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Ritual and Symbolism
Shamanism and Magic
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Rock painting of shaman in Moab, Utah
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Ritual & Symbolism
The range of types of ritual in religion is as broad as the range of the imagination. For the social group and the individual, religious rituals can be regenerative, restorative, commemorative, consolidating, intensifying, strengthening and regulating of social ties and social rules, give vent to formalized rebellion, or they can mark rites of passage.
"A ritual is a formalised, predetermined set of symbolic actions generally performed in a particular environment at a regular, recurring interval. The set of actions that comprise a ritual often include, but are not limited to, such things as recitation, singing, group processions, repetitive dance, manipulation of sacred objects, etc. The general purpose of rituals is to express some fundamental truth or meaning, evoke spiritual, numinous emotional responses from participants, and/or engage a group of people in unified action to strengthen their communal bonds. The word ritual, when used as an adjective, relates to the noun 'rite', as in rite of passage." from:
Rites of Passage
Many religious rituals can be considered rites of passage representing changes in stages of life events, seasons, and other life changes. Arnold van Gennep in his The Rites of Passage, noted that there are three stages in most rites of passage: 1-Preliminal stage which includes separation, 2-Liminal stage which includes transformation, and 3-Postliminal stage which is a rejoining of the social group or restoring in a transformed condition. Some initiates choose to remain suspended in the liminal stage and not to be reintegrated in the social group, as in the case of monks and nuns.
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African Ceremonical Costume from Zaire
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Wodaabe Nomad Male Beauty Ritual in Niger
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Sun Dance
The annual regenerative Sun Dance ritual exists among the Plains Indians
Sun dance participants |
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Ghost dance
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Samoan Tattoo
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Sacrament in the Lutheran Church |
Shamanism & Magic
Mentawai Shamans of the Siberut Jungle in Indonesia |
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Shamans are believed to date back at least 10,000 years and are seen world-wide in religious systems. Shamans, also known as medicine men or witchdoctors, are male and female, and often feel a personal calling to become a spiritual healer, whereas a priest is given authority through the religious establishment, both shaman and priest may inherit their callings.
see:
While studied early on, the study of Shamanism became quite important in the 1960's, using psychoanalytical theory to describe and compare alternate states of consciousness and the actual mental and emotional conditions of religious experience. |
"Dr. Kudé (second from left) and other shaman of Masset pose for a photograph. Kudé wears the Chilkat blanket of a chief, a title that he had claim to, rather than the dance apron of a shaman. The figure on the left wearing the mask with a crooked mouth represents the wife of one of the other masked figures who was supposed to be dead; Dr. Kudé has just restored him to life. The man on the right displays a Bear tattoo on his chest and upper arms, and a Whale tattoo on his forearm. This is the only known photo of Haida shaman wearing masks. Photograph by Edward Dossetter, 1881."
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Tuva Shaman from Southern Siberia/Mongolia
The term "shaman" comes from the Manchu languages, and means a spititual and intellectual figure who possesses powers such as those of a healer. See
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Reading
Read chapter 7 prior to the next class
Terms to Know
Rites of Passage = a ritual in one's life that marks the passage from one life stage or situation to another
Shaman = spiritual and intellectual figure and healer, sometimes self-appointed, sometimes inheriting the office. He/she has the ability to communicate with spirits and perhaps animals and animal totemic spirits. Much respected and fulfilling many functions withing the social group including leading ritual activity. Shamans include: medicine man, witchdoctor, witch, and sorcerer. The terms witchdoctor, witch and sorcerer are often labels for those who deal with the dark side and are much feared among the people who use those terms to describe the evil-working type of shaman. Common among primal or traditional religions. In rationalized, literate religions we see the office of priest replacing the shaman
Ritual = a formal set of symbols and practices performed at a set time and repeated for the same purpose
Magic or magick = a means to influence both the supernatural and natural forces common to all non-monotheistic religions. Ritual accompanies the application of magic which is performed by a shaman. The word magic comes from the Priestly polytheistic Median tribe of shamanistic Magi who later adopted the Zoroastrian monotheistic religion as their own under Achaemenian rule. This is the same term Magi referred to as the New Testament Three Wisemen who visited the infant Jesus
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