Shamanic Materialities in Nordic Climates

This element explores the materiality of shamanism in contemporary Finland and Norway, focusing on how the drum, sacrificial site, power animal, and mushroom bridge the gap between the profane and divine. It investigates how the construction of the category shamanism makes shamanic materialities come to life and how they facilitate exchanges and dynamics between the local and global, past and present, secular and spiritual, time and space.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 21 September 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Shamanism has its roots in the Nordic countries, and this Element delves into the expressions and experiences of shamanic materialities in contemporary Finland and Norway. Shamans engage with spiritual forces and beings, yet their religious practices manifest in the physical realm. In this Element, we commence by examining the materiality of shamanism, emphasizing how the drum, sacrificial site, power animal, and mushroom bridge the divide between the mundane and the divine, establishing networks and dynamics within a shamanic worldview and in society at large. Throughout its chapters, the authors explore the ways in which the categorization of shamanism brings shamanic materialities to life. Conversely, they investigate how shamanic materialities shape and facilitate ongoing, formative exchanges and dynamics between the local and global, past and present, secular and spiritual, time and space.

Shamanism has its roots in the Nordic countries, and this Element delves into the expressions and experiences of shamanic materialities in contemporary Finland and Norway. Shamans engage with spiritual forces and beings, yet their religious practices manifest in the physical realm. In this Element, we commence by examining the materiality of shamanism, emphasizing how the drum, sacrificial site, power animal, and mushroom bridge the divide between the mundane and the divine, establishing networks and dynamics within a shamanic worldview and in society at large. Throughout its chapters, the authors explore the ways in which the categorization of shamanism brings shamanic materialities to life. Conversely, they investigate how shamanic materialities shape and facilitate ongoing, formative exchanges and dynamics between the local and global, past and present, secular and spiritual, time and space.

Weight: 156g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 8 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009376402