> I did appreciate Peter's comments, as little warning bells go off
> in my head
> whenever I heard "hardwiring" applied to sophisticated human behaviours,
> both social and individual. I don't dispute that genetics has its place,
> but I seriously question that human behaviours can be wholly explained by
> that kind of determinism, however inflected. One example Douglas
> raised was
> sexual difference, but sexual difference is so various,

thanks Alison - you have very clearly said what I wanted to say myself about
this idea of hard-wiring....

Interestingly in the Northern European Tradition that I am familiar with,
magic and shamanism ('seidr') is seen as connected with the feminine and
said in 'the lore' to be somehow feminising for men ('ergi' a complicated
word that causes a lot of dispute). I think there is something in the notion
that contact with the otherworld and its intuitive/symbolic forms undermines
or complicates 'manliness' - and the men I know who practise are all the
better for it!

I would say the best way to understand shamanism is to make the journey - so
many academic studies just don't get it! Jenny Blain points out how they
study the shaman as 'other' in a way that is both patronising and is a form
of colonisation.

And I have to say, so many practitioners books are plain silly! (Or
irresponsible)

The books that I see referred to most often are 'The Way of the Shaman' by
Michael Harner and 'Urban Shaman' by Serge Kahili King (I dont like it very
much, but it has been very influential) ... the best book I know of about
practising the Northern Tradition in an English context is Runic John's
'Seidr'. The great thing about John's book is that he is completely focussed
on the practice and how to use it. Jenny Blain has some interesting stuff
too - esp. 'The Nine Worlds of Seidr'.

Travelling to the otherworld does involve stuff that some people find scary
and verging on 'madness' - but I don't see why we should be afraid of the
capacity of our own minds, especially when there is healing and insight to
be gained. The ability to return is the first lesson though!

This afternoon I spent some time by a peat bog pool in the winter sun,
travelling through the water to another place entirely..... this is part of
how I find strength and meaning. Plus as a heathen working in a shamanic
tradition I have such a fucking great time! (Dancing all night, drinking
lots of cider, performing beautiful rituals and working with the capacities
of the mind and spirit in various trance states, making my own drum and
learning to use it, spending time with a lot of lunatic people who I love
very much and share a deep politics and spirituality with .....)

I have begun to wonder if monotheism isn't at the root of a lot of the
dichotomising mindset of Western culture. In all of our knowledge it is
treated as a self evidently good thing. I question that perspective. A
pantheistic perspective is tolerant of other gods and interested to learn. A
monotheistic one seems interested mainly in obliterating other ways of
seeing.....

Liz