The Shaman

Diagram by Bill Stifler, 2009

This diagram, based on the ideas of Mirxea Eliade,  illustrates how the shaman tranverses between worlds, moving freely between the sacred and profane realms. Shamans may enter the transcendent realm through meditation, fasting, prayer, hallucinagens, abnormal mental states, stressors, or other processes.

The diagram shows a large circle labled Profane World, Everyday world of time & space.

The area outside of the circle is labled Sacred World, infinte, eternal, timeless realm.

The word Shaman appears inside the circle with an arrow leading outside the circle to the word Shaman again.  The caption reads "The shaman in capable of moving between the realms."  In other words, the shaman can move between the everyday world of time and space and enter the sacred infinite and eternal world.

There is a caption to the left of the circle which explains some of the ways in which the shaman can enter sacred space. It reads

Shamans may enter the transcendent realm through meditation, fasting, prayer, hallucinogens, abnormal mental states, stressors, or other processes.

Because shamans have the capacity to move between realms, shamans can also enter the world of animals.  Shapeshifters are considered shaman figures.