In yesterday’s DM we considered how the darkness of our times may provide a kind of shamanistic rupture or breakthrough that can lead to a new beginning for many of our institutions, both political and religious.
Thomas Berry, author of The Great Work and The Dream of the Earth, describes shamanism this way. (I hesitate at first to share this with my name attached but I choose to do so to be true to Berry’s words and because of the bigger lessons to learn, lessons that are far greater than myself or my story. Berry chose to contextualize his reflections on the occasion of my 60th birthday in a volume published privately at that time.*)
In identifying the over-all context of his work, Matt is sometimes considered to be fulfilling a prophetic role and this designation does indicate an aspect of the work of Matt. Indeed he has critiqued the church in the light of its own most relevant intellectual, spiritual and social exponents in the past.
Yet there is, I believe, a more critical role that Matt is fulfilling within the Christian community, the role of Shaman. While both Prophet and Shaman have special roles in their relation to the human community, the Shaman is more comprehensive in his field of consciousness. The prophet speaks somewhat directly in the name of God, the prophet is a message bearer, the prophet is interpreter of historical situations and the prophet critiques the ruling powers.
The Shaman functions in a less personal relationship with the divine. He is more cosmological, more primordial, personally more inventive in the source of his insight and his power. Matt speaks of his teaching as Creation Spirituality, it seems to me, because he feels the need to understand the deep experience of the human soul within the sacred dimension of the universe itself.
That Matt has consistently used the word ‘Creation’ in identifying his work indicates the cosmic orientation of his thinking. By the term ‘creation spirituality’ he turns the western mind away from its exclusive redemption fixation to the more primordial experience available for the Western soul in the universe itself.
There is much to unpack here. First, that the shaman is “more comprehensive” in one’s field of consciousness than is the prophet and operates “in a less personal relationship with the divine.” My understanding of prayer as a “radical response to life” somewhat fills out what Berry is saying. And the archetype of the “cosmic Christ” does the same. The Christ is not so much a friend or companion as a sacred presence all around and through us. The shaman is “cosmological, primordial, personal and inventive in the source of his/her insight and his power.” Creativity valued.
Berry interprets the term “creation spirituality” as indicating a “cosmic orientation” (which it surely does) that can lift us beyond the preoccupation with redemption (so much a result of the 14th century bubonic plague) to a “more primordial experience” of the soul meeting the universe. Of awe therefore.
*Mary Ford Grabowsky, ed., The Unfolding of a Prophet: Matthew Fox at Sixty, pp. 70f., 68
See Matthew Fox, Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth; and Matthew Fox, The Coming of the Cosmic Christ.
Matthew Fox and Bishop Marc Andrus, Stations of the Cosmic Christ.
Banner Image: Cosmic Mass participants dancing in spiral dance.
Queries for Contemplation
Meditations: What dimensions of shamanism as described by Thomas Berry do you consider most important at this time in history? Do you sense a return of shamanism and with it a potential renewal of religion and politics?
Recommended Reading
Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth
Fox’s spirituality weds the healing and liberation found in North American Creation Spirituality and in South American Liberation Theology. Creation Spirituality challenges readers of every religious and political persuasion to unite in a new vision through which we learn to honor the earth and the people who inhabit it as the gift of a good and just Creator.
“A watershed theological work that offers a common ground for religious seekers and activists of all stripes.” — Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice.
The Coming of the Cosmic Christ: The Healing of Mother Earth and the Birth of a Global Renaissance
In what may be considered the most comprehensive outline of the Christian paradigm shift of our Age, Matthew Fox eloquently foreshadows the manner in which the spirit of Christ resurrects in terms of the return to an earth-based mysticism, the expression of creativity, mystical sexuality, the respect due the young, the rebirth of effective forms of worship—all of these mirroring the ongoing blessings of Mother Earth and the recovery of Eros, the feminine aspect of the Divine.
“The eighth wonder of the world…convincing proof that our Western religious tradition does indeed have the depth of imagination to reinvent its faith.” — Brian Swimme, author of The Universe Story and Journey of the Universe.
“This book is a classic.” Thomas Berry, author of The Great Work and The Dream of the Earth.
Stations of the Cosmic Christ
By Matthew Fox and Bishop Marc Andrus.
This is a book of meditations on the Cosmic Christ, accompanying the images of 16 wonderful clay tablets by Javier Ullrrich Lemus and M.C. Richards. Together, these images and meditations go far beyond the traditional Stations of the Cross to inspire a spirit awakening and understanding of the cosmic Christ Consciousness, Buddha consciousness, and consciousness of the image of God in all beings, so needed in our times.
“A divinely inspired book that must be read by every human being devoted to spiritual and global survival. It is cosmically brilliant.” — Caroline Myss, author of Anatomy of the Spirit
11 thoughts on “Thomas Berry on Shamanism in Our Time”
Yes there is a need to reconnect with and recover our reverence for the environment. Modern society is removed from nature. Indigenous cultures are naturally shamanistic and all aspects of their society pivot around their connection to country. They have always understood that the universe, the earth, the body is one. They have always understood the sacredness of the cosmos and Mother Earth. In Australian indigenous culture the body is the earth. The rivers – our blood. The trees – the hair on our body. When the landscape is destroyed – a part of them dies. Deep within in our collective psyche we all understand this but have forgotten. -so many of us are carrying wounded souls. If only there was a fast way to wake up political leaders? There is so little time left to do so.
What dimensions of shamanism as described by Thomas Berry do you consider most important at this time in history? Berry seems to be saying that the continuing destruction of the Earth mirrors “a deadening or paralysis of some parts of human intelligence and also a suppression of human sensitivities.” I believe that he is saying that the well being of the earth is directly aligned with the wellbeing of all humans. Our greatest chance to wake up/heal our body/mind/spirit – is to reconnect to the sacred nature of the earth. Reconnecting to our spirituality through creation/dream/seed stories of the earth to which we all belong – come from. This information is already part of us – one of the fastest ways to touch it is through the ancient healing tradition of shamanism which offers a return to a way of life, that connects with nature and all of creation. Journeying into nature. Encouraging psychological and spiritual experiences that create/restore our shamanic vision – the forces of good and the preservation of the beauty of the green/forest/nature . By touching nature we touch the cosmos. We touch again our true nature and spirituality.
Whether, shaman, prophet, mystic, monk, poet, artist, activist, or contemplative in my understanding all function on a deeply personal relationship with the Divine, and as a result of this each one experiences and encounters an expanded awareness and comprehension of the consciousness of the Divine…. a remembrance of being Oned With. Without a deeply personal relationship with the Divine, Gods presence and essence within the all and the everything, none of this would be possible. This deeply personal relationship with the Divine is foundational, initiated by the Creator of the all and the everything, an invitation offered to all, based on unconditional love towards and for all that the Creater has created…that we too may respond, remember, become, live and be in right relationship with the all and the everything in the same field of consciousness….which is unconditional Divine Love and all that this is, was and ever shall be. Each one’s deeply personal relationship with the Divine is unique to each one…hence the diversity within the many ways we relate with the essence and presence of the Divine within the all and the everything. Yet within all of this, there is a unified comprehension, a Oneing With this field of God Consciousness.
My own thoughts “distilled” from your insightful fruit.
Jeanette, You write that, “Each one’s deeply personal relationship with the Divine is unique to each one…hence the diversity within the many ways we relate with the essence and presence of the Divine within the all and the everything.” I appreciate this in view of the list of the kinds of spiritual people you mention in your first sentence! Thank you again for your comment, Jeanette!
I believe the difference here is subtle and often includes interplay? Where the prophet may speak “for” God, the shaman is inspired by God. Divine LOVE is the source in both cases, the Cosmos communicating. }:- a.m.
Patrick, I think you are absolutely right. Divine Love is the source of both prophets and shamans!
I’ve never really understood what shamanism is all about, but without knowing it by name I believe my awareness and love of creation all around me has sustained me through the difficult years of being under the power of a church that dominated, subjugated, and kept control of thoughts, psyches and bodies of its members as if IT was the ultimate power, and never spoke or taught us about the unconditionally loving Creator of this wonderful Universe that we are part of, which ultimately, is our true home.
Truly I had a most healing encounter with Jesus while still in my twenties which was a huge turning point in my life, and which is still a very important part of my ongoing spiritual growth. But I also have become more aware of being part of the Cosmic Christ (thanks to three of your books, Matthew,) and how seeing everything and everyone as permeated and totally loved and Oned Into Divine Consciousness is truly the only way forward for our planet and for our species, if we are to survive at all.
Thank you again, Vivian for your thoughtful comment. You are soo true in that the Church has “dominated, subjugated, and kept control of thoughts, psyches and bodies of its members.” And as you say, we need to see “everything and everyone as permeated and totally loved and Oned into Divine Consciousness is.”
Just a little add on to my earlier comment, which supports what was already written. GOD incarnate within Jesus, often asked people the question…who do you say that I am, not what others say, but You? To me this question asked, not just then but also now of all people, reiterates the importance of each one learning to truly trust one’s own deeply personal relationship with the incarnate presence and essence of God, not only within the all and the everything, but also within each one of us all. The more deeply one experiences and encounters this reality, the more God conscious one becomes. GOD indeed is a great mystery, yet God desires to be known, with and to each one through the intimacy of a personal living relationship. You don’t have to be a shaman, a mystic, a monk, a poet, an artist, an activist or a contemplative to experience, encounter or comprehend this spiritual reality, as it is a gift offered to all whom are open in Heart, Mind and Soul, those whom choose to respond in faith and trust.
Jeanette, You’re right! The bottom line is for us to learn to trust “one’s own deeply personal relationship with the incarnate presence and essence of God, not only within the all and the everything, but also within each one of us all.” And as you say, this is a gift that is offered to all who are open in Heart, Mind and Soul…