Final answer:
Shamans are part-time religious practitioners who intercede with supernatural forces for healing, guidance, and connecting natural and supernatural realms. They practice shamanism, which includes soul travel and trance states, and may also work as part-time priests, depending on the community's needs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Shamans are part-time religious practitioners who engage in specialized practices to intercede with the supernatural on behalf of individuals or the community. Unlike full-time religious figures like priests who officiate at regular rituals, shamans work on an as-needed basis, comparable to a medical psychologist addressing individual concerns. One of their key roles includes performing healing ceremonies, offering guidance, and imparting wisdom through their connection to supernatural powers. This connection is made through various means including soul travel, entering into trance states, and using dance or drumbeats to aid their journey into the spiritual realm.
Shamanism involves a shaman's ability to connect natural and supernatural realms in a nonlinear fashion, often for purposes such as healing, locating lost objects, or ensuring hunting success. Shamans may also occupy a dual role as part-time priests, serving their community's spiritual needs in more than one capacity. These practices are found not only in small-scale societies but also within larger religious frameworks around the world.
The practice of sorcery, often associated with shamanism, involves material elements to affect change for various purposes, including those of a spiritual nature. This form of magic is seen in many religions, highlighting the inherent human connection to the supernatural through rituals, artifacts, and prayers. Shamans and their practices serve as a bridge between the human and the divine, providing access to specialized knowledge and power.