Dark and Light Shamanism

            In Darkness and Secrecy: The Anthropology of Assault Sorcery and Witchcraft in Amazonia is a book about shamanistic practices in the Amazon. It makes an interesting distinction between what it calls dark and light shamanism. Dark shamanism is looked upon like witchcraft by the people in these cultures. It is said that dark shamans use “silence, poisons,

chants, spells and tobacco” in order to assault their victims spiritually. These rituals are said to cause conflict within the tribe as well as illness. Light shamanism is the reaction to this, they perform rituals and go on psychedelic spirit trips in order to undo the evil that the dark shaman has put on the tribe. I find it very interesting that there is an evil use of shamanism within these tribes. The writing also said that the line is often blurred between a dark and light shaman, and it is common place for a normal shaman to be accused of committing dark shamanism and secretly harming the tribe. These dark shamans are often quickly assassinated upon being discovered. I found it extremely interesting that there is a misuse of shamanism in these small communities and that the reaction to such practices was so extreme.