Tuvan Shamanism

Tuvan Shaman in full regalia
18 x 9.75 inches, oil on wood, 2017

From notes to the CD Deep In the Heart of Tuva: Cowboy Music From the Wild East German Explorer Otto Mănchen-Helfen observed the practices of Tuvan Shamanism in 1929. "The shaman is not a priest," he wrote, "He does not belong to a separate caste, and enjoys no separate privileges. He is a herdsman, just like his relatives and neighbors. There are no 'professional' shamans: each shaman merely feels himself called upon to mediate between humans and spirits–and each is a very personal mediator." 

Times has changed since 1929 when Tuva was still an autonomous republic that had just been liberated from Mongolian Manchu rule. In the Soviet period, of which Tuva became part in 1944, shamanic practices were systematically repressed; the shamans, among pastoral peoples were seen as having no practical value for the state. They were removed from their homelands and often persecuted. Despite half a century of repression the shamanic practices did not die out. In hiding and secretive ceremonies, shamanic traditions sustained. After the fall of the Soviet Union Tuva, a remote and hard to reach area of Russia, has enjoyed a semi-autonomous status, and a revival of pre-Soviet traditions and culture. Shamanism now is an established cultural practice. Now there are professional shamans who have received an official government issued license to practice (healing). Some shamans however, don't let them be institutionalized and are off the government radar. It is not clear how great their numbers are but there are more than a hundred registered official shamans in Tuva. It is estimated that one in five Tuvans exhibit some aspects of shamanism. 1. Healing powers; 2 Ability to foretell the future; 3. Ability to lead ceremonies and rites; 4. Travel to the lower and upper spirit worlds. 

Had I been born in Tuva I would've had a 20% chance of having some sort of psychic ability but I was born in small town Netherlands where, I guess, the chances are the same as winning the lottery. What I've gained though is a bit of an open mind.

The top 100 track associated with this painting is: Oleg Kuular – Collection of Höömeï styles that appears on the CD listed on top, the source image of the shaman is in the booklet.