Introduction to the Equestrian Shamanism Collection

Although Mali is essentially an Islamic country it has a diverse culture that embraces many other beliefs and forms of worship. Shamans form an important part of the culture. They can be healers or sorcerers, they will have learned the art of harnessing the spirits and to journey in trance states to sacred places and return with messages essential to the well-being and survival of hunter gathers.

The Shaman command respect and as visionaries who can utilize the altered states of consciousness their place in the tribal hierarchy is unquestionable their wisdom is honored. If you hunt animals in order to survive then their spirits must be honored and drawn into the rituals that form an essential part of the religious life.

The Shamans drum is often identified with a horse. The skin stretched across the frame may come from any animal, but the drum itself will often be named after a horse as the horse carries the man so it is associated with the rhythm of the drum which carries the shaman into the altered state and allows him to make contact with the spirits. Music and dance are therefore central to this shamanic practice and only performed by men.

The Dogon carve wonderful animals heads out of wood and perform ritual dances. The dancing sticks curiously turn up in Native American cultures. Although it is believed by Native Americans that their ancestors travelled eastwards from Central Asia across the Bering straights. Shamanism continues to be practiced in both central Asia and amongst native Americans and Mexicans.