A Critique of Core Shamanism

[Lupabitch]

I posted this to my therioshamanism blog a couple of days ago, and thought I'd share it here to spark some conversation:

http://therioshamanism.com/2007/12/05/this-may-be-blasphemous-to-some/

Thoughts?

[David19]

Cool article, thanks for sharing it :).

[Lupabitch]

Cool article, thanks for sharing it :).

NP--thank you for the feedback!

[Asuka]

I'm in no position to truly comment, as I am incredibly new to the concepts of shamanism. I have only very recently heard of Core Shamanism, but I still found this very interesting.

I also went further to look a bit into your FAQ about therioshamanism, and I found it interesting. I'd like to ask, though as you mentioned a lot about reading into cultural traditions and such like. Is it discouraged to pull cultural reference and meaning from multiple cultures?

In my personal experience, I have a hard time as a rule sticking to any one one culture. I find so much fascinating and meaningful that I find it difficult to stay focused on any one. So, does therioshamanism (or any type of shamanism that you're aware of) allow for this kind of diversity? Since therioshamanism is tied to animals, I assumed that it would, since one could serve animals from all over the world, but I thought I'd ask out of curiosity. (:

Thanks!

[Lupabitch]

I'm in no position to truly comment, as I am incredibly new to the concepts of shamanism. I have only very recently heard of Core Shamanism, but I still found this very interesting.

I also went further to look a bit into your FAQ about therioshamanism, and I found it interesting. I'd like to ask, though as you mentioned a lot about reading into cultural traditions and such like. Is it discouraged to pull cultural reference and meaning from multiple cultures?

In my personal experience, I have a hard time as a rule sticking to any one one culture. I find so much fascinating and meaningful that I find it difficult to stay focused on any one. So, does therioshamanism (or any type of shamanism that you're aware of) allow for this kind of diversity? Since therioshamanism is tied to animals, I assumed that it would, since one could serve animals from all over the world, but I thought I'd ask out of curiosity. (:

Thanks!

First bit of advice--read everything you can get your hands on ;)

Therioshamanism is my own personal path. My own balance as far as cultural appropriation goes is to primarily work with techniques drawn from others' practices, but tailored to my own cultural context, with the understanding that what I take does not make me a genuine Siberian, or Native American, or (insert non-mainstream-American culture here) shaman. I create my own cosmology to work within, and I work with what makes sense to me. I also try to be careful about my research, and I avoid sources that, for example, treat all Native American cultures as one huge monoculture.

As to other peoples' perspectives on diversity, it really depends on the individual. Some believe it's completely wrong to take anything from a living culture; others believe that spirituality should be for anyone interested.

What I've done is gotten to the point where I can reasonable construct my own path. I'm honest about where I borrow, and I rely a lot on Unverified Personal Gnosis. But that's what I've done; as I said, read a lot, and figure out for yourself what balance will work best for you.

[darkchild]

Thanks for the article. It was very informative.
I agree with you to some extent. I feel that I have been called to shamanism, but I have a problem with some of the core beliefs as well. I won't go into great detail about my own experience, but I will say that I have been called a fake (wannabe, or whatever) for deviating from what a few feel to be true shamanism.

There are so many different viewpoints, not to mention practices, across the globe for shamans of different cultures, it's a little bit confusing.

I am drawn to the siberian practices, but cannot immerse myself totally, due to some cultural and personal differences.

I guess my thought is that we each have our own experiences and must grow in our own ways.

It's the practice to some degree, not only the tradition, that makes us what we are. I am a healer, I use whatever methods I have available to help someone. If others don't agree with it, oh well...

[Lupabitch]

Thanks for the article. It was very informative.
I agree with you to some extent. I feel that I have been called to shamanism, but I have a problem with some of the core beliefs as well. I won't go into great detail about my own experience, but I will say that I have been called a fake (wannabe, or whatever) for deviating from what a few feel to be true shamanism.

There are so many different viewpoints, not to mention practices, across the globe for shamans of different cultures, it's a little bit confusing.

I am drawn to the siberian practices, but cannot immerse myself totally, due to some cultural and personal differences.

I guess my thought is that we each have our own experiences and must grow in our own ways.

It's the practice to some degree, not only the tradition, that makes us what we are. I am a healer, I use whatever methods I have available to help someone. If others don't agree with it, oh well...

This is why I study as much as I do. Shamanism isn't a monoculture. There are some common techniques, but to truly understand their importance we need to know the context they come from, and then understand how they're changed by taking them out of that context.

My personal balance is: work with techniques within my own cultural context, and be honest about where I got them. However, each person has to find hir own balance, IMO. What works for me may not work for you.

[darkchild]

This is why I study as much as I do. Shamanism isn't a monoculture. There are some common techniques, but to truly understand their importance we need to know the context they come from, and then understand how they're changed by taking them out of that context.

My personal balance is: work with techniques within my own cultural context, and be honest about where I got them. However, each person has to find hir own balance, IMO. What works for me may not work for you.


Very true. I try not to judge other people on how they walk their path. Unless you can get under their skin and know how and why they do what they do, then it just isn't right, imo.

If it works, don't mess with it, I say. :)

[Shosha]

And I didn't even know there was such thing as "core shamanism."

going to re-read that blog too! Fasinating!