Female Shamanism in Tuva

Photo by Anastasia Ivanova

In the remote Siberian wilderness of Tuva, female shamanism is alive and well -- and visiting the local healer is as commonplace as a day out at the beach. Located in southern Siberia on the border with Mongolia, the Russian republic of Tuva is home to ancient shamanic traditions practiced by women as well as men. Being a shaman in Tuva is open to both men and women. Tuva is regarded as the birthplace of shamanism. It is one of the few places in the world where the shamanic heritage has remained unbroken. Through the millennia, shamans have been very important in Tuva. Rituals play an important role in people's everyday lives, and shamans are integral to life of the community. Tuva is a unique place where no-one questions if spirits actually exist. They exist; the question is how to communicate with them. Russian photographer Anastasia Ivanova has published a photographic essay exploring female shamanism in Tuva.

10 Signs that You are a Shaman

Because contemporary culture doesn't have a role for the shamanic archetype, many people who grow up outside indigenous traditions may be shamans and not realize it. Many naturally gravitate towards mainstream healing professions, such as medicine, psychology, or life coaching. Others wind up in professions where they may feel like they don't fit in at all. Even those who enter the healing professions may feel out of place, because the systems of Western medicine and psychology leave little room for a shaman to practice their innate healing art. Many others will wind up in various forms of sacred activism, healing the planet, for example, rather than healing people.

Are you a shaman and don't know it? Here are some telltale signs that you might fit the archetype. Read more. 

David Bowie: Mystic, Magician, Shaman, Shapeshifter

David Bowie: Mystic, Magician, Shaman, Shape-Shifter. It's stunning to behold the widespread grief and admiration being expressed across social media regarding the death of one of popular music's most beloved icons. David Bowie was a shapeshifter of the highest order, creating unusual and glamorous personae decades before theatrical costumes became the norm in popular music. Bowie was making music videos in 1969, before anyone had a name for the art form. He wrote entire concept albums based upon the stories of his flamboyant, often troubled, characters: Ziggy Stardust (whose third eye made him a mystic), Aladdin Sane (his lightning bolt echoed in Harry Potter's wizard birthmark), The Thin White Duke, and others. It is impossible to imagine what music would have been without this man's bold and brilliant vision, his unique talent, his courage. His influence cannot be exaggerated. 

The Shamanic Themes in 'Star Wars'

Flag of the Galactic Empire

Apart from one of the biggest theatre successes of all time, the Star Wars movies are also one of the largest on-screen renditions of ancient shamanic themes, set against a deep space background and a war between good and evil. The first installment corresponds closely to a shamanic struggle, with Luke Skywalker as the apprentice shaman, Obi-Wan Kenobi as his master, Darth Vader as lord of the evil realm and Princess Leia Organa as the soul to be rescued. One obstacle after another is placed in the way of the heroes by the forces of evil, only to be removed by the heroic shaman and his helpers. The powerful weapons used reveal a continuity with shamanism in their blend of advanced technology and ancient magic. The ability to engage The Force for good or bad becomes the story we're all drawn into. Read more.

The Language of Nature

Have you ever wondered what "telepathy" really means? Have you ever experienced it? Have you ever wanted to experience it? Well you can, and you should. The mythology and creation stories of all Earth peoples speak of a primordial, but now lost paradise -- a "Garden of Eden" in which humanity lived in harmony with all that existed. The cosmos had total access to itself. There was but one language for all creatures and elements. Humans were able to converse with animals, birds, minerals, and all living things using "empathic telepathy," which is natural and organic to living beings. Nature has a language that communicates itself through its sounds, scents and colors, textures and more. Read more.