We learn about shamans and sorcerers as a child by reading books and watching adventure films. Thus, Osho's work "The Way of White Clouds" tells in detail about the life of Tibetan lamas and their esoteric world. Buddhist teachers lead their lives at the very top of the world, and their strange customs defy explanation for the common man in the street. This is something exciting and always impossible.
From the perspective of an adult
But if we consider shamanism from the point of view of an adult, there you can always find answers to “uncomfortable” questions that challenge the rational worldview. If you want to gain some semblance of understanding of phenomena that defy logical explanation, you must accept the idea that the universe may not always follow the usual pattern. Studying in detail the practices of shamanism, healing, esotericism, specialists involuntarily begin to consider the world from the point of view of a shamanic filter.
It completely changes the worldview
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People who study this phenomenon, at first, have no idea where it might lead. Along with the usual scientific work, it is necessary to devote a lot of time to questions of self-consciousness, cosmology, the origin of plant entheogens. Thanks to all this, scientists change their spiritual worldview. But the questions that had been haunting the psyche for so long before are gradually beginning to find points of contact with reality. The only problem for a well-trained scientist may be to discover that there are in fact many more points of contact than one could initially imagine. There are so many of them that they really seem to be endless.
Revival of shamanism
The trend of recent years is such that shamanism has again occupied its niche in our world. Thanks to this, scientists can tell people a lot more. The increasing number of shamans makes it possible to personally observe their rituals. So why is this phenomenon becoming popular again now, in the age of global communications and digital technologies?
The oldest profession
Contrary to popular belief, many historians believe that prostitution is not the oldest profession. It was shamanism. It was to the sorcerer that representatives of each tribal culture went. This person could combine two main functions at once: healing and protection. The shaman worked as a mediator in uniting the two worlds, coordinating the existence of mere mortals with invisible deities. However, these two basic needs remain in demand to this day. It's just that today's society has turned into a more civilized, literate and information-savvy one.
For several millennia, shamans were respected people
Shamanism has functioned successfully for several millennia. As is known from history, the number of tribal groups or clans did not exceed 150 people. In the most remote areas, the number of residents was noticeably smaller. And in each of these social groups there was a key figure. The shaman protected his people from the encroachments of dark forces and contributed to the survival of the clan.
They had other functions too
In addition to healing and protecting, shamans could do an enormous amount of routine work. They were summoned when it was necessary to perform a traditional ceremony or find lost sheep. Today's shamanism, for obvious reasons, is undergoing some kind of transformation. Much of the shaman's work in the modern world is aimed at the individual in general and his psychology, in particular, at working with collective groups to solve global problems. Modern sorcerers and healers are trying to prevent climate change, advocate for world peace, as well as for social justice.
Why do people again turn their eyes to shamans?
Today's heightened interest in this phenomenon stems from a lack of meaning in our materialistic existence. People want to strive for something more. Many modern religions try to meet this need, but the people remain disappointed. That is why our contemporaries seek support and consolation from sorcerers and healers. To some extent, we are attracted by mysterious mysticism, to some extent we are subject to general trends. And if esotericism is booming, every year it will find more and more supporters. Perhaps many people feel real power in the knowledge and skills of shamans.
When religion fails
In one aspect, all institutionalized religions have failed. They cannot provide all human needs if they demand in return the assurance of faith. Shamanism does not require any effort on the part of people, it only offers a direct experience of connection with the deity, and often provides intense interaction with invisible forces. In addition, there are other connecting threads with higher powers, such as meditation, dancing or dreams.