11-27-2011, 12:01 AM
Thats the problem with the 'shaman business', its lies, tricks, smoke and mirrors,
But not all shamans were self-deceived; many were shrewd and able tricksters. As the profession developed, a novice was required to serve an apprenticeship of ten years of hardship and self-denial to qualify as a medicine man. The shamans developed a professional mode of dress and affected a mysterious conduct. They frequently employed drugs to induce certain physical states which would impress and mystify the tribesmen. Sleight-of-hand feats were regarded as supernatural by the common folk, and ventriloquism was first used by shrewd priests. Many of the olden shamans unwittingly stumbled onto hypnotism; others induced autohypnosis by prolonged staring at their navels.
While many resorted to these tricks and deceptions, their reputation as a class, after all, stood on apparent achievement. When a shaman failed in his undertakings, if he could not advance a plausible alibi, he was either demoted or killed. Thus the honest shamans early perished; only the shrewd actors survived.
It was shamanism that took the exclusive direction of tribal affairs out of the hands of the old and the strong and lodged it in the hands of the shrewd, the clever, and the farsighted.
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In many ways and by devious methods the olden shamans established their
reputations as voices of God and custodians of providence. They
sprinkled the newborn with water and conferred names upon them; they
circumcised the males. They presided over all burial ceremonies and
made due announcement of the safe arrival of the dead in spiritland.
The shamanic priests and medicine men often became very wealthy through
the accretion of their various fees which were ostensibly offerings to
the spirits. Not infrequently a shaman would accumulate practically all
the material wealth of his tribe. .
SHAMANISM—MEDICINE MEN AND PRIESTS
But not all shamans were self-deceived; many were shrewd and able tricksters. As the profession developed, a novice was required to serve an apprenticeship of ten years of hardship and self-denial to qualify as a medicine man. The shamans developed a professional mode of dress and affected a mysterious conduct. They frequently employed drugs to induce certain physical states which would impress and mystify the tribesmen. Sleight-of-hand feats were regarded as supernatural by the common folk, and ventriloquism was first used by shrewd priests. Many of the olden shamans unwittingly stumbled onto hypnotism; others induced autohypnosis by prolonged staring at their navels.
While many resorted to these tricks and deceptions, their reputation as a class, after all, stood on apparent achievement. When a shaman failed in his undertakings, if he could not advance a plausible alibi, he was either demoted or killed. Thus the honest shamans early perished; only the shrewd actors survived.
It was shamanism that took the exclusive direction of tribal affairs out of the hands of the old and the strong and lodged it in the hands of the shrewd, the clever, and the farsighted.
---
In many ways and by devious methods the olden shamans established their
reputations as voices of God and custodians of providence. They
sprinkled the newborn with water and conferred names upon them; they
circumcised the males. They presided over all burial ceremonies and
made due announcement of the safe arrival of the dead in spiritland.
The shamanic priests and medicine men often became very wealthy through
the accretion of their various fees which were ostensibly offerings to
the spirits. Not infrequently a shaman would accumulate practically all
the material wealth of his tribe. .
SHAMANISM—MEDICINE MEN AND PRIESTS