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Shamanism and Art |
Shamans have a tradition of artistic expression that began thousands of years ago. In fact, archeologists attribute most of their finds of ancient art to religious or cult practices in which the shaman was essential. We can also see the shaman's hand at work in the stone carvings (petroglyphs) and paintings (pictographs) discovered in caves and rock formations during the Paleolithic period. Archeologists have found shamanic paintings and carvings in many countries on every continent. Perhaps the most publicized example would be the cave paintings discovered in Lascaux, France, which depicts the shamanic connection to a hunt.
The shaman used the symbolism in these paintings and carvings as a means of expressing and interacting with the intangible qualities of the spirit world. Symbols offer a handle on those things that are too large or mysterious to conceive. They help to open the doorway to the infinite perceptual possibilities found in ritual.
A practice established by the Ojibway shamans of Canada illustrates this principle. In John Grimms' book "The Shaman" he describes an example of how the Ojibway facilitated a complex ritual. The shamans were known to inscribe sacred mythological symbols on birch-bark as a mnemonic device (visual way to record their visions). These mnemonic devices became particularly important as the intricacy of particular rituals increased and as the shamans came to practice a greater number of rituals. Creating these symbols in stone and painting gave the shaman a means to hand down the ritual to the next generation of shamans.
Shamans have developed various art forms in order to create a receptive atmosphere for spiritual healing and expanded consciousness. From the hypnotic sand-painted mandalas created by the Tibetans and the Hopis to the highly stylized Ttsimshian poles carved by the indigenous tribes of the American Northwest, shamans have created a practical connection between art and spirituality.
Each of these societies reflects their own shamanic experience. In developing my own approach to shamanic portraits, I'm creating a personal artistic connection between an individual and their spirit guides. I feel deeply committed to help others access the valuable information that waits for them, to grow and motivate them to pursue their deepest desires.
Paleolithic painting
of bison