hiya,
im new to this site but it seems really great i must say.
im just wondering is shamanism similar in some ways to witchcraft?
Blessed be
x
very !
hiya,
im new to this site but it seems really great i must say.
im just wondering is shamanism similar in some ways to witchcraft?Blessed be
x
its often difficult to tell them apart really but for me shamanism feels more natural, older, earthy and spontanious but it depends on the person...
not wishing to stir things up but a 'witch' in many aboriginal/tribal cultures around the world is a derogatory term for a 'shaman' gone bad...draw from that what you will....and then harm none;)
A witch is also a word used to describe a 'wise woman'
Shamanism/witchcraft
It's generally agreed that, for a practice to be shamanism, it has to include journeying - that is, going to the spirits and communicating with them. Whichcraft doesn't require (although for many people does include) a belief that everything has a spirit. Of course, within each there are many ways of practising.
Crowan
hiya,
im new to this site but it seems really great i must say.
im just wondering is shamanism similar in some ways to witchcraft?Blessed be
x
Emma Wilby has published some very interesting academic work on this subject but centred around practices in the UK. Her two main books 'The Visions of Isobel Gowdie' and 'Cunning Folk and Familiar Spirits' highlight the distinct similarities between Witchcraft as it was/is known in the British Isles and Shamanic cultures elsewhere.
The main similarities being:
Direct communication with Spirits
A Spirit 'familiar' or Animal guide
Empowerment via the Spirits to effect healing or harm
Use of magical tools for healing, protection, spells, curses etc
Weather magic - communing with the Spirits of the Elements
The shamanic journey - flight (broomstick) possibly using entheogens such as Fly Agaric (Amanita Muscaria) or Magic Mushrooms in flying ointments etc.
Some modern Witchcraft systems as Crowan states, sometimes don't always involve the ability to journey (fly) at will or the communion with and invitation from the Spirits which is where they may differ from shamanic practice.
In my experience and the people i've met, i've found witchcraft and shamanism to be quite different.
The majority of the time there seems to be a religion around witchcraft (Wicca/Paganism), where as shamanism is an open spiritual path, which includes different practices in different places. (Of course, i'm not saying that there aren't people who do both).
Look at how many different views there are of Christianity - and that, in this country and much of the world, has political power backing up how it is taught/presented. It's hardly likely that you are going to find half a dozen pagans or half a dozen shamanic practitioners or half a dozen wiccans who actually agree on what they are doing or how it should be done.
I belong to several shamanic groups and we can usually agree (or at least agree to disagree) enough to work together. Mutual respect helps. And I'm opinionated - and experienced - enough to be able to argue my case in most disagreements!
For me - and I've had experience of both Wicca and shamanism, although the Wicca was a long time ago - one major difference is in how we effect change. Most Wiccans I know use spells, while shamanism is more about negotiating with spirits (through the trance journey) to get something done.
Look at how many different views there are of Christianity - and that, in this country and much of the world, has political power backing up how it is taught/presented. It's hardly likely that you are going to find half a dozen pagans or half a dozen shamanic practitioners or half a dozen wiccans who actually agree on what they are doing or how it should be done. .
That's a really good point, I hadn't thought of that.
I suppose I was originally thinking more along the lines that there are structures witches follow that are similar to organised religion.. priest/priestesses, spells, certain tools and an altar. But then there are tools that many people who practise shamanism use too (drums to journey, rattles, smudge fans etc).
Hmm.. maybe there are more similarities than I realised.