20-24 septembrie 2009 - Biblioteca Metropolitana Bucuresti

The language nature of mythical mentality 715Consciousness (or Mentality) means the highest stage of theexpedient psychical activity, notwithstanding the degree of reflection ofthe latter. Consciousness covers both thinking and language, and both inholistic and atomistic terms. We are dealing here with the activities, whichare using signs (or symbols).Sign (or symbol) is understood as a psychic element of categoricalnature. The transformation from emotive signals (inherent to animals) tothe purposeful usage of linguistic signs was a base for the appearanceof consciousness and of a human being (Homo sapiens). Linguistic signsare in fact the basis of all the cultural symbols. However, various formalmethods, used for the purely semiotic analysis, cannot contribute to ourunderstanding of psychic nature of the linguistic signs. Within this approachthe genesis of the phenomenon is categorically ignored.Several definitions of shamanism are known, and these looks asfollowings: (1) shamanism is a form of religion among the peoples ofSiberia, Northern areas, Far East and Central Asia, (2) which is also attestedin Australia, Oceania, and both Americas; (3) a universal early stage ofreligious belief; (4) an ideological system rather then religion, or (5) aspecific type of culture (Rank 1964: 21). The differences of opinions couldbe based on the differences between various shamanic traditions, or maybe taking into consideration the shamanism as a phenomenon generally. Itseems normal to consider the rites of selection of a shaman and his / herinitiation, the clothes and accessories, rites of magic and rites of life, folkmotives, etc. Shamanism is therefore viewed as somewhat erosed, and itis not infrequent when the whole concept is mystified. My paper is basedon my personal experience of translating and providing the comments toM. Eliade’s “Shamanism and archaic Techniques of Ecstasy” (Paris,1951; authorized English translations from French: 1964 and 1974). Thestatements “shamanism – is not a religion but….” once more switches theattention to the consciousness of those, belonging top a particular tradition.The structure of the consciousness is such, that the more general“schemes of intellect” (J. Piaget), do not deny, but rather integrate theprevious experience of an individual, affecting and re-arranging the processof thinking. The speed of these instant changes does not allow to arrangethem in a linear progression, as the different types of thinking do notpresuppose transitional zones. Moreover they may co-exist in a given society,and even in a given individual (L. Lévi-Bruhl), and may be reflectedin various situations. However, in order to transform the consciousness,a human being has to estimate potential possibilities of thinking.