Similarities Between Yanoomamo And Jivaro

Shamanic practices within hunter-gatherer groups are an important part of combatting illnesses as well as bewitching enemies. Yet, the way societies go about initiating shamans and strategies used by shamans are not the same within all societies; many differences are present because hunter-gatherer groups are secluded and have almost no contact with other groups. Although these groups do not coordinate shamanism traditions with each other, several shamanic practices are similar to many societies. In this study, Yanomamo shamans will be compared to those of the Shuar, also referred to as the Jivaro. One aspect of shamanism common to the Yanomamo and Jivaro is the types of powers that different shamans can contain. In both societies, shamans

But, while in the trance, San shamans only cure, which Yanomamo and Shuar shamans also perform the act of bewitching. The San believe that deceased ancestors can become jealous of the living and cause sickness upon the population. Thus, they use Shamans to contact these ancestors and ward off their evil effects: infirmity. The San only use their contact with ancestors to heal the sick and not to cause harm to others. The Yanomamo battle with spirits in a trance state. The Yanomamo Shamans go into a trance to heal the sick and cause sickness to enemies. Moreover, Shuar shamans achieve a trance state to enter the invisible realm with the aim of bewitching enemies or curing. Although a trance state serves as an important part of shamanism in the Yanomamo, Shuar, and San, shamans within the San never bewitch others, while shamans in the Yanomamo and Shuar use their power to heal and to curse. In the San, a trance state is achieved through dancing, whereas in the Yanomamo and Shuar, shamans contact supernatural forces through the use of drugs. San shamans dance and reach physical and mental limits; once they reach this limit, they push their limits and continue on. Once they have entered a trance, also known as a !kia, they are able to have contact with animal and ancestral spirits and heal the ill through sucking out the sickness. Contrastly, in the Yanomamo and Shuar, shamans enter a trance state through the intake of