Shamanic Sickness In a Society Without Shamans, Part 1.
(A Multi-Part Series exploring the symptoms, effects, and challenges when One is Called while living in contemporary society)
In this series, we explore what Shamanic Sickness is, its symptoms, how they translate in societies without shamans, and the possibilities as to why it’s happening to so many people now in societies that no longer depend on shamans and in communities that no longer acknowledge them.
At the root of, I of ALICE, and its mission is a troubling experience that affects a select group of unsuspecting individuals. This experience completely deconstructs every aspect of their personal identity, from their physical health to their mental stability, challenging their grasp on reality and altering every aspect of their daily life. It is a long-lasting crisis of turmoil and transformation for which there is no pharmaceutical cure, and no mainstream doctor or surgery can heal it. It has been a root cause of misdiagnosis for many individuals, leading to symptoms being attributed to both physical and mental illnesses. Numerous individuals who have been afflicted with this particular illness have been wrongly hospitalized and medicated, causing their lives to be derailed and rerouted toward disability and alienation. What we are referring to is the most profound and challenging initiation one can ever experience. It has but one cure, which is largely unknown and unacknowledged in what we classify as modern or civilized societies. We are talking about shamanic sickness.
Chronic pain can often manifest in a person as a debilitating experience, causing excruciating pain throughout the body. This pain may have no discernible medical cause and can affect the person to such an extent that they are unable to perform their normal employment tasks, and duties, or even complete simple household chores. Often, changes in diet can reduce a person’s tolerance for processed foods and meat, while increasing cravings for fresh fruits, vegetables, and even herbs and spices. Sensitivity to sound can increase to a point where even simple and ordinary actions become nearly impossible. The sound of traffic, for example, can be so overwhelming that it becomes difficult for a person to walk in their own neighborhood. In addition to this, there is the development of visual hypersensitivity that can cause significant difficulties for individuals, making it unbearable to shop at a local store or market. Other symptoms can also affect a person’s interests, temperament, and personality, leading them to withdraw from their social circles.
To truly grasp the full destructive and transformative power of this sickness, we must first understand what it is, where it originates, and why it has been given the name “Shamanic Sickness.” By doing so, we can identify some of the more obvious symptoms of this issue and understand why and how it can negatively impact the lives of individuals in a contemporary society. By doing this, we can become more knowledgeable and confident in identifying and managing these symptoms. We can also educate ourselves to better assist and support friends and loved ones who may be struggling with this largely undiagnosed experience. If the reader is experiencing these symptoms, this information can shed some light on what they are going through. By understanding Shamanic Sickness, we can alleviate some of the most common fears and pitfalls that affect those who experience it. This will allow us to adopt a more practical and relevant approach to managing our lives and ourselves during this experience.
The most challenging aspect of Shamanic Sickness to understand and embrace is that it is not an illness as defined by modern societies. Instead, it is a metaphysical occurrence that represents the most significant and ancient spiritual initiation experienced by humans. For many, understanding the origins of Shamanism and why it is associated with certain practices is crucial to making sense of it. To achieve this, we must rectify certain cultural misconceptions about shamans and the authentic process that results in being bestowed with the title of shaman.
The long-held belief that anyone who practices nature magick, has studied herbology, divines through various modalities, and deems themselves a healer is a shaman is largely a misconception. The title of shaman is bestowed upon a person and is not self-chosen. Becoming a shaman is not a decision made by an individual, but rather a recognition by the members of a community. The criteria for being acknowledged as a shaman by the community can include a person’s lineage, connecting them to a long line of shamans. However, more often than not, a person is identified as a shaman because of particular traits and events in their life that herald the signs of them being called to the position and initiated by the spirits and ancestors.
In the traditional manner, it is evident that one cannot choose to become a shaman, nor can they acquire the title of shaman by merely deciding to be one. Instead, it is the community that decides whether one of their own deserves the title of shaman based on their personal experiences and the recognition of others. This recognition is often referred to as “being called to the path.” While some may find this difficult to accept, those who have witnessed or experienced the process of Shamanic Sickness understand the validity and truth of this tradition.
So, which traits and events are we referring to? Let’s begin with the traits. When a person is identified at a young age as having knowledge of past or future events that they could not have known otherwise, such as through precognition or postcognition (also known as clairvoyance), it is considered a marker trait of a shaman. Another possibility would be if a person could be identified at a young age as having the ability to communicate with or understand plants and animals beyond their physical attributes. The ability to divine and prophesize through the interpretation of stars, land, or scenery is another distinguishing characteristic of a shaman. And, of course, if the person is observed communicating with spirits and ancestors, it would be a dead giveaway. The latter would tend to happen as the person went into fits or a trance.
Now that we have covered half of the equation, which is the traits, it is time to address the other half that people in modern societies are often unprepared for — the events. It is a literal truth that a shaman is called upon by the spirits and ancestors to fulfill the role of a shaman. This calling is witnessed by the community, leaving no room for doubt that the ancestors and spirits have chosen an individual to be their representative. This honor comes with a great burden that the chosen individual must carry. Perhaps we should examine two excerpts from the findings of anthropologist Jokic, which were shared on Setting Sun’s website in an article titled “What is the Shamanic Illness,” to advance our discussion.
“It is portrayed as tantamount to initiation by the spirits; that is, a situation when the spirits are deemed to have selected an individual and inflicted pain and prolonged suffering on them in order to force them to become a shaman… In case of shamanic sickness, the shamans’ advice is that the only way the person can be cured is by being initiated as a shaman. (Jokic, 2008, p. 28)”
“But the election can also be manifested in a form of prolong illness and unusual behavioral changes ranging from absentmindedness, withdrawal, and general malaise to increased nervous sensitivity, accompanied by hysterical attacks; ultimately, they can only be cured by acceptance of the calling and initiation. (Jokic, 2008, p. 29)”
To make this easier to understand, let’s describe it in terms of how it would appear in our contemporary society. First, it is important to understand that a person can be called to the shaman’s path at any age. In fact, after reviewing testimonies and shared experiences of individuals who have undergone this type of initiation by spirits and ancestors, it has been observed that many who have experienced this transitional phase were in their twenties, but some were in their fifties or even older. What does it involve?
Upon reviewing the stories shared about this experience, one will find that it typically begins with a phantom sickness and severe bodily pain throughout the entire body. When attempting to get a diagnosis from doctors, sometimes there is no visible explanation for the person’s pain. In other cases, damage can be identified throughout their body, but the underlying cause cannot be determined. This alone wreaks havoc on a person’s life. They begin to miss days of work. They cannot function or carry out their day-to-day tasks and duties. The fact that it cannot be diagnosed and is a prolonged process causes a person to isolate, and many of their social supports slowly disappear. Why? If no underlying cause can be identified after a certain period of time, it may be concluded that the individual is not suffering from any illness.
In my personal experience, it felt as though I had developed arthritis simultaneously in every joint from my jaw down to my toes. Within a week, I lost a significant amount of weight, dropping from a muscular 165 pounds to a sickly 120 pounds. Additionally, my vision started to become cloudy. Doctors claimed that I had lesions in my lungs. One X-ray showed a hole forming in my hip bone, which miraculously disappeared three weeks later. Blood tests revealed that my blood had become septic, and I began to pass blood in my urine. Due to a sudden and severe change in my personality, accompanied by an uncontrollable and extreme sense of rage, there was concern that I might be experiencing brain bleeding. Due to the patient’s inability to undergo biopsy procedures and the unpredictable nature of their illness, which seemed to affect different areas of the body at different times, there were limited treatment options available. Additionally, as one ailment subsided, it was often replaced by another, further complicating the situation.
I am sharing this to emphasize the extreme effects that can occur and to highlight how such an occurrence can disrupt a person’s life. This alone begins to tear down a person’s ego, quickly taking away their ability to be self-sufficient and leading to a loss of employment, inability to pay bills, difficulty with mobility, and impaired thinking. As if this isn’t enough, the initiation process is only just beginning. Shaman Sickness is not considered complete until the individual experiences the “visitation and insistence of spirits and ancestors.” To fully comprehend this concept, we must first examine its meaning and translate it into terms that are familiar to American and European societies. We need to determine the implications and manifestations of this based on cultural conditioning and biases.
As suggested in the previous quotes, when spirits visit or harass individuals, it can lead to visions of the spirits, the dead, or ancestors. This experience can cause a change in a person’s personality and behavior. Ancestry can be understood as the manifestation of deceased loved ones in dreams or even the appearance of their apparitions. But what do they mean by “spirits” as understood outside of tribal cultures? Enter shadow beings, aliens, abductions, and near-death experiences.
Check out Part 2 to continue exploring Shaman Sickness in modern societies. Learn about its definition, its impact on individuals, and its significance in societies that lack shamans.
(Looking for a broader read about shamans? Check out, “Cross-Culturally Exploring The Concept of Shamanism, by Jeffrey Vadala.)
(Written by, D.J. Rees, April 2023)
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