Observations placeholder
Jochelson - Siberian androgyny
Identifier
003066
Type of Spiritual Experience
None
Background
Not an experience as such, a state
A description of the experience
Jochelson
'The father of Yulta, a Koryak from the village of Kainenskoye, who died not long ago and who had been a shaman, had worn women's clothes for two years by order of the spirits; but since he had been unable to obtain complete transformation he implored his spirits to permit him to resume men's clothes. His request was granted, but on condition that he should put on women's clothes during shamanistic ceremonies
Shamanism in Siberia - excerpts from Aboriginal Siberia by M. A. CZAPLICKA [1914]
The 'change of sex' is met with only among the Palaeo-Siberians, whilst among the Neo-Siberians only does the shamanistic dress more often resemble female garments.
It is … possible to see in these cases a religious conception of a divine two-sexed shaman embodying in one being a perfect man- and woman-nature. We do not find such gods or spirits among the Palaeo-Siberians, though we encounter this idea among the more advanced Neo-Siberians. In the religion of the natives of the Altai this idea is expressed by the name 'mother and father of the man', given to the Supreme Being.