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- Part of a series of articles on Neopaganism Systems Animism · Shamanism · Paganism · Pantheism · Polytheism Religions Celtic · Dievturība · Finnish · Heathenism · Hellenic Neopaganism · Jewitchery · Kemetism · Rodnovery · Roman · Romuva · Stregheria · Feraferia · Wicca Approaches Reconstructionism · Ethnocentrism · Neotribalism · Neoshamanism · Eclecticism · Technopaganism · Witchcraft This box: view • talk • edit Neoshamanism, or Neo-Shamanism, is a term applied to certain emergent shamanistic philosophies, whether they are a revival of older shamanistic beliefs and traditions or an amalgamation of new-age spiritual beliefs. Neoshamanism is sometimes used as a disclaimer or qualifier, where revivalists who are trying to piece back together shattered systems must admit that the system in question no longer exists as a whole due to significant changes in the original culture, often as the result of colonisation, globalisation, or genocide. Neoshamanism is not a single, cohesive belief system, but many such philosophies lumped together. However, certain generalities may be drawn between neoshamans. Most believe in spirits and pursue self-actualization through meditation and sometimes the use of entheogens. Most systems might be described as existing somewhere on the animism/pantheism spectrum. Many members of traditional, indignenous cultures and religions are suspicious of neoshamanism, believing it to rely too heavily on cultural appropriation, or that it is an excuse by fraudulent shamans to cover up inconsistencies in their ceremonies.. According to York (2001) one difference between neoshamanism and traditional shamanism is the role of fear. Neoshamanism and its new age relations tends to dismiss the existence of evil, fear, and failure. "In traditional shamanism, the shaman’s initiation is an ordeal involving pain, hardship and terror. New Age, by contrast is a religious perspective that denies the ultimately reality of the negative, and this would devalue the role of fear as well". Another possible cause observed that can make traditional shamans cautious: some Nanai shamans experienced performances on the stage as dangerous, believing that inappropriate (untimely, superfluous) invocation of the helping spirits can raise their anger.
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