Legacy The History of Wellness and Wellbeing | Shamans, Oracles and Gurus | 4
Jan 27, 2026
Ancient beliefs that illness came from spirits and the rituals used to diagnose and cure them. Roles of shamans, exorcists, oracles and their ritual tools like drums, mirrors and plant medicines. How purification practices became modern spas and why ambiguous prophecy held social power. Conversations about psychics, faith healing risks, and the modern revival of spiritual medicine.
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Illness As Supernatural Intrusion
- Mesopotamians treated illness as an intrusive supernatural arrival requiring diagnosis and ritual removal.
- Their remedies combined behavioral changes, purification, and community-regulated practices to restore balance.
Shamanism As Early Psychology
- Shamanic healing operates as embodied early psychology linking mind and body through ritual.
- Afua warns modern appropriation strips practices of cultural context and safety safeguards.
Don't Use Unregulated Shamanic Providers
- Avoid unregulated ‘Instagram shamans’ who offer costly ceremonies without cultural grounding.
- Treat potent plant medicines seriously and seek culturally informed, safety-minded guidance.