Thursday, July 8, 2010

SOUL FLIGHTS AND VISION QUESTS

NATIVE AMERICAN LEGENDS ARE CONSTANTLY BEING RETOLD TO THEIR VILLAGE PEOPLE BY ELDERS. SHAMANS WHO EMBARK ON SOUL FLIGHTS REPEAT THE JOURNEYS OF MYTHICAL HEROES. SOME MYTHS ARE ABOUT A SHAMAN WHO IS ABLE TO BRING BACK THE SOUL OF A DYING PATIENT. AMONG THE COAST SALISH MANY SHAMANS GATHER TOGETHER IN THE SHAPE OF A CANOE AND THEY SING SONGS OF THEIR OWN GUARDIAN SPIRIT AS HIS SOUL DESCENDS INTO THE BOWELS OF THE EARTH. THE IGLULIK INUITS WOULD HAVE SPECIAL RITUAL WHENEVER THEY WERE THREATENED BY FAMINE. HE WOULD CALL FOR HELP BY HIS GUARDIAN SPIRIT.

THEN HE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET PLENTY OF SEAFOOD AS HE ASKED FOR.

TOM LOWENSTEIN

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