What is a shaman / Neoshaman?

The term Shaman comes from tribal groups within Siberia and is believed to be a Tungus word. Occasionally, an individual would leave his tribe and go on a journey alone where they had to fend for themselves. They would grow ill and weak due to the lack of support and difficulty of fending for themselves in an area so close to, or within, the arctic circle. The growing weak and separation is symbolic of entering the spirit world, where the Shaman might acquire a spirit guide and with their help return to full health back with his tribe. It is a dangerous practice and many would die in this process often attacked and eaten by wolves or polar bears. Those that survive would learn about healing from recovering from their own wounds and “returning from the spirit world”. When returning to their tribe they might need to be nursed to health, but they would often take on the role of a priest in addition to their normal duties. After dark, they would be required to use their spiritual connection to help the tribe. Practices often involved drumming, shaking, and chanting to reach mental states needed for spirit work.

Similar practices were seen in Africa and the Americas, but the initial terms used by athropologists and missionaries would be Witchdoctor and Medicine man respectively. It is not unusual for such a person to use hallucinogens to aid a person on a psychological journey. Peyote is one well-known example of this.

Since we cannot recreate the situation, beliefs, or cultural identity of a Tungus tribe, to refer to ourselves as Shamans would be somewhat inaccurate. Instead, many people use the term Neoshaman which is more accurate and encompasses the practices from all over the world not just Siberia. Ronald Hutton provides us with a thorough and consistent definition of this modern western society version of a shaman. The definition of a Neoshaman is someone who believes spirits exist and uses altered states of consciousness to communicate with or manipulate them. Sicknesses can often be treated by dealing with the malevolent spirits that cause them. Neoshamans also often use trances to enter vision quests or leave the body. It is common for Neoshamans to use spirit guides or allies, many of which take the form of animals, or sometimes the Neoshaman uses animals as symbols for spiritual power. Neoshamans also use forms of divination to provide spirituality-derived information.

See also other types of Magical Practitioner.