mystery stick explained

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The witchcraft accusations in Salem were a dark and tragic chapter in American history. They occurred in 1692 in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, specifically in the town of Salem. The allegations of witchcraft led to the arrest, imprisonment, and execution of numerous individuals, mainly women, who were accused of practicing witchcraft. The events began when several young girls in Salem Village started exhibiting strange behavior such as fits, seizures, and trance-like states. Unable to find a medical or rational explanation, the Puritan community turned to supernatural causes. The girls claimed to be under the influence of witches and accused various members of the community of bewitching them.


A given shaman is usually known for certain mental characteristics, such as an intuitive, sensitive, mercurial, or eccentric personality, which may be accompanied by some physical defect, such as lameness, an extra finger or toe, or more than the normal complement of teeth.

The specific materials and shapes of these instruments are useful for identifying the types and species of shamanism and following their development. It s important to note that shamanism isn t a religion per se; instead, it s a collection of rich spiritual practices that are influenced by the context of the culture in which it exists.

Pagan shaman in proximity

The girls claimed to be under the influence of witches and accused various members of the community of bewitching them. The accusations quickly spread, fueled by fear, rumors, and religious beliefs. People suspected their neighbors, friends, and even family members of being involved in witchcraft.

shamanism

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External Websites
  • Encyclopaedia Iranica - Shamanism
  • Ancient Origins - The Real Story of Shamanism: No Need to Don a Headdress or Take Hallucinogens
  • University of Minnesota - Taking Charge of Your Health and Wellbeing - Shamanism
  • Learn Religions - Shamanism Definition and History
  • World History Encyclopedia - Shamanism in Ancient Korea
  • Catholic Online - Shamanism
  • Yale University - Human Relations Area Files - Cross-Culturally Exploring the Concept of Shamanism
Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
  • shamanism - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
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External Websites
  • Encyclopaedia Iranica - Shamanism
  • Ancient Origins - The Real Story of Shamanism: No Need to Don a Headdress or Take Hallucinogens
  • University of Minnesota - Taking Charge of Your Health and Wellbeing - Shamanism
  • Learn Religions - Shamanism Definition and History
  • World History Encyclopedia - Shamanism in Ancient Korea
  • Catholic Online - Shamanism
  • Yale University - Human Relations Area Files - Cross-Culturally Exploring the Concept of Shamanism
Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
  • shamanism - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
Written by Mircea Eliade

Sewell L. Avery Distinguished Service Professor, Divinity School; Professor, Committee on Social Thought, University of Chicago.

Mircea Eliade , Vilmos Diószegi

Research Fellow, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest. Author of Tracing Shamans in Siberia; editor of Popular Beliefs and Folklore Tradition in Siberia.

Vilmos Diószegi See All Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Oct 13, 2023 • Article History Table of Contents mudang in South Korea Category: History & Society Key People: Vilmos Diószegi . (Show more)

shamanism, religious phenomenon centred on the shaman, a person believed to achieve various powers through trance or ecstatic religious experience. Although shamans’ repertoires vary from one culture to the next, they are typically thought to have the ability to heal the sick, to communicate with the otherworld, and often to escort the souls of the dead to that otherworld.

The term shamanism comes from the Manchu-Tungus word šaman. The noun is formed from the verb ša- ‘to know’; thus, a shaman is literally “one who knows.” The shamans recorded in historical ethnographies have included women, men, and transgender individuals of every age from middle childhood onward.

As its etymology implies, the term applies in the strictest sense only to the religious systems and phenomena of the peoples of northern Asia and the Ural- Altaic, such as the Khanty and Mansi, Samoyed, Tungus, Yukaghir, Chukchi, and Koryak. However, shamanism is also used more generally to describe indigenous groups in which roles such as healer, religious leader, counselor, and councillor are combined. In this sense, shamans are particularly common among other Arctic peoples, American Indians, Australian Aborigines, and those African groups, such as the San, that retained their traditional cultures well into the 20th century.

It is generally agreed that shamanism originated among hunting-and-gathering cultures, and that it persisted within some herding and farming societies after the origins of agriculture. It is often found in conjunction with animism, a belief system in which the world is home to a plethora of spirit-beings that may help or hinder human endeavours.

Opinions differ as to whether the term shamanism may be applied to all religious systems in which a central personage is believed to have direct intercourse with the transcendent world that permits him to act as healer, diviner, and the like. Since such interaction is generally reached through an ecstatic or trance state, and because these are psychosomatic phenomena that may be brought about at any time by persons with the ability to do so, the essence of shamanism lies not in the general phenomenon but in specific notions, actions, and objects connected with trance (see also hallucination).

Mystery stick explained

The hysteria grew, and an atmosphere of paranoia and distrust enveloped the town. The court of Oyer and Terminer was established to hear and decide the witchcraft cases. The proceedings were deeply flawed, with spectral evidence (testimony based on dreams and visions) being admissible in court. This allowed the accusers to make unsupported claims against the accused without any substantial evidence. Over the course of the trials, 19 people were hanged, and one was pressed to death. These executions included both men and women, young and old alike. Others died in jail while awaiting trial, bringing the total death toll to around 25 individuals. The Salem witch trials eventually came to an end when influential members of the community, including Governor William Phips, questioned the legitimacy and fairness of the proceedings. The court was dissolved, and remaining prisoners were pardoned or released. The Salem witchcraft accusations were largely the result of a combination of factors, including fear, religious extremism, and societal tensions. The trials serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of mass hysteria and the importance of a fair and just legal system. The Salem witchcraft accusations remain a haunting reminder of a dark period in American history that led to the loss of innocent lives. The events serve as a reminder of the power of fear and the consequences of allowing irrational beliefs to dictate the course of justice. It is important to remember and learn from this historical tragedy to ensure that such injustices are not repeated in the future..

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mystery stick explained

mystery stick explained