SHAMANISM Shaman are spiritual beings with the ability to heal, work with energies and 'see' visions. The essential characteristics of shaman are mastery of energy and fire as a medium of transformation. Shamanism is a range of traditional beliefs and practices that involve the ability to diagnose, cure, and sometimes cause human suffering by traversing the axis mundi and forming a special relationship with, or gaining control over, spirits. Shamans have been credited with the ability to control the weather, divination, the interpretation of dreams, astral projection, and traveling to upper and lower worlds. Shamanistic traditions have existed throughout the world since prehistoric times. This broad term includes the thousands of tribal faiths which have existed on every continent since long before recorded history. Beliefs include a deep sense of the sacredness of life and of the earth, communion with spirit guides and in the ability of man to live in harmony with and influence nature.

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Shamanism is understood by Russian scientists to be a primitive form of religion or religio-magic practiced by the aborigines of northern Asia as well as by all other aborigines throughout the world. Others hold that Shamanism was only one form of expression of the religious cult of northern Asia, practiced in order to avert the evil spirits. This opinion is found in the writings of Jochelson and Bogoras.

Shamanism is based on the premise that the visible world is pervaded by invisible forces or spirits that affect the lives of the living. In contrast to animism and animatism, which any and usually all members of a society practice, shamanism requires specialized knowledge or abilities. Shamans are not, however, organized into full-time ritual or spiritual associations, as are priests.

The word shaman originated among the Siberian Tungus (Evenks) and literally means he (or she). It has replaced the older English language term witch doctor, a term which unites the two stereotypical functions of the shaman: knowledge of magical and other lore, and the ability to cure a person and mend a situation. However, at the present time this term is generally considered to be anthropologically inaccurate. Medicine man is preferred, especially as not all traditional peoples approve of the use of shaman as a generic term, given that the word comes from a specific place and people.

Our ancestors the emperors of old governed the realm by first paying
worship to the kami with reverence and awe. Widely worshipping the kami
of mountain and river, they thereby had natural concourse with heaven and
earth. For this reason, summer and winter also turned in their season,
and the works of creation were in harmony.

Nihon Shoki