‘The Hermit Next Door’: The Role of Eremitism/Asceticism in Contemporary Shamanic Healing Practices in North-East Scotland
Český lid December 15, 2021 Athanasios Barmpalexis
An ethnographic study of contemporary shamanic healers in North East Scotland examines the role of eremitism—the practice of living an isolated, simple life—in folk healing systems. Two healers, Terry Mace and Norman Duncan, have each self-consciously chosen geographic isolation, living simply and self-sufficiently away from materialism and socializing. The article argues that this eremitic tendency is not only a key feature of traditional shamanic healing but also persists in modern manifestations. By focusing on these two cases, the work highlights the significance of eremitism in contemporary shamanisms.