Female Shamans

From: John Hughes <nysalor_at_...>
Date: Sat, 27 May 2000 23:54:42 +1000


> > But then, there's not a perfectly good feminine word for shaman that
> > isn't othewise loaded with meaning.
>
> "Shaman" doesn't work? (I think I've seen "shamaness" used, though I
> find it klunky.) Don't forget, the <man> has nothing to do with being
> male -- it's not an Indo-European word, which is why the plural is
> "shamans

Though it doesn't share the Tungus root ('saman' relates to 'burning like fire', or 'heating') the term 'shamanka' has gained some currency among western practicioners. Most use culturally-specific words, which in some cases (Korean for instance) are feminine.

John

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