Celtic Shamanism?

This article proposes that the details of Celtic religio-magical practice are not shamanic. It summarises a lot of practices that we have literary evidence for and argues that these practices do not meet Mircea Eliade's traditional definition of shamanism.

I have hoped to accomplish three things in this article. The first is to
show that 'shamanism' is not a religion, but rather a technical term used to
denote a well-defined set of practices and mythology. Furthermore, it is my hope
that I have shown that these practices are but components found within a greater
cultural milieu. Without the context of the culture those practices themselves
have no purpose, no understanding, no focus. Lastly, I hope that I have shown
that we of Gaelic culture do not have to rely on such a vague and misleading
title as 'shaman'. To the contrary, each skill and art has a name that holds an
understanding, power and full body of knowledge that is its own. These jobs
were/are fully empowered by the understandings of their culture. These are what
we call those who have done special things in our culture. We have no shamans,
and our religion is not 'shamanism'.

The article is well worth a read, and the references at the end cry out to be pursued.

Clannada na Gadelica - Gaelic Traditionalist Resource Site

Slán