September/October 2023 Alchemical Voice

An ancient way of life
Shamanism goes back to the origins of the human race.
It probably developed from human interaction with
animals and with nature; from being curious about the
stars in the night sky, the sun and the moon. People
reflected on the relationship between various
phenomena, whether they be physical, biological or of
some other nature. As today, people also had dreams
and visions. They used their imagination, creativity and
experience to try to develop an understanding of the
world they lived in. It was important to be able to
somehow predict events in the future, to ensure good
health of the community and for protection against wild
animals and enemies. And I do believe that our
grandfathers and grandmothers in the distant past had
a profound sense of the spiritual aspect of the planet
with all its plants and animals.
In its very nature, Shamanism is an animistic
understanding of the world around us. Everything is
alive, has spirit and consciousness to a certain degree.
Various forms of Shamanism exist on all continents.
Even though rituals may differ, as well as ceremonial
clothing and use of drums or other tools, the basic
methods and principles are similar all over the world.
Cultures and geographical settings may differ greatly,
from Australasia across Africa to the Americas, Europe
and the Nordic region. Yet the fundamental principles
are so similar, you might call them universal.
Stories from mythology can be very similar in character,
even though details in the stories reflect local features.
In Norse legend, there is the story of a wild boar called
Sæhrímnir. The beast is killed and eaten by the Gods
every night. It is reborn only to be killed again the next
day for the next feast. The present day Inupiat Eskimos
of Northern Alaska tell a similar story about hunting
seals for food and other uses of the seal’s body.
Treat the seal – also when dead - with respect. Return
its bones to the sea. Pray to the sea goddess to release
the souls of the animals that were killed in the hunt.
Then there is a good chance that the seals will return to
Earth as new life, so they can be killed again so that the
Inupiat people can live.
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