Overview
Shamanism, or Neo-Shamanism, is a collection of techniques and practices that primarily involve imaginal journeys and interactions with spirits. Common to this cosmology is the concept of Soul LossSoul Loss
Soul loss the process through which, during traumatic events, a part or all of the soul leaves the body. This occurs to protect the victim from the worse effects of the trauma and saves the soul fr..., where pieces of the soul are broken off during traumatic events, and the Shaman goes on a Shamanic Journey Private or Broken Links
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to reclaim the lost pieces.
Atavisms - A Theory of How it Works
Austin Osman SpareAustin Osman Spare
30 December 1886 – 15 May 1956
English artist and occultist. Briefly cohort of Aleister Crowley but the two had a falling out.
Wrote on Desires , primordial magic, genius and madness
talks a lot about atavisms and the concept has been championed by both Peter Carroll, Liber NullPeter Carroll, Liber Null
and Frater Acher.
Atavistic resurgenceAtavistic resurgence
biological term
The term atavism derives from the Latin word atavus, which can be translated
as ancestor or forefather, and was first coined through French medical
writings in the 1820s. An a... is a biologic term that refers to the appearance of biological patterns appearing on totally separated species, for example a human being born with a tail or extra nipples. The implication from this is all animals have within them access to all other patterns of life.
in Primordial Magic then, perhaps when we enter deep into trance we are accessing some deeper universal storehouse of ancient biological patterns and behaviors.
My Disagreements with the Term
Shamanism as a term originates from Siberian indigenous people. When people in the Western world talk about shamanism they are rarely talking about this actual cultural practice and are usually referring to an entire constellation of practices that are found in many different cultures in different forms. Not only is this inappropriate and erases the actual Buryat culture and history as well as flattens all indigenous cultures into one mono-culture- I don't think this is actually what people mean when they talk about shamanism.
Most modern practitioners are actually practicing their own blend of various imaginal techniques in ways that conform to each own practitioners personal cosmology. This is really interesting and I think it deserves it's own term rather than being attached to an existing cultural tradition. I suggest the term primordial magic
Primordial Magic
Primordial means existing at the beginning of time. The implication with this name is that this is the original magic. I believe this to be the case. The constellation of practices at the core of neoshamanism are special because they are all some of the oldest and most natural practices that we as humans all do.
When we are born we know how to Journey- as children we day dream and speak to imaginary friends freely. We sing nonsense songs and drum wildly. These magical practices are natural to humans and come without needing any instruction. In fact the only reason we have lost these magical practices is because we live in a culture that requires us to sever our connection to spirit in order to function and live. As adults many of us have to relearn what once came naturally to us.
Because of this, rather than using the term shamanism I want to use the term Primordial Magic to refer to a specific constellation of practices that are performed instinctually by humans:
- Day dreaming, and Night Dreaming
- Speaking with spirits
- Intuitive Music Making
Journey
- The shamanic journey is not astral travelThe shamanic journey is not astral travel
While Shamanic Journey is similar to Astral Projection, it is not the same as Mental, Astral, and Etheric projection
Astral Travel. It is more akin to mental travel as ... - The difference between Lucid Dreaming and Shamanic DreamingThe difference between Lucid Dreaming and Shamanic Dreaming
While both Lucid dreaming and Shamanic Dreaming both occur in the dream state- the Shamanic Dream as it is described by authors like Faustus Crow or Sergio Magana seems to be more a... ___References
Frater Acher, Goetic AtavismsGoetic Atavisms
summaries
goetic intimacy
This chapter seeks to establish goetia as a practice that exists as a deeply individual and sensual experience.
Acher sets his definition of goetia as existing in opposi...
Sandra Ingerman, Soul RetrievalSandra Ingerman, Soul Retrieval
Ingerman, Sandra. Soul Retrieval: Mending the Fragmented Self. [Rev. and Updated ed.]. New York: HarperOne, 2011.
Soul Loss
Soul Loss
Psychology compared to Shamanism
In psychology, the...