week 2, my thoughts

Chapter 2

I really enjoyed reading this chapter! There were many things I found interesting.



- Cave art depicting bears, owls, rhinoceroses, lions, and mammoths in Ardeche Valley. But non predatory animals at other sites. Also, peices involving half human half animals. This shows the respect, passion and connection these people had for nature. Also, the use of ritual and trance.



-Cave art that depicts nothing figurative. Simply marks and images, such as dots and lines. These, are felt to be connected to the artists consciousness.



-Shaman: "Specialist of the soul", a medium between reality and the next world. These have been seen in many societies throughout history. In a way, these remind me of psychics or herbal healers of today. The idea of poets, singers, and dancers being Shamans surprised me at first, but once I thought about it, these people do pull from within or without and share something for the good with an audience. Some of the first use of hallucinogenic mushrooms to assist in travelling out of mind and body.



-On page 21, it states that humans exsisit along with nature and supernature. A Shaman must be able to live cohesivly with both. Therefore, a Shaman could get it's power from a hawk or a wolf (being interested in the book series Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer, I thought of a subplot which involves the Quileute tribe turning into werewolves. In Eclipse, book 3, the tribal leaders pulled the spirits from huge, thickfurred dogs. They lived in harmony with nature) It isn;t exactly the same, but it is similiar.



-It was interesting reading Joseph Beuys story. He faces a traumatic expierence, and went on to become a "Shaman" of sorts. Spreading his message of questioning the conventions of modern civilization.



-The whole idea that the circus has evolved from Shamanism is crazy. Clowns being the tricksters, bears and tigers being wild beasts that are tamed. Acrobats depicting the Shamans magical flight. All pretty nutty stuff.



Walsh 1&2

-Seeing how I was reading a book about Shamanism, I was expecting a concrete definition. But after reading Parts 1 and 2, I realized Shaminism is difficult to define.

-"...that Shamanism, not prostitution, is the world's oldest profession." This quote by anthropologist Michael Brown on page 17, humored me.

-It is interesting that Shamans were looked upon as heros, yet feared at the same time. I feel this way because they were so greatly needed. People needed thier assistance, but at the same time were scared of how they did what they did.