The Way of the Shaman: The Science of Shamanism

The Way of the Shaman: The Science of Shamanism

Shamanism, which from here on in will be referred to as the "Way of the Shaman," has recently been distinguished as an archaic magico-religious phenomenon. The way of the shaman has received a wide variety of attention and has been studied to decipher the process of shamanic ecstasy. The way of the shaman had been defined as an technique of ecstasy by Mircea Eliade. Characteristics of the way of the shaman can include a variety of things, such as magical specialties of control over the elements, levitation, also called "magical flight," or even shape shifting. However, the most necesarry and universal characteristic of the way of the shaman would have to be the state of ecstatic trance during which the spirit of the shaman is believed to make it's way out of the body and travel the many dimensions, ascend into the heavens, descend into the underworld, or travel into the depths of the planet, becoming one with it's energy. The shaman communicates with spirit guides and utilizes their assistance as a way of maintaining dominance of his or her own consciousness during these contacts with other entities.
The way of the shaman is a path that is bias said to be traveled mainly by men, however there are many female shamans who have walked the path and become brilliant shamans. This misconception is brought about due to the word "shaman" having the word "man" in it, on the contrary, women make just as fantastic shamans as men do. And the sad thing people seem not to realize is that the word "man" refers to human beings, which is also why the word woman also has the word "man" within. This stereotypes about the way of the shaman is also brought about by the image of the "wise man" be much more dominant than the "wise woman" in today's culture.
Modern researchers are investigating many of the more mundane practices and experiences in the way of the shaman, while ignoring some of the more mind boggling techniques. It maybe due to the way of the shaman being such a scientifically stunning practice that researchers begin with the things which are easier to put a scientific spin on. Nonetheless, as long as interest is show in the way of the shaman, maybe word of it will reach more eyes, ears, and minds of the public and spark a new era in awareness. The development of the new field of the "anthropology of consciousness" provides the new interest in the way of the shaman, and all other aspects of the shaman. On the way, the creation of Transpersonal Psychology as a so called "Fourth Force" in psychology has not only open the doors of interest in the way of the shaman, but began research into history as well as the nature of consciousness in a way that ten years ago would have never been even imagined. On the outside of the scientific circle, an increasing number of people are beginning to make serious inquiries into the way of the shaman and ancient shamanic techniques for gaining skills for entering altered states of consciousness.