Editing Shamanism (section)

==Practice==
{{See also|Religious ecstasy}}
Generally, shamans traverse the [[axis mundi]] and enter the "spirit world" by effecting a transition of consciousness, entering into an [[Religious ecstasy|ecstatic]] trance, either [[Autosuggestion|autohypnotically]] or through the use of [[entheogen]]s or ritual performances.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FuFsDwAAQBAJ&q=shaman+axis+mundi+entheogen&pg=PT61|title=Curanderismo Soul Retrieval: Ancient Shamanic Wisdom to Restore the Sacred Energy of the Soul|last=Buenaflor|first=Erika|date=2019-05-28|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=978-1-59143-341-5|language=en}}</ref> The methods employed are diverse, and are often used together.

===Music and songs===
{{See also|Shamanic music|Imitation of sounds in shamanism}}
Just like shamanism itself,{{sfn|Hoppál|2005|p=15}} music and songs related to it in various cultures are diverse. In several instances, songs related to shamanism are intended to imitate [[natural sounds]], via [[onomatopoeia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dasa.baua.de/nn_35984/sid_2C8A99B3F31A58C62BBE3312986DC568/nsc_true/de/Presse/Pressematerialien/Sonderausstellung_20Macht_20Musik/Schamanen-Musik.pdf |title=healthCheck |access-date=6 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402105719/http://dasa.baua.de/nn_35984/sid_2C8A99B3F31A58C62BBE3312986DC568/nsc_true/de/Presse/Pressematerialien/Sonderausstellung_20Macht_20Musik/Schamanen-Musik.pdf |archive-date=2 April 2015 }}</ref>

[[Sound mimesis in various cultures]] may serve other functions not necessarily related to shamanism: practical goals such as luring game in the hunt;{{sfn|Nattiez|n.d.|p=5}} or entertainment ([[Inuit throat singing]]).{{sfn|Nattiez|n.d.|p=5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/inuit.htm|title=Inuit Throat-Singing|access-date=6 June 2015}}</ref>

===Initiation and learning===
Shamans often say that they have been called through dreams or signs. However, some say their powers are inherited. In traditional societies shamanic training varies in length, but generally takes years.

Turner and colleagues mention a phenomenon called "shamanistic initiatory crisis",{{sfn|Turner|Lukoff|Barnhouse|Lu|1995|p=440}} a [[rite of passage]] for shamans-to-be, commonly involving physical illness or psychological crisis. The significant role of initiatory illnesses in the calling of a shaman can be found in the case history of [[Oroqen people#Religion|Chuonnasuan]], who was one of the last shamans among the Tungus peoples in [[Northeast China]].{{sfn|Noll|Shi|2004}}

The [[wounded healer]] is an [[archetype]] for a shamanic trial and journey. This process is important to young shamans. They undergo a type of sickness that pushes them to the brink of death. This is said to happen for two reasons:<ref>{{Cite book | last = Halifax | first = Joan |author-link = Joan Halifax |title = Shaman: The Wounded Healer |publisher = [[Thames & Hudson]] |year = 1982 |location = London |isbn = 978-0-500-81029-3 |oclc = 8800269}}</ref>

* The shaman crosses over to the underworld. This happens so the shaman can venture to its depths to bring back vital information for the sick and the tribe.
* The shaman must become sick to understand sickness. When the shaman overcomes their own sickness, they believe that they will hold the cure to heal all that suffer.

=== Items used in spiritual practice ===
[[File:Goldes shaman priest in his regalia.png|thumb|[[Nanai people|Goldes]] shaman priest in his [[regalia#Other uses|regalia]]]]

Shamans may employ varying materials in spiritual practice in different cultures.

The [[drum]] is used by shamans of several peoples in Siberia.{{sfnm|1a1=Barüske|1y=1969|1pp=24, 50–51|2a1=Kleivan|2a2=Sonne|2y=1985|2p=25}} The beating of the drum allows the shaman to achieve an altered state of consciousness or to travel on a journey between the physical and spiritual worlds. Much fascination surrounds the role that the acoustics of the drum play to the shaman. Shaman drums are generally constructed of an animal-skin stretched over a bent wooden hoop, with a handle across the hoop.