RELS 3714 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Axis Mundi

• School: University of Iowa
• Department: Religious Studies
• Course: RELS 3714
• Professor: Schnell Scott

Document Summary

The defining purpose of shamanism is to interact with the spirit world for the benefit of. Townsend icon reading material world: or individuals within the material world. Essential criteria for shamanism: direct contact with spirits, control of spirits, control of shamanic states of consciousness, material focus. For benefit of community and individuals, not the shamans own progression of soul: soul flight. Can separate soul from body without death, and visit spirit world. What is done in spiritual realm can affect material realm; there are 3 levels: upper-divine, spiritual realm, middle-merging of spiritual and material realms, lower-locale of spirits or negative energy. Axis mundi is important in shamanism because the shaman needs to have deep understanding of all the realms: also, axis mundi connects all 3 realms, and is where shamans and spirits enter and transverse the realms. 2 fundamental principles that rule the cosmos: balance, reciprocity (think of it like the rule of equivalent exchange from fma)