Cherokee Shamanism

Cherokee Shamanism is a branch of shamanism that was born in the Cherokee tribes. These tribes had shamans for duties such as healing and even answering spiritual questions or reading the future. The Cherokee Shamans don’t call or consider themselves shamans. They call themselves Medicine Men or Women. And they were the spiritual leaders of their village or tribe.

Cherokee Shamanism Beliefs

In Cherokee Shamanism, people believed that there are 3 worlds:

The upper world: it is a spiritual world. Here live the benevolent and good spirits. These spirits try to help us to reach harmony and balance. They are the spirits that help shamans in healing and solving other earthly problems. In Christianity, this world is called Heaven.

The under world: this s also a spiritual world. But these spirits are evil and bad. These spirits try to disturb the balance. They are also responsible for most diseases and problems. Christians call this under world, Hell.

The middle world: which is our physical world that we live in. It is the center between the upper and the under worlds. And it struggles to create balance between the two worlds.

Cherokee Shamanism – The Cherokee Shaman

The Cherokee Shaman or Medicine Men/Women had many responsibilities. They communicated with the spiritual world. And their duty was to communicate or transmit the messages of the spirits to the tribe. They were the spiritual leaders of the tribe, teaching and educating their tribe in religion and the importance of spirituality.

Shamans also had the duty to heal the sick. They healed the tribe not only through spirituality and he help of the spirits. But also through medicinal plants. The Cherokee Shamans had vast knowledge about herbal healing.

The shamans also performed rituals. These rituals contained dance moves, songs and physical props such as fire. These rituals were secret. Although most of the knowledge of the shaman was secret. And only the chosen ones were allowed to learn these rituals and knowledge. The shaman chose the person that will take his place when he will have to leave this middle world.

Cherokee Shamanism is still practiced today. But it suffered from the influences of the modern world. Cherokee Shamans are not as popular as they were before. But you can still find a Medicine Men or Women in each tribe reservation. Many also converted to Christianity. But even though they became mostly Christian, many still visit the Shaman not only fr healing, but also times of doubt.