The Development of Sámi Shamanism
Oxford Scholarship Online March 22, 2018 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780190678821.003.0002
Summary
Practitioners of shamanism in Norway are blending local and global influences, particularly incorporating American Indian symbolism into their spiritual practices. This interaction highlights how local traditions can serve as a foundation for new global religious movements. The chapter explores the dynamics of this cultural creation and the increasing inventiveness within Norwegian shamanism.
Study at a glance
| Population | practitioners of shamanism in Norway |
|---|---|
| Key finding | The chapter emphasizes that American Indian symbolism can inspire spiritual seekers in Norway to develop a new global religious movement based on local traditions. |
Abstract
The cultural creation developed by practitioners of shamanism in Norway provides insight into processes of religious creation and creativity. These developments and increasing spiritual inventiveness are the focus of this chapter. I am particularly interested in how and what happens when the global culture of shamanism interacts with a specific local culture, in this case, Norwegian society. Drawing on developments within the field of shamanism in Norway, the chapter ventures between the local and global, highlighting how American Indian symbolism might serve as a spark that prompts a spiritual seeker to step onto the path of spirituality, making what is perceived as local traditions the basis for a new global religious movement.