ABOVE: a few of the Backyard Diva's drums
“With some patients the witch doctor merely put herbs
in a brown paper bag and instructed the ill person in their use. With
other patients, he gave no herbs but filled the air with incantations.”
-Norman Cousins, Anatomy of an Illness
Shamanism
Shamanism is a type of illumination which penetrates barriers of the
mundane everyday world by visiting the under-world of spirits or the
upper-world of deities in order to understand the mysteries of these
other-worlds. The shaman applies the knowledge gained during their
visits to the other-world to problems and situations encountered as
part of everyday living. Shamanism is practiced to help illuminate
probable future events that will effect the shaman, their patients, and
members of their immediate community.
Shamans communicate with the spirits and deities in order to control
natural phenomena such as wind, rain, and the sun. Shamans also utilize
a variety of divinatory methods to facilitate healing, eliminate evil
influences and malign spirits, and to help bring good luck and positive
energy to their patients.
“Shamanism begins as a personal revelation and inner healing, then
evolves into a striving to bring balance and healing into the immediate
surrounding and to the Earth herself.”
- D. J. Conway, By Oak, Ash & Thorn
Trance-like State of Consciousness
Shamans place themselves into a trance like state in order to visit the
spirit world. This ecstatic trance, also known as the shamanistic state
of consciousness, allows them to seek advice from the deities of the
sky and spirits of the underworld. The trances are induced through a
variety of methods including the ingestion of hallucinogenic herbal
potions or the inhalation of the smoke from burning plants.
Drum Song
Dance and monotonous sounds, such as drumming or chanting, can also be
used to induce the trance-like ecstatic states that the shaman puts
himself into before visiting the spirit world. Chanting is a form of
rhythmic sound that can help induce a trance-like state prior to
conducting to your shamanic rituals. Drum song can also be used as a
tool of liberation, community building, healing, and personal joy.
Take care,
The Backyard Diva
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