"After the Past, Before the Present": New Shamanism in Gorny Altai

Altai shamanism declined in the 20th century under pressure from Old Believers, the Orthodox Church, Burkhanism (emerging in 1904), and Soviet repression. Based on the author's experiences living in Gorny Altai in 1988 and 1989, the paper surveys these historical influences and describes a subsequent revival of shamanic beliefs and practices in a neo-shamanistic form. Several factors that facilitated this regeneration are identified and discussed, including both internal community dynamics and external influences.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This paper is a brief survey of the history of Altai shamanism in the 20th Century, and of the main influences, both from "inside" (from within the Altai community) and from the outside onto shamanic beliefs and practices of the Altai, especially onto the shamanic revival. Based on my experiences living in 1988 and 1989 in Gorny Altai, the paper reports on aspects of present‐day shamanism, and the emergence of neo‐shamanism in the post‐Soviet period. The decline of shamanism due to the impact of the Old Believers, the Orthodox Church and the emergence of Burkhanism in 1904, as well as the repression during the Soviet period, is described and is noted as influential in contributing to the current revival of shamanism in its "neo‐shamanistic" form. Several factors that facilitate the regeneration of shamanism are identified and discussed.