One of the reasons for shamans indulging in psychoactive drugs may have been the psychotherapeutic process of soul retrieval (Golden, 2006; Harvey & Wallis, 2007; Lewis, 2003; Lindquist, 2004; Pratt, 2007; Saunders, 1994; Stutley, 2003; Villoldo, 2005; Walter & Fridman, 2004; Winkelman, 2004). In shamanic belief this is the notion that healing can only occur after pieces of the soul, which have previously departed the body due to trauma (either emotional or physical), are retrieved and returned to the body of the illness sufferer (Ingerman, 2007; Neff, 2006; Place, 2008). It is the role of the shaman to enter a state of altered consciousness (Harvey & Wallis, 2007; Lewis, 2003; Mora, 1985; Pratt, 2007) (often involving the use of psychoactive drugs such as hallucinogens) and find the lost pieces of soul (Stutley, 2003). This belief appears to be common to all cultures that have shamanic practices (Bever, 2008; Golden, 2006; Pratt, 2007), and it could be argued that this form of shamanic practice is the earliest form of psychotherapy (Pratt, 2007). It should also be stated that some authorities believe that shamans actually suffer from mental illness themselves (Farber, 1993; Harvey & Wallis, 2007; Pratt, 2007; Stephen & Suryani, 2000).
A Siberian shaman
References:
Bever, E. (2008). The realities of witchcraft and popular magic in early modern Europe. Basingstoke, England: Palgrave Macmillan.
Farber, S. (1993). Madness, heresy, and the rumor of angels: The revolt against the mental health system. Chicago, IL: Open Court Publishing Company.
Golden, R.M. (Ed.) (2006). Encyclopedia of witchcraft: The western tradition. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio Inc.
Harvey, G., & Wallis, R.J. (2007). Historical dictionary of shamanism. Lanham, MA: The Scarecrow Press Inc.
Ingerman, S. (2007). Soul retrieval. Retrieved from http://www.sandraingerman.com/soulretrieval.html
Lewis, I.M. (2003). Ecstatic religion: A study of shamanism and spirit possession. (3rd edition). London, England: Routledge.
Lindquist, G. (2004). Bringing the soul back to the self: soul retrieval in neo-shamanism. Social Analysis 45, 2, 157-173.
Mora, G. (1985). History of psychiatry. In Kaplan, H.I., & Sadock, B.J. (eds.), Comprehensive text book of psychiatry. Baltimore, MD.: Williams & Wilkins.
Neff, J. (2006). Soul retrieval: Return to wholeness. Bloomington, IN: Trafford Publishing.
Place, R.M. (2008). Mysteries, legends and unexplained phenomena: Shamanism. New York, NY: Chelsea House.
Pratt, C. (2007). An encyclopedia of shamanism. New York, NY: Rosen Publishing Group Inc.
Saunders, C. (1994). Soul retrieval: an interview with Sandra Ingerman. Body Mind Spirit Magazine, 13, 1, 36-40.
Stephen, M. & Suryani, L.K. (2000). Shamanism, psychosis and autonomous imagination. Culture, Medicine & Psychiatry 24, 1, 5-38
Stutley, M. (2003). Shamanism: An introduction. London, England: Routledge.
Villoldo, A. (2005). Mending the past and healing the future with soul retrieval. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House Inc.
Walter, M.N., & Fridman, E.J.N. (Eds.) (2004). Shamanism: An encyclopedia of world beliefs, practices and culture. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio.
Winkelman, M. (2004). Shamanism as the original neurotheology. Zygon: Journal of Religion & Science 39, 1, 193-217.
Bever, E. (2008). The realities of witchcraft and popular magic in early modern Europe. Basingstoke, England: Palgrave Macmillan.
Farber, S. (1993). Madness, heresy, and the rumor of angels: The revolt against the mental health system. Chicago, IL: Open Court Publishing Company.
Golden, R.M. (Ed.) (2006). Encyclopedia of witchcraft: The western tradition. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio Inc.
Harvey, G., & Wallis, R.J. (2007). Historical dictionary of shamanism. Lanham, MA: The Scarecrow Press Inc.
Ingerman, S. (2007). Soul retrieval. Retrieved from http://www.sandraingerman.com/soulretrieval.html
Lewis, I.M. (2003). Ecstatic religion: A study of shamanism and spirit possession. (3rd edition). London, England: Routledge.
Lindquist, G. (2004). Bringing the soul back to the self: soul retrieval in neo-shamanism. Social Analysis 45, 2, 157-173.
Mora, G. (1985). History of psychiatry. In Kaplan, H.I., & Sadock, B.J. (eds.), Comprehensive text book of psychiatry. Baltimore, MD.: Williams & Wilkins.
Neff, J. (2006). Soul retrieval: Return to wholeness. Bloomington, IN: Trafford Publishing.
Place, R.M. (2008). Mysteries, legends and unexplained phenomena: Shamanism. New York, NY: Chelsea House.
Pratt, C. (2007). An encyclopedia of shamanism. New York, NY: Rosen Publishing Group Inc.
Saunders, C. (1994). Soul retrieval: an interview with Sandra Ingerman. Body Mind Spirit Magazine, 13, 1, 36-40.
Stephen, M. & Suryani, L.K. (2000). Shamanism, psychosis and autonomous imagination. Culture, Medicine & Psychiatry 24, 1, 5-38
Stutley, M. (2003). Shamanism: An introduction. London, England: Routledge.
Villoldo, A. (2005). Mending the past and healing the future with soul retrieval. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House Inc.
Walter, M.N., & Fridman, E.J.N. (Eds.) (2004). Shamanism: An encyclopedia of world beliefs, practices and culture. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio.
Winkelman, M. (2004). Shamanism as the original neurotheology. Zygon: Journal of Religion & Science 39, 1, 193-217.
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