Shamanism and the Practices of the New Age Movement

Shamanism is a range of religious beliefs and practices that are mostly concerned with the communication with the spirit world. There are several variations of Shamanism throughout the world, but most if not all are centered on common beliefs that are shared between all forms of Shamanism. Shamans are what we call messengers or mediators between the natural world and the spirit realm; they can treat ailments or illnesses by the healing of ones soul. When you alleviate the illness or trauma that is affecting the soul or ones spirit, this enables the physical body to regain balance and wholeness.

In the Native American culture the term "Shaman" is what we call the "Medicine Man" or "Medicine Woman." One does not have to be male to be a Medicine Person; this is usually something that is handed down from generation to generation with it remaining in that particular family. The Native American's have very diverse religious beliefs and there is not one specific Native American religion or spiritual belief system. However, all Native American Tribes have "Medicine People" the term "Shaman" was introduced by Anthropologists, but in most indigenous cultures the "Shaman" is the "Medicine Man or Woman".

Today in the Navajo tribe, "Medicine Man" is known as "Hatalii" and uses several different methods to diagnose a patient's illness or ailment. Such things may include chanting, crystal rocks, and abilities such as trances, chanting and dancing. Depending on the patient's ailment the Hatalii will perform a healing ceremony from the beginning to end and if not preformed correctly the patient will not be healed. To be a Hatalii the apprentice first must be born into the life and then go through several years of training, much like a priest would have to endure.

The history and philosophy of the "Medicine Man" or "Shaman" in the Native American culture is still very secretive and I think will remain that way due to the past events. During the early 19^th Century there was a "Shamanism" movement within the Native American people. The "Ghost Dance" swept through all the tribes of the Native Americans in North America's First Nations. The belief of the Ghost Dance was that if all the Native American tribes preformed the ritual ghost dance, that a great flood would come and kill all the invading foreigners. This particular form of Shamanism was brutally abolished by the United States Government's Military with the massacre of "Wounded Knee"; where a whole band of Lakota Sioux ,that were under the direction of chief Big Foot, were all gunned down and left to die. After that thousands of the tribes youngsters were sent into boarding schools in an attempt to destroy the tribal beliefs and faith. These being the reason that Native Americans are so secretive about their culture now.

5 Practices of a "Shaman" or "Medicine Man"

Medicine Bag. A medicine bag is a traditional Native American pouch that contains various items used for supernatural powers.

Vision Quest. The vision quest is a journey that one takes alone or with a Shaman to find spiritual guidance into the spirit realm and then to bring back with them into the natural world some form of representation of said journey. Usually this is in the form of a feather, rock, and crystal and then is placed into that person's medicine bag to carry with them always.

Healer. The "Shaman or Medicine Man" often serves as healers in their communities; they gain knowledge through entering into the spirit realm and will often acquire several spirit guides to direct his or her travels through the spirit world. The Shaman's whole purpose is to create balance and bring the seeker goodness and well being.

Music & Songs. "Shaman's" or "Medicine Man" believe that music and songs will allow the Shaman to gain access into the spirit world and prepare the afflicted with balance and peace of mind. This is often used in Native American culture as "Chanting".

Paraphernalia. Shamans may have several different kinds of paraphernalia that represent all sorts of aspects of their religion and all of them will have a specific use.

The New Age Shamanism Movement

The new age movement of Shamanism has taken beliefs and religious practices from the Eastern religions and the Native American Indian culture to bring them together. As with any religion that has been used by one culture for centuries and now is taken by outsiders and twisted into what they want to believe, the original practitioners of said religion often condemn the New Age Shamanism Movement. Modern Shamanism claims that their methods will bring personal power, greater harmony, spiritual enlightenment and physical healing.

There are several endeavors in the occult and esoteric circles to reinvent Shamanism into a truly modern form and to disregard the traditional ways. Many New Age seekers will travel to Peru to work with and have "ayahuasquerus" a tea which is said to be psychedelic in nature and is used frequently by so called "New Age Shaman's".

5 Beliefs of the New Age Shaman

New Age Shaman's believe that they can treat a sickness that is caused by evil spirits.

New Age Shaman's can leave their body and enter into the spirit realm to search for answers.

New Age Shaman's can see the future and guide you on the right path.

New Age Shaman's can communicate with animals.

New Age Shaman's are magical.

None of which is true. These so called new age Shamans are nothing but an occult that are disgracing yet again the Native American culture and the culture of all indigenous people whom truly have Healers, Medicine Man, Holy People or Shamen. In my personal opinion the New Age Shamanism Movement is nothing but an occult and is full of fraudulent claims.

References for this article came from my own personal experience as a Native American woman and from www.newageshaman.com, www.newagefraud.com and www.shamanic-healing.org