Learn more about Siberian shamanism from Ahamkara

Minerals and stones can seriously affect a person wearing them, helping with the right stone, and hindering - with the wrong one. There are sets of stones, which hide huge forces, used in magic for the benefit of a person (healing, luck), as well as for harm.

This is a joint rite of invocation of benevolence and protection for each participant, usually all the inhabitants of the camp or settlement. The ceremony, led by one or more shamans, was most often held during or shortly after the White Moon Festival (timed to coincide with the Vernal Equinox).

After the disintegration of Turkic society, the totem also began to disappear. The image of totem as a symbol of the tribal union was also to disappear. The totem of this or that time became a separate organ or a certain color of animal. The Tatars were convinced that their totem animal, that is, their ancestor was the White Wolf. They considered the white wolf to be the guardian of folklore

Spirits are wonderful beings. Some of them - heal, others - protect the shaman. It is very important to know the names of the Spirits. These names should not be told to anyone, and should not be written down. When healing a client, with the participation of Spirits helpers, it is a pleasure to watch them work.

Smudging with juniper smoke is especially widespread in Southern Siberia. In Tuva juniper is an obligatory component of ritual practice. Any healing begins with the ritual of smudging - cleansing from evil. In general, any place where there may be evil forces is necessarily smudged. This is especially characteristic of funeral and memorial rites.

Everything around us is energy. It envelops the objects around us, gives them power or takes it away. For thousands of years people have been creating egregors of totem animals. This is also energy, which has the characteristics of different animals, birds, insects.

It is typical for a shaman to work in the dark, or at least with his eyes closed, in order to see clearly. For this reason, shamans usually practice at night. Some kind of shamanic clairvoyance can be performed with the eyes open, but this kind of perception usually has less depth. In the dark, unlike the light of day, the pressure on consciousness decreases, as a result of which the shaman has the opportunity to focus on aspects of unusual reality that are important for his work.

Since a shaman is an intermediary between the worlds of spirits and people, he must be appointed or chosen by the spirits themselves. In almost all peoples of the world, where shamanism has been preserved as a cultural phenomenon, shamans necessarily go through the stage of the "shamanic sickness", the result of which is the symbolic "death" of the chosen person and his "birth" already as a shaman

For understanding and further analysis it is necessary to know that paganism and shamanism are related beliefs, and more precisely, shamanism just in some places (geographically) evolved into pagan beliefs. And they are relatives in their cultural basis. And there are indeed many common features. But it should be clearly understood that paganism is a later form of understanding the world.

Any shamanic practice is a meditation. It can be static, i.e. the body is still regardless of what is going on inside the person. It can be dynamic, when there are many different movements, more often spontaneous dance, with changes in the rhythms of breathing, and also a person may well sing or hum some motifs that he or she has known for a long time or newly composed.

Probably now absolutely everyone is concerned about the question of strengthening their immunity. After all, it is on this depends on our well-being, especially given the identified viruses and new diseases. How to help yourself and your loved ones without undermining your health with a mountain of pills? Do not rush to the pharmacy for a long list of medicines.

What is energy? Who are energetic people? Simply put, energy is the desire and ability to do something. A more complete definition: energy is an information flow of harmonious existence and development. How to preserve and multiply energy? There are 12 natural laws, rules that show the sources of energy loss.

In Buryat shamanic ritual practice, the important question of life and death is closely connected with the question of the mythological function of the human soul, which is considered the guardian of the life force. Shamanic ritual actions dedicated to any event have both pragmatic and semiotic status. Significant in the ritual event is the connection of the upper, middle and lower worlds, shamans directly contacted the spirits of other worlds, or they themselves could reincarnate and find lost souls.

Shamanic journeying is a deeply rooted aspect of many indigenous cultures around the world. Its practice involves a ceremonial introduction, usually evoked by rhythmic percussion or chanting, that brings practitioners into an altered state of consciousness. Despite differences across cultures, shamanic journeying often refers to a metaphysical journey into other realms of reality (or inside oneself - introspection). However, in the modern landscape of psychology and psychotherapy, this ancient practice has found new uses - as a potential tool for psychological healing and growth.

Shamanic legends tell about the origin and history of shamanic clans, shamanic miracles, competitions, feats; about the birth of the first shamans, about receiving the shamanic gift. They allow us to identify a number of common features of the shamanic mythology of the peoples of Siberia:

More and more people are becoming interested in shamanism and even want to know how to become a shaman. Shamanism, often referred to as the oldest religion in the world, is based on spiritual discovery, powerful healing and self-realization. Shamanism can give meaning to circumstances that other religions sometimes struggle to explain away. It can heal long-standing emotional and even physical traumas. And, strange as it may sound, it can reveal the past, present, and future.

To say that the quality of life greatly depends on the atmosphere in the home is an understatement. If your surroundings are cozy and filled with positive energy, then you're lucky - you can relax and not be bothered by any difficulties in the outside world. However, when you start to feel suffocated, unable to relax, and constantly wanting to leave, it's time to cleanse the space.

Shamanism is the most rarely used term when it comes to anything to do with healing and spirituality. And yet shamanism is indigenous and ancient; it is an entire philosophy and practice. It is more than a term or pseudo-scientific phrase equated with other healing modalities, therapies or spiritual perspectives. It is a way of life, the essence of our being.

When we sleep, our soul embarks on a great journey, entering the subtle world and various planes. It can descend into the Underworld and find itself in our past, or ascend into the Upper World and be transported into the future. Dreams are the result of our soul communicating with different spirits: past, present, and future, both positive and negative.

Among the Mongols, malicious spirits (usually the souls of those who died unnaturally or sinners) are loosely differentiated in their functions and appearance, and their common "ancestral" characteristic is to bring illness to humans by inhabiting their bodies or capturing their souls.

The bonfire for the Upper World is built in the form of a 'shelter,' with a semblance of a table placed in the center where offerings for the spirits will be placed. The food is never placed on the ground. This type of bonfire is only lit during the period of open Heaven’s Gates, with its entrance facing east. Bright and gratitude rituals can be performed on such fire, and one can seek knowledge and skills from the spirits. Purification is not carried out on such a bonfire.

Why is it so important to wake up before sunrise? Because during this time, the energy of goodness and virtue descends upon the Earth. Nature is calm and peaceful. This time before sunrise is the most favorable for prayers and meditations, for working on oneself. During this time, you need to tune in to the current day, work with your thoughts, set intentions. And this mood carries you through the whole day. How you start the day is how it will go.

Each pose, each position of the hands represents a specific thought about the world. In pose and movement, we communicate with the world, with space, we master and capture it. Depending on the aerial expanse, we either embrace the air with the wings of our hands in flight, or connect with the earth on the ground. Space is infinite, and by extending our hand or leg, we give form to the space.

According to the beliefs of the Buryat shamans, the world is inhabited by a multitude of different supernatural entities. They all, in one way or another, have a direct influence on people's lives, which is why the well-being of not only an individual but also of the whole lineage often depended on proper communication with these spirits.

Although shamans often enter a trance state during their practices, not all rituals require this as a mandatory condition, and many tasks can be performed in a normal state of consciousness. In cases where altered consciousness is necessary, a shaman can use various methods, each of which can send him into an ecstatic trance. In this state, a shaman can acquire the abilities of the spirits, become clairvoyant, and embark on journeys to the spirit world. In most rituals, several techniques of entering ecstasy are combined to enhance the overall effect.

Most of the indigenous peoples of Siberia, like many other places on Earth, believe in the existence of three worlds in our Universe, positioned one on top of another. In general, the concepts of the Upper and Lower worlds are closer in spirit to the theory of parallel dimensions than to the image of worlds literally lying on top of each other like layers of a cake.

There are different types of spirits in the sky and in nature. Some of them possess great power, and shamans cannot control them, while others are relatively easy to manage. Spirits cannot be disturbed or forced to serve unless it is for the purpose of restoring balance in the world, let alone for trivial reasons.

In Siberian shamanism, the primary living beings are Tenger “Father Sky” and Gazar Ee “Mother Earth”. The peoples who worship Tenger venerate him in the form they see as the eternal, infinite blue sky. He does not take on a human form, although it’s believed that he has at least two sons. The cult of worshiping Father Sky and Mother Earth is common among all the peoples of Siberia, and is also found among many Native American tribes.

In different cultures, the definition of who can become a shaman varies. The main methods are considered to be the inheritance of the shaman profession and the summoning of spirits. But, for example, among the Altai people, one can become a shaman by one's own will, while among the Tungus people, it is based on the will of the lineage.

Spirits of various ranks were symbolized by zoomorphic and anthropomorphic images drawn on the drum, carved on its handle, or attached as pendants to the drum and the costume. Some of these images were interpreted as spirits-hosts of the corresponding cosmic zones, while others were considered spirits-helpers, who would enter their images during the ritual and help the shaman in his journey.

The outer surface of drum among the peoples of South Siberia was divided vertically into three parts, symbolizing the three spheres of the universe. The upper part depicted the sky with celestial bodies, a rainbow, clouds, and the Milky Way. On the left side, the sun, called "the mother," was placed, and on the right side, the moon, called "the father.

Have you ever had a recurring image of a specific animal in your dreams? Did it communicate something to you in a special way, perhaps talking to you or accompanying you in your dream? It could be one of your animal helpers trying to reach out to you at the direction of your spirit.

In the case that a person has lost his guardian spirit, a shaman is invited to heal him. The shaman makes a healing journey into an unusual reality, where he tries to find the lost guardian and return it to the client.

The search for one's path is what compels a person to delve into ancient sciences, to try on the costumes of different peoples of the world. The best way to begin acquainting oneself with the Spirit World is by finding a patron who will guide and protect in both worlds.

Shamanic attire with all its additions is a microcosm, a mystical that can only be understood in the context of shamanic worldview. Therefore, the process of putting it on becomes a sacred act, helping the shaman transcend the mundane space and enter the sacred realm where communication with spirits is possible

From astrology or other sources, you may know that there are five elements: fire, earth, air, water, and Spirit. All living beings and natural phenomena on Earth are combinations and interactions of these Five Elements. They influence each other and are connected by consistent relationships. All movements and changes in the Universe, manifested in events, people, and objects, are also influenced by them.

The typology of shamanism is influenced by how knowledge is transmitted and what the actions of the shaman are directed towards. Depending on the customs of shamanism, the types have slightly changed over time. The four main types are as follows:

Any form of violence (sexual, physical or emotional) can lead to the loss of a part of the soul. This can happen as a result of various circumstances, such as accidents, participation in war, terrorist acts, natural disasters, operations, drug addiction, divorce or the death of a loved one – any event that causes shock.

The preferences of spirits vary, depending on their level and nature. The lower spirits, for example, can feed on the smells of blood, suffering and sexual energy, while the higher spirits favor prayer, candle and bread.