Thank-you Violet, for posting something on the Canadian government recognizing Inuit shamanism. The problem that I find with shamanism is for the most part it is just another religion with its own pretentious priesthood; however, certainly to history of shamanism, and its cultural belief represent tribal mysticism.
Another way of looking at it is a genuine mystic is also a shaman, but few people with the reputation for being a shaman are genuine mystics.
One of the key components of the shaman is an OOBE. As we have seen in the history of genuine mystics is they very often have OOBEs. Another aspect of the shaman is altered states of consciousness consciousness. We see mystics manifesting altered states of consciousness consciousness as well. However, the shaman who depend upon drugs, or natural intoxicants to have their altered states of consciousness consciousness are not genuine mystics, and therefore not genuine shaman.
