Shamanism as pedagogy in Colombia and

its projection in Europe

 

The survival of traditional knowledge is very closely related to the fact that the “developed world” understands it. The “traditional” word, which is to be brought to life, has following characteristics: power, wisdom and goodwill. The actual distortions have led to a replacement of power by manipulation, wisdom by subtleties and goodwill by fear and rage.

 

Traditional teachings are mostly freed from the flow of time and are a valuable potential to reach an emergency exit from the inhuman society of consumption, which shows shallow and stereotypical behaviors as its models.

 

In this project we want to make use of the work done without interruptions during ten years in the “Sociedad Colombiana de Etnomedicina”, based on the cultural richness of this country (over a hundred different ethnic groups, sixty structured languages, besides dialects). If this work were considered from the point of view of ethnocentric linguistics, it would be completely revolutionary. Besides that, Colombia is especially well located. It is in the second place in the world in biological diversity. We know very well, that these diversities, the biological and the cultural, will be of huge importance in this century and this millenium, because the world is drowning in the deep weariness caused by globalization.

 

Aiming to give our knowledge a solid urban basis, we decided to establish a center, where we are constantly inviting shamans and wise persons of different groups. Instead of being limited to academic aspects, we seek and offer solutions to peace-processes, treatment of conflictive situations and aspects related to life in a community, so covering a flaw of the usual schemes.

 

Health-problems, treatment and prevention of addictions and cultural distortions such as a misunderstanding of life and death, are examples of the important areas covered by this project. Another example is the conflict, which arises between young people forgetting their roots and elder people. These persons, due to the experiences gained during their lives, are of huge importance as guides, but under strictly merchant criteria they are ignored.

 

2- Dynamics

 

Under the Huitotos, in the Amazon, the differences in points of view are tempered through dances. These are celebrations and opponents are invited. The reasons for the struggle are analyzed from different angles: myths, arts, and expression. There are counselors, the elder people, who uncover cosmogonic conditions. Always in the feeling of the celebration, it is looked through riddles for the false interpretation, which caused the conflict. After that, in the Maloca, the owner of it distributes everything, which was collected for the celebration: first of all, those who worked organizing the celebration get their parts. Then all other attendants and finally the family members, what is left. This is an example of practical generosity. It is of huge importance, that the dialogue is never interrupted. It is led in a circle and the participants regain their personal and cosmic responsibilities. If it is concluded that there have been problems in the community, it is remarked as a reason, that people have had misunderstandings, so being a bad example. The verdict is left to be done by the “creator” (Juzinnamu), because the attribution of a judgement is a “matter of children”. All the above is done respectfully, in a friendly way and offering help.

 

Under the Wayuu, in the north part of Colombia, there is usually a “palabrero” as a sort of witness, who helps in reaching a good understanding, solutions and compromises, as the result of a deep inquest and the expression of the different points of view.

 

Council of elder people

 

This work is done in Colombia by forming groups composed by people with large differences in their ages. Elder and young people form communicating bridges based on different opinions. In that way the artificial barriers are overcome, which consist on a difference of consuming capacity.

 

Treatment and prevention of diseases and team work

 

Diseases are often caused by suffering and dissatisfaction related to emotions, existence and relations. Coming in touch with these aspects not only heals the consequences, but enhances the living quality of the participants.

 

Instructions to educators

 

Our ethnic condition of mestizos, our cultural richness, the failure of imported standards, the end of paradigms and the use of sacred plants, contribute to the fact that there are in Colombia people of very different social conditions and different professions, sharing their experiences gained through these traditional knowledge. Doctors, artists, politicians, intellectuals, etc, all of them are willing to expand this knowledge, in order to solve the actual conflictive situation.

This is only the beginning of a process of re-awakening of the research in the fields of consciousness, of the relation to arts and of a new type of relationship between us and our surroundings.

 

The power of ethnomedicine builds a communicating bridge, based on the spontaneous way of living of the people of South America and on the conservation of the cultures, which in a miraculous way survived the violence exerted on them. The European way of thinking makes very big contributions, too, due to disciplined and well ordered methods.

 

All the above takes us to ask for help, to maintain life-models, which are being ignored as are ignored the really important human characteristics and the real progress, set aside by actual interests.