Neo-Shamanism As a Healing System: Enchanted Healing in a Modern World

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Neo-Shamanism As a Healing System: Enchanted Healing in a Modern World NEO-SHAMANISM AS A HEALING SYSTEM: ENCHANTED HEALING IN A MODERN WORLD by Shelly Beth Braun A dissertation submitted to the faculty of The University of Utah in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Anthropology The University of Utah August 2010 Copyright © Shelly Beth Braun 2010 All Rights Reserved The University of Utah Graduate School STATEMENT OF DISSERTATION APPROVAL The dissertation of Shelly Beth Braun has been approved by the following supervisory committee members: Pauline Wiessner , Chair July 12, 2010 Date Approved Laurence Loeb , Member July 12, 2010 ItitcApproved Bonnie Glass-Cotrm , Member July 12, 2010 uateApproved Allan Ainsworth , Member July 12, 2010 Date Approved Naomi Silverstone , Member July 12, 2010 ItitcApproved and by ' Chair of ________-----' E"' liz"'·"':::a"'b ::::et"' hcc=Cas"'h"'d :::"'an"'----________ the Department of Anthropology and by Charles A. Wight, Dean of The Graduate School. ABSTRACT This dissertation explores the idea of enchantment, disenchantment, and re- enchantment, following Weber, at the intersection of traditional healing and modern society in the spiritual practice of neo-shamanism. Neo-shamanism as a healing system in the US is explored ethnographically. Neo-shamanism is the application and practice of shamanic techniques in contemporary Western society and functions as a system of healing alternative to biomedicine. Following traditions of ancient shamanism from around the world, modern individuals use an altered state of consciousness to get information from extra-material realms (referred to as nonordinary reality) to effect healing for themselves, others, society, and the planet. The neo-shamanic worldview holds that the extra-material world is as real as the material; the physical and spiritual are merged and can be utilized to assist humans. This stands in conflict with what Weber referred to as modernity’s disenchanted worldview —a Cartesian world where only the material is real. Modernity also places high emphasis on the individual. The modern self seeks autonomous self- cultivation, aspires to ground identity within, and desires to exercise independence, authority, choice, and expressivity. This is in contrast to the traditional self, which was embedded in the established order of things. Some suggest that modernity’s disenchantment is implicated in contemporary ills—of individuals, society, and the environment—and that neo-shamanism, because it allows modern individuals to re-enchant the world, is well suited to address just such problems. This research addresses the following: 1) The idea of a disenchanted modernity, its relevance for biomedicine, and how neo- shamanism may provide a re-enchanted cosmology for those who engage in it. 2) The implications that studying an unseen, extra-material phenomenon has for anthropological methodology. How does one study neo-shamanism: more specifically, how does one study an enchanted cosmology with disenchanted tools? 3) The results of my field work with the practitioners and participants of neo-shamanism, with attention to how neo-shamanism serves as an enchanted mechanism for healing in a disenchanted world. These questions are explored through participant-observation and experiential participation in neo-shamanic activities and interviews with neo-shamanic practitioners and participants. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT………………………………………………………………………….…..iii LIST OF TABLES……...……………………………………………………………….vii LIST OF FIGURES…………………………………………………………………… viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………………………………………………………….…..ix Chapters I INTRODUCTION…………………………............……………………………..1 (Dis)Enchantment, Modernity, and Ontology…………………………………….1 Neo-Shamanism: Counter-Reaction to Disenchanted Modernity...........................3 Alternative Religions and Healing: Neo-Shamanism’s Modern Lineage...............8 Modern Individuals: The Detraditionalized Self...................................................13 II BACKGROUND...................................................................................................19 Neo-Shamanism.....................................................................................................19 Anthropology and (Neo)Shamanism.....................................................................28 An Ethnographic Study of Modern Shamanism in the US: Enchanted Healing in a Disenchanted World........................................................40 III METHODS.. .........................................................................................................46 Studying Neo-Shamanism.....................................................................................46 Experiential Anthropology....................................................................................49 IV RESULTS..............................................................................................................63 Data Collection and Analysis.................................................................................63 Probability Odds Logistic Regression Analysis Results......................................101 Summary of Results.............................................................................................106 V DISCUSSSION....................................................................................................110 Enchantment........................................................................................................110 Neo-Shamanism as a Healing System.................................................................139 VI CONCLUSION....................................................................................................167 (Re)Enchantment.................................................................................................169 Enchanted Healing...............................................................................................171 Enchanted Modernity...........................................................................................172 Appendices A: GLOSSARY...............................................................................................................176 B: POPULAR LITERATURE.........................................................................................180 REFERENCES................................................................................................................184 vi LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Data Collection Activities: Pilot Study and Fieldwork, November 2003- November 2008…………………………………………………………………69 2. Interview Demographic Data Self-Identified by Participants…………………..74 3. Demographic Composition of Study Population………………………………..75 4. Healing for Emotional Issues……………………………………………………88 5. Healing for Physical Conditions…………………………………………………92 6. Finding Community……………………………………………………………...96 LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Age Distribution of Interview Sample………………………………………...78 2. Level of Education Completed of Interview Sample………………………….79 3. Level of Income of Interview Sample………………………………………....80 4. Self-Identified Race of Interview Sample……………………………………..81 5. Shamanic Traditions/Schools in which Interview Sample Received Training, Schooling, or Healing……………………………………………………….…82 6. Emotional Issues Reported in Interview Sample……………………………....87 7. Emotional Healing Reported in Interview Sample…………………………….89 8. Physical Problems Reported by Interview Sample………………………...…..91 9. Physical Healings Reported by Interview Sample…………………………......93 10. Social Disembeddedness Issues Reported by Interview Sample……………....95 11. Social Embeddedness Reported by Interview Sample………………………... 97 12. Level of Engagement of Interview Sample………………………………….....99 13. Level of Enchantment of Interview Sample…………………………………..100 14. Level of Enchantment as Correlated with Level of Engagement……………..102 15. Level of Enchantment as Correlated with Level of Education………………..104 16. Level of Engagement as Correlated with Number of Shamanic Traditions…..105 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project would have never come to completion without the guidance and support of many, many people in my life. I would like to thank my committee members. Dr. Polly Wiessner, you are a champion for your students and I survived in the material world much due to your concern for my welfare. Thank you for your guidance and support and for always going to bat for me over the years. Dr. Laurence Loeb, I can always count on you for critical insight and fatherly understanding. I hold my relationship with you dear to my heart. Dr. Bonnie Glass-Coffin, your deep understanding of this subject was a beacon during this long process and I thank you for the opportunity to teach in your stead when you were on sabbatical. Dr. Allan Ainsworth, you lent a helping hand when I was foundering early in my doctoral program and I thank you for your coaching during that crucial step of this process and your unflagging support. Dr. Naomi Silverstone, your rich experience in this subject as well as the “real world” of counseling for just the sort of people who come to neo-shamanism lent an important perspective to my project. Thank you. I also must thank my many friends, especially those who tracked with me on this project and through discussion increased my understanding of the esoteric, the members of the MHC, and my hiking, climbing, and running partners over the years –you know who you are. In this vein, my dogs Bridgette (RIP), Sheila, and Bruce kept me honest about getting outside just about every day. I stand by my principle:
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