Contemporary Czech Shamanism: A Case Study of Ritual Practice and Healing

Contemporary Czech shamanism thrives despite a general Czech distrust of formal religion. Based on fieldwork conducted since 2017, the author describes how shamanism's 'action approach' to human problems offers an attractive explanation for experiences during ritual. The paper details shamanic paraphernalia, ritual setting, and how these create a safe space for spontaneous communitas and participants' personal understanding of their psychotherapeutic and religious experience. The final section examines how contemporary Czech shamanism fits within the broader discourse of modern Western spirituality.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The article presents an overview of contemporary Czech shamanism based on field research into Czech shamanic communities that the author has been conducting since 2017. Despite the specific Czech distrust of ‘religion’ and ‘formalized ritualization’ in general, shamanism enjoys considerable popularity. Particular attention is paid to the concept of illnesses and shamanic treatment. It is argued that the shamanic ‘action approach’ to human adversity offers a relatively broad and attractive explanation as to what is experienced and performed during shamanic ritual. The second part of the paper is dedicated to shamanic ritual, i.e. the paraphernalia, ritual set and setting that create the space for ritual practice and also a safe-space for spontaneous communitas and the participant’s own understanding of this psychotherapeutic and religious experience. The final part examines the specifics of contemporary Czech shamanism in the pervasive discourse of modern western spirituality.