This article is about the dangers of the modern New Age practices. This has captured the hearts and souls of its practitioners. Listed in this section are the leading practices and some of its consequences. The New Age is a huge market in the western world mostly in the form of best-selling books and being promoted on highly rated talk shows as something that is for your well-being, well maybe not;
“There are four ways to use shamanic power—for healing, for manipulation, for acquisition and malevolent action…. Manipulatory shamanism is [sic] to do with manipulating the environment for personal gain and without regard for the consequences. Malicious shamanism is tied up with intentionally causing injury, illness or death and can be applied to people, places, and the environment.”
Frazier, “Shamanic Survival Skills,” p. 37.
Does this sound like something that is beneficial? This is purely Satanic in nature and highly egocentric!
“In other words, the shaman is one who acquires knowledge of both good and evil spirits, often attempting either to use both or to bring both into “harmony” Albert Villoldo, “A Journey of Initiation of Don Edwardo Calderon,” Shaman’s Drum, Fall 1985, p. 20.
Sexual perversion is associated with certain shamanistic practices as well. Many shamans become homosexual, androgynous under the direction of their “spirit guides,” sometimes leading to suicide!
“The dissolution of contraries—life and death, light and dark, male and female—and reconstitution of the fractured forms is one of the most consistent impulses in the initiation and transformation process as experienced by the shaman…. During mysteries of initiation such as those of shamanic election, androgyny can appear at two very significant moments in this sacred continuum: at its inception and its termination. Among Siberian peoples, androgynous shamans seem to be unusually prevalent. … The spirit ally, or ke’let, demands that the young man becomes a “soft man being.” Many instances of suicide among young shamans occurred as a result of their refusal to meet this requirement. Nonetheless, most neophytes complied in spite of their profound social and psychological ambivalence. The transformation process is heralded by the spirits guiding the young man to braid his hair like a woman’s. Next, the spirits, through dreams, prescribe women’s clothing for the young man.The third stage of this initiation entails a total feminization of the male shaman. The youth who is undergoing the process relinquishes his past male behaviors and activities and adopts the female role. His spirits are guiding and teaching him the woman’s way. His mode of speech changes as well as his behavior, and on certain occasions, so does his body. Even his physical character changes. Generally speaking, he becomes a woman with the appearance of a man. The “soft man” comes to experience himself sexually as a female. With the help of his spirit allies, he can attract the attention of eligible men, one of whom he chooses to be his husband. The two marry and live as a man and wife, often until death, performing their appropriate social and sexual roles.” Halifax, Shamanic Voices, pp. 23-24.
Demonic possession of shamans can lead to horrible experiences;
“The initial experience of possession, particularly, is often a disturbing, even traumatic experience. Where the successor shows reluctance in assuming his heavy duties, the spirits remind him forcefully of his obligations by badgering him with trials and tribulations until he acknowledges defeat and accepts their insistent prodding.” Lewis, Ecstatic Religion, p. 66.
As you can see, the practice of shamanism is a highly dangerous and immoral practice. Perversion, self-gain and manipulation using the spirit world all wrapped up in a box that looks very enlightening to the unsuspecting person looking for “ higher meaning”!
I will turn to the Holy Bible now and see what it reads on such divination and sorcery;
Leviticus 19: 26, 26 “‘Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it.
“‘Do not practice divination or seek omens.
Deuteronomy 18: 10-13 10 Let no one is found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the Lord your God.
It is evident not only by common sense that such divination is evil, God is giving a stern warning not to become enamored with such practices, let alone become ensnared in shamanism. We as Christians must pray for those souls that enter into such a demonic system.
God Bless
Brian Mason
Beacon Apologetics 