The Shaman Journey Of Early Homo-Sapiens

Early Homo-Sapiens had a special connection with nature that will never be matched again. In today’s world, were consumed by electronics and most people spend the majority of their free time indoors, glued to a television. To early Homo-Sapiens, nature was their life. It was not just in a sense of luxury or entertainment, but they were dependent on everything mother nature gifted to them. Nature provided all that was needed for humans to survive, so nature was viewed as a religious spirit.

Animals were at the forefront of this religious nature, as animals gave early humans food and pelts. Animals that were used for food and pelt were idolized since they were so necessary for life. After killing an animal, early humans would perform a sacrificial

Early Homo-Sapiens viewed animals like these as if they were Gods themselves, and above the natural world. While Loon is on his Shaman journey, he observes three lionesses and talks of their strength and beauty. K.S. Robinson writes, that the Lions were “Beautiful gods wandering the world, hunter gods who feared nothing.” And that they were “one of nine sacred animals.” (24) . Lions especially, were viewed as creatures who could do whatever their heart pleases. Humans knew not to disturb the Lions and gave them the upmost respect because of their immense power. Other animals like the Hawk or Raven, who could fly high above the humans and see for miles, were thought to have possessed God-like attributes.

The title of the novel, Shaman, displays exactly how important the connection between humans and nature was. The Shaman was a medium between the human and spiritual world. In the case of many, especially Loon, this spiritual world has everything to do with nature surrounding him. Shamans are mediators in their community. They would allow people to speak with spirits (in this case nature) through themselves. Most shamans had a personal experience with one of these “spirits” that would lead them on the path to shamanism. Loon is taught how to become a shaman by Thorn, the wolf pack’s

They also placed spiritual attributes on natural occurrences like the sun rising and the seasons changing. The changing of seasons would turn their world upside down. In the winter, food was scarce. Extra animal pelts were needed to keep themselves warm in the sometimes harsh winters of Europe. In the summer though, their luck changed. Food was plentiful and the wolf pack would flourish. To celebrate the changing of the seasons, every summer the wolf pack would attend a festival with several other nearby tribes, known as the “eight eight”. Here all the tribes eat, drink, smoke, dance, and tell stories like that of the more modern day Vikings. The shamans converse and share their spiritual findings over the last year. Thorn attempts to persuade Loon in sharing his story to the other shamans when they arrive at eight eight, telling the young boy “Come by the corroboree and meet all the shamans as a young shaman. You’ll have a story to tell them” (152). This festival of celebration was exactly that, a festival of celebration, for the common tribe members. Shamans on the other hand though, used this time to hone their connection with the spirit of nature and learn from their