CROSSROAD OF SPIRITUAL PRACTICES

Shamanism:

Shamanism, as we understand it today, is more than just a spiritual practice. It’s a bridge that connects various cultures, each offering its unique interpretation of the term. The word ‘shaman’ traces its roots to North Asia, notably Siberia and Mongolia. Stemming from an oral tradition, its literal translation points to ‘knowing’ or ‘heating oneself.’ The concept is echoed in the Sanskrit language where ‘shram’ means ‘to heat oneself’ and ‘shramana’ refers to an ascetic or divine figure.

Archaeological finds suggest that shamanic figures have been revered since ancient times. Cave paintings, some dating back to 13,000 B.C. in places like Lascaux, France, and Altamira, Spain, depict what many believe to be early shamans. These similar shamanic representations across different continents hint at a shared universal spiritual experience. Although practices differ based on geography, common elements like trance-inducing rituals, dance, rattles, and the use of psychotropic plants are widespread.

Traditional shamans often underwent rigorous training, involving long periods of isolation, fasting, and exposure to extremes of conditions. They relied heavily on animal or element spirits, which provided guidance, protection, and knowledge.

Vedas and Tantra:

In prehistoric times many great civilizations flourished in the equatorial belt, and on the Indian subcontinent, various cultures developed side by side with the Aryan races, which developed the Vedic culture in the north and in the south Dravidian races, which may have developed the Tantric tradition. The Aryas (noble, pure) worshiped and personified nature, believing that they could influence her by performing sacrifices to the Gods who were represented in different elements. The prominence of fire sacrifices in Vedic culture and other global civilizations suggests the early influence of Aryans, who settled in India well before 6000BC. “Vedas” translates to knowledge, encapsulated in texts that dive into materialistic, spiritual, and ritualistic wisdom.

Parallel to Vedic practices, the Indian subcontinent also witnessed the evolution of Tantra. Translated as ‘system’ or ‘ technique,’ Tantra revolves around esoteric practices that aim the harnessing of individual powers, the realization of a higher state of consciousness and the unity of the individual with the divine. Though the earliest written records of Tantric practices date back to 600 A.D., it’s believed that tantric practices may date to an earlier time during which it was an oral tradition.

Hermetism:

Hermes Trismegistus, the perceived fusion of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth, is central to Hermetism. Both deities represent wisdom, magic, and knowledge, and their combined teachings have heavily influenced western spiritual thought. The Hermetica, a series of texts associated with Hermes, offers a window into this rich tradition spanning from 300 BCE to 1200 CE.

Hermetism can be broadly divided into three categories:

Alchemy – Beyond its association with turning base metals into gold, alchemy symbolizes the quest for spiritual purity and transformation.

Astrology – Deemed a spiritual map, it attempts to interpret the effects of celestial bodies on earthly events.

Theurgy – Invoking or evoking deities or spirits through rituals.

Bridging Diverse Spiritual Traditions

Interestingly, these diverse spiritual practices show astonishing overlaps. Amazonian shamans invoke elemental spirits using chants known as ‘icaros.’ In contrast, Vedic and Tantric traditions employ ‘mantras’ to summon deities or attain specific outcomes. Hermetic theurgy and its invocations bear a resemblance to both.

In Vedic traditions, astrology occupies a significant space, a practice also embraced by Hermetists. The science of Ayurveda, rooted in the Vedas, demonstrates the alchemical process of plants, metals and minerals, a key component of Hermetism, in shamanism the alchemical process is for most part reserved to the work with the plants.

Mind-altering substances have been central to various ancient rituals and spiritual practices, from Egypt to Greece and India. Egyptians likely used the blue water lily and Acacia for their potential psychoactive effects. In ancient Greece, the Eleusinian Mysteries involved a mysterious substance called “kykeon,” which some believe contained psychoactive ingredients. The Vedic tradition revered “Soma,” an intoxicating brew with unclear components, believed to offer divine insights. Similarly, shamans across different cultures have employed psychoactive plants like ayahuasca and peyote in sacred rituals to connect with spirits and gain wisdom. These substances were not for recreation but were seen as sacred bridges to the divine.

Interwoven Threads of Global Spirituality

Evidence suggests that spiritual practices have often merged and evolved. Tibetan Buddhism, for instance, is a blend of Buddhist teachings, Tantric practices, and shamanic wisdom from the indigenous Bön tradition. Christianity has retained traces of shamanism, evident in healing rituals conducted in Jesus’s name. Sufism, an Islamic mystic tradition, showcases shamanic elements in its trance-inducing dances. The interplay between Judaism and Hermetism is beautifully encapsulated in the Kabbalah.

The spiritual tapestry of our world is rich and varied. While it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact origins and influences of every practice, it’s evident that they’ve continually intersected, merged, and evolved, contributing to the diverse spiritual landscape that is reflected in our work of today.