Shaman, Spirit, Soul
Shaman, Spirit, Soul
Norman W Wilson, PhD
Humans are instinctively inquisitive and are always investigating and modifying the two worlds in which they exist: the physical world and the inner world.
Both the physical and inner worlds, in turn, work upon the human equation. No matter the claim to the contrary, man is inexorably a part of both worlds. It is this recognition that the shaman readily integrates into his world view.
For the shaman, man, animals, plants, rocks, wind, rain, sun, stars, and moon are alive with Spirits. Unfortunately, early films and television programs have conveyed a somewhat inaccurate image of Spirit making it ghostly. Those entities that make noises and rattling sounds during a séance designed to commune with the deceased is not the intent here.
Some writers suggest a better word for Spirits would be essences, meaning that which makes a man human, a tree a tree, or an eagle an eagle. Aristotle’s ‘substances’ is not an equivalent, nor is Plato’s ‘pure forms’. The shamanic concept of Spirit is closer to the Ancient Egyptian notion of BA, which may translate as ‘soul’ or ‘spiritual manifestation.’
From a practical viewpoint, spirit is that which makes a thing what it is. It’s the noumenon. Spirit. as consciousness, has the problem of death as an issue. If, however, death is a ‘rebirth’ into another life, much as a child from its mother’s womb emerges into another life, then consciousness as Spirit/Soul is acceptable.
Even though Spirit and Soul are essential to a shamanic world view and the cohesiveness they provide, there is no denial of various categories or of other forms, or qualities. The shaman accepts all; denies nothing.
Dr. Wilson is the author and co-author of college textbooks in the humanities. Additionally, Dr. Wilson has over 100 articles published on the internet, many of which deal with shamanism. He is a reviewer for The New York Journal of Book Reviews.
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