Animals in Saami Shamanism: Power Animals, Symbols of Art, and Offerings

Tiina Äikäs,Trude Fonneland

doi:10.3390/rel12040256

Abstract

In this paper, we study the role of power animals in contemporary Saami shamanism and how past and present are entwined in the presentation of power animals. In the old Saami worldviews, in addition to animals, spirits and sacred rocks (sieidi, SaaN) were also considered to be able to interact with people. Animals were an important part of offering rituals because livelihood and rituals were intertwined. Past “religions” are used as an inspiration for contemporary shamanistic practices, in line with one of late modernity’s core concepts, namely creativity. Present-day shamanistic practices can be described as ritual creativity, and they combine traces of old and new ritual activities. At the shamanistic festival Isogaisa, organized in northern Norway, these different roles of animals and ritual creativity become evident. Here, animals appear as spirit animals, as well as decorative elements on drums and clothes and as performance. In this paper, we combine material culture studies, interview data, and participatory observations in order to reflect the meanings and use of power animals in contemporary spiritual practices. How are traces of the past used in creating contemporary spirituality? How are animals and their artistic presentations entangled in contemporary shamanism?

Highlights

We lay on our backs on the smooth, warm reindeer fur
We explore how animals and their artistic presentations are entangled in shamanistic practices
Often called guardian spirits, have a central position in the rituals and ceremonies performed at Isogaisa

Summary

Introduction

We lay on our backs on the smooth, warm reindeer fur. The air smells of the smoke from the fireplace, and the soft rhythms of the leather drum surround us. The Shamanistic Association emphasizes that even though there is no direct parallel to power animals in the old Saami worldviews, there are living beings with a similar function in both the Norse (Fylgje) and Saami mythology: In Saami they have several names (Noaidegàssi (Gadze) or Sueie are perhaps the most common). These can take the form of both a human and animal (and forms that are partially human and animal). We conducted 15 semi-structured interviews with the festival participants and organizers

Background

Power Animals and Shamans

Staging Power Animals at Isogaisa

Conclusions