On 3 April, Sjamanistisk Trossamfund was founded in Denmark, modelled on Sjamanistisk Forbund. The faith community was founded by John Russell-Møller and Maja Calendula. Although SF and ST will work closely together and draw inspiration from each other, ST is not a subdivision of SF. They are entirely autonomous, which is why we use the term sister organisation. They are now underway with the approval process before the Danish authorities.
Good news for shamanism as a cultural heritage in Scandinavia.
When Sjamanistisk Forbund was founded in 2012, it attracted international attention. Apart from Tuva, Norway was at that time the only state to have officially recognised shamanism as a form of faith. Now Denmark is following suit. Denmark may thus become the third country in the world to recognise shamanism, and with that, new life is breathed into our shared Scandinavian cultural heritage. This is truly good news for Scandinavian shamanism. We therefore congratulate Sjamanistisk Trossamfund on writing a new chapter in world history.
You can find their website here.
You can find them on Facebook here.
A little about the people behind it
John and Maja have long experience in the shamanic community in Denmark and are regarded as tradition-bearers of their cultural heritage. This is how John presents himself and how it all began.
I am 70 years old and have a background as a tradesman (electrician), and I have worked with shamanism since October 1989. I was contacted by two spirits who asked whether I wished to train as a shaman with them (that is a long story). For the first seven years I attended courses in modern shamanism (including five years of core shamanism), and afterwards I lived three months every summer on a mountain on the plateau in Sápmi for 10 years. Here, under the guidance of my two spirit guides, I was trained in old-fashioned (Danish) shamanic craft by the plants, the animals, the wind, the clouds, the dead, and so on. Of course I went to Kiruna to buy food and talk with friends; and I also had visitors and courses from time to time; but I was alone (that is, without other people) on the mountain on the plateau for two years. In my tradition, this is the "normal" way to become a shaman (Stone Age shaman). Read the story of the Greenlandic Angakok Missuarniannga:
http://www.shaman.dk/missuarniannga2014z.da.html
I had a clinical shamanic practice in Copenhagen for 15 years, but for the last 10 years I have not done much clinical/modern shamanic healing work. There has been less symptomatic treatment of the soul and more preventive soul work. Just as at the dentist: if people learn to take better care of their teeth, they get less tooth decay and gum disease, and thus less need for symptomatic treatment.
When I met Kyrre and "the others" at Isogaisa 4 years ago (I think it was) and heard about Sjamanistisk Forbund, it struck a nerve in me, because I knew that community with others is one of the most important parts of "preventive shamanic soul work." Together we make each other strong, and so on. I decided on the spot that I wanted to start a faith community similar to Sjamanistisk Forbund in Denmark.
Now the path continues in that direction. We are calmly beginning to hold various gatherings, for example around the full moon, the solstices; but we have also talked about wanting to take plant walks in nature, where we speak with the nature spirits, which is something we are very focused on. Love of nature is absolutely central. We want to attract people who feel the same way.
You can find Maja on Facebook if you search for Maja Calendula, and there you can also see the beautiful things she makes. Maja Calendula is 43 years old. This is how she presents herself:
Since I was a child, I have had a special connection to nature. As a teenager I began to study witches and witchcraft. I have practised both alone and in witch covens. Six or seven years ago I began to study shamanism and started making drums, rattles, power jewellery and fans. I now sell them online, but also in a shop in Copenhagen.
I have a website, but mostly use Facebook, and I also have both a page for my things and a blog where I write a little about the things I do.
I came across John Russell-Møller 2 years ago, but last year we began to meet and talk about founding shamanic religious matters. It has in fact long been John's plan, and I very much want to help. We share the same opinions and views on many of the shamanic things.
I thought it would be wonderful to create a religious community where we can share knowledge without it having to be in a way where someone makes a lot of money from it.
So far there has been interest in it, and although many have difficulty with the word religion or faith, I now believe that we are indeed many.
