POMO MEDICINE MEN AND WOMEN ACQUIRED POWER FROM THEIR FATHER OR FROM A SHAMAN WHOM THE NOVICE HAD ASSISTED AND WHO FELL HEIR TO HIS TEACHINGS AND PARAPHERNALIA. PURE SHAMANISM WAS OVERSHADOWED BY FETISHISM AND RITUALISM AMONG THE POMO.
THE SHAMANS RECIEVED POWER DIRECTLY FROM THE SPIRITS BUT WAS APPARENTLY LESS DEVELOPED THAN IN MOST OTHER TRIBES. FETISHISM IS ATTACHED TO SACKS OWNED BY MEDICINE MEN WHICH WERE ANIMAL SKINS THAT CONTAINED BULL ROARERS, OBSIDIAN, PEBBLES BONES, ROOTS, STICKS COVERED WITH SNAKE SKINS, AND COYOTE FEET. THIS BAG WAS THOUGHT OF AS EXTREMELY POWERFUL.
THE RITUAL WAS TO LAY THIS SACK BY THE FIRE AND THE MEDICINE MAN BEGAN TO SING AND DANCE. THE MEDICINE MAN FASTED AND DRANK NO WATER FOR FOUR DAYS.HE WARMED AN AMULET AND THRUST IT AGAINST THE SEAT OF PAIN...
THE POMO ALSO HAD BEAR DOCTORS WHO WORE CERTAIN COSTUMES AND DANCED WITH AN OBJECT MOVING 170 SUCCESSIVE MOVEMENTS WITH AN ASSISTANT SINGING. THIS PROCEDURE HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED FROM ANY OTHER CALIFORNIAN TRIBE.
A SHAMAN'S ROLE WAS ALSO TO HEAL ONE'S EMOTIONAL TROUBLES AS WELL.
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