Siberian shamans and European pagan spiritualism.

In the earth-centered spirituality of Evenki tribes (Siberia), shamansarevisionaryhealers, guides and communicators betweenthis world and the next.

Although the word”shaman” (coined by anthropologists in the 19th c.) has been at the root of considerable debates, from an ethnocentric and religious standpoint, it is often used as an umbrella term to describe aspiritual leader undertaking practices likening those of the Evenki Siberian tribes. Therefore, I will use the term “shaman-like” to describe leaders (and the spiritual rites and practices) that bear similarities with the original Evenki concepts mentioned above.

Of late, there has been a popular rise ininteresttowards the ancient practices of shamanism in the last decades, with modern “shamans” offering to help and guide those in need of psychological, spiritual or physical healing.

But wheredo modern-day shaman practices stem from?

The origins of the word “shaman” are traced back to a handful of tribes…