Shamanism

Before I got schizophrenia, I did a lot of research on shamanism. There is a period of several years that a young person goes through, that is a transformation to becoming a shaman. The tribe usually takes care of this person for the years that he/she goes through this transformation. It is entirely possible that this person could have been schizophrenic. How else would he/she have visions of the supernatural world?

I personally have had visions of the supernatural world. I have seen the real form of a human, and I have seen supernatural beings during my bouts of hallucinations. I believe that my pills are hindering my progress towards inner peace and sanctitude with my gift of these visions.

Xad

Thanks for the post Xad.

I can relate to your inquiries and you might like to read Joseph Campbell's book Myths to Live By, Chapter 10 "Schizophrenia -- The Inward Journey."

Basically, what he's getting at, is exactly what you wrote, in terms of what it can mean to go through an experience this society sees as "nuts."

He also writes about how a mystic/shaman goes down, down, down into the depths of self/god/otherworlds (like a deep sea diver).

A schizophrenic, on the other hand, unfortunately cannot swim.

It's good to know that you're someone who is in tune with these other worlds and it's unfortunate that our society doesn't nurture your nutiness. However, hang in there and you might do research into orthomolecular psychiatry (see my posting the other week in the discussion in this web site, "Causes of Schizophrenia" on the 1st page of these boards) because it might help you.

We're not nuts -- this society and world is!

Maybe you're gifted in tarot reading or something like this that could benefit others and you could feel better about your "condition" and you wouldn't be so isolated.

if it works for you, do it, cause in the end, you only have to be happy with you:)

Jay wrote: We're not nuts -- this society and world is!

The history of non-madness (the real insanity) will be written one day.
The people that write it will find it very amusing that humans once thought that only certain thoughts, feelings and behavior were normal and anything else was disease. We certainly live in a dark stage of history were closed minded fools rule the earth. Those who demand we think this, but not that will be exposed for illogical fools they are.

yea, and the problem with that thinking is that it gets you nowhere in todays worls, no job, no money, and people won't accept you, i don't really know what is right and what is wrong, adn if there is even a god, or any sort of higher beings, i just look at it like this, i wnat to be happy, and if that requires being on meds so that i can work in todays world, then i do, i just keep the paranoia and questions low, becasue who knows if i am right or not, but it kind of seems like the stuff cults are made of, and they give me a creepy feeling

moramind wrote:yea, and the problem with that thinking is that it gets you nowhere in todays worls, no job, no money, and people won't accept you, i don't really know what is right and what is wrong, adn if there is even a god, or any sort of higher beings, i just look at it like this, i wnat to be happy, and if that requires being on meds so that i can work in todays world, then i do, i just keep the paranoia and questions low, becasue who knows if i am right or not, but it kind of seems like the stuff cults are made of, and they give me a creepy feeling

Well said!

moramind wrote:yea, and the problem with that thinking is that it gets you nowhere in todays worls, no job, no money, and people won't accept you, i don't really know what is right and what is wrong, adn if there is even a god, or any sort of higher beings, i just look at it like this, i wnat to be happy, and if that requires being on meds so that i can work in todays world, then i do, i just keep the paranoia and questions low, becasue who knows if i am right or not, but it kind of seems like the stuff cults are made of, and they give me a creepy feeling

what i think and how i "have" to interact with the world are completely seperate. it's easy to think whatever you want but when you have to deal with the zombies of conformity ya just play the game for a while so they don't suspect a thing, then when there gone i go back to free thinking mode. i find it easy doing both in todays world.

i'd never want to stay in normal mode for long YUK!

so you have duel personalities?

haha, i had that!

adn then it blew up in my face!!!

it's called a brain overload=pyschosis!

woot_

not duel personalities, why would you say that?

i've just developed the social skills that i need to interact within this sick culture without having to sell out. i have learn't to do both, i stay true to myself (the real me) and i can play the #######4 game of normality too. its all the same personality. you're making something that really easy to do sound so hard. it doesn't need pathologising either.

cool, you should try being a shaman then and let us know how it goes... lol

honestly through my own experience its mind boggling. for example my mom has a relationship with a farily famous buddhist lama. so you'd think with all the buddhist concepts that my eccentric ways would at least be somewhat be accpeted. well their rejected even more. i mean he thinks i'm a complete idiot. i've meditated several times with a large group that he leads and i get the same response from other meditators.

i find it totally puzzling how they'll meditate visualize and accept shamanic values yet they don't act like it and scold my way of lifestyle. what a contradiction... isn't it... i mean its like its ok to read about something and take it religously and praise it, but as soon as you start acting out on that then your labelled a little kuu kuu. Yet they admire the lives of these shamanic like men of the past who had these emaculate hallucinations and ideas about their religion.

I mean isn't that a bit psychotic in its self. I suppose we see it happen all the time in soceity. I mean kids and adults alike love to play violent video games and watch action packed movies. But as soon as someone is murdered or stabbed in real life they frown in disgust towards the culprits, like they are completely crazed idiots. Like what the f@#$, you love that stuff but now you hate that stuff. And whos schizo?

Many schizophrenics are the people who are trying to get in touch with the spirtiual. Their empathetically relating to the spirtual people of the past and emulating them. The same way young athletes emulate the pro athletes. But for what ever reason this is frowned upon not just in western cultures but I believe that in most cultures around the world. Trust me I've had first had experience meditating with tibetian buddhists and they ain't going to accept you the least bit more then western people.

And anyone who believes so should just go and try to meditate themselves with a group of buddhists, hindus, or whatever and find out for themselves, that they'll still be rejected.