Reflections on Shamanism (2): Shamanizing in the House

Essay 02: Shamanizing in the House

This wasn’t the sort of place where one would expect shamanizing.  To be honest, the first thing that struck me about the room wasn’t the large shamanic altar, the massive drums, or even the giant stuffed vulture.  It was the teddy bears.

Previously, I had only seen shamanizing and shaman’s altars in gers, the traditional circular felt tents known as yurts in English and ger in Mongolian.  Even in Ulaanbaatar, many shamans in the appropriately-named ger districts kept a ger in their front yard and used it for socializing and shamanizing. 

However, Tulga had taken down his ger for winter and not set it back up, due to an unusual amount of rain, so the altar had been moved to the back room of his house. This room functioned as a guest room (my bedroom, in fact), and clothing storage.  The walls are covered in baby blue wall paper with teddy bears alternately having picnics or playing soccer. One wall is dominated by large, 3D Barbie stickers.

When shamanizing would begin, the bed would be cleared of sheets and blankets, and turned into a sitting area for supplicants of the shaman.  The room would be impeccably cleaned. In the corner, next to the altar, is a large mirror and chest that has been turned into a makeup vanity.  The mirror would be covered by a large blanket, also featuring a giant teddy bear.

The shrine is still on the north side of the home, facing south, but there is no door because we are in a bedroom. Even the south facing window is covered by a curtain.  The childrens’ toy car is pushed into a corner, and a tablecloth covered the miniature children’s piano, which will be used as a spare table.

From the main room, we can still hear the television. Someone will go to turn it off. The children will protest.  It’s one of the hazards of shamanizing in the house.  With the ger outside, the children might sit inside and watch television under the watchful eye of an older cousin. 

Even out near lake Khuvsgul, one of the centers of shamanism for Mongolia, a shift to settled housing has led to shamanizing in the house, rather than in nature or the ger. 

Some question whether shamanism can occur within the confines of a cement walled house.  Do the spirits feel uncomfortable coming and talking under the shadow of pop up Barbie stickers?