Just wanted to share with you, I am of Persian Turkic and Mesopotamian decent my great grandmother was from a small village called Urmia in west Azerbaijan, and she came from a long line of female healers, and shamans she passed down her knowledge to her three only daughters, and that knowledge was passed down to my mother, and finally to me. I was the only, and first born male since who knows how long ago the female line bore any males. But my grandmother, mother, and aunt raised me and my grandma taught me about divination, dream or as we call it sleep traveling were we usually communicate with ancestors and other spirits, and healing.
I have been a shamanic practioner for many years. You have just gained my respect. Thank you for the video. I hope it opens the eyes and ears of people around the world for many years to come.
Another aspect of neo-shamanism is syncresis. Either individual practitioners taking their preferred aspects from various forms still practiced in other cultures together with real or imagined historical forms and combining them into something that suits them or in systematised forms like core shamanism.
I agree with your analysis of these 5 differences. (I call Neo=Shamanism, "Shamanism-Light.) I would add the proviso, however, that all this sanitizing, romanticizing etc. tends to be done within shamanic training for rank beginners. As people progress in their training, it becomes clear, for instance, that the notions that "everything is benevolent" and there are no dangers or "dark sides" to the work dissipate. The dangers become quite evident. I think Harner et al, wanted to make shamanic practices less frightening in order to reintroduce the world to the idea that their was an accessible Spirit realm and that it was the human birth right to communicate with it. Most people, however, whether "traditional" or "neo" find out relatively quickly that the word is not all unicorns and rainbows and they get out of it It can be arduous, frightening and dangerous work. Also the notion that there is any such thing as "the individual" upon whom one can "work" also dissolves as one sees that the Universe and its inhabitants are intricately linked and interactive and the boundaries upon which the notion of an atomized "individual" are based are nonsense.
Thank you for making this awesome Channel, I'm already looking forward to new videos from you! I also like, that you didn't use background music on this video, as I find music often a bit distracting and I think good content doesn't need any background music. Please keep making these interesting videos, I really love them!
Thank you for this! I am a Shaman in training, at the doorstep of initiation. I grew up in my euro decended family though i do have a significant amount of Indigenous DNA. Point is.... Ive had to teach myself. I have had the visions and "psychosis" starting at age 12. Ive done so much research and training. I have almost felt that some may say im not a True Shaman because i never had a mentor. There have been moments in my life where I have met others who "dabble' in the MetaPhysicaland shared much information. I have Great Knowledge. I want to do this for the betterment of our species and how to go into the future at a higher state of mind. A higher vibration. Again, thank you for this video, it tells me its is ok to not need a mentor the entirety of training
I think a shaman merit should be judged not by whether they are an indigenous shaman or a Neo shaman but by how much they are capable of using shamanism to either improve there lives or the lives of other people.As far as I'm concerned when it come s to the merit of a shaman has nothing to do with whether or not they are a Neo Shaman or an Indigenous Shaman.As far as the merit of a shaman goes I think that "the proof is in the pudding" and that it's not in the lineage that a particular shaman happens to come from.
Shamanism is a specific belief and if you haven't been initiated on the nuances of that belief then whatever you're doing is your own thing not Shamanism. That's like if I called myself a daoist without ever reading any daoist text. Actually it's even harder as shamanism is an oral tradition so you can't even read a book to try and derive your own form of it.
This is my view also Gary - it all boils down to effectiveness at the end of the day. There are people who've never been taught or initiated by a single other human being who are immensely powerful spiritual practitioners. The power doesn't always come via another human, it can come directly from the Otherworld. It happens to some people and they don't even have a name for it, they're just called by the Spirits and that's that!
@@Z0mb13ta11ahase But it's not a specific belief, that's like calling all pagans or monotheists the same. There can't be just one shamanic tradition and by the nature of oral tradition every practitioner has their own form of that belief which was inherited. You can create your own customs it's how all beliefs started and as long as you're not claiming to be a part of a tradition you're not a part of then I see no issue whatsoever.
@@BigFungus420 it is a specific belief, not to a particular tribe or nation but of those that still exist there are specific traditions that you are initiated into by someone who passes down the knowledge of the previous shaman, and that line goes back generations. If you just take bits and pieces from existing shamanic traditions and make your own thing you have neither been initiated as well as appropriating things from outside your culture.
I am personally interesting in shamanism.I am also a Caucasian and I am personally sick and tired of people arguing about neo shamanism vs indigenous shamanism I'm not saying that indigenous shamanism should disappear however I also think that as the world becomes more interconnected that there should be a new form of shamanism to reflect that.However at the same time I think that Neo shamans should take time the time to go back in history study indigenous cultures and try to understand the mindset of those who practiced shamanism within a primitive culture but I don't think that anyone needs to be an expert but I think that they should at least try to understand shamanism from the point of view of those who lived in primitive and indigenous cultures.
Hello this is the first video i have seen by you and i am going to look at your channel and watch more. But i have a question regarding this video. Do you know the term "plastic shaman"? A big part of plastic shamanism is money. In traditional shamanism it can be considered disrespectful to demand and accept money for your abilities to connect to the spirit world etc. So one can conclude that traditional shamanism cant exist in the western world because it is basically controlled by money. Thats where plastuc shamans and neoshamanism come into play. Think about the info in this video and imagine this scenario:a white woman born and raised in america starts a yoga studio. Eventually she gains a following through that business. Mostly middled aged white women and college students. She starts *selling* shamanic ceremonies which involve plant medicine, hape, mexican blankets and fur rugs, cow skulls and bones, an elaborate altar with candles, crystals, stones, rattles, and feathers. During these ceremonies she plays loud drumming music and also plays the drum herself. Along with her partner. The shaman is very intimidating and loud, she physically hurts her "clients" for the sake of release. She forces them to sign a waiver before the ceremony. She has a degree in psychology and criminology. She lives in a big house on 6 acres and drives a brand new SUV... All of that scenario (which is real btw.) somewhat plays into the information in this video a out neoshamanism. My question is: do you think this specific "shamanic healers" actions fall in line with neoshamanism? Or do you think the shaman i mentioned is a "plastic shaman" who is appropriating a culture, and using her psychology and criminology background to manipulate and used people for money and power? I believe that neoshamanism shouldnt even be a term. It is misleading. There are good people in this world who can connect to the spirit world and help heal people in such ways that a shaman can; these GOOD people will not call themselves a shamanic healer. They will not appropriate a culture. Yet they can lead people to the same results as a real shaman could. Theres a very dangerous side to western shamanism. Plastic shamans are popping up all over the world. Making true shamanism and spiritual healing methods look bad. Theres barely any info online about plastic shamans. Ive seen all of it and it was not nearly as much as i have seen about western shamanism and all the benefits from working with this holistic healing method. This causes an issue. People are starting to take advantage of the growing trend of shamanic healing in the west and literally creating some sort of business monopoly because no one is stopping them... no one knows about plstic shamans... i am working on a documentary about it because i was hurt and used by a plastic shaman. Thank you for this video.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Sarah. I'm familiar with that perspective and that label. Although the phenomenon is very complex and multi-faceted.
@@drangelapuca do you think anyone who calls themself a shaman can be trusted as such? I feel like there is either a "bad side" to shamanism in general, or because its been around for so long and many different cultures and people have practiced it, a "bad side" has born into shamanism as society progresses? There is such lack of understanding about the topic therefore i believe a community isnt even fit to say if someone is a shaman or healer or not because that "shaman" is going to convince a lot of people they are a legitimate shamanic healer no matter if its true or not... if you could meet this plastic shaman that i experienced you would know why my thoughts and feelings about shamanism are basically all fucked up lol i used to beleive strongly in shamanic healing and i still do. But that woman was some sort of evil. And the experience with her made me want to research deeper into the subject. It is such a complex subject. I do not disagree with your information. I just think that plastic shamans are their own separate category lol like someone who may or may not be able to connect to the spirit world but claims they can and somehow still has a strong bond with their ego... idk. Your videos got me thinking lol im on a binge now! Thank you for your info
I 100% agree with you. Traditionally to be a shaman you have to be initiated by an already initiated shaman. One cannot label themselves a shaman. At the very least in this "neo shamanism" the title should be granted to you by the community you serve. I've met far too many people that label themselves shamans when in actuality they're just new age believers that don't know anything of shamanism outside of websites they've browsed. Another rite of passage to become a shaman is to spend a year isolated in the wild, which none of these people could ever dream of doing. Anyone who charges money for their shamanic services immediately becomes an appropriater. That's called a self help or life coach, not a shaman.
Hi, Rahila here. First of all, I am honoured to make your acquaintance maam. My sincere thanks for creating this video and demystifying the different aspects of Shamanism for those of us who are new to this. Thank you. :-). I have a question please? Does it matter which type of Shamanic healer you work with? I have found us (my spirit guides, personal council and myself) a Shaman to work with, a distance healer. I reside in the west, so my journey so far in my present lifetime (learning academically about Shamanism, then finding a practitioner I authentically connect with, and now having listened to your video), has been completely new to me. When I educate my family about Shamanism and introduce them to my healer, I want to have all the facts straight, in order to best reassure them I don't require an Imam LOL (i'm a Muslim FYI). So hence my question, does it matter whether a clientfinds an indiginous healer or a neyo-shamanic practitioner? Or are both categories equally as beneficial as each other, depending on the client's preference? So I wish for clarity please? Thank you. :-). If you are curious regarding why I am seeking Shamanic healing, when my western society is presently so far removed from this spiritual practice, i'm happy to tell you one of my reasons. I'm blind, I have ROP, and whilst living with it has been somewhat empowering, (becoming mentally resilient, spiritually awakening, and generally learning to use laughter and misschief to my advantage therapeutically), the condition also has it's challenges, and it's the challenges I want to explore overcoming more effectively and effeciently through Shamanic healing and other therapies alongside it and through my own interdependent dedication. Shamanism is the last type of therapy I ever want (due to the safety measures my practitioner will need to take when journeying, I already feel protective as an upcoming caring client LOL), butI feel I have gained enough maturity in my life to trust the process and myself to follow through with suggestions... :-). So anyway to reiterate, please can you clarify when you're available, whether it matters what type of practitioner one chooses or not? My intuition is telling me it doesn't matter, but I want to hear it from you please. You're the boss (so to speak LOL). :-). I'm sure we'd all like that clarity :-). Thank you again for sharing the video, I look forward to listening to new ones. Stay safe and have a peaceful remainder of the weekend. :-). Love, Rahila, one of your authentic and loyal subscribers. Big hug. :-).
Love ur channel, love ur videos. Thanks for all the hard work you put in on these. My comment is on the use of the term "Western" when differentiating between indigenous and modern approaches to, in this case, shamanism. Obviously, there are many western indigenous traditions that would not be considered "western shamanism," yes? Perhaps, "industrial" might be a better term than "western" when trying to make such a differentiation. Just my thoughts. Thanks again for your contributions on these topics!
'western' means nothing... The funniest thing is that 'The West' is associated with expanding boundaries, facing or bringing death, confronting limiting spirits & lies, etc. Things Europeans became very famous for doing. No matter the cost. So many basic 'anti-Europeans' simply don't have guts to say what their heart's content is... which is again very funny given how Indo-European traditions flourished in Europe. And how the spirit of Truth shaped Europeans. I guess it's because they won't talk about The Sect and its death grip over Europeans and all fake/distorted spiritual paths. So it's easier to 'blame' Europ... huh I mean 'the west'. Strictly speaking, 'western' also makes zero sense. West from where? Anyway.. given how so many Central Asians (for example) fell for the penis mutilating dark magic cults, one should be quite naive to even consider the idea of a broad TRVE CVLT outside 'the west' defending genuine traditions.
I actaully hate the term plastic shaman because I think that alot of the time it's used to criticize a shaman because of there lineage rather than actually refering to the shamans merit.
@@drangelapuca Perhaps hate was a bit too strong of a word but I still agree that the term plastic shaman that the term "plastic shaman" is a term that tends to get thrown around in such a way in that it is primarily meant to criticize those who does not come from an indiginous culture and has nothing to do with how much competence or merit a shaman actually has.To be honest I think that there are most likely a good amount of Neo shamans who are out there who either lack merit or competence and you can probably get away with saying that some of those people deserve that title more than others however I don't think that we should be so quick to throw that term around especially when there are people there are also plenty of shamans who of non indigenous lineage are also good individuals and also have helped other people.
I live in a mostly Christian community and a lot of things I do are considered heathen witchcraft and not appropriate or appreciated unless I am working with like minded people. I try to help people anyway where I can. I agree with you that neo shamanism is more focused on the self but I say it is not selfish in that I will work together with anyone who will open to the help within my ability to work with others to become whole and healthy in their lives... I love your channel. I'm trying to mentally locate your country of origin. I love your accent. Your videos on strega say Italian or Malta or one of the Baltic or black sea countries. I could listen to you all night. Um I just did that. You are so on track with your information. Call it chaos magick or shamanism or whatever, I say that the world works the same way for the ritual of anyone who embraces the path.
Purple and Black is your perfect color combination Dr. Puca! Cheers! ( I like mushrooms and John Coltraine and bands like Mahavishnu Orchestra, Gong, ect. )
The text at 8:59 (Johnson's Shamanism from Ecuador to Chicago) is very dense. Each of those points can be the topic of an entire video. The most difficult one for me: a "universal standardized conception of time" and space - it's really difficult to think of time and space in a way that is *not* universal. I feel that to understand that sentence, I first need to be able to imagine how to think of time or space in a way that's not universal.
Prior to scientific study and global public education on the concepts of space and time, different cultures may have radically different ideas about how they worked and how they related to each other and the fundamental nature of existence.
Really clear info. Other vids/interviews illustrate diverse views in the field very well. Unlocks a lot. I have 2 Q's: Are you writing a thesis currently or have articles published? Is there a forum or groups a person can be a member to read the literature and connect with other interested people? Outside of UCC and,,,hmm Coven's :)
Hi Cillian, thank you for your comment and appreciation. I'm currently writing up my doctoral thesis and have already published 2 academic articles and 1 book review while waiting for other 2 publications to be out (they have been accepted and in press). You will find everything on my profile on ResearchGate or Academia.edu As an academic, I'm afraid I can't help you find a coven or any other group of the sort (if that's what you're asking) as my job is that of a researcher and I have to protect the identity and affiliation of my informants. :-)
Angela's Symposium thanks for the quick reply. I was not actually looking for a Coven. I meant groups not academic or coven. It was a joke & obviously a bad one🙈I look forward to reading the papers. Also I’ve been talking to ppl generally about these topics. The academic route is very well received. Thanks again ❤️
Shamanism here often seems like a fringe version of another dubious development, the Life Coach. Credential-less expertise for sale. Great vid, excellent points that went directly to answer the questions I had.
I definitely have criticism of Neo movements since they have this tendency of exhibiting a Vanity that assumes their intentions outweigh reality in both the physical and astral plane. If even 1 person was capable of that level of influence in reality this world would be a drastically different place. Yes the upcoming era will have a much lower ritualistic requirement to achieve the same feats as traditional shamanic practice but just because the world now has computers, doesn't mean it's all sunshine and rainbows. If even the internet as a dark side, blindly playing with beings whom we cannot verify the intentions will inevitably lead to unfortunate consequences. (I know I watch too much TH-cam when I can pinpoint the best place to segue to a sponsorship 🤣)
@@drangelapuca Yes, I meant from the literature-not you personally :). It does seem , and I have read elsewhere, that magic practice in the West is becoming a form of "Self-Help" and less spiritual.
@@mtmk5 Yes, that is a tendency you find in literature, especially from the late 90s and the early 2000s. A few accounts refer to Western shamans as 'Plastic shamans', too. I don't personally have this negative outlook on these practices in the West. They are different, without a doubt, but different doesn't mean they are not as valid or less deserving of respect.
Be it new age or traditional. A shaman is a shaman who come from bloodline or choosen by spirits in rare cases. People can call whatever they want but only few will be real good shamans. Thxs. If u r not choosen by Spritis,u can't be shaman unless u like give 100% leaving everything . Which is super rare
I am a Neo Shaman called by the Holy Spirit to bring the world dextromethorphan to help heal schizophrenia. Still they laugh at me but never will I give up on my quest. Do some research if you want to understand what I mean. I will make videos for it soon enough.
@@birju4333 your closed mind will get you nowhere. Neo shamans are open to pharmaceuticals as viable options of being medication. Shamans and more traditional people focus on nature and herbs for their medicine... Older shamans may not accept pharmaceuticals out of fear newer Shamans accept the healing nature of pharmaceuticals. It is the age old debate about whether marijuana is a plant or a drug. Marijuana is a plant filled with drugs. "Drug" is merely a demonized word for medicine... The difference is in whether or not you believe a "man-made" pill can help you or not.
@@OfficialJuggaloJesus people is West n foreigner now trying to teach tribal culture. N doing business in the name of neo n new ager is sadly very sad. Stop stealing people's culture for profit n fake .namesta.
So... If you strip the community and the place from shamanism, there doesn't seem to be too much left from what shamanism is. To me, it now very much overlaps with just utilizing spirits.
@@drangelapuca It's basically semantics from there on. It is something, some form of genuine belief or cultural "object", but if it's shamanism is a question of definition.
@@drangelapuca I have, I'm making my way through your channel right now. Great work, it's something I was looking for but couldn't find anywhere else (yet).
Can we also define the term "western world." because we surely do not mean western. We mean Euro-North American. and largely we mean white people within those areas of the world. We would not include, for instance, a brujo practicing in Chicago as part of the "western world." Nor would we include African shamanic forms even though Africa is due south of Europe and thus, as "western" as Europe is. And there are plenty of African style shamanic practitioners who do not live in Africa (to the extent that "African" is a useful descriptive word, given the 54 countries and many more tribes and culture therein) Are they 'western" if they live in London or are they "traditional" because they are black? This is important because I think there is an inherent racialism in this term "western world" that we are not addressing, for better or worse.
It's a shame that indigenous cultures have been pillaged to a point where the original shamanic practices are all but lost to us. I don't really believe we can recapture the spirit of something that we don't even truly understand.
@@anyoneatall3488 sure but seeing as prior to colonization most were oral cultures meaning they didn't write down their traditions when the cultural/spiritual leaders were killed before passing on the knowledge they had to the next generation alot of it was lost.
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Just wanted to share with you, I am of Persian Turkic and Mesopotamian decent my great grandmother was from a small village called Urmia in west Azerbaijan, and she came from a long line of female healers, and shamans she passed down her knowledge to her three only daughters, and that knowledge was passed down to my mother, and finally to me. I was the only, and first born male since who knows how long ago the female line bore any males. But my grandmother, mother, and aunt raised me and my grandma taught me about divination, dream or as we call it sleep traveling were we usually communicate with ancestors and other spirits, and healing.
I have been a shamanic practioner for many years. You have just gained my respect. Thank you for the video. I hope it opens the eyes and ears of people around the world for many years to come.
So glad to hear that 😊
Another aspect of neo-shamanism is syncresis. Either individual practitioners taking their preferred aspects from various forms still practiced in other cultures together with real or imagined historical forms and combining them into something that suits them or in systematised forms like core shamanism.
thanks for sharing
Thank you for sharing this information.
Glad it was helpful!
I agree with your analysis of these 5 differences. (I call Neo=Shamanism, "Shamanism-Light.) I would add the proviso, however, that all this sanitizing, romanticizing etc. tends to be done within shamanic training for rank beginners. As people progress in their training, it becomes clear, for instance, that the notions that "everything is benevolent" and there are no dangers or "dark sides" to the work dissipate. The dangers become quite evident. I think Harner et al, wanted to make shamanic practices less frightening in order to reintroduce the world to the idea that their was an accessible Spirit realm and that it was the human birth right to communicate with it. Most people, however, whether "traditional" or "neo" find out relatively quickly that the word is not all unicorns and rainbows and they get out of it It can be arduous, frightening and dangerous work. Also the notion that there is any such thing as "the individual" upon whom one can "work" also dissolves as one sees that the Universe and its inhabitants are intricately linked and interactive and the boundaries upon which the notion of an atomized "individual" are based are nonsense.
Thank you for making this awesome Channel, I'm already looking forward to new videos from you!
I also like, that you didn't use background music on this video, as I find music often a bit distracting and I think good content doesn't need any background music.
Please keep making these interesting videos, I really love them!
This is so very sweet of you! Thank you very much! It's for the appreciation of nice people like you that I put the work into my videos.
Thank you for this! I am a Shaman in training, at the doorstep of initiation. I grew up in my euro decended family though i do have a significant amount of Indigenous DNA. Point is.... Ive had to teach myself. I have had the visions and "psychosis" starting at age 12. Ive done so much research and training. I have almost felt that some may say im not a True Shaman because i never had a mentor. There have been moments in my life where I have met others who "dabble' in the MetaPhysicaland shared much information. I have Great Knowledge. I want to do this for the betterment of our species and how to go into the future at a higher state of mind. A higher vibration. Again, thank you for this video, it tells me its is ok to not need a mentor the entirety of training
I think you're my new favorite teacher 😁.
Thank you! 😃That means a lot to me!
Wonderful video! Well researched and sourced, real information!
thanks
Great video! Thanks for all the infos
Thank you
Great video Angela. Love ya girl.
You're the best!
That's some great piece of work! Thanks!
Glad you like it, Caroline!
this topic would deserve more details. Very interesting as always
thanks
I know it's off topic but what a cool unique look with the purple and black 👍
thanks!
Keep up the good work! Loved this one xx
thank you!
I think a shaman merit should be judged not by whether they are an indigenous shaman or a Neo shaman but by how much they are capable of using shamanism to either improve there lives or the lives of other people.As far as I'm concerned when it come s to the merit of a shaman has nothing to do with whether or not they are a Neo Shaman or an Indigenous Shaman.As far as the merit of a shaman goes I think that "the proof is in the pudding" and that it's not in the lineage that a particular shaman happens to come from.
Thanks for sharing your view, Gary.
Shamanism is a specific belief and if you haven't been initiated on the nuances of that belief then whatever you're doing is your own thing not Shamanism. That's like if I called myself a daoist without ever reading any daoist text. Actually it's even harder as shamanism is an oral tradition so you can't even read a book to try and derive your own form of it.
This is my view also Gary - it all boils down to effectiveness at the end of the day. There are people who've never been taught or initiated by a single other human being who are immensely powerful spiritual practitioners. The power doesn't always come via another human, it can come directly from the Otherworld. It happens to some people and they don't even have a name for it, they're just called by the Spirits and that's that!
@@Z0mb13ta11ahase But it's not a specific belief, that's like calling all pagans or monotheists the same. There can't be just one shamanic tradition and by the nature of oral tradition every practitioner has their own form of that belief which was inherited. You can create your own customs it's how all beliefs started and as long as you're not claiming to be a part of a tradition you're not a part of then I see no issue whatsoever.
@@BigFungus420 it is a specific belief, not to a particular tribe or nation but of those that still exist there are specific traditions that you are initiated into by someone who passes down the knowledge of the previous shaman, and that line goes back generations. If you just take bits and pieces from existing shamanic traditions and make your own thing you have neither been initiated as well as appropriating things from outside your culture.
I am personally interesting in shamanism.I am also a Caucasian and I am personally sick and tired of people arguing about neo shamanism vs indigenous shamanism I'm not saying that indigenous shamanism should disappear however I also think that as the world becomes more interconnected that there should be a new form of shamanism to reflect that.However at the same time I think that Neo shamans should take time the time to go back in history study indigenous cultures and try to understand the mindset of those who practiced shamanism within a primitive culture but I don't think that anyone needs to be an expert but I think that they should at least try to understand shamanism from the point of view of those who lived in primitive and indigenous cultures.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the topic. Much appreciated.
You live in the Caucasus?
Hello this is the first video i have seen by you and i am going to look at your channel and watch more. But i have a question regarding this video. Do you know the term "plastic shaman"? A big part of plastic shamanism is money. In traditional shamanism it can be considered disrespectful to demand and accept money for your abilities to connect to the spirit world etc. So one can conclude that traditional shamanism cant exist in the western world because it is basically controlled by money. Thats where plastuc shamans and neoshamanism come into play. Think about the info in this video and imagine this scenario:a white woman born and raised in america starts a yoga studio. Eventually she gains a following through that business. Mostly middled aged white women and college students. She starts *selling* shamanic ceremonies which involve plant medicine, hape, mexican blankets and fur rugs, cow skulls and bones, an elaborate altar with candles, crystals, stones, rattles, and feathers. During these ceremonies she plays loud drumming music and also plays the drum herself. Along with her partner. The shaman is very intimidating and loud, she physically hurts her "clients" for the sake of release. She forces them to sign a waiver before the ceremony. She has a degree in psychology and criminology. She lives in a big house on 6 acres and drives a brand new SUV...
All of that scenario (which is real btw.) somewhat plays into the information in this video a out neoshamanism. My question is: do you think this specific "shamanic healers" actions fall in line with neoshamanism? Or do you think the shaman i mentioned is a "plastic shaman" who is appropriating a culture, and using her psychology and criminology background to manipulate and used people for money and power?
I believe that neoshamanism shouldnt even be a term. It is misleading. There are good people in this world who can connect to the spirit world and help heal people in such ways that a shaman can; these GOOD people will not call themselves a shamanic healer. They will not appropriate a culture. Yet they can lead people to the same results as a real shaman could. Theres a very dangerous side to western shamanism. Plastic shamans are popping up all over the world. Making true shamanism and spiritual healing methods look bad. Theres barely any info online about plastic shamans. Ive seen all of it and it was not nearly as much as i have seen about western shamanism and all the benefits from working with this holistic healing method. This causes an issue. People are starting to take advantage of the growing trend of shamanic healing in the west and literally creating some sort of business monopoly because no one is stopping them... no one knows about plstic shamans... i am working on a documentary about it because i was hurt and used by a plastic shaman.
Thank you for this video.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Sarah. I'm familiar with that perspective and that label. Although the phenomenon is very complex and multi-faceted.
@@drangelapuca do you think anyone who calls themself a shaman can be trusted as such? I feel like there is either a "bad side" to shamanism in general, or because its been around for so long and many different cultures and people have practiced it, a "bad side" has born into shamanism as society progresses? There is such lack of understanding about the topic therefore i believe a community isnt even fit to say if someone is a shaman or healer or not because that "shaman" is going to convince a lot of people they are a legitimate shamanic healer no matter if its true or not... if you could meet this plastic shaman that i experienced you would know why my thoughts and feelings about shamanism are basically all fucked up lol i used to beleive strongly in shamanic healing and i still do. But that woman was some sort of evil. And the experience with her made me want to research deeper into the subject. It is such a complex subject. I do not disagree with your information. I just think that plastic shamans are their own separate category lol like someone who may or may not be able to connect to the spirit world but claims they can and somehow still has a strong bond with their ego... idk. Your videos got me thinking lol im on a binge now! Thank you for your info
I 100% agree with you. Traditionally to be a shaman you have to be initiated by an already initiated shaman. One cannot label themselves a shaman. At the very least in this "neo shamanism" the title should be granted to you by the community you serve. I've met far too many people that label themselves shamans when in actuality they're just new age believers that don't know anything of shamanism outside of websites they've browsed. Another rite of passage to become a shaman is to spend a year isolated in the wild, which none of these people could ever dream of doing. Anyone who charges money for their shamanic services immediately becomes an appropriater. That's called a self help or life coach, not a shaman.
Hi, Rahila here. First of all, I am honoured to make your acquaintance maam. My sincere thanks for creating this video and demystifying the different aspects of Shamanism for those of us who are new to this. Thank you. :-). I have a question please? Does it matter which type of Shamanic healer you work with? I have found us (my spirit guides, personal council and myself) a Shaman to work with, a distance healer. I reside in the west, so my journey so far in my present lifetime (learning academically about Shamanism, then finding a practitioner I authentically connect with, and now having listened to your video), has been completely new to me. When I educate my family about Shamanism and introduce them to my healer, I want to have all the facts straight, in order to best reassure them I don't require an Imam LOL (i'm a Muslim FYI). So hence my question, does it matter whether a clientfinds an indiginous healer or a neyo-shamanic practitioner? Or are both categories equally as beneficial as each other, depending on the client's preference? So I wish for clarity please? Thank you. :-). If you are curious regarding why I am seeking Shamanic healing, when my western society is presently so far removed from this spiritual practice, i'm happy to tell you one of my reasons. I'm blind, I have ROP, and whilst living with it has been somewhat empowering, (becoming mentally resilient, spiritually awakening, and generally learning to use laughter and misschief to my advantage therapeutically), the condition also has it's challenges, and it's the challenges I want to explore overcoming more effectively and effeciently through Shamanic healing and other therapies alongside it and through my own interdependent dedication. Shamanism is the last type of therapy I ever want (due to the safety measures my practitioner will need to take when journeying, I already feel protective as an upcoming caring client LOL), butI feel I have gained enough maturity in my life to trust the process and myself to follow through with suggestions... :-). So anyway to reiterate, please can you clarify when you're available, whether it matters what type of practitioner one chooses or not? My intuition is telling me it doesn't matter, but I want to hear it from you please. You're the boss (so to speak LOL). :-). I'm sure we'd all like that clarity :-). Thank you again for sharing the video, I look forward to listening to new ones. Stay safe and have a peaceful remainder of the weekend. :-). Love, Rahila, one of your authentic and loyal subscribers. Big hug. :-).
Love ur channel, love ur videos. Thanks for all the hard work you put in on these. My comment is on the use of the term "Western" when differentiating between indigenous and modern approaches to, in this case, shamanism. Obviously, there are many western indigenous traditions that would not be considered "western shamanism," yes? Perhaps, "industrial" might be a better term than "western" when trying to make such a differentiation. Just my thoughts. Thanks again for your contributions on these topics!
you're welcome, Brian
'western' means nothing...
The funniest thing is that 'The West' is associated with expanding boundaries, facing or bringing death, confronting limiting spirits & lies, etc. Things Europeans became very famous for doing. No matter the cost.
So many basic 'anti-Europeans' simply don't have guts to say what their heart's content is... which is again very funny given how Indo-European traditions flourished in Europe. And how the spirit of Truth shaped Europeans.
I guess it's because they won't talk about The Sect and its death grip over Europeans and all fake/distorted spiritual paths. So it's easier to 'blame' Europ... huh I mean 'the west'.
Strictly speaking, 'western' also makes zero sense. West from where?
Anyway.. given how so many Central Asians (for example) fell for the penis mutilating dark magic cults, one should be quite naive to even consider the idea of a broad TRVE CVLT outside 'the west' defending genuine traditions.
interesting points to think about 😉
Thanks!
great video! earned a new sub :)
Thanks for the sub!
I actaully hate the term plastic shaman because I think that alot of the time it's used to criticize a shaman because of there lineage rather than actually refering to the shamans merit.
I totally agree!
@@drangelapuca Perhaps hate was a bit too strong of a word but I still agree that the term plastic shaman that the term "plastic shaman" is a term that tends to get thrown around in such a way in that it is primarily meant to criticize those who does not come from an indiginous culture and has nothing to do with how much competence or merit a shaman actually has.To be honest I think that there are most likely a good amount of Neo shamans who are out there who either lack merit or competence and you can probably get away with saying that some of those people deserve that title more than others however I don't think that we should be so quick to throw that term around especially when there are people there are also plenty of shamans who of non indigenous lineage are also good individuals and also have helped other people.
I live in a mostly Christian community and a lot of things I do are considered heathen witchcraft and not appropriate or appreciated unless I am working with like minded people. I try to help people anyway where I can. I agree with you that neo shamanism is more focused on the self but I say it is not selfish in that I will work together with anyone who will open to the help within my ability to work with others to become whole and healthy in their lives...
I love your channel. I'm trying to mentally locate your country of origin. I love your accent. Your videos on strega say Italian or Malta or one of the Baltic or black sea countries. I could listen to you all night. Um I just did that. You are so on track with your information. Call it chaos magick or shamanism or whatever, I say that the world works the same way for the ritual of anyone who embraces the path.
I'm Italian. :-) Thanks for listening to me all night
Purple and Black is your perfect color combination Dr. Puca! Cheers! ( I like mushrooms and John Coltraine and bands like Mahavishnu Orchestra, Gong, ect. )
Thank you, Marty
The text at 8:59 (Johnson's Shamanism from Ecuador to Chicago) is very dense. Each of those points can be the topic of an entire video.
The most difficult one for me: a "universal standardized conception of time" and space - it's really difficult to think of time and space in a way that is *not* universal. I feel that to understand that sentence, I first need to be able to imagine how to think of time or space in a way that's not universal.
Totally agree!
Prior to scientific study and global public education on the concepts of space and time, different cultures may have radically different ideas about how they worked and how they related to each other and the fundamental nature of existence.
Really clear info. Other vids/interviews illustrate diverse views in the field very well. Unlocks a lot. I have 2 Q's: Are you writing a thesis currently or have articles published? Is there a forum or groups a person can be a member to read the literature and connect with other interested people? Outside of UCC and,,,hmm Coven's :)
Hi Cillian, thank you for your comment and appreciation. I'm currently writing up my doctoral thesis and have already published 2 academic articles and 1 book review while waiting for other 2 publications to be out (they have been accepted and in press). You will find everything on my profile on ResearchGate or Academia.edu
As an academic, I'm afraid I can't help you find a coven or any other group of the sort (if that's what you're asking) as my job is that of a researcher and I have to protect the identity and affiliation of my informants. :-)
Angela's Symposium thanks for the quick reply. I was not actually looking for a Coven. I meant groups not academic or coven. It was a joke & obviously a bad one🙈I look forward to reading the papers. Also I’ve been talking to ppl generally about these topics. The academic route is very well received. Thanks again ❤️
@@cillianfreeman4028 This is very sweet of you. Thank you so much! It means a lot to me. :-)
Fyne as fk! & intelligent! I like that!
Shamanism here often seems like a fringe version of another dubious development, the Life Coach.
Credential-less expertise for sale.
Great vid, excellent points that went directly to answer the questions I had.
Thanks for sharing!
I definitely have criticism of Neo movements since they have this tendency of exhibiting a Vanity that assumes their intentions outweigh reality in both the physical and astral plane.
If even 1 person was capable of that level of influence in reality this world would be a drastically different place.
Yes the upcoming era will have a much lower ritualistic requirement to achieve the same feats as traditional shamanic practice but just because the world now has computers, doesn't mean it's all sunshine and rainbows.
If even the internet as a dark side, blindly playing with beings whom we cannot verify the intentions will inevitably lead to unfortunate consequences.
(I know I watch too much TH-cam when I can pinpoint the best place to segue to a sponsorship 🤣)
hope the video was helpful
@@drangelapuca it was incredibly validating and I am eternally grateful for your efforts. You've properly earned my support, thank you 🙏🙏🙏
I sense an implicit criticism of neo-shamanism when you refer to "obsession with the self".
No, I assure I'm not critical of Western Shamans. I'm just reporting what the literature says. :-)
@@drangelapuca Yes, I meant from the literature-not you personally :). It does seem , and I have read elsewhere, that magic practice in the West is becoming a form of "Self-Help" and less spiritual.
@@mtmk5 Yes, that is a tendency you find in literature, especially from the late 90s and the early 2000s. A few accounts refer to Western shamans as 'Plastic shamans', too. I don't personally have this negative outlook on these practices in the West. They are different, without a doubt, but different doesn't mean they are not as valid or less deserving of respect.
Be it new age or traditional. A shaman is a shaman who come from bloodline or choosen by spirits in rare cases. People can call whatever they want but only few will be real good shamans. Thxs. If u r not choosen by Spritis,u can't be shaman unless u like give 100% leaving everything . Which is super rare
that's a very good point. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I am a Neo Shaman called by the Holy Spirit to bring the world dextromethorphan to help heal schizophrenia. Still they laugh at me but never will I give up on my quest. Do some research if you want to understand what I mean. I will make videos for it soon enough.
@@OfficialJuggaloJesus theres no such thing as a neo shaman. There's just a shaman who is traditional. 👍
@@birju4333 your closed mind will get you nowhere. Neo shamans are open to pharmaceuticals as viable options of being medication. Shamans and more traditional people focus on nature and herbs for their medicine... Older shamans may not accept pharmaceuticals out of fear newer Shamans accept the healing nature of pharmaceuticals.
It is the age old debate about whether marijuana is a plant or a drug. Marijuana is a plant filled with drugs. "Drug" is merely a demonized word for medicine... The difference is in whether or not you believe a "man-made" pill can help you or not.
@@OfficialJuggaloJesus people is West n foreigner now trying to teach tribal culture. N doing business in the name of neo n new ager is sadly very sad. Stop stealing people's culture for profit n fake .namesta.
So... If you strip the community and the place from shamanism, there doesn't seem to be too much left from what shamanism is. To me, it now very much overlaps with just utilizing spirits.
there are some who argue that. But I think it is shamanism, it just has its own characteristics
@@drangelapuca It's basically semantics from there on. It is something, some form of genuine belief or cultural "object", but if it's shamanism is a question of definition.
@@Ssatkan very well put! :-) Have you watched the video on the definition of magic?
@@drangelapuca I have, I'm making my way through your channel right now. Great work, it's something I was looking for but couldn't find anywhere else (yet).
@@Ssatkan thank you. Glad you're enjoying my content!
Can we also define the term "western world." because we surely do not mean western. We mean Euro-North American. and largely we mean white people within those areas of the world. We would not include, for instance, a brujo practicing in Chicago as part of the "western world." Nor would we include African shamanic forms even though Africa is due south of Europe and thus, as "western" as Europe is. And there are plenty of African style shamanic practitioners who do not live in Africa (to the extent that "African" is a useful descriptive word, given the 54 countries and many more tribes and culture therein) Are they 'western" if they live in London or are they "traditional" because they are black? This is important because I think there is an inherent racialism in this term "western world" that we are not addressing, for better or worse.
Modern day shamans all have links to ancient mythological cultures?
It's a shame that indigenous cultures have been pillaged to a point where the original shamanic practices are all but lost to us. I don't really believe we can recapture the spirit of something that we don't even truly understand.
thanks for sharing your thoughts
I don’t believe all of it I think you can.
I might be wrong but
Many indigenous peoples keep practising their traditional religions to this day
@@anyoneatall3488 sure but seeing as prior to colonization most were oral cultures meaning they didn't write down their traditions when the cultural/spiritual leaders were killed before passing on the knowledge they had to the next generation alot of it was lost.
heY, my friend, have you ever been to a campfire ? whats your take on fire?
yes, Nancy. I like it.