MAGIC OBJECTS OF SHAMANS AND THEIR WAY OF HEALING

SHAMANS HAVE A WAY OF USING HERBS TO EMPLOY A HOLY OBJECT OR A SUBSTANCE IN ORDER TO TRANSFORM A PERSON'S HEALTH. THE SHAMAN'S GO THROUGH AN EXPERIENCE OF INITIATION IN ORDER TO GAIN INNER SPIRITUAL POWER. A SHAMAN HAS HELPING SPIRITS IN THAT THEY APPEAR IN ANIMAL FORM. THESE OBJECTS ARE OUTWARD SIGNS OF AN INNER SPIRITUAL POWER ACQUIRED THROUGH THEIR INITIATION. SOME NORTHWEST COAST SHAMANS SPEAK OF HARBORING A QUARTZ CRYSTAL IN THEIR BODIES AND THEY REFER TO IT AS A PAIN. THESE OBJECTS CAN LEAVE THEIR BODY AND ATTACK OTHERS!


THEIR EQUIPMENT INCLUDES EAGLE FEATHERS, A BAG OF CRYSTALS, STONES, RATTLES, AND DRUMS. SOME USE A TUBE OF HOLLOW BONE TO SCOOP UP SOULS FLYING THROUGH THE AIR.
MEDICINE BUNDLES ARE A VITAL PART OF A SHAMAN'S EQUIPMENT AND ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF A SHAMAN'S EQUIPMENT. THESE OBJECTS REPRESENT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE SPIRITS.

HOLY OBJECTS ARE NOT CONFINED TO SHAMAN'S. THE WARRIORS OF THE PLAINS CARRIED BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED SHIELDS WITH DESIGNS THAT REPRESENTED INNER POWER.
HEALINGS ARE GENERALLY COMMUNAL EVENTS TO THE WESTERN APACHE WHERE THE MEDICINE MAN TELLS MYTHS ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF THE RITE TO THE COMMUNITY. HE SITS BY THE PATIENT AND CHANTS ALL NIGHT LONG. SOMETIMES HE DUSTS THE PATIENT'S HEAD WITH POLLEN FROM A CATTAIL PLANT.

THERE ARE MANY TYPES OF SHAMANS WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE CONTACT BETWEEN THE WORLD OF THE PEOPLE AND THE SPIRIT WORLD THROUGH TRANCE STATES. IN THE POMO AREA THE SHAMANS EBTERED A TRANCE BY SMOKING NATIVE TOBACCO, ROLLING THEIR BODIES IN RED CARPENTER ANTS, OR BY ROLLING IN STINGING NETTLE, OR BY TAKING JIMSON WEED (A PLANT THAT IS A HALLUCINOGEN AND MAY CAUSE DEATH).

SHAMANIC POWERS ARE RARELY INHERITED IN CALIFORNIA. THEY MAY SEEK IT IN A QUEST OR HAVE IT IMPOSED UPON THEM BY THE SPIRITS THEMSELVES, OR ACQUIRE IT FROM OUTSIDE ONESELF. SHAMANIC INITIATION CAN BE TERRIFYING AS WELL AS BLISSFUL. ONE SHAMAN RECALLS THAT THEY WOULD AT ONE MOMENT BE FILLED WITH INEXPLICABLE DELIGHT AND JOY AND THE NEXT MINUTE START WEEPING. HE COULD SEE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT WAY AS HE HAD A LIGHT THAT WAS NOT VISIBLE TO OTHER PEOPLE. THE LIGHT SHONE OUT TO THE SPIRITS OF THE EARTH, SKY, SND SEA.

TOM LOWENSTEIN