Society–Knowledge–Discourse

Shamanism and Neo-Shamanism

Introduction

Since the mid-1960s, Western societies have shown an increased interest in shamanism, although this has a long European tradition. Historically, shamans were either pathologized and characterized as “arctic hysterics”, for example, or idealized as “noble savages”. These historical variants of positive or negative demarcation have given way to an identifying appropriation in the context of alternative and esoteric interpretations of the world. Neo-shamanism, also referred to as “modern Western shamanism”, attempts to adapt indigenous worldviews and spirituality to the conditions of modern Western societies and to integrate them with different emphases.

A key aspect of this is the adaptation of shamanic healing, which is seen as a complement to conventional medical and psychotherapeutic procedures, as is the case with other alternative or complementary medical procedures. Shamanic practice is characterized by the fact that the practitioner intentionally induces an altered state of consciousness in order to undertake so-called “shamanic journeys” in this state to obtain information, among other things. This information is intended to provide clues to the “actual causes” of the illness or disorder, enabling its treatment beyond mere symptom relief.

Shamanism and neo-shamanism are interesting for the topics of IGPP in various respects:

Cover von Buch "Schamanismus in Deutschland"
Fig. 1

Book cover Mayer, Gerhard (2003). Schamanismus in Deutschland. Konzepte – Praktiken – Erfahrungen. Ergon.

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From a religious studies, sociological and socio-psychological perspective, questions arise about the biographical integration of the practice and about social reactions.

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Experience reports of regularly occurring paranormal phenomena in the context of such practices concern the core topic of psi research.

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The intentional induction of altered states of consciousness as an indispensable component of shamanic practice makes practitioners interesting for consciousness research.

Selected Projects

Shamanism and Neo-Shamanism in German-speaking Countries - a Field Study

The field study, which began in 2000, examined two aspects. The first involved a general review of the heterogeneous scene and the second was a survey of (neo-)shamanic providers. As a result of the review of the extensive shamanism literature, websites and magazines, various working methods and forms of self-presentation of shamanism offerings in the context of the psycho and esoteric scene could be reconstructed. Participant observation at various seminars and a shamanism congress provided insights into the practice of neo-shamanism and the reception of shamanism in German-speaking countries.

The content and methodological focus of the study was formed by in-depth interviews with shamanic practitioners in German-speaking countries who offer workshops, courses and individual treatments. The extensive interviews provided insights into biographies, motives, offers, beliefs and experiences, and identified individual differences and similarities. Two topics related to the work of the Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health were of particular interest: dealing with and experiencing altered states of consciousness and paranormal experiences, which are regularly mentioned in connection with shamanism. In addition, the possibilities and limitations of integrating individual experiences into a cultural context in which shamanic/animistic patterns of interpretation are not common were explored.

Publications

Mayer, G. (2014). Heilung mit Geistern. Ethische Fragen im Kontext neoschamanischer Praktiken. In M. Utsch (Hrsg.), Spirituelle Lebenshilfe. Zwischen Esoterik, Psychologie und Seelsorge (Bd. 229, S. 29–43). Evangelische Zentralstelle für Weltanschauungsfragen. http://www.igpp.de/german/eks/EZW_Lebenshilfe_fin.pdf

Mayer, G. (2008). Healing with „spirits“: Ethical issues arising from neoshamanistic practices and similar forms of alternative healing. Spirituality and Health International, 9, 218–229. https://doi.org/10.1002/shi.352

Mayer, G. (2004). Neo-shamanism in Germany. In M. N. Walter & E. J. N. Fridman (Hrsg.), Shamanism. An Encyclopedia of World Beliefs, Practices and Culture. Zwei Bände (S. 496–500). ABC-Clio.

Mayer, G. (2003). Schamanismus in Deutschland: Konzepte—Praktiken—Erfahrungen. Ergon.

Project Team
The Figure of the Shaman as a Modern Myth

The idea of the shaman as a gifted healer, which is of central importance in so-called neo-shamanism, forms only one part of the field of meaning associated with the figure of the shaman or shamaness. In this project, in addition to the concept of the healer, various other facets of the reception of the figure of the shaman in modern Western societies were explored. They all provide answers to the question of the reasons for the fascination that the figure of the shaman exerts and makes it a projection surface for Western fantasies. In addition to the “classical” neo-shamanic aspect with its focus on healing and counseling activities, the concepts of the (urban) shaman as a culture-critical rebel and anarchist, of techno- or cybershamanism, and of the actor and artist as “shaman” are examined. Finally, the “figure of the shaman” thus designed in Western conceptions is brought into a connection with the “ciphers of transcendence” in the sense of the philosopher Karl Jaspers and it is shown that they become a powerful cipher for an individual and experience-oriented approach to transcendence through their ascribed characteristics and functions.

Publications

Mayer, G. (2015). Der Schamane als moderner Mythos und als Chiffre der Transzendenz—Aspekte der Faszination und Attraktivität der Figur des Schamanen in der säkularisierten Moderne. In H. Fugmann (Ed.), Schamanismus als Herausforderung: Dokumentation des Symposiums 2015 in Bad Alexandersbad (pp. 49–89). Books on Demand.

Mayer, G. (2009). Die Figur des Schamanen: Zur Attraktivität des Schamanismus in modernen Gesellschaften. Zeitschrift für Anomalistik, 9(1), 52–81.

Mayer, G. (2008). The figure of the shaman as a modern myth: Some reflections on the attractiveness of shamanism in modern societies. The Pomegranate, 10(1), 70–103. https://doi.org/10.1558/pome.v10i1.70

Project Team