A Comparative Analysis of Shamanistic healers in Celtic and Native American Cultures

Many traditional Native medicines and healing practices were discouraged with the advent of Western medicine, but now there is a movement to return to traditional ways (Zubek, 1994, p. 1924). Modern Western medicine treats the symptoms to cure a diseased state when the body is out of homeostasis. Native American healing traditions do this as well with herbs and plants suited to the purpose. These Native healing traditions also include sacred rituals, chants, and purification rites to help bring the spirit and mind of the afflicted back into balance. In effect, treating the whole person, not only the disease. A blending of these two healing practices could bring about better prognoses for today's patients. The purpose of this paper is

Due to the wide range of habitats in North America, different native religions evolved to match the needs and lifestyles of the individual tribe. Religious traditions of aboriginal peoples around the world tend to be heavily influenced by their methods of acquiring food, whether by hunting wild animals or by agriculture. Native American spirituality is no exception. Traditional Lakota spirituality is a form of religious belief that each thing, plant and animal has a spirit. The Native American spirituality has an inseparable connection between the spirituality and the culture. One cannot exist without the other.

Traditional Cherokee medicine primarily focuses on the purity and wellbeing of the soul and assesses the physiological condition of the body as a secondary practice (Frazier, Goad, & Wolyniak, 2013). The Cherokee highly value the importance of man being in a harmonious balance with nature. An imbalance in nature is the theory behind the causation of disease. Cherokee perform various rituals and sacred prayers to maintain a balance its nature and to protect themselves from harm and disease caused by evil spirits. Most Native American theories are learned by means of prayer, visions, dreams or divination (Putsch , 1990). After the United States federal government broke solemn promises to protect Native Americans’s rights in the past, Native Americans

The first Americans Also believed in Wakon,da a powerful god to them, whom they believed in, they believed that he created all things, made the land they also believed in life after death and immorality that made earthly life secure and pleasant; they expressed their feelings for nature as in peace and confidence. Different native religions evolved to match their needs and lifestyle Religious traditions of aboriginal people around the world tend to be heavily influenced by their methods of acquiring food, with great hunting skills or by agriculture. Native American spirituality is no exception. Traditional Wakon’da, spirituality is a form of religious belief that each thing, plant and animal has a spirit. The Native American spirituality has an inseparable connection between the spirituality and the culture. One cannot exist without the other. Before Europeans took over the land the Native Americans had their own laws, as they do know, but one of the most important laws was to respect and keep peace with others around them. The folk art

The theme of spirituality takes place in many novels that we have read this semester. Natives has used spiritual guidance as a means of connecting with their past and honoring their ancestors. To Natives, spirits have always played an important role in their culture and everyday lives. When Natives were forced to convert to Christianity and over time have their beliefs sucked out of them, the spiritual connection was broken as generations passed. One novel that particularly spoke to me on this subject was Monkey Beach, by Eden Robinson. The main character, Lisa, is struggling to fins herself after being blessed with the gift of being a shaman. In this novel, the author exploits how the European or western “white” culture has destroyed the

Native American traditional medicine and spiritual healing rituals go back for thousands of years, these traditions often focus on different variations of alternative medicine. This knowledge is passed on throughout generations, many of the tribes learn that by mixing natural plants such as herbs and roots they can make remedies with healing properties. It is believed that being healthy is when people reach a state of harmony not only spiritually, mentally but physically. To be able to overcome the forces that cause illness people must “operate in the context of relationship to four constructs —namely, spirituality (Creator, Mother Earth, Great Father); community (family, clan, tribe/nation); environment (daily life, nature, balance); and self (inner passions and peace, thoughts, and values)” (Portman & Garret, 2006, p.453). In this research paper I am going to show evidence of the tremendous influence that Native American medicine and spiritual healing have over modern medicine in the course of healing

Native American religion has become a commodity due to the fact that Neo-Shamans are more focused on giving a presentation and making a profit rather than the spiritual aspects of Native American religion. According to Cohen, “It is my belief that Westernized religion in general has become a commodity almost ad hoc in North America. It is a potential money making industry, and anyone can take part”. She

            The book Lame Deer Seeker of Visions authored by Richard Erdoes help readers understand the American Indian community through a Sioux medicine man. The author’s relationship with the Lame Deer enabled him to portray this community from several interviews. He portrays the culture, rituals and ceremonies, religious beliefs, main legends, the use of medicine, environmental destruction, injustices in this land whose occupants hold it as sacred. The author narrates about Lame Deer as a small boy and his experiences in the move to be a medicine man. Lame Deer ability to recall critical symbolism in American Indian culture helps him to explain to the author the significance of spiritual unification, and its need in his community beliefs and practices. At the end, Erdoes argues oneness among human beings is significant. The author is also convinced that Lame Deer is stable with his spiritual values.

Sacred power (pg 16): Native Americans believed in spiritual powers and the natural world. Spiritual power for men were hunting and war.

Another characteristic of an indigenous religion deals with the emphasis placed on the spiritual specialists. The general consensus is that anyone can have personal or direct access to spirits or that which is unseen, yet felt (democratized shamanism). There is no special requirement in most indigenous systems that stipulate ‘who’ can commune or interact with spirits, however, as a general rule, many feel that it is best to leave interactions with spirits to those that have been taught or trained through ritual or purification of some sort. Most indigenous religions are not written down, but based on oral

Shamans, people believed to call spirits and would cure the sick, were important to Coahuilticans and Karankawa beliefs.

The Shamans have a very powerful believe in creation. It is very important as a religious director to protect the earth. Shaman’s personal has a very important role in getting his flock closer to the creator. Their role is just like a pastor at the church, the pastor takes care of his people by gathering them around and making them feel comfortable. In my opinion, all the religious specialists have a big role in helping their communities in reaching a stable and a spiritual life. Shaman is no difference than other directors, the gathering that they do during hunting is their spiritual ritual.

Furthermore, in native traditional ways of healing the spiritual realm is greatly considered and appreciated while healing patients and overcoming illnesses. There are a wide variety of healers above those of the physical world who aide in guiding the medicine men and women to the healing of patients. The Great Spirit, being the most high, cannot be reached by anyone in the physical world; therefore, there are spirit helpers which the healers speak through to get the answers they need from the Great Spirit. These spirit helpers, which can range anywhere from being elemental spirits, animal spirits, and plant spirits relay the information and spiritual power back to the earthly healers from the Great Spirit. In fact, Willier makes a statement

Shamanism plays a role within most tribal communities of the indigenous peoples of Siberia. Within the community the shaman has many roles; one of his[1][1] main roles is that of a healer. The function of the shaman is closely related to the spirit world (Eliade 71). A shaman uses ecstatic trance to communicate with spirits. Spirits are integral to a shaman’s ability to heal within his community.

The shaman ritual music shows respect to deities or ghosts, by pleasing them in hope of help people solve their problems; therefore the Shamanic ritual is usually dramatic and improvised. It “serves” for the urban life, for the people who need help from the spirit world, thus its music, singing, and dancing needs to be understood by civilians. Its mystical peculiarities also make significant differences from other religions: they do not have religion doctrine; no religious ancestor, but they do worship many deities, even from other religions (such as