Shamanism and complementary therapy.
Complementary therapies in nursing & midwifery November 1, 2000 DOI: 10.1054/ctnm.2000.0507 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractShamanism, an ancient and widespread tradition, may offer valuable insights into healing and the nature of health. This paper describes the origins and characteristics of shamanic practice and examines its relevance to contemporary healing issues, including shamanic views of illness, change, and growth; illness and healing as rites of passage; death and dying; and the use of imagery in healing. The authors suggest that complementary practitioners may find certain shamanic principles highly compatible with their own approaches.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Proposes that shamanic principles may be congruent with the practice of complementary practitioners. |
Abstract
Shamanism is an ancient tradition which may offer profound insights into the healing process and to our whole understanding of health. It has an extensive historical and geographical distribution, and may contain elements essential to our understanding of humanity. This paper outlines the origin and nature of shamanic practice, and considers its implications for a number of current healing issues. Several areas of potential relevance to complementary practitioners are explored. These include the shamanic concepts of illness, change and growth; illness and healing as rites of passage; death and dying; and the use of imagery in healing. This paper suggests that complementary practitioners may find some shamanic principles highly congruent with their own practice.