A spiritual practice involving intermediaries who communicate with the spirit world through altered states of consciousness. Shamans serve as healers, guides, and bridges between the physical and supernatural realms.
From Tungusic 'šaman' (one who knows) via Russian to European languages. The term originally described Siberian spiritual practitioners but was later applied to similar traditions worldwide.
Shamanism is humanity's oldest profession—literally the first specialists who weren't hunters or gatherers! From Siberian shamans riding drum-induced trances to Amazon ayahuasceros, these spiritual technicians have been debugging the human condition for tens of thousands of years.
Colonial and anthropological writing often erased the gender diversity of shamanic practitioners, defaulting to male shamans. Many shamanic traditions honored non-binary, female, and trans practitioners.
When discussing shamanism, acknowledge that shamans included and include practitioners of all genders. Use 'shamanic practitioner' or 'shaman' (gender-neutral in use) and specify gender when historically documented.
["shamanic practitioner","spiritual leader"]
Women and gender-diverse people held central roles as healers, spiritual guides, and keepers of knowledge in shamanic traditions across cultures—a history often obscured by Western ethnography.
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