Observations placeholder
Mircea Eliade - On Siberian Black and White shamans
Identifier
007313
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
Mircea Eliade – Shamanism Archaic techniques of ecstasy
The distinction is clearly marked among the Buryat, who speak of ‘white’ shamans and ‘black’ shamans, the former having relations with gods, the latter with the spirits.
Their costumes differ, being white for the former and blue for the latter.
Buryat mythology itself shows a remarkable dualism that has become celebrated; the innumerable class of demigods is divided into black Khans and white Khans, separated by fierce enmity.
The black Khans are served by the black shamans; these are not liked, though they have their use, since only they can fill the role of intermediaries to the black Khans. However, this situation is not primitive, according to the myths, the first shaman was ‘white’, the ‘black’ shaman appeared only later.
The source of the experience
Siberian shamanismConcepts, symbols and science items
Concepts
Communication with IntelligencesGod
god
Intelligence
Spirit being
Substance guide communication