Shamanism is one of the oldest and most widespread spiritual traditions in the world. It has roots that stretch back thousands of years and is found among Indigenous peoples across the globe, from Siberia to South America. Shamanism represents a unique way of understanding the world and our place in it, based on a profound respect for nature and a belief that all living things have a spiritual dimension.
Within Sami culture, shamanism, or noaidevuohta as it is called, has been a central part of the worldview and practice for millennia. Sami shamans, or noaidis, have played a crucial role as a link between the physical and the spiritual world, and have helped their people with everything from healing to conflict resolution and stewardship of nature.
But shamanism also has deep roots in the Norse, Kven and Forest Finn cultures of the Nordic region. Norse shamans, known as volvas and seidmen, were central to pre-Christian Nordic religion and had the ability to travel in the spirit world to retrieve knowledge and power. Kven and Forest Finn shamanism was also a living tradition in these minority cultures of Northern Norway.
Despite shamanism's rich history in the Nordic region, it has historically been met with strong resistance and ridicule in modern, Christian society. Many still regard shamanism as superstition and something primitive, without understanding its deep significance for Indigenous cultures and our shared Nordic cultural heritage.
This lack of knowledge and prejudice towards shamanism testifies to a regrettable lack of understanding of our shared Nordic spiritual history. Shamanism represents a valuable and vital way of understanding our place in nature and the universe, with much to teach us in a time marked by ecological crisis and alienation from nature.
By recognising and highlighting shamanism as part of our shared Nordic cultural heritage, we can take an important step towards repairing the harmful discrimination Indigenous religions have been subjected to. Shamanism deserves just as much respect and visibility in public spaces as majority religions such as Christianity.
Lack of continuity and knowledge
Unlike Sami shamanism, the Norse tradition has been broken for a long time. Many of the Norse shamanic practices such as seid were forbidden and fell into oblivion after the Christianisation of Norway. There is therefore limited knowledge and continuity in the Norse shamanic tradition today.
Need for reconstruction and adaptation
To include Norse shamanism in modern society, much of the tradition must be reconstructed on the basis of sparse historical sources. The practices must also be adapted to a modern context and set of values. This means that much of the Norse shamanism practised today is a form of "neo-shamanism" that draws inspiration from several sources. Fortunately, this is changing, and today we can say that we have a distinct form of Nordic shamanism.
Stereotypes and lack of knowledge in the population
Many still hold stereotypical notions of witches and shamanism from Norse times. There is a need for more knowledge and openness in the population so that modern practitioners of Norse shamanism can practise openly without prejudice.
Lack of access to schools, TV and broadcast services
Children whose parents hold a shamanic faith have not had the same opportunity as Christian children to practise their faith and culture in everyday school life. Christian churches and services are broadcast routinely on TV and radio, while shamanic rituals or other Indigenous religious practices very rarely receive media coverage.
Discrimination against shamanism versus Christianity
Despite shamanism's deep roots in Indigenous cultures around the world, it has been met with strong resistance and discrimination in modern, Western society. Unlike majority religions such as Christianity, shamanism has gained little recognition, support and visibility in public spaces such as schools, the media and political institutions.
Lack of recognition of shamanism as world heritage
Shamanism represents a valuable and vital way of understanding our place in nature and the universe. Its holistic worldview, which sees all living things as connected in a spiritual community, has much to teach us in a time marked by ecological crisis and alienation from nature. By recognising and highlighting shamanism as part of our shared world heritage, we can take an important step towards repairing the harmful discrimination nature religions have been subjected to.
By including and recognising shamanism as part of our shared Nordic cultural heritage, we can highlight and preserve the spiritual and cultural heritage of Indigenous cultures and of pre-Christian Nordic religion. It is an important part of our shared history and an important contribution to understanding and stewarding nature and our place within it.
