#Yakut shamanism

[yebreed]

Shamanic Illness through the Eyes of an Insider

Shamanic illness is a particular condition occurring when a person is summoned by spirits. This is a life-threatening experience of an initiative nature. A person leaves the human world and enters into the threefold shamanic realm.

In winter, on one of the warm days, I was riding a horse and looking for my deer. Night was drawing nigh; suddenly I felt like someone’s hand hit me hard in the back; my entire body was pierced with cold, as if someone had poured ice water over me.

I raised my head and saw three ravens: one was white-headed, the other was motley, and the third was black. Curious, I’ve been staring hard, then fainted and fell to the ground. Falling, I heard someone’s voice: “It turns out that the one we are looking for is here.”

[dieletztepanzerhexe]

Shamans depicted on Yakut birch-bark tobacco containers (after Ivanov 1954).

“Rock art and the material culture of Siberian and Central Asian shamanism” by Ekaterina Devlet

[rnzdts]

fuck it it's fallout vipers but they're inspired by northeast asia shamanism time

[shamandrummer]

Mummified Shaman Discovered in Siberia

An almost perfectly preserved shaman burial site dating back to the 18th century has been discovered in remote Siberia. In only the second-ever archaeological study in the Yakutia area of Siberia, Russian researchers at the Institute for Humanitarian Research and North Indigenous Peoples Problems discovered the mummified remains of a fully-clothed man inside a sarcophagus.

Shamans are spiritual leaders among the Yakut, practicing as healers and diviners in their communities. Yakutia, the Yakut homeland, is hugely remote, situated in the far northeast of what is now Russia. When Russia occupied Yakutia in the 17th century, Orthodox Christianity began to influence the folk religion. However, during Soviet rule, shamans and their followers were persecuted. The religion didn't die out, though, and continued to be practiced in secret.

The burial lay at a depth of around 2.5 feet, and the sarcophagus was made of wide planks and covered with birch bark. The mummified body of a man was wearing a suit consisting of a caftan, a silk shirt, cuffs and legs. The shaman's legs were of particular interest, as they were covered with fabric that was embroidered with colored threads and a patchwork of leathers from hips to ankles. The shaman also wore a pair of leggings, a caftan, a belt, and was accompanied by a saddle, girth straps with iron buckles, stirrups, two bags and a funeral feast.

The shaman and its burial site are in remarkably good condition considering it has been buried for over 200 years. This is a truly unique find, because due to climate change, the preservation of items from archaeological excavations is getting worse every year, and the search for funerary monuments is gradually becoming more difficult due to dynamic changes in the landscape.

[emmaklee]

shaman’s ceremonial figures

Yakut culture, Siberia

[tenth-sentence]

Likewise, the Sakha (Yakut) people always donate one mare from their large herds of domesticated Horses to a shaman.

"Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity" - Bruce Bagemihl

[psikonauti]

Haralampi Oroschakoff (Austrian,b.1955)

Inhabitants at the Edges of the World: Female Yakut Shaman, 1995

Photographic print on paper

[paganimagevault]

Siberian snow goggles from the Khanty, Nganasan, & Sakha

Toying with an idea here. The concept of the one-eyed Arimaspians has me curious if this was a nickname for people from the north who lived in places where snow goggles may have given the appearance of having a single eye. Given a far enough physical distance and passing through the gossip of enough different languages, by the time this info made it to the Greeks what began as a nickname may have sounded like these people were literal cyclopes. Just a thought. I assume people back then used eye protection from the snow, in some manner, just like people do today. Some of the snow goggles (both modern and historical) do give the appearance of a single giant eye, while others have two eye spots. I wasn't able to find much on this as far as historical info goes, and unfortunately I couldn't find images of the ancient grave finds the article talked about. The oldest of the discovered snow goggles being 2,000 years old from northeast Asia. I'm not sure if the initial black and white sketch is of the ancient goggles or not, the post didn't explicitly say. Below is whatever info I could find on historical snow glasses in Eurasia: 

"In ancient times, like today, these goggles were made by skilled masters to combine effectiveness in blotting out the blinding light in some cases looking amazing.

Different ethnic groups across polar regions evolved their own distinctive style in snow goggles.

The most ancient known eyewear belong to the Old Bering Sea culture, the sites of which are located on the both sides of Bering Strait.

The oldest date for the culture - around 400 years BC - was obtained on Russian side, at Ekven graveyard, in Chukotka.

The peak of the culture is considered to be in second and third centuries AD. 

At Ekven and also Uelen graveyards snow goggles made of bone were found, dating from the first to the fifth centuries AD.

Some were decorated with carvings, some not, and examples are shown here in these drawings.

Later the snow goggle tradition by Eskimos, for example the Inuits and Yupik, and the Chukchi people.

While there was an obvious practical use for the goggles, a variant of these ‘spectacles’ xxxx is believed to have been used by traditional shamans; for example a pair of goggles without holes of slips was found at Ekve

The Event and Dolgans people turned to metal in making the eyewear with copper or tin or silver goggles inserted into a half-mask made of reindeer skin or other pelt, or, later, cloth obtained from Russian incomers. Decorations with beads was also a feature.

The same type of goggles was also used by other Arctic people such as the  Nganasan or Khanty. The British Museum even has some examples.

The tradition continues to this day and is thriving in Yakutia - also known as Sakha Republic, the largest region in the Russian Federation. 

Going back in time, the Yakut people used a wide range of materials to make goggles - metal, birch bark, wood, bone, skin, and horsehair. 

The goggles created from horsehair comprised strips of intricate net. A surviving 19th century example comes not from Yakutia but Tuva, the mountainous region in southern Siberia, now in a collection in the Irkutsk Museum of Local History. 

Most of the metal goggles in Yakut collections are dated from between the 18th and early 20th centuries. 

Again, some definitely had ritualistic uses: they were deployed by shamans, and not in everyday day life for use in snow.

Many Yakuts recall that their grandfathers had very simple goggles made of birch bark. 

Local historian Prokopy Nagovitsyn said: 'The round shaped silver goggles began to make an appearance in 19th century, when there appeared many rich people. 

‘The shape had a symbolic meaning - cross in the circle had been the symbol of the sun since neolithic times. 

‘Yet the cross-shaped cuts are convenient not when you are in tundra, but when you, for example, climb steps.’

Most of the older goggles look rather simple - for example a metal strip with the small deepening for the nose and slots for sight. Others have  two round metal discs with a slit to see through while blotting out most of the glare; these were fixed into a the mask of skin or fur."

-taken from SiberianTimes

[sibirsibir]

Stella at the entrance to the Yakut ASSR from the Magadan region. Made in the form of a ritual hitching post - serge. Serge means that the area where it is installed has an owner. According to tradition, it is done at the yurt, at the gate of the house (“as long as serge stands, the family is alive”), in places where shamanic rituals and burials are held. Hosts and guests tied their horses to it, and it is also a symbol of the tree of life - a certain pagan concept that has survived to this day. You cannot destroy serge - it must itself become unusable.

[irithnova]

My bone to pick with shitty hetalia "Siberia" OCs

Spoiler alert, they're all terrible!

Many people who make Siberia ocs often refer to Siberia as a nation. Siberia is not a nation, it is a large geographical area which is the home to many different ethnic groups.

This excuse is often made for singular "native American" ocs too; Using the excuse that because of the Russian conquest of Siberia which resulted in the massacre and displacement of the different peoples of Siberia, this is a justification to put all of these different groups into one, singular, Siberia OC, as apparently, there's no point in doing actual research into the different ethnic groups who are native to Siberia!

This I find to be blatantly disrespectful, conflating such diverse groups into one (often whitewashed as I'll get onto later) singular OC and flippantly saying "oh well a lot of them are dead now so..." is again, disrespectful and insensitive. A Tuvan is not an Evenk is not a Yakut is not a Buryat is not a Chukchi is not a Koryak.

That list I just gave you is just a small example of the sheer diversity of the ethnic groups who are native to Siberia.

It leaves a very bad taste in my mouth when people use the Russian conquest of Siberia - an already sensitive topic because of the displacements and killings of the native people of Siberia which in turn, resulted in an ethnic cleansing, as a vehicle to then create (as I said before, often whitewashed) OCs which dismiss the unique cultures and histories of these different groups. Do people...Not see the irony in this?

Honestly, just 5 minutes of research into the native groups of Siberia would show you that trying to conflate all of these different cultures into one just does not make sense regardless. Though these cultures share similarities because of course they are North East Asian - this is not a justification to waive off the diversity of these ethnic groups!

Let's take Buryats and Yakuts for example, two ethnic groups who live in Siberia and who are considered to be Siberians. Buryats are a Mongolic people, their culture is quite similar to that of Khalkha Mongols, the majority ethnic group in Mongolia. Yakuts on the other hand, are not a Mongolic group.

The Buryats live primarily in the Republic of Buryatia, located in southern Siberia, Russia, while the Yakuts, also known as the Sakha, inhabit the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) in the Russian Far East. Both groups have historically practised nomadic herding, but the Buryats traditionally focused on cattle herding and moved with their herds across the vast steppe, while the Yakuts were known for their reindeer herding and horse breeding in the Arctic and subarctic regions. The Buryats' culture has been heavily influenced by Tibetan Buddhism due to historical connections with Tibet, and shamanism also plays a significant role in their spiritual practices. The Yakuts' culture, in contrast, reflects influences from both Turkic and Siberian indigenous elements, with some Russian cultural assimilation over time.

Geographically speaking, they also differ. Buryatia is characterised by diverse landscapes, including mountains and lakes, while Yakutia is known for its extreme cold temperatures and vast tundra. Despite their differences, both groups have rich cultural heritages and face challenges in preserving their traditions and languages amidst Russian colonisation.

Just between Buryats and Yakuts, you can already see how they differ culturally and linguistically. Of course there will be some similarities as they are both Northern Asian cultures, but we don't give Spain and Portugal a singular personification because of similar characteristics/cultures now, do we?

Another issue I have with Siberia OCs is when, not only (by default) is a Siberia OC blatantly dismissive of the diversity of the ethnic groups who are native to Siberia, but when they make their already insensitive OC... White Russian, or half Russian? Do I even need to explain why this is offensive?

Yes, a majority of people who live in Siberia now are ethnic Russias. Do you ever... wonder why that is though?

What's worse is when people know, but then use the displacement of the people of Siberia as a justification to make their Siberia OC half Russian or white. This is blatant white washing, and though many groups are Russified, this does not mean that they've completely let go of their native culture and or are extinct, nor is it an excuse to ignore their native cultures to make an insensitive oc.

There is a difference in recognising that yes, some of these groups have gone through a process of Russification/have adopted many aspects Russian culture (to varying degrees depending on the group) , and straight up white washing their cultures by making a half white-Russian or a white Siberia OC - as if each of their unique identities do not deserve the agency to be represented by an equally unique and accurate personification.

Groups in Siberia never had strong relations with ethnic Russians until the Russian conquest of Siberia. It's okay to have an oc of a Siberian ethnic group which reflects the degree of Russification that that group underwent because (unfortunately) it's true for many of them - Kazakhstan for example is a central Asian country that underwent a process of Russification and it's accurate to reflect the degree to which Kazakhstan was Russified and how this affected him in his personification. Despite it being an unfortunate fact, you can't escape it, and I am not against reflecting this.

But it's a whole different ball game when you take already marginalised groups of people, squeeze their diverse cultures into a clusterfuck of an oc, which is already bad in and of itself… but then WHITEWASH THIS OC. EVEN WORSE WHEN THEIR CULTURES WERE ACTIVELY PERSECUTED BY THE RUSSIAN STATE, AND ARE STILL BEING PERSECUTED.

Further, the idea of making the Siberia OC "young" (even an oc of a singular Siberian ethnic group) as in, born during the Russian conquest era… and make Russia some sort of father to Siberia… This just absolutely reeks of paternalistic colonialist propaganda; the idea that these groups had no culture, no right to govern themselves or the idea that they didn't have the ability to govern themselves before the Russians came and subsequently "gave them culture" and "enlightened them" in their ways.

What other actual justification is there to do something like this? Seriously? When these cultures are actually quite old and predate the Russian conquest?

As a Filipino who has to deal with this sort of trash from Spaniards, it is not appreciated.

Further, if it wouldn't make sense to make a native American group OC half white because of white settlers in America, and if it wouldn't make sense to make the Philippines half Spanish because of our colonisation under the Spanish, why then is it ok to do it to the native people of Siberia?

This is the WORST part about Siberia ocs. But people who make their Siberia ocs the representation of 2p (or BOO! EVIL!) Russia.

This is so egregiously racist and I don't even know how people can headcanon this without even batting an eye.

First of all, making Siberia the "evil Asian" side of Russia… okay I've bloody banged on about this before but I really don't care at this point. This is stepping into peddling eugenicist racial science about Russian.

The rhetoric that Russians (but this also applies to other eastern Europeans, however I'm specifically talking about Russia here seeing as it's about Siberia ocs) are not "true Europeans" because of Asiatic influence, both from the past (Mongol invasions) and present (Russian Asians who are the result of the Russian conquest of Siberia and central Asia). And because of this, this means that Russians are also a load of evil, Eastern Hordes too because of their so called "Asiatic" heritage.

There's a saying in some Eastern European countries about Russians. It goes something along the lines of "Scratch a Russian, you'll find a Tatar." This is used in an offensive manner to basically call Russians subhuman or evil because of their so-called "tatar" (Asian) heritage.

Keeping this in mind… Making Siberia… the "evil Asian side" of Russia… yeah I'm not beating around the bush with this one. You're a filthy racist if you do this.

It's even more egregious when you're using Siberians as a justification to make your cheap 2p Russia OC evil, as if SIBERIANS are the aggressors towards Russians. WHEN THEY WERE THE ONES WHO ARE COLONISED BY RUSSIA AND TO THIS DAY FACE MARGINALISATION UNDER THE RUSSIAN STATE. BUT NO. THEY'RE THE BIG EVIL AGGRESSORS TOWARDS YOUR INNOCENT WHITE BLORBO, RIGHT?

tl;dr If you have a singular "Siberia" oc it's trash no matter what, hope this helps 👍

[thesorceresstemple]

SUCCUBUS SPIRIT WIVES OF THE YAKUT SHAMAN; Like many of the indigenous peoples of Siberia, the Yakuts practiced shamanism, who originally lived around the Olkhon and the region of Lake Baikal.

[dapurinthos]

look! it's another round of star wars authors taking names from real-life people and putting them in the gffa:

tales of the jedi, comic, is the worst offender, tho yor lit. a tibetan phrase for 'stone pyramid' and their names involve anil (sanskrit, persian - blue), bodhi (sanskrit - state of enlightenment), tepe (turkish - hill), mahara (suspect it’s supposed to invoke maharaja; arabic [semitic] - be skilled), qigong (mandarin - breath/qi work), etc. i mean, for crying out loud, you named one of your continents kato zakar. i've been to kato zakro. it's a lovely place. there are fish in the cistern. unfortunately, the site is sinking every year so more and more of it gets water-logged.

it's umate (/umeɪt/ if you're ipa, oomayt if you want to be. well. not).

let us turn our attention to that prime, that locus classicus of siberian shamanism, the evenki and yakut people of the circumpolar regions. you may know them as tungusic people (yes, that tunguska event), unfortunately. unfortunate, as 'tungus' is an exonym that pretty much means 'wild boar' or 'eastern barbarians', depending on who you believed started calling them that.

they have a goddess of fertility, a protector of children, called umay/umai. she keeps the souls of yet-to-be born children in her temple, a mount ymay-tas.

one of the highest peaks? has a cult? yeah, that mountain is your mother, coruscant.

[spookcataloger]

Translated Russian tales pt.6 (2017)

Yakutia 12: Yakut Shamans

Yakutia 13: Alysardakh

Yakutia 14: Tungus Shaman

Yakutia 15: Calf Eater

Yakutia 16: A Bad Flat in Yakutsk

[ouroboros-hideout]

5, 11 and 21 for the ask game 👀 Wanna get more for my Aon fever

Ohh didn't expect that. But will always take the opportunity to talk about blorbo girl. Thank you fren 💚

11 - I don't have a actress in mind who could play her (very unusual since I almost everytime have a faceclaim for OCs). Aon is inspired by a few ppl but I am like 99% sure I would chose Flavia Finzenz as VA for her (fem V synchro). She has a really gritty, angry tone but in a charming way? Would be perfect. (I couldn't find a vid with the german V voice lines so I linked a Interview with Flavia)

5 - I associate a Lynx with her. That was a kinda deep/lucky catch character development decision. She is half Yakut and therefore I wanted to give her some traits that fit their believes and practices without going too deep, since she never found a connection back to this side of her family. The obvious thing would be the knife forging (for those who don't know she made Kurt's toy knife in my AU). The other interesting thing I found out while researching is that there's smth called 'yekyua'. Familiar spirits that protect yakut shamans. The topic is quite complex and Aon is not a shaman and only researches about 'her people' in a similar way as I do. But I really like the concept of a guardian animal that will follow her througout her life. @blackrevell was a incredible big help here on deciding which animal would fit. So Lynxes are a symbol for resilience, power, agility, warriors who protect their own kind. But on the other hand are rather shy and hide away. And overall they are highly respected and scared animals for the Yakutian. Storywise I have a few things planned to incorporate it into Aon's lore. But the answer is already long enough lmao.

21 - She loves action movies. Everything from Tarantino, Martial Arts, old Western, such things. So her 'embarassing secret' would be, that she also enjoys watching cheesy romance stuff from time to time. It's not really secret in a way 'nobody knows' since I imagine she would watch them togehter with Anna on a girls night or smth like that. So it's a thing between them. Don't tell Kurt tho, or the tough image she established will be gone within seconds.

[theniftycat]

My thoughts on cultural appropriation

I never liked the term due to its power dinamics. I guess a good way to put it into perspective is mirroring. You wouldn't tell me, a person from a small Asian nation of Sakha (Yakut) that I'm not allowed to wear cowboy boots. Especially, if I came to like the town of Tombstone and bought them there. I'd be supporting local economy.

Same thing is if you came to Yakutsk and bought Yakut clothes. It would be welcome. If you wore these clothes in Yakutsk, people would find you weird or funny, they would even maybe find you inspiring if you wore them well. Because seeing someone else do a local thing makes it seem bigger.

With these clothes being just clothes, hardly anyone would see it as truly disrespectful. This is what people do when they travel: they eat local food, they learn local words, they wear local clothes.

Whet about spiritual significance of Yakut clothes? What about spiritual significance of your t-shirt? If you don't wanna buy shaman clothes, don't buy shaman clothes. Somehow, you don't dress like a priest in normal life.

Now, when you leave Yakutsk, you probably won't be wearing these clothes anymore because it would be socially confusing. Unless the item of clothing looks cool, of course. I'd also wear good cowboy boots outside of the USA. You can also display them or show them to people like you do with fridge magnets.

What you did there is perfectly normal for people to do. You did cultural exchange and you supported Yakut economy. It's not cultural appropriation.

It would be cultural appropriation if you started manufacturing Yakut clothes on a mass scale and making money without admitting these are Yakut clothes. If you made a copy of them with your hands, it's not appropriation, it's just making clothes. You're not stealing a whole lot by just making one copy. If you manufacture Yakut clothes properly crediting them but without hiring Yakut people (not like it would help, trickle down economics don't work, especially if you just pay money to one person or they move out of Yakutia which many people would), you're an ass hole, but you're also spreading awareness of Yakut culture which is not evil. You'll probably get backlash, especially from white people.

You might get backlash from posting your pics in Yakut clothes from your trip to Yakutsk too. But only if you have a big enough online presence or are very unlucky. I think it's wrong because as a single person just buying things and enjoying them on your own, you don't do anything wrong except for participating in capitalism.

By the way, capitalism. Cultures have capital. The more likely a culture is to sell, the more capital it has. The more capital it has, the more likely it is to be exploited. How many souvenirs are made in China? Buy hey, guess what? They're sold in local places. To buy them you have to go there, eat local food, learn local words and maybe even buy local hand made clothes. If you do all these things locally, you're supporting local economy.

Cultural capital means that if you refuse to buy local things locally and refuse to talk about these things, that culture loses clout and becomes weaker. So, as long as you're saying that interaction is appropriation, you're taking away from smaller cultures and making dominant ones stronger.

Now, what if you wore Yakut clothes on Halloween? It's a dick move, but it's not like it's illegal. Neither is it cultural appropriation, more like cultural alienation. It's cringe and gross, but you do you.

What if you use it for sex stuff? Why do you want me to know? You don't harm anyone with it. If you tell people about it, they'll feel weird. Why do you think people should judge your personal behaviour that's unknown to anyone? Escape the panopticon of your own mind, jeesh. Grow op already and live with yourself.

Not everything you do should be subject to social capital. But buying things in small economies is generally good.

[lawrencerr]

Unveiling the Essence of Yakut Knives: Craftsmanship, Tradition, and Cultural Heritage

Nestled within the icy embrace of Siberia, amidst a landscape of rugged terrain and pristine wilderness, lies a cultural treasure that embodies the spirit of resilience and tradition—the Yakut knife. For centuries, this iconic blade has been an indispensable tool for the indigenous Yakut people of northeastern Russia, serving as a testament to their ingenuity, craftsmanship, and deep connection to the land. In this article, we embark on a journey to explore the rich history, intricate craftsmanship, and enduring significance of Yakut knives.

A Legacy of Craftsmanship:

The art of Yakut knife-making is steeped in centuries-old traditions passed down from master to apprentice through generations. Skilled artisans, often revered within their communities, devote themselves to the meticulous craft of forging and shaping these exquisite blades. Each knife is a labor of love, meticulously crafted using time-honored techniques and locally sourced materials.

The Blade:

At the heart of every Yakut knife lies its distinctive blade—a testament to both form and function. Crafted from high-carbon steel, the blade is expertly forged to achieve the perfect balance of strength, flexibility, and sharpness. The signature curved shape, reminiscent of a crescent moon, is not merely a stylistic choice but a practical one, allowing for precise slicing and cutting in various tasks, from hunting and fishing to everyday chores.

The Handle:

Equally as important as the blade itself is the handle, which is traditionally made from materials such as birch bark, reindeer antler, bone, or occasionally, exotic woods. The handle is not only functional but also a work of art, often adorned with intricate carvings or inlaid with decorative elements. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the handle provides a comfortable and secure grip, ensuring optimal control and precision during use.

Cultural Significance:

Beyond its utilitarian function, the Yakut knife holds profound cultural significance within Yakut society. It is more than just a tool; it is a symbol of heritage, identity, and spiritual connection. For the Yakut people, the knife is imbued with symbolic meaning, representing strength, protection, and reverence for nature.

In Yakut folklore and shamanic rituals, the knife plays a central role, serving as a conduit between the physical and spiritual realms. It is believed to possess mystical powers that ward off evil spirits and protect its wielder from harm. As such, the knife is often passed down through generations as a cherished heirloom, carrying with it the wisdom and blessings of ancestors past.

Preserving Tradition:

In an era of rapid modernization and globalization, the art of Yakut knife-making faces numerous challenges. Yet, despite these obstacles, many Yakut artisans remain steadfast in their commitment to preserving their cultural heritage. Through their dedication and passion, they ensure that this ancient craft continues to thrive, passing on their knowledge and skills to future generations.

Conclusion:

In the rugged landscape of Siberia, where the wind whispers secrets of times long past, the Yakut knives stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of a people who have thrived in one of the world's harshest environments. More than just a tool, it is a symbol of craftsmanship, tradition, and cultural identity—a reminder of the resilience and ingenuity of the human spirit. As we marvel at the exquisite beauty and craftsmanship of Yakut knives, let us also pause to reflect on the rich tapestry of history and culture that they represent, weaving together the threads of our shared humanity.