early 1800s. Part of the lyrics is literally "shaman, you're a fraud". And the most hard-hitting lyrics: "Shaman, old fool. / Times change and so shall you. / They will burn your house down and spit at your name." Of course we have our own word, "noiaidi", but translated to English we get "shaman", with all its flawed history.
I'm nearing the end of the video now. It's eerie how the history of the Siberian shamans is mirrored in the history of Sámi noaidis. Tens of thousands of drums were burned. The noaidi died out during the 17th century, according to Wikipedia. Nowadays, Sámi people want to reclaim what's been lost, and the only way of doing that is through Michael Harner and Neo-shamanism. I once tried reading a book by a "Sámi shaman" to gain some knowledge about my ancestry from my own people. He was citing Harner in his sources. Sigh. It's sad. It's really sad.
It’s so sad, this seems to be the same kind of history wherever you look. Anywhere white people went and clashed with the natives it’s the same deal 😭
Given this history, its so frustrating to me that native american and native central american practitioners are called shamans by everyday people. I know my family comes from central america and that my family has mayan heritage, and Ive taken it at face value when Ive been told my family had shamans and practiced brujeria. This knowledge makes me determined to actually look into the true practices and historical context of my ancestors without just skimming over their beliefs.
That would be amazing to see what the traditions and history of your family was and potentially still is.
As someone with a what would be considered an extensive lived traditional and neoshamanic background and uses “psycho-shamanic” not as a title but as a method of shadow integration. I’ve been diving deep into the origins myself and this video was well researched and I’m attempting to remove it from my own work. I had already moved out of the “healer” role and into more of a space holder, however the way you really painted this was exactly as I suspected. I’m reading Jung and Shamanism in dialogue right now and coming from the shamanic side it really does make sense as they use Eliads work a lot! Thanks for speaking up about this. I’m curious which other words would describe my Ritual Shadow Integration…. But perhaps this eclectic Psycho-Witch just shifted ;) thanks everyone for integrating the shadow!
The way this comment was structured gave me great clarity as to how the referenced concepts connect with each other.
I'm an Uyghur,Tatar and Turkish Turk. Shamanism is a culture to belong Turks and Native Americans . Shamans are our storytellers, religious leader, teachers, healers of our society. Our first religion and still most of the part our society believes is Tengrism. We have a main god which is Gök Tengri. The religions name is Tengrism. The howling part is related to it is believed that we Turkic people come from mix of human and wolfs. Also Russians didn't do those things only to Siberian Turks, they did same things to the Tatars and Khazak Turks too. In our culture for being select as a Shaman , you need to pass couple of tests. Also Shaman is not a verb. It's the name given to that person who chosen. Also we use name "kam". Generally shamans select by among women but if a man is chosen to be shaman, they must wear women clothes cause we have a woman centered culture. We still have shamans btw. Like Dukha Turks which lives in Mongolia, they still have shamans because they're still believing Tengrism. Also it is not only use by a specific tribe. We still have lots of shamans in all around the world. We have a gathering every year in Hungary and those gatherings lead by a shaman. I just want to give some context. Have good day!
This is so interesting, thank you!
Question: do you use the term shaman in your native language as the word for your practitioners? Or do you have a seperate term? I think that’s important nuance here, because i didn’t intend with this video to give the impression that there exist no practitioners like the Evenki shamans in other cultures, only that the word šamán was specific to the Evenki people. That’s what my sources said. But it’d be great to know of course if that word is actually also used by other cultures for their practitioners! ☺️
@@TheNorseWitch Well the point is Evenki people are Turks too and yes we're using the word " shaman" still with word " kam" as well. There is no problem for us to use it. It can confuse people sometimes that all of us originated from Central Asia and it includes Siberia too. We parted to tribes inside of us but it happens only when we are in that region minority group. I hope it make sense.
@yggdrasil148 Haha yeah I am actually pretty confused now, do you happen to have a good resource on the different tribes and groups? Because all of the resources I can find right now say that the Evenki people are Tungusic, not Turkic, so now I’m confused and I really want to read more deeply I to it!
@@TheNorseWitch I don't know any English resources but I looked at couple of resources that there is still a discussion about the word "shaman" is it Turkic orianted or Tungusic. The origin is of the is not clear and I looked up again and I obviously confused because they are leaving in a Turks dominated region. Well we're using same word but what is written that it's not clear when we began to use " shaman" but what your sources describes are what we have been doing for at least three thousand years. Also I don't know is it important but my resources say that we began to use " shaman" word later. The Chinese written resources from 5th century(AC) says we were firstly using word " kam". But we're using word " shaman" word for same thing. obviously there is a chaos because of the lack of written sources. So sorry for the misinformation. But you can find usage of the word "shaman" in all Turkic countries. When we're translating to the English or other languages we're directly using word "shaman" but nothing else. Also thank you for that you pointed out the colinization of Siberia. Yakutia is a country in Siberia and they are my people . Thank you again for pointing out the situation.
@yggdrasil148 Thank you SO much for the in-depth reply! I‘m not taking that for granted! ❤️ I think I will buy a couple of books on the general history of the area, it’s something we’re not taught in school and I think it’s so fascinating! Especially how far the Turkic people are spread over the world and how many people speak Turkic languages! And yeah a lot of the times the etymology of specific words is complicated and hard to pin down 😅
Thank you for researching this and sharing your knowledge.
I am sick of all the fake people that self appoint themselves as gurus and shamens healers and such. They read a few books and think they are otherworldly.
Interesting to see how the specific verb from the one distinct culture became so prevalent in New age culture. Although many of the practices in tribal cultures globally are often quite similar, it would be good to have a less tarnished phrase to describe what we now call “Shamanic” practices. We really need a better term to describe the practices in a modern context, because the “core” practices themselves are relevant and useful for spiritual growth, even without the cultural contexts. We need to give space for the people who have existing living languages for their own cultures and practices as well, rather than just lumping them under the term “Shaman” and thinking that is ok
Thank you for this excellent video. I respect your straight-talking knowledge, and hearing this summary of the awful events helps to solidify how I've been feeling already about using the term. I have used it, sort of, referring to myself occasionally as a shamanic traveller, but always cautiously, wanting to distance myself from cultural appropriation. Now I see that the distancing isn't possible. I'm not a healer anyway. Not a community practitioner. My practice that I occasionally tagged with the term is more accurately referred to as journeying in the Otherworld. Hedge riding is another name that I'm more happy with. Now, though, I definitely won't use the word shamanic. Thank you. I appreciate your work.
That’s funny, that’s exactly my experience with the term. I found that what I do is more accurately describes as European witchcraft practices (working with spirits and going on spirit flight), but for some reason whenever people talk about this it’s usually referred to as shamanic practices, although these practices exist in lots of traditions and cultures without any tie to actually shamanism
Its such a hard conversation. I do use the terminology "Norse Shamanism" as a descriptive way to explain WHAT I do... same with "Völva."
BUT yes.... those words are sooo abused, appropriated, etc.
Love all you do💋. ❤
I remember reading a book about “Celtic shamanism” called Fire in the Head and while I thought parts were well written I was confused as to why the author felt the need to call it shamanism. I think it was one of those button words that everyone wanted to use for awhile.
I have exactly the same feeling about a looooot of words. It has become a buzzword put on a lot of practices that are not shamanism…
This was fascinating. I’m in America, and we have our own horrible history of exploiting and killing our indigenous peoples. We also did what we could to strip them of their histories, cultures, and languages. I only recently learned the history of the term shaman once I became a Heathen. It was either a video by Arith Harger or Ocean Keltoi. The term shaman is used here in America to describe Native American spiritual practitioners. I had no idea the term originated in Siberia. It is absolutely heartbreaking 💔 to me how colonial powers obliterated indigenous peoples left and right, and when you pointed out that the last actual Siberian shamans were eradicated at the same time it was being appropriated and fetishized in the west, I was stunned by that irony. Absolutely great video. It makes me want to learn German just so I can read that book ❤. On an unrelated note, do you have a video or other social media post that covers your stunning ink? If not, possible video topic? I’d love to know especially about any of it that spiritual significance, but whoever your artists are, they are immensely gifted. Take care.
They say that words are simply fingers pointing at the moon, but often all we see are the fingers. Worst still we try to gouge each others eyes out with them.
Oh, any suggestions on alternative terms to use in reference to ecstatic practices? Or maybe just that, lol.
Thank you SO much Bente for making and posting this video. As someone of Indigenous heritage, whose cultural heritage has been almost completely destroyed because of colonization where my people have to work to recover what we've lost, I TRULY appreciate this SO so much because there is so much rampant appropriation and oppression and there need to be more people like you calling attention to it all.
I‘m so glad you’re saying that! ❤️ I really wish more people would talk about it 🥲
As an indigenous person watching this video just hurts my stomach. I appreciate you talking about this.
I learned so much, great video! I really liked the part about neoshamanism and psychedelics. I used to live in Portland, which has a big psychedelic party scene with neoshamanic undertones and while it had it’s positive aspects it all seemed kind of disingenuous and rootless to me. I feel more validated in my personal feelings about that scene now. I left that all behind and gravitated towards witchcraft and couldn’t be happier
This video helped me notice when a Raven Kaldera website cited that fascist you mentioned. No pasaran
Thank you for making this! You always somehow make the exact video I’ve been searching for
Do you have any book recommendations for learning about the History of psilocybin because when I try and google it all these medical pages pop up which is obviously not where to look?
Girl you have been such a huge part of my world. I can’t afford to join your patron so thank you for posting these. ❤😊
Thank you for talking about this sensitive word, needed and wanted.
Thank you so much!! ❤️❤️❤️
Such an interesting and important topic, I see people all over the internet using the term "shamanism" to define parts of their practice and it always rubs me the wrong way. Thanks for talking about it.
Ich kann vieles nachvollziehen, was Du sagst, liebe Norse Witch. Richtigstellen möchte ich nur, dass im Core-Schamanismus sehr wohl das Arbeiten für die Gemeinschaft gelehrt wird. Wie die Schüler das auslegen, ist natürlich eine andere Sache.
nailed it, outstanding video and well researched, thank you for putting this out there!
Excellent historical summary, clear and well sourced, thank you! I look forward to recommending your video in the classroom and on my channel. ☺
You nailed it again!
Another awesome video!
Thanks so much! ❤️
Wow.... Such good information! Thank you 🧡 I always learn so much on your channel!
Yearsssss ago I got down on several bloggers who used the word and they were incensed that someone called them on it.
There's an extensive list in Neil Price's doctoral thesis, for Norse spiritual specialists.
My particular speciality is Seiðberendr
The Norse are my ancestors, their culture is extinct, and from a UPG/research perspective, this word is appropriate for me.
You'd love Dr. Price's thesis; I have an e-copy if you're interested.
Man, the history of indigenous American practice is just as frivolous in this context. Sincerely, one of the last Haudensuanee (Iroquois/Seneca) people's 😞
Yup and same with the Sámi people…. It’s just disgusting how indigenous people are treated around the globe 😞
Thank you for making this!!!!
very well expressed sis. 👍
😢This sounds eerily similar to what happened to the First Nations peoples of North America. Basically, replace the Russian Empire with the British, French and Spanish. Replace Siberian healers ("Shamans") with medicine men and women, and you have exactly what happened here.
I suggest that you look into our checkered history of colonization in the Americas. It's so eerily similar that it feels like a badly copied homework assignment between 2 friends.
Thanks for the enlightenment
Bente, I really appreciate your dedication to informing us and being bold and honest about your opinions. Since you have already disclosed some of your past experiences with not being as bold, I hope it's ok that I say that I recognize and admire your strength! ❤
It’s totally okay! Thank you so much ❤️
I appreciate this video so much, as my ancestors and myself understand this oh to well! Beautifully presented! ❤️
Thank you so much for this video. That was a topic that made me uncomfortable, but I had no idea with its origins.
This was really informative. Blessings 🌝
Blessings back 🥰
Wow this video was truly amazing! I've never taken notes on a video before but this topic was amazingly treated. You rock it as always!
Also loved the silly voices :^)
@TheNorseWitch I love how passionate you are whenever you talk!
This just might be the best sum up on all the problematic bullshit surrounding "shamanism" I've seen to date.
I really really hope they’ll translate the book I mentioned into English because I think it would be such a blessing to the entire world! It’s so well written and describes everything perfectly
Either we should just update the definition of the word to help update cultural awareness of what it really represents, OR just stop using it.
YES! 👏 THIS EXACTLY! I’ve been trying to tell people this for years! Well done!
How are we connecting with the spirits? Are we being a hollow bone, the Tree of Life, for Father Sky, Mother Earth, our Guides, Companions, and Guardians to flow through? These are important questions, not a word itself. Shaman is used because it most closely relates to what every culture has historically had, especially pre religion. It's a way of putting a flag up for others who are looking for like-minded folk to practice with.
Wow. I didn't know this. Thank you for sharing! that's horrible :c
SO my thoughts on this video (which I love)
The Europeanization of Russia is also the westernization of Russia as well. In the 1600's, Peter I of Russia wanted to Europeanize Russia. He enforced some values, customs and traditions that came from neighboring countries and adopted them to Russian customs, values and traditions. He also issued a beard tax (17th century to the 18th century which was removed in 1772) where you would have to either cut your beard or pay the tax (60 rubles for Imperial Court, military and government (annually). 100 rubles for wealthy merchants (per year) and other merchants and townsfolk had 60 rubles per year. Muscovites (the people that lived in Moscow) were charged 30 rubles per year and the peasants were charged with two half-kopeks (which is 100 kopecks is 1 Russian ruble) every time they entered the city.
So, with that being said when there was Christianization within Russia, the overarching theme was to westernize along side other European countries. Which even with the ruling the Russian Orthodox Church declared and said that clean-shaven is blasphemous.
Missionaries throughout history too adopted other cultures and made depictions of deities and beings as lesser beings or demonize them or associate them with saints. Veles to Saint Blaise (Slavic), Brigid to Brigid of Kildare (Celtic), and so on. "Oh, you think you are praying to X? Nah, you are praying to one of our saints. Oh, you are praying to X? Nah, you are speaking with a demon"
And the part of the video on Soviet Union. Atheism was on the rise and was enforced within the government landscape at the time. They (Soviet Union) was trying to eradicate (or largely reduce) religious dogma/belief within the borders. Yes, resources are the main factor but it was for everyone regardless of their cultural background at the time. The "enemy of the state" mentality was HUGE due to the overall political ideology that people had.
Madam please answer my question if possible. Who is the founder of the shamanic religion and what is the holy book of the shamanic religion?
The Devil labels were closely put on the pagan gods. Especially horned gods like Pan, or Cernunnos.
I've always been on the fence about using the term Norse shamanism. I don't think it's fair to the people who have shamans, as I understand that it is a sacred ancestral gift. I'm posting this on my Facebook, lol! There's some people out there who really have no idea.
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Last week I uploaded a video on the question, is shamanism cultural appropriation. The comments were...I was disappointed. „I think cultural appropriation is perfectly fine.“ and comments like that. I thought I was going to keel over.
Thanks for your video! Looks like your community is much more reflective.
That’s disgusting. Curious question: are your videos in German? I find that the German community sadly doesn’t care nearly as much about cultural appropriation as the American community. And since my community is largely American that would explain the discrepancy between the comments under our videos
@@TheNorseWitch Yes, that will be the reason, my videos are in German. I had nevertheless expected more. But maybe it's also because I hear and read a lot in English. I hope that the Germans also understand it soon, we are behind in many things, especially in everything that has to do with magic and spirituality. And we also urgently need to become better at coming to terms with our colonial history. I worked for 4 years in an ethnological museum. Half the day is about nothing else, so I had a lot of professional contact with the subject and it is very difficult for me to understand why so many Germans do not get it.
@MagischerPfad Oh gods don’t get me started with our colonialism history… I don’t understand why we don’t learn about it in school. At least we didn’t. Not a SINGLE word! But it’s so incredibly important! Also the important question… why are so many ancient artifacts of other cultures in our German museums? Curious question…. 🤦🏻♀️
@@TheNorseWitch Oh yes! I never learned anything about it in school either, only in my museum studies. A lot is actually quite legal in the museums. Donations or legally purchased, but much also rather gray areas, legal but acquired by e.g. overreaching (the Nefertiti bust). But yes, there are definitely way too many stolen objects in the museums and most of them are just stored in the depots. At least some museums, including the one I worked in, are working on restitution (the Benin bronzes, for example), but the procedures are, typical bureaucracy, elaborate and lengthy.
Do I understand you correctly that - in a nutshell - Shamanism is basically an invented term (loosely based on a native Siberian language word) used by Russian colonialists to describe any religious practice they encountered in other people and to use the demonisation of those practices as a justification for colonisation?
In you view, have neo-shamans done something similar with shamanism as Gardner and Co. have done with modern witchcraft? Are neo-shamans reclaiming a term used disparagingly to describe nature based religions (and to do harm to innocent people) in a similar way as modern witches have reclaimed the words witch & witchcraft?
There seem to be similarities un those discussions - but you may have more insight into the nuances. 💙
There is a lot of misinformation here. And it's not your fault. You are not wrong, but i am a shaman and we really don't concern ourselves with labels or so-called "plastic Shamans" because the spirits sort all that stuff out. If one dares call themselves a shaman, the spirits will take care of it. I encourage people to call themselves Shamans because they are very much needed at this time. Much love to you and continue on your journey! You are doing great.
Was going to comment similar except I don’t feel I can call myself a Shaman yet… if ever. I’ll go with what my Otherworld guides help me decide, when I’m ready. I had a calling as a child and can no longer ignore/deny it. Currently in training and it’s going to take a lot of changes within me to get to the stage where I feel I can truly take on that mantle within my community ✨🫶🏻✨
Thanks.
Theres two peruvian shamans who arent Peruvian that supposedly spent ten years there to study munai kuy and idk if theyre legit cuz when they did a ritual they did a more north American practice and even used a word used by one specific tribe in the southwest US. They give me weird vibes as well.
Munay ki is not a legitimate native practice, it's just another reassembling and fetishization of "shamanic practices" designed to be marketed to western people.
Interesting how the rise of Capitalism changed the Russian view of Siberian tribes from devil worshipers to conmen. Makes a lot of sense when you think about it
russia driving people off their land or claiming it as theirs is nothing new. if you think about it historically, russia (known previously as moscovia before 1721) was a vassal state of the mongol empire. for centuries there was constant bloodshed in battles, and in that cultural and historical context, the moscovites learned that in life, you're either the conqueror or you're the conquered. of course not wanting to be the conquered, moscovia has therefore (after driving back the mongols) always had the mentality of expansion, because they inherited that instinct from their previous masters. in 1721 peter the great changed the name moscovia to russia to make the historical/linguistic connection that russia owned all slavic land because they were the original kievan rus. and they just kept going with various deceptions after that of expansion on all fronts up to the present day in ukraine, for the purposes of their paranoid national interests.
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Thank you. I came here looking for information about "Core Shamanism" and the cultural appropriation in Sandra Ingerman's work. Very helpful and informative video.
You are beautiful ❤
Didn’t give much thought to this word other than don’t trust the white person using it seriously (I say this as a white person). And yikes on bikes the term is problematic.
While wearing piercings based off African and Asian culture you complain about cultural appropriation
If you do just a tiny bit of research you’ll see how many different cultures modified their bodies. Example: the first recorded person with stretched earlobes is Ötzi, the mummy from AUSTRIA from 3300BC. Better luck next time.
maybe there is a deeper point here
like, what actually is appropriation?
when is it assimilation, imitation, when does something become your own?
you have made something your own that your family did not teach you, your childhood did not teach you, so where from did you get it? Somewhere 'else' , right?
Its not like you organically were inspired to do your body mods from a blank slate, you are re-creating something you observed to your own liking.
Is there some kind of approval mechanism by which copying is ok or not ok?
Somehow, I can't seem to find any meaning in all of this posturing about who is right. Words, art forms, culture - are not they meant to be shared? is not the sharing of culture to those beyond it one of the most best useful productive things we can do as human beings? Isn't imitation the highest flattery? I know when I see other cultures re-creating aspects of my own, I feel that something wonderful is happening. I know it is not the same. I know they have not understood it the same, I know they are missing the history, but I see what they have seen, what they have taken, and how they made it into their own new thing with the same name (pronounced incorrectly!), and I feel the human creative spirit that brings us together.
Perhaps it is only the gross commercialization of exploitative capitalism that is the disease we all wish to be rid of. And it is a disease, not something willingly taken on, but an infection of people into carriers of stupid ideas designed only to make the rich more rich. No common person is part of an empire... only empires try to lay claim to all the common people (and everything else that can be exploited).
The real shame is when children cannot learn the culture they are born into, cannot learn the culture of their ancestors, because the empires have warped and destroyed the very meaning. It is appropriate to feel remorse. But this is not something that can ever be repaired through choice of words. We are drawn to what we are drawn to, and it is natural to imitate that which we respect and desire. It is good to assimilate culture.
So, you like your earlobes, your tattoos, cool. Why not? Does it change anything if you call it by a different name? Does it change anything if you read 100 books on the history? No. You see, you like, you copy, now it is yours. You did it for your own unique personal reasons just like every other human being.
Would it suddenly be so bad if another culture starts using the word 'slave' to mean something that's desireable and wanted by them, and it becomes so popular that the original meaning of slave gets kind of lost ... I would welcome it. How fun! Let's forget the old meaning! So much pain, lets forget the pain. And this is the way of humans, it is the way we are wired and chemistry functions, we need to forget the pain, there are built in structures and systems of the body to make us forget...
We in the west are missing a very important aspect of life. Our culture has generally forgotten about the worlds of spirit and the roles they play in our lives. People WANT what is missing without knowing what it is, this is good! It must be encouraged! So what, it gets some funny names, who cares? Strange vibes abound. Let us not shame those who dare to search for what is unknown because they have no other words to describe but for those that are little understood. We are all in this together, lets play!
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Yes, yes yes!!! I so appreciate her wonderful research and sharing here to bring valuable awareness around these matters, and I absolutely love and embrace what you've offered for consideration here just the same. As always, I think it is again back to someone's fundamental motives. I know as a "white" or "caucasian" person, I've always been drawn to, deeply admired and very much resonated with indigenous cultures and many of the common themes underlying their spiritual practices (ie. nature-based/connected) which is arguable a huge reason why they were demonized by those colonial agendas of "separation-mentality" in order to justify "conquering nature" and "conquering others." As a child I was deeply disturbed with "white man sin/guilt" even though I did not personally intentionally partake in whatever my non-ancient ancestors may have done to contribute to such colonial-based agendas. It bothered me just the same. I wanted to help us in some way get back to what felt real and authentic in terms of a spiritually-based life way, and wishing I could go back to my own origins that without realizing it until very recently I have been feeling absolutely severed from my entire life. Dan Quinn's book Ishmael finally helped me lock it in with the perfect words to describe this. My lineage connections were broken through colonization tactics and the demonization by the church of my ancient Indo-European ancestor's practices, some of which likely had earlier Mongolian/Siberian influences and the immigration of my great and great great grandparents to North America. I am in full agreement and see so many around me craving what you describe- people WANT this that has been missing in their lives for so long and are fumbling perhaps to find it, try and partake again with what perhaps is carried over in their ancient DNA through seeking and now finding what is attempting to be passed down and/or salvaged from ancient wisdom and knowledge in whatever way we may be able to connect to it. So in the end, words are words, and they ultimately take on the meaning we choose to give them and indeed this will morph and shift age after age. It does not mean it's respectful to go and fake anything. It doesn't mean it's respectful to be a grifter or to intentionally mis-represent for the purely selfish purpose of monetary gain. It doesn't mean we should be ok with those who judge another as an evil cultist etc because they simply have a different way of being and just because we want the lands that they have for one's purely opportunistic and selfish purposes. Anything, if done with a pure heart- to care for self and to care for others should be celebrated. I was told more than once that I was more "Hawaiian" that some of the Hawaiians with true Hawaiian ancestry- because my heart was filled with the true Aloha spirit even when reverse prejudice and hate as sometimes can be directed toward "Haole" people was being strewn in my direction by those local Hawaiians who were filled with hate and anger because of what was done to their people by outsiders. I got it. I understood. I just wanted to help bring healing through contributing in any way I could because I cared. I was honored to learn how to play a ukulele, and to learn from my Dear Kumu Hula how to hula dance. I didn't go around saying I was Hawaiian.But that didn't prevent getting the 'stink eye' in certain circles. I find the term "modern-day Shaman" interesting and wonder if it might have some applicability in helping finding the balance here? Some words do in fact get passed around cultures, down through the ages or reclaimed through cultural resurgences when they seem to resonate well one way or another. Perhaps the same question could arise for the use of the term "witch." Some may feel they are a witch in this lifetime because they believe they were a witch in one or more past lifetimes. Ancestrally, were witches not for all practical purposes a type of what other's may have called "Shaman"? No harm may have been intended on the part of some in taking on these terms at different times down through the ages, even when harm or malevolent intent may have existed on the part of others. I love that,:"We are all in this together. Let's play!" Shall we not remember where we really came from and how to truly connect to that as the essence of the deeper places within us for the purpose of salvaging humanity?? Isn't that what the Shamans just happened to be masters of in the first place? If they in their humanness had the capacity, might not it theoretically be possible for all of us when we have finally 'evolved' enough to potentially start tapping into those same kinds of capacities? Quantum physics is offering us much now to potentially explain such phenomena and how/where (true) "science" (not the bought and paid for materialism-entrenched kind) and "spirituality" may actually legitimately be starting to (or likely always did) intersect... let genuine reverence and the honoring of our ancient ancestors and ancient Shamanic-like peoples inspire us through our choices and actions to create a more beautiful and loving future for ourselves along our own spiritual journey, our children's and their descendants yet to come. Let us seek what has been passed on through our DNA and "copy" or "imitate" ??? as aspiring practitioners and/or modern-day trained practioners, ever fine-tuning as we can to rediscover our divine radiance as a people (as a human race) and what is possible within ourselves with kind, compassionate, curious and loving hearts- regardless of what we call it? Indeed, let's play! xoxox Love, light and blessings to all here. 💖🙏 @@jimgoplayoutsideable