ANIMISM is the theory of souls. This belief contributes
the principal element to animists' magic, medicine and faith. Provided that
they are 'alive', humans, animals and certain objects do possess souls, but
after death their souls depart from the body as spirits or phantoms, until they
can find another body to inhabit. Animists are not confined only to primitives,
but large numbers of people of more advanced and complex cultures are animists.
According to contemporary anthropology, the term animism applies not only to a
single belief or doctrine, it also expresses the view of a harmonious world
whose existence endures in many more complex and hierarchical religions through
religious beliefs and practices. According to the beliefs of animistic
medicine, madness, illness and delirium are the result of accidents which the
soul has undergone; for example, when the soul is enticed out of the body and
is ensnared or captured. This state can also occur when the body is 'possessed'
by one or more souls or spirits entering it, not always without malicious
purpose, and perturbing the soul dwelling within it. In this case, it is the
Shaman or medicine man who has the duty of driving out the intruding soul or
spirit. Healing is the most important function of the Shaman. Shamanism is the
system of belief focusing on the Shaman's circle, which is believed to be
gifted with the power of healing the sick and establishing contact with the
other world. According to Shamanist thought, various incidents occurring in
nature both on earth and in the sky result from the action of a number of
spirits or gods.
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Tying strips of coloured cloth to a tree on a
riverbank in the name of the water spirit in order to ensure a good catch of
fish, and the strips of materials such as string, cloth, hair or feathers is
regarded as one of the idol-fetishes. In the same way, in places held to be
sacred, visitors tie string and rags to wishing trees. These cloths tied to
trees are counted as bloodless sacrifices.
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| India – Kolkata. Wishing tree at the temple of Kalighat, Kolkata’s most important temple, dedicated to Kali. |
In all
Shamanist cultures that have been studied, the Shaman is an extraordinary
person. He makes contact with the spirit world and sometimes does duty as its
spokesman. He undertakes the function of intermediary between spirits and
humans. Shamans gain their supernatural gifts either through inheritance or
through being the special 'chosen one' by the spirits. As a rule, every Shaman has
auxiliary spirits or genies. The Shaman's auxiliary spirits are at the same
time his essence or fellow-persona. The one who helps him is the strength and
support of these spirits. During the religious services, the auxiliary spirits
enlighten the Shaman and help by informing him of future events. They also help
him to find the sick person's soul. If the spirit is of the sort impervious to
fire, the Shaman is able to walk with ease over glowing coals, and with the
help of the spirit that does not feel pain, he is able to puncture his body
with any sharp, piercing object without sustaining any injury. A Shaman may be
a woman or a man. The oldest Shamans are either women or men appointed in
accordance with the matriarchy, who must act like women. Especially in Asian
communities, the characteristic considered most appropriate in male shamans is
their capacity to behave like women. These Shamans are regarded as
intermediators between earth and heaven, because within their own person they
combine the feminine element of earth and the masculine element of heaven. The
Shaman lets a tuft of hair grow long and this is a left-over feature from the
matriarchal regime. In the Turkic tribes of Siberia, when special robes are not
available, the male Shaman conducts services in women's clothes, and round,
metal objects representing breasts are placed appropriately on the special
Shaman's garments. The images of animals featured on the Shaman's costume are
considered to be the animals which are his protectors. With time, the Shaman
costume has been simplified and has become similar to normal dress. In many
places, the Shaman conducts worship wearing everyday clothes.
Shamans
are spoken of as those who engage make spells, perform rain-making ceremonies
and tell fortunes. The rain-prayer which is still performed in some communities
during years of drought has its origin in Shamanism. Shamans do not charge a
fee for their services, or accept only a very modest remuneration.
Many
tribes show a great respect for fire. They believe fire possesses a soul, and
perceive a great cleansing power in fire. They believe that fire possesses a
protective quality against evil spirits, that is, illnesses in humans, and the
ability to predict the future. They interpret a horoscope by observing the
flames, the shape of the embers, the sounds made when wood is burning. Because
of fire, the hearth is also sacred. When a hearth is built, a sacrifice is
offered. A Shaman is called in when the building of a house is completed. The
house can be used after the Shaman has said prayers. There is a widespread
belief that fire is the purest thing, and since anything falling into fire will
be cleansed, fire will purge a dead body of its impurities and sins.
Certain
tribes maintain that before a human soul is born it exists in the heavens and
that a child's soul flies down from the sky like a bird, and when someone is
dying, the soul rises and flies away like a bird. It is believed that until a
dead person's soul is accompanied by the Shaman to the underworld, it lingers
around the house. It is believed that when they descend into the nether
regions, the Shamans cross over the underworld on a bridge a hair's breadth
wide. In certain cultures, when a Shaman dies, they do not burry his corpse,
but leave it on a hillside together with Shaman robes and his other objects.
Knocking on wood three times is an action performed to protect from evil and
drive away evil spirits when an unusual event is heard of.
Shamanism's most ancient designs estimated to date back to between 15,000 and 13,000 BCE have been encountered in the Lascaux Caves in France. The fundamental beliefs of Central Asian Shamanism are in the Sky God, and the cults of sun, moon, earth, fire ,water and ancestors. Besides Asia and South East Asia, Shamans are encountered in Eskimo and Aboriginal cultures and also among the native tribes of North and South America. It is thought that the Oracle at Delphi contains elements belonging to Shamanism, and that the scriptures of Indian culture and Buddhism were influenced by Shamanism. Some of the beliefs derived from animism are beyond the realm of modern science; however, they are not always entirely separate from the mainstream of religion. On the contrary, these convictions in no way gainsay mainstream religion and are in such close proximity to the national region that it is almost impossible for an outsider to tell the difference between the two dual elements. Evident in beliefs to do with spirits and phantoms and also with tattoos with magical properties, charms, amulets, exorcism, fortune telling and other rituals of Shamanism, indeed, all that entails the supernatural is rooted in very ancient practices.
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In Shamanism, the most important bloodless sacrifices are the animals that are turned loose for the salvation of souls. This form of sacrifice is known as the liberation of animals as a dedication to God.
In Thailand it is
the custom to release birds and fish at the Thai New Year celebrations known as
Songkran, in mid-April. In Cambodia it is believed that releasing birds from a
cage will bring good fortune. Indeed it isn’t such a bad idea for young
boys to spend their time recapturing birds to fill cages for this purpose.
Cambodia – Phnom
Penh
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A stone figure called Pascual Abaj, the local shrine, the Mayan earth god. Said to be hundreds – perhaps thousands – of years old, the stone-faced idol which local people still revere. The native worshippers come here regularly to offer incense, food, cigarettes, flowers, liquor and Coca-Cola to the earth god, and sometimes to sacrifice a chicken. Sick people visit him, believing in his healing powers, and light candles. The offerings are for gratitude and hope for earth’s continuing fertility.
Guatemala -
Chichicastenango
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