The Primitive Mind and Modern Man

Shamanism: The "Wounded Healer"

Author(s): John Alan Cohan

Pp: 95-113 (19)

DOI: 10.2174/978160805087111001010095

* (Excluding Mailing and Handling)

Abstract

Shamanism is a widespread healing discipline, grounded in animism. Healing, divination, rain-making and settling disputes are among the shaman’s duties. Many people rely on shamans for primary health care and spiritual guidance. The mind, body and spirit are treated as a unit by shamans. The shaman will seek to determine the supernatural cause of an illness. This can be anything from the violation of a taboo or some other transgression against the supernatural world, possession by an evil spirit, sorcery practiced by an enemy, or the actions of an offended ancestral ghost.

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