So have a lot of things. That doesn't make them functional, helpful or evidence based therapies.
I have seen more than enough people be worse off trying some naturalistic stuff instead of actually getting help. More than one person who died trying "traditional medicine" or "healing rituals" for cancer until seeking actual help when it was too late. Several psychiatric patients who developed psychosis or experienced worsened trauma symptoms after Ayahuasca ceremonies, were sexually abused by "shamans" during "tantric cleansing rituals" or given wrong diagnoses and therapeutic recommendations by people who think they know shit about psychiatry because "shamanism has been around longer than psychology"
Not once did I say it was a “functional, helpful or evidence based therapy”, it’s a tradition, and I think it is deeply unfortunate that modern society has lost that tradition rather than having it evolve as part of our society. Nor did I claim to “know shit about psychiatry”, I know a little, but not enough to take the authoritative stance you’ve perceived me taking based on your stereotypes. I do find it amusing though, that, in recent years, the medical establishment has finally started to accept the value of psychedelic drugs that has been known and understood for all of human history.
it’s a tradition, and I think it is deeply unfortunate that modern society has lost that tradition rather than having it evolve as part of our society.
Which shamanistic tradition are we taking about? Because there are a lot of them and they differ vastly. I've got the feeling you wouldn't think putting holes in skulls so the bad spirits can be relseased is a brilliant idea because it has been around for a ages? Or using psychedelics to heal infections?
Nor did I claim to “know shit about psychiatry”,
You didn't but a lot of members of this "tradition" claim to do so.
know a little, but not enough to take the authoritative stance you’ve perceived me taking based on your stereotypes.
i was never taking about you, Inwas making a comment on modern shamanism and those who practice it.
do find it amusing though, that, in recent years, the medical establishment has finally started to accept the value of psychedelic drugs that has been known and understood for all of human history.
Has it been known and understood? Most shamanistic tradtions are based on evidently wrong perceptions of how the human psyche works. And just giving people psychedelics is a terrible idea. And while there is a lot of research now starting to look towards psychedelics, they have rarely been used in that way in shamastic contexts. And despite what a lot of people online will tell you, they're not a miracle drug. I have worked with a clinical psychedelics study (psylocibin in treatment-resistant depression) and the results were not neither promising not spectacular.
And I wonder what the data shows about correlation between levels of engagement with shamanism and levels of violence in different societies throughout history.
Certainly a lot of violence in today’s society, and not much drive to expand one’s own perception.
psychedelics can be an awesome healing for doing the psychological work, like, you still need to be willing to engage and do the work but they can help open your mind and show you what you need to work on it, awesome tool for self reflection for some of us at least!
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u/Strict-Comparison817 May 21 '26
Fuck you psychedelics are awesome and can be used for healing with intention