When I studied Cultural anthropology at Palomar College in the early 1970s in Southern California (San Marcos) this was the definition of what a shaman was. They went on to say that because they have died (psychologically) they live in both the world of the living and the world of the dead ever after and in this way often they can help heal people from both worlds at the same time.
This was the experience I had had over and over again from Whooping cough at age 2 that I survived and then from ages 10 to 15 I had had a blow to the head which gave me seizures from ages 10 to 15 only at night when I was asleep. However, the effect was like being murdered at night every few months. Plus my father forbade me to talk to anyone about this especially relatives or anyone other than a doctor who was treating me. This also caused various psychological problems in itself because I was forbidden to talk to anyone useful about all this.
So, when I heard this definition in college I knew better what I was: a natural priest or shaman and someone who likes to be in the wilderness where it is quiet and I can talk with the trees and animals there always. Because most people are sort of crazy from the kinds of conditioning they receive during their lives both good and bad and indifferent.
So, you are going to find much more sanity in the wilderness than you are in any city on earth.
No comments:
Post a Comment