Peyotism

Paper Summary:

Peyotism and North American Indian religion are intimately interlinked and extend over a vast expanse of recorded and unrecorded history. The use of peyote as an essential element of North American religion is evidenced in many archaeological and historical findings. However, the ancient religions of the North American Indian culture were disrupted and, in some instances, destroyed by the incursion of other cultures into into the area. The paper discusses the changes caused by the migration of settlers into the New World, although the central focus of this paper is an integrated view of the origins and importance of Peyotism in North American Indian culture and traditions.

From the Paper:

"A very important personage in understanding these cultures, and the significance of Peyote, is the Shaman or spiritual practitioner, who stands in rough equivalence to the Western idea of the Priest. The Shaman is the central figure responsible for maintaining a balance between the spiritual and the mundane. He, or she, does this through ritual and ceremony. The Shaman is also the messenger of the spiritual world as well as the healer. He is the explorer of the spiritual dimensions that infuse our world. It should also be remembered in this context that the spiritual and ordinary worlds are seen to be continually co-present in ancient Indian culture."

More papers on Peyotism:

• Essay # 24529 : "Native American Religion Of Peyotism"
• Essay # 26763 : "Peyotism"
• Research Paper # 93665 : "Peyotism"

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