Shamanism facts for kids
Shamanism is a very old practice where a person called a shaman enters a special state of mind. People believe that in this state, the shaman can connect with a spirit world. They are thought to bring messages or energy from that world into our own.
A shaman is seen as someone who can talk to and influence spirits, both good and bad. They often go into a deep, focused state, like a trance, during special ceremonies. In this state, they might try to predict the future or help people heal. Sometimes, to become a shaman, a person is believed to have gone through a very difficult experience, like a serious illness, which is sometimes called a "shamanic illness."
The word "shaman" comes from the Evenki people in Siberia. Shamans are very important in their communities. They are believed to be able to move between our world and the world of spirits.
What Do Shamans Believe?
Shamans and their communities often share certain beliefs:
- Spirits are real and can affect things in our world.
- There are different kinds of spirits, some good and some not so good.
- Healing can happen in both the spirit world and the physical world.
- A person's spirit might be able to leave their body and travel to the spirit world.
- Shamans might use animal shapes or spirits to connect with other spirits.
It's important to know that shamanism is different from animism. Animism is the belief that all natural objects, places, and creatures have a distinct spiritual essence.
Images for kids
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The earliest known picture of a Siberian shaman, drawn by Nicolaes Witsen in the 1600s.
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A shaman, likely from the Khakas people, in the Russian Empire, 1908.
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A display showing people from different cultures who acted as mediators, often called "shamans." This shows how diverse the idea of a shaman is.
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A flowering San Pedro cactus. This plant has been used for over 3,000 years in spiritual practices.
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A shaman from the South Moluccan islands performing a ritual to remove bad spirits from children in Buru, Indonesia (1920).
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A shaman from the Itneg people in the Philippines making an offering to the spirit of a warrior's shield (1922).
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A Sámi noaidi (shaman) with his drum.
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See also
In Spanish: Chamanismo para niños
