4 Answers
The Magical or Magic Man (Shaman) has a place in many stories throughout human history to our present day. Their presence is one of supernatural context and also of great power for having access to the "unknown" world of the spirits and hereafter as well as to the other realms of existence like the dreamworld, the underworld, the heavens. Shamanism is alive and well in many of our worlds' aboriginal cultures, for example the First Nations people of North America, South America, Africa, Haiti. Many are also referred to as Medicine Men/Women.
Even our most ancient human ancestors were practicing Shamanism as this cave art can attest to. Our ancestors were interested in healing practices using herbs and roots as well as rituals involving things like chanting, rattles and drums, and smudging with various kinds of smoke to purify and rid someone of their illness.
In more modern times the Magical Man has been fictionalized into a fairy-tale-like being such as the Pied Piper who, as the story goes, was able to lure the rats out of a village using a 'magic' flute. Many of these fairytales were written to entertain as well as teach valuable lessons for the contemporary audience.
I hope this short answer helps a little...in the meantime check out this mask from the Northwest Canadian Coastal First Nations People and Peace.
12 years ago. Rating: 6 | |
Click on the link > http://www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/~zierke/watersons/songs/themagicalman.html
12 years ago. Rating: 5 | |