I don’t have a better word than shaman either, but I do like the Ancient Greek iatromantis or healer-seer as an expression of the archetype. Peter Kingsley argues that the pre-Socratics were not just philosophers but healer-seers and that some of their foundational insights were based on shamanic journeys (much like Jung). And then there was their connection with Abaris, an actual Central Asian shaman. I guess what I’m getting at here is that we do have a Western version of the archetype, it just got lost to history like so much else. Like you, I find Jung’s example instructive in terms of how a Westerner can make the inner journey (like most shamans though, Jung was ‘called’ through a shamanic illness and didn’t really have a choice) but I also find the orthodox Jungian path limited. I also think Jung was wrong that Eastern spiritual paths are categorically wrong for Westerners; there’s too much value in practices like meditation and self-inquiry but Jung was too early to see that. No wonder many Westerners have to go learn from shamans in other cultures; our own lineage got cut off. And frankly it’s what any ‘real’ shaman would do: go learn from someone who knows what they’re doing, even if they’re over in the next valley. However, I don’t think it’s enough to just do that, we also have to find some way of bringing the insights back to our own culture and help ‘our’ people, whatever that means. And that’s what I see you working on, as well as a lot of us who are writing around these issues.
I love your examples of warriors and farmers. I am reminded of the Alan Watts quote- "The only zen you’ll find on mountaintops is the zen you bring up there with you.”
Also, scarves. All shamans (particularly Western shamans its seems) must wear long scarves for their portrait photos.
relatable! I'm hoping to add the built environment to the duties of some of us struggling with archetypes.
One huge realm that all "shamans" overlap in is relating to the rest of the ecosystem. Other roles do this too, in their own intensive way (hunters relate to game, farmers to the soil, etc.), but this archetype does it as more of an ongoing conversation with all the things. in addition to other-worldly enterprises
Damn!!!! I don’t use the word shaman but the energy behind this is so relatable. I don’t like any of the words that label the “role” I inhabit when called on to do so. I use “life coach” and I feel both a bit distant and cringey when I use it. I prefer to simply say that I’m in conversation with another, mutually relating to whatever arises in the space of the conversation. But that’s a lot of words (and generally meaningless to most) and not the short-hand label that seems to part of the societal operating system. I’m joining you in living into whatever this wants to be.
Just like modern doctors may or may not embody the healer archetype, I sense something similar is going on with psychotherapists embodying the shaman. I've only maybe met two therapists who could channel this energy, but when it works it can serve the souls of WEIRD secular people like nothing else.
Who are your people? Probably not this particular crowd, so which one? I'd start with that.
I don’t have a better word than shaman either, but I do like the Ancient Greek iatromantis or healer-seer as an expression of the archetype. Peter Kingsley argues that the pre-Socratics were not just philosophers but healer-seers and that some of their foundational insights were based on shamanic journeys (much like Jung). And then there was their connection with Abaris, an actual Central Asian shaman. I guess what I’m getting at here is that we do have a Western version of the archetype, it just got lost to history like so much else. Like you, I find Jung’s example instructive in terms of how a Westerner can make the inner journey (like most shamans though, Jung was ‘called’ through a shamanic illness and didn’t really have a choice) but I also find the orthodox Jungian path limited. I also think Jung was wrong that Eastern spiritual paths are categorically wrong for Westerners; there’s too much value in practices like meditation and self-inquiry but Jung was too early to see that. No wonder many Westerners have to go learn from shamans in other cultures; our own lineage got cut off. And frankly it’s what any ‘real’ shaman would do: go learn from someone who knows what they’re doing, even if they’re over in the next valley. However, I don’t think it’s enough to just do that, we also have to find some way of bringing the insights back to our own culture and help ‘our’ people, whatever that means. And that’s what I see you working on, as well as a lot of us who are writing around these issues.
I love your examples of warriors and farmers. I am reminded of the Alan Watts quote- "The only zen you’ll find on mountaintops is the zen you bring up there with you.”
Also, scarves. All shamans (particularly Western shamans its seems) must wear long scarves for their portrait photos.
relatable! I'm hoping to add the built environment to the duties of some of us struggling with archetypes.
One huge realm that all "shamans" overlap in is relating to the rest of the ecosystem. Other roles do this too, in their own intensive way (hunters relate to game, farmers to the soil, etc.), but this archetype does it as more of an ongoing conversation with all the things. in addition to other-worldly enterprises
i feel lucky to read your processing of what’s happening, man. a lot hit here for me 🙏
Damn!!!! I don’t use the word shaman but the energy behind this is so relatable. I don’t like any of the words that label the “role” I inhabit when called on to do so. I use “life coach” and I feel both a bit distant and cringey when I use it. I prefer to simply say that I’m in conversation with another, mutually relating to whatever arises in the space of the conversation. But that’s a lot of words (and generally meaningless to most) and not the short-hand label that seems to part of the societal operating system. I’m joining you in living into whatever this wants to be.
Just like modern doctors may or may not embody the healer archetype, I sense something similar is going on with psychotherapists embodying the shaman. I've only maybe met two therapists who could channel this energy, but when it works it can serve the souls of WEIRD secular people like nothing else.
Who are your people? Probably not this particular crowd, so which one? I'd start with that.
Thank you for this. Gets at the heart of so many of my frustrations (but for which I don’t yet have good alternatives).