Shamanism, Social Balance and Health in the Maya Worldview

All art work by Tania Williams

The Maya live in a metaphysical, philosophical, and religious tradition bridging the ages, from the time of the Classic kings to the shamans and ritual leaders of today.  These shamans of Mexico and Central America are specialists in ecstasy, a state of grace that allows them to move freely beyond the ordinary world, to deal directly with gods, demons, ancestors and other potent beings in the Otherworld in order to bring cosmological and social balance to this world. Learn about shamanism as it was practiced at the height of the ancient Maya civilisation over 1500 years ago. Then compare this to the role of shamanism today among the Maya .  Find out about shamanic beliefs about the perceived cause of disease, such as soul loss,  and the connection between these beliefs and social, moral and religious factors.  What does shamanic treatment of disease involve?  And what happened when Shamanism and Catholicism met?

Learn about the convergence of biomedicine and shamanism, and why biomedicine has such difficulty accepting shamanic practises.  Find out why there is now a resurgence of interest in shamanism in the west and its relationship to  social and moral relations and our Western preoccupation with our own individuality. Read whole article here.