Shamanic tradition and altered states of consciousness in Turkic culture

Summary

The study identifies the ontological and cultural foundations of shamanism in Kazakhstan's Turkic culture, focusing on altered states of consciousness (ASC) and their influence on shamanic practices. It highlights how ASC shapes ritual practices and adapts under modern social conditions, while maintaining core symbolic codes. The shaman serves as a mediator between sacred and social realms, with archetypal structures of shamanism evident in folklore and Kazakh identity. The findings have implications for understanding sacred practices and preserving cultural heritage.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the ontological and cultural foundations of the shamanic tradition in the Turkic culture of Kazakhstan through the concept of altered states of consciousness (ASC). The research focused on how ASC structured the shamanic worldview, shaped ritual practices, and transformed under post-traditional social conditions. The methodological framework combined philosophical analysis of consciousness, culturological interpretation of mythological and ritual structures, and the analysis of archaeological and ethnographic data. An interdisciplinary synthesis integrating philosophy, ethnology, archaeology, and symbolic analysis was applied, alongside sociocultural analysis and interpretative culturology to examine contemporary transformations of shamanic practice. The study established that ASC functioned as a normative and regulated mode of interaction with a multi-level reality. It operated as a tool of diagnosis, sacred cognition, and social regulation, grounded in stable symbolic forms. The shaman acted as a mediator between sacred and social dimensions, integrating individual experience with collective knowledge. Spatial and material elements of ritual preserved strictly defined symbolism rooted in a mythopoetic worldview. In modern contexts, shamanic tradition has transformed into a more individualized psycho-spiritual practice while retaining core symbolic and ritual codes. Archetypal structures of shamanism continue to persist in folklore, cultural memory, and representations of Kazakh identity. The practical significance of the study lies in its applicability to the interpretation of sacred practices within the Turkic tradition, culturally oriented approaches in ethnopsychology and symbolic anthropology, and the preservation of intangible cultural heritage.

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