Shamanic Journeys through the Caucasus explores the Caucasus region from a different angle to other writers — through its folktales.
Shamanic Journeys through the Caucasus explores the Caucasus region from a different angle to other writers — through its folktales.
Cultural & social, Shamanism
Everything shifts in the Caucasus, blown by some of the strongest winds on earth. Even the ground moves, splintered by fault lines. In early Georgian myths, it is said that when the mountains were young, they had legs – could walk from the edges of the oceans to the deserts, flirting with the low hills, shrouding them with soft clouds of love. (Griffin, 2001, p.2). But what about those aspects of life which remain relatively constant – the traditional practices of the mountain people, the practices that are reflected in their folktales and their folklore? It is these constants that this study concentrates on, in particular those that relate to shamanism.
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Re-occurring themes of the stories are detailed, the numbers three and seven are special for numerous reasons and heroes, demons, animals, romance, meaning and nonsense are common features of the story. Surviving traditions and customs, such as jumping over bonfires in Azerbaijan and ritual slaughter of animals in Georgia are also documented. Cultural attitudes such as the importance of hospitality are explained as is the complex political history of these areas.
These are fascinating dissertations for those with a specific interest in information about ancient shamanism that can be gleaned for surviving folk tales of the areas surrounding this mountain range. Included at the end of the book is the area of Daghestan where a separate book Shamanic Journeys Through Daghestan is available under separate cover. Also being launched: Georgia Through Its Folktales. Be careful you don’t duplicate your purchases.
Wendy Stokes is a Therapy, Course, Conference, Card, Book and Music Reviewer
Website: wendystokes.co.uk
~ Wendy Stokes, www.thenewageblog.comIf you are interested in ancient Shamanism, this is a must read. It is fascinating in its journey through the tales of Shamans and magic through Armenia, Chechnya, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
It is wide in scope as it covers politics, suppression, religion, and more in Muslim, Orthodox Christian, and of course, Jewish. The Folk Tales are wonderful to read in many places but slows a bit in others. This not light entertainment reading though. Be prepared to have your brain cells tickled.
~ Anita Burns, Editor, http://www.themessenger.info/content/home
These are fascinating dissertations for anyone with a specific interest in ancient shamanism that can be gleaned from surviving folk tales from the areas surrounding this region. ~ Wendy Stokes, Eternal Spirit
On the whole, this is a flawed work, but the strengths most certainly outweigh the weaknesses. I enjoyed reading it, and there is much of value in the content. ~ Bryn Colvin, The Druid Network
In this book Berman aims to show the reader the shamanic roots that still survive within the folk tales of this area which covers a variety of places including Armenia, Chechnya, Azerbaijan and Georgia. There is some solid research within this book’s pages and a variety of respected people are quoted, including Mircea Eliade. I was fascinated to hear that in many areas within the Caucasus the culture was oral until the early 1920s. As different areas are covered within each chapter, we are introduced to the history which includes the political issues and suppression of traditional beliefs by now established religions, such as Muslim, Orthodox Christian and Jewish. I found this information fascinating and at least one traditional folk tale of each area is retold in each chapter and it’s shamanic roots explored by the author.
The only downside I found to the book is that there was a bit of repetition in a couple of places regarding the importance of the numbers seven and three and multiples of three. But, apart from this I found this book enjoyable and informative. I believe that this would be an interesting and useful addition to any budding shamanic practitioner or anyone interested in world folk tales and their roots.
Maria Malo, in Esoteric Source, Fall 2010
~[T]his book never gets lost in the abstract indulgence that mainstream academia often stumbles into. Berman writes with subtlety and draws the recurring motifs of the book together with care and lightness. Rather than spew heavy handed injunctions, he invites one to reflect, think, and drawn one’s own conclusions. ... The playful spirit that suffuses this book – both the stories and Berman’s discussions thereof – is its greatest strength. It is a sincere and joyous celebration of tradition, spiritual exploration, culture, history, and story telling. It is a sincere and joyous celebration of tradition, spiritual exploration, culture, history, and story telling. The translated stories are marvellous, and the artwork, which peppers the text freely, is resplendent. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in history, culture, folk traditions, shamanism, and especially, in the peoples and customs of Eastern Europe and the Near East.
I have very mixed feelings about this book. Some of the content was brilliant, some I had problems with.
Berman explores the folklore of the Caucasus looking for signs of a now lost Shamanic culture. There is some fascinating information about the region, its people, traditions and culture. It really drew me into a landscape I had previously known little about.
... There are a number of different regions and countries in the Caucasus, and Berman explores them chapter by chapter, explaining local custom, social structure, geography history and so forth. The writing is focused and engaging. In each chapter he then offers a traditional tale from the region. The stories are excellent reading. There are similarities with the folklore I’m more familiar with (Western Europe) but there are many entities and ways of telling that are wholly different. The book is definitely worth having for the selection of stories it offers. Berman analyses each tale, considering its implications for shamanism. It will be down to individual readers to decide how useful they find these interpretations, but there’s plenty of scope for forming your own opinion.
Berman made me consider the relationship between stories and healing, to contemplate the spiritual significance of storytelling, and to reconsider my own work as a consequence. For me, that was a very powerful experience. Other writers and story tellers may find the ideas in this book equally affecting and inspiring.
On the whole, this is a flawed work, but the strengths most certainly outweigh the weaknesses. I enjoyed reading it, and there is much of value in the content.
Bryn Colvin
The wonderful stories in this book convey the continuing relevance of the pagan understanding of the unity of all being, as well as the shaman's healing journey between numinous and material semiospheres. ~ Dr Julienne Ford, former lecturer at the London School of Economics and the founder of the publishing company Superscript
As I read your book, I keep thinking of how much time, effort and research it must have involved, and wondering how long it took you to write it. Quite amazing and really admirable. There's a mine of information in there! ~ Ana Ransom, teacher and translator
I found the book 'Shamanic Journeys through the Caucasus' deeply interesting. How refreshing to find a book about shamanism that has a balance of sound research and rare original stories. ~ Angela Davis, shamanic practitioner and artist
Berman’s thesis - that shamanic stories represent a specific genre within mythology as well as in folklore - has been developing throughout his excellent previous studies of shamanic narrative. By examining tales from regions situated at the crossroads between Asian and European civilizations he subjects his paradigm to genuinely risky test, thus achieving a theoretical heroism worthy of Karl Popper. His brilliant analysis slices through the layers of denial and obfuscation imposed by Stalinist materialism as well as the enforced acculturation of the Mongols and the opposing claims of both Christian and Muslim transmutations of pagan ideas. Through careful studies of tales from specific regions of the Caucasus, together with detailed descriptions of surviving rituals ( such as jumping over bonfires in Azerbaijan and ritual animal slaughter and blood-smearing in Georgia) Berman shows clear evidence of distinctively shamanic characteristics in the surviving folk cultures. Thus, for example the epic cycle of the Narts demonstrates a thriving contemporary expression of Berman’s clearly specified genre. Like the other wonderful stories in this book it conveys the continuing relevance of the pagan understanding of the unity of all being as well as the healing practice of the shaman’s journeying between numinous and material semiospheres. ~ Dr Julienne Ford, formerly a lecturer at the London School of Economics and the founder of the publishing company Superscript
