Shamanism

Shamanism: Body-Mind-Spirit Profile

       A Case Study on Shamanism

                                                                           Description

This study is designed to explore the cultural experience of spirituality, health, and creativity, which is an extension of Dr. Hageman's Body-Mind-Spirit Profile (BMSP) research that includes an assessment on creativity and a general demographic questionnaire involving 5 general areas of experience:

            · Group Background

            · General Background

            · Decision Making Practices

            · Divination Experience

            · Health and Self-healing

This study is based upon the preponderance of research, which agrees that religious experience and the seeking of spiritual nourishment (normal for humans) is especially utilized when facing concerns with health or well-being.

However, there are different cultural practices in the attempt to self-heal, solve problems, and find meaning. Some research has indicated high levels of creativity in one earth-based Pagan group and other research has found that creativity was foundational to the “quest orientation” in religious affiliation and experience. Furthermore, hypnotizability and absorption appear to be directly linked to creativity, factors that are theorized to be prevalent in the practice of shamanism.

This study will examine whether the Western perspective of Positive Psychology holds true for cultures that emphasize a collective society rather than a personal autonomy, or for earth-based practices such as shamanism.