Thursday, August 17, 2017

Shamans, masks and illusion.

Watching 'Vikings' this evening, the penny finally dropped.

Yes, obviously, it is Fred, in a mask, for the ritual, and, though Fred is the shaman, we know he is a decent enough bloke, who enjoys an evening chat, and the odd beer, as much as the next fellow.

So, how can we go weak at the knees, filled with divine inspiration and inspired by the dance to decide to do great things in the hunt tomorrow?

It isn't that we are daft primitives, you know, we've exactly the same mental equipment as you do, even if we find electric lights magic.

What is it then?

It is obvious, really, when you think about it. yes, Fred in a mask is just Freda's the magic soup that does it. When you have had a drink, specially prepared to be packed with entheogens, like psilocybin, then your critical faculties aren't there. The mask does the job. You really do see him as the antelope, the praying mantis, the snake that runs the universe. Fred simply isn't part of your calculations.

Obvious, really. Silly me, I only grokked these this evening.