1. Shamanism & Animism Jordan Hirsch, Jasmin Norford,
Arthi Jacobs, Emily Rowley,
& Kassie Cowles
Shamanism & Animism
& some Mongols

2. What IS Shamanism?
Shamanism is the belief that certain individuals, shamans, can interact with the spirit world
Shamans often serve as healers, priests, or prophets
Also Black and White shamans dealt with evil and good spirits
What about spirit animals?
Shamans DO have spirit guides that help them when they cross into the spirit plane
Guide is different for every person

3. What IS Animism? Animism is the belief that all things have spirits
All things include plants, rocks, animals, etc
Animal spirits are especially important
Rocks have souls, too!

4. Origins & Diffusion Shamanism: origins in northern Asia Animism:
Especially Tibetans and Mongols
Very little diffusion until Mongol “empire”
Animism:
Almost all early civilizations had some form of it
Americas, Africa, Eurasia

5. Basics 7 main tenants of Shamanism All things are interconnected
There is a spirit realm
Shamans can access through altered states of consciousness
There are helpful guide spirits in the spirit realm
There is a power or force that resides in all things
Everything, animate or otherwise, has a soul (AKA Animism)
People have spiritual energy that is manifested as an aura and can be enhanced by balancing chakras

6. Chakras
Parts of the body that, when aligned, enhance spiritual wellbeing. The third eye chakra is especially important for accessing the spirit plane.

7. Practices Shamans serve as the centers of there communities
Treat illness
Balance energies
Keep communities in favor of spirits
Animism can be encompassed into other religions
Practices depend on what religion is paired with animism

8. Holidays & Rituals
The Shaman practices many rituals, including Calling in the Directions to prepare for Shamanic work
Entheogens (“generating the divine within") are used to achieve altered states of consciousness {holy drugs}
Other Shamanistic ceremonies involve:
Swallowing sticks
Eating red-hot coals and glass
Spitting coins
Dream-interpreting
Divination
No real holidays

9. Example Prayer: Calling in the Directions
Oh Spirit of the East, Land of the rising Sun, Of Air, the winds that blow across the lands. Of new beginnings each day. and of open horizons. We bless you and ask for your wisdom and blessing here with us today. Please join us, Spirit of the East.
Oh Spirit of the South, Place of Passion, Fire and Creation and inspiration, whose warm breath reminds us of summer days. Ignite our hearts with love. We bless you and ask for your wisdom and blessing here with us today. Please join us, Spirit of the South.
Oh Spirit of the West, the land of the setting Sun, Of water and Autumn's whisper. Bless us with the knowledge of peace which follows the harvest of a fruitful life. We bless you and ask for your wisdom and blessing here today. Please join us, Spirit of the West.
Oh Spirit of the North, place of quiet, stillness, of cave and deep earth. Place of thankfulness for the knowledge and blessings that have come to us with time. We bless you and ask your wisdom and blessing here today. Please join us, Spirit of the North.
Oh Spirit of Mother Earth, you support us each day, welcoming our roots deep into your heart. You nurture and guide us finding sustenance and support. help us to give thanks Always for Your bounty. We bless you and ask for your wisdom and blessing here today. Please join us Spirit of Mother Earth.
Oh Spirit of Father Sky, of the angelic realms, the countless stars of the night remind us that you are vast beautiful and majestic beyond all of our knowing or understanding. Your light shines upon the earth both day and night guiding our steps. We bless you and ask for your wisdom and blessing here today. Please join us, Father Sky.
Oh Spirit of our souls within, Place of union, love and reverence. We are grateful for this gift of life and for the love that guides our way. We open our hearts and join with all in love. It is begun.

10. Holy Books Shamanism: it’s oral! Animism: situationally dependent
Shamans sort of tradesmen
Apprenticeships or passing through generations
Animism: situationally dependent
No overarching book
Different animistic peoples have different stories and books
Large variants in mythology between cultures

11. Gods & Spirits No gods Everything has a spirit
Including inanimate objects
Plants have special spirits and certain plants are worshipped

12. Women LADY SHAMANS Also Mongols
Shamans must be born with some supernatural connections; doesn’t matter is man or woman
More women shamans then men because women are more emotionally open to spirits
Like priestesses, but with more social influence
Also Mongols
Generally better towards women

13. Major Contacts & Outreach Work pre 600
Did I mention Mongols?
Conquered more land in 25 years than Romans in 400
Leads to LOTS of cultural diffusion
NOT a missionary thing
More awareness than conversion

14. In Comparison… Animism Compared to… Shamanism Compared to… Daoism
Balanced spirits
Strong focus on natural world
Other Religions
Animism is found in many other religions (Shinto, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Pantheism etc.)
Christianity
Some Christian saints believed in the idea of Animism
Hinduism
Lots ‘n lots of supernatural encounters
Chakras
Christianity, Judaism, and Islam
Shamanism has no god or prophets
Shamans were tolerant of all these religions

15. Resources:
Primary: Odigon, Sarangerel. "Circle of Tengerism." Table of Contents. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Sept This website was written by Mongolian shamanists (people who believe in the Shamanistic ways, but aren’t Shamans themselves)

16. Secondary Sources