After reading this book, I got a new appreciation for shamanism and they people who practice it. In this book, it talks about how certain people become shaman and what that means for the rest of their life. Most people who become a shaman start at a very young age and most do not have a choice. To become a shaman, they give up living as normal people during their culture. While most shamans are highly revered by their tribe and it is viewed as an outstanding opportunity, it is still showed upon them whether it is because of birth or because they receive a dream at an early age. I have now started to view this as a service to their people instead of a privilege. Perhaps they do not view it this way but coming from a culture where everyone is encouraged to be what ever they want to be this is paying the ultimate price. Before birth, they are stripped of that right and are now supposed to serve the tribe the best they can whether they are qualified or not. When it's contrasted with priesthood, priests make the choice to leave all of their things behind so it is more of a personal choice. Shamans are more willing to serve their tribe and that is where their respect is derived from because the entire people know that they have not chosen to be the shaman but were in fact chosen.
Devin
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