By
Kristy McCaffrey
Shamanism is a
term for a range of beliefs and practices related to communication with the
spirit world. Shamans—sometimes referred to as “medicine men” or “witch
doctors”—are the keepers of ancient techniques used to achieve and maintain
well-being and healing for themselves and members of their communities. They
are considered intermediaries between the human world and the spirit worlds,
entering a trance-like state during a ritual to practice divination and healing.
A shaman moves between an ordinary state of consciousness and a non-ordinary
state of consciousness. Shamanic methods are strikingly similar all over the
world and are believed to have been in use for tens of thousands of years.
A rite of passage
commonly initiates the training of a shaman. This could include a physical
illness or a psychological crisis, pushing them to the brink of death. This
prompts a crossing over into the underworld and a deep understanding of
sickness, which can then be used to heal others suffering the same maladies.
Shamans can also be called by dreams or signs.
Shamans
frequently work with spirit guides while in the spirit world. They help the
practitioner navigate the non-ordinary realms. Shamans glean information
through dreams and visions, and through direct dialogue with spirits of all
kinds: human, animal, and inanimate (such as rocks, trees, and plants). Spirits
help to remove excess negative energies, often from sources beyond the injured
person.
Shamanite (Black Calcite) is a high vibration stone of the ancients. Native American tribes considered it a powerful protective talisman. |
Shamans engage in
soul retrieval, returning lost parts of the human soul from wherever they may
have gone. A portion of the soul is free to leave the body and will often do so
when dreaming; soul pieces will also flee during traumatic events as a way of
protection. In this instance, the soul piece will not return of its own accord
and a shaman must intervene to assist in the recovery.
Rock carvings would often mark places of power. This symbol signified a shamanic portal. |
All forms of
shamanism share several common beliefs: spirits exist and play important roles
in individual lives and human society; shamans can communicate with the spirit
world; spirits can be benevolent or malevolent; shamans can treat sickness
caused by malevolent spirits; the shaman can employ trance-inducing techniques
to incite visionary ecstasy and go on vision quests; the shaman’s spirit can
leave the body to enter the supernatural world to search for answers; the
shaman evokes animal images as spirit guides, omens, and message-bearers; the
shaman can tell the future, scry, throw bones/runes, and perform other varied
forms of divination.
Mongolian Shaman wearing a ritual gown and holding a drum with the image of a spirit helper. Photo courtesy of National Museum of Finland, circa 1909. |
A shaman enters a
supernatural realm to bring guidance to misguided souls and to alleviate
illnesses frequently caused by foreign elements in a person’s spirit.
Shaman with spirit helpers. |
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In my book THE SPARROW, Emma Hart undergoes a shamanic initiation within the Grand Canyon.
In
1877, Emma Hart comes to Grand Canyon—a wild, rugged, and, until recently,
undiscovered area. Plagued by visions and gifted with a second sight, she
searches for answers about the tragedy of her past, the betrayal of her
present, and an elusive future that echoes through her very soul. Joined by her
power animal Sparrow, she ventures into the depths of Hopi folklore, forced to
confront an evil that has lived through the ages.
Texas
Ranger Nathan Blackmore tracks Emma Hart to the Colorado River, stunned by her
determination to ride a wooden dory along its course. But in a place where the
ripples of time run deep, he’ll be faced with a choice. He must accept the
unseen realm, the world beside this world,
that he turned away from years ago, or risk losing the woman he has come to
love more than life itself.
A
steamy historical western romance set in 1877 Arizona Territory.
2012
Winter Rose WINNER ~ Excellence in Romantic Fiction, Historical Division
“Readers
will love the story…” ~ RT Book Reviews
* * * *
Available in Digital
Kindle | iBooks | Kobo | Nook | Smashwords
* * * *
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Kristy McCaffrey has been writing since she was very young, but it wasn’t until she was a stay-at-home mom that she considered becoming published. She’s the author of several historical western romances, all set in the American southwest. She lives in the Arizona desert with her husband, two chocolate labs, and whichever of their four teenage children happen to be in residence.
Connect with Kristy
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2 comments:
Hello Kristy. Great blog. So informative. I love how you weave your information into your stories.
Hi, Kristy! Such an interesting piece. Striking images too. I want to read your book!
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