SHAMANISM A JOURNEY OF SOUL DISCOVERY

Abstract

Shamanism is a phenomenon known as ‘religion’ in societies and among people. However, we see and read that Shamanism is actually a ‘doctrine’. Within this framework, the representatives of the doctrine of Shamanism are shamans, or ‘kam’ as they are called in Turkish societies, and they are called ‘special’ people because they are representatives of certain subjects. These people can communicate with the spirit world and protect their society. In the article Shamanism, Journey of the Soul's Discovery, it is mentioned that a person who wants to be a shaman finds himself in the process that starts with a special genetic structure passed down from his family or chosen by Gök Tengri, decides whether he wants to be a shaman or not, risks death and gives up this path or continues on this path by accepting it, makes difficult choices and his ordeals in this process. Their attitudes in the training process that comes with ‘acceptance’, their performing shamanic rituals that are senior to them, the preparation of their clothes and belongings in order to become a real shaman (in which the societies they live in have great contributions), the presentation of their belongings to the spirits and the ritual celebration of their acceptance are described. After the person becomes a real shaman, the process of communicating with the spirits for the needs of the society (illness, pre-war situations, etc.) is also mentioned. Although there are countless articles and books about shamans who have many jobs or tasks, most of the information about the ‘transition process’ is fragmented. For this purpose, the article ‘Shamanism: A Journey of Soul Discovery’ analyses the process of transitioning from the role of a member of a normal community to ‘shamanism’ and changing one's status and starting a new life. The article, which is prepared with the documentation technique, one of the most widely used qualitative research methods of social scientists, answers many questions.