SHAMANISTIC SURVIVALS IN ANATOLIA: AN ANALYSIS OF CULTURAL CONTINUITY
Medine Arslan, ARI Yılmaz
Jete – Jоurnal of Philosophy Religious аnd Cultural Studies December 10, 2025 DOI: 10.32523/3080-1281-2025-153-4-136-152 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative descriptive survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Turkish society living in Anatolia |
| Topics | Shamanism |
| Keywords | Turkish Presentation obstetrics Subject documents Qualitative research Originality Tying Indigenous Anthropology Belief system Ethnic group Period music Ethnology |
| Key findings | Practices such as the use of the evil eye bead, red ribbons, lead pouring rituals, tying cloths on trees, reciting mevlit and hymns, and giving children nature-inspired names indicate the continuing presence of Shamanistic traditions in Anatolia. |
Abstract
This study aims to explore the cultural continuity of Shamanistic beliefs and practices within Turkish society living in Anatolia. The primary objective of the research is to examine how the Turks—who have interacted with various religions and cultures throughout history—have preserved and transmitted elements of their ancient Shamanistic traditions to the present day. A qualitative research method was employed, and a descriptive survey model was adopted as the research design. A literature review served as the main data collection tool. The central research question is defined as follows: What Shamanistic practices and beliefs continue to exist in Anatolia today, and what role do they play in Turkish culture? The study is subject to certain limitations, including restricted source availability and regional variations in practices. Its originality lies in its presentation of concrete examples demonstrating the persistence of Shamanistic elements within contemporary Turkish culture. Key findings reveal that practices such as the use of the evil eye bead, red ribbons, lead pouring rituals, tying cloths on trees, reciting mevlit and hymns, and giving children nature-inspired names indicate the continuing presence of Shamanistic traditions in Anatolia. These results highlight that Shamanism is not merely a historical belief system but remains influential in Turkish cultural memory and daily life.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on shamanism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Plantas con madre": plants that teach and guide in the shamanic initiation process in the East-Central Peruvian Amazon. Curanderos, apprentices, and herbalists in East-Central Peru, including Mestizo,... | 2011 | Qualitative study | n = 36 |
| Purging and the body in the therapeutic use of ayahuasca Healers and participants in shamanic tourism contexts of the Peruvian Amazon and... | 2019 | Ethnography with literature review | n = 227 |
| The Globalization of Ayahuasca Shamanism and the Erasure of Indigenous Shamanism Western tourists and indigenous peoples in Iquitos, Peru | 2016 | Ethnography | |
| Shamanism and Rock Art in Far Western North America Historic hunter-gatherer cultures of California and the Great Basin | 1992 | Ethnographic review and analysis | |
| Working with “La Medicina”: Elements of Healing in Contemporary Ayahuasca Rituals Ayahuasqueros and Western participants in shamanic tourism in Iquitos, Peru | 2012 | Ethnography |