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www.shamansociety.org 17 this or they would die. He took advan- tage of everyone and did terrible things with his power. To this day people will not speak the name of this black shaman for fear of awakening his spirit. It was explained to us that the reason someone would practice these dark arts was because they were bad people something was not right in their mind. A person who enjoys making others suffer and manipulating others to their advan- tage has the behavior of a sociopath. He said that there used to be black shamans in the old times but nowadays he doesnt know whether they exist or not.But then he went on to say that he doesnt know about it directly but he knows that it does happen. He added that if a shaman is trying to do good and is working to heal a client it takes a long time but for a black thing it takes a short time. We wondered what happens to a black shaman asking if there are bad effects of doing bad things. He told us Bad things can affect the black shamans children or relatives like their brothers and sisters or the next generation. We asked him to tell us about his drum. He told us that shamans here never make their own drums. It must be another person who makes a drum for the shaman. Drum makers are special people. Some shamans make drums for other shamans but not for themselves.A drum maker must have knowledge about shamanism and know the ethics and rules for making drums. They use larch wood for the rim.The drumhead is made from a does skin. It must be from a two-year old female deer. A female deer usually gives birth when she is two years old but as for the skin for the drum the female deer should not yet have given birth. We told Erdene that we had seen shamans drums with objects tucked under the hide on the outside of the wooden hoop and we wanted to know about these bumps. We learned that these bumps are usually made of wood and that the size varies. These bumps are part of the shamans regalia and signify the shamans rank.A young or new sha- man starts with small bumps. When that shamans rank is higher and he becomes more skillful and powerful then the bumps will be bigger. We asked Erdene if he has an impor- tant message that he wants for us to con- vey when we return to our homeland. He hesitated only a moment before saying The most important thing when becom- ing a shaman is that for the first three years the shaman doesnt do any healing for others because the shaman needs time to mature in their understanding and grow in their abilities. He compared it to when a baby is born saying It needs time to grow up and start to walk. It takes time for a shaman to be ready. The first year just after becoming a shaman if they start to do something its like just after being born trying to run or walk it cant be. These shamans are not good for the people because they are not yet a matured shaman. He cautioned This could result in more suffering for the client. The shaman must learn step by step to become powerful and helpful for people. He was curious about us and wanted to know if we are shamans researchers or if we are delegates from an organization wanting to protect the shamans rights. We told him that we are research- ers and that we practice shamanism. We explained that we are working to preserve shamanic knowledge and that we would be contributing our findings to the Foundation for Shamanic Studies Shamanic Knowledge Conservatory and that it would be protected and preserved for future generations. ABOUT THE AUTHORS John R. Lawrence Jr. PhD is a Cultural Anthropologist explorer documentary videographer and photographer specializing in the research of traditional shamans. His fieldwork has led him to China Tuva the Amazon Basin Estonia and Mongolia where he worked to record and preserve the practices of these tribal traditional healers. He co-produced three documentaries and has published numerous articles. He is a shamanic practitioner counselor and licensed massage practitioner living in Seattle WA. john consciousnessworldweb.com Susan Ross Grimaldi M.Ed is a dedicated ethnographic researcher committed to cultural preservation specializing in AudioVisual Documentation. Susan was born into the Choctaw Nation and is a highly respected internationally renowned Native American shaman based in Montpelier Vermont. Her fieldwork has been ground breaking and pivotal for catalyzing the reemergence of shamanism in China. Her dedication to cultural preservation has led her to the Amazon basin in Brazil rural China and to the most remote northern taigas of Mongolia where she filmed shamanic traditions. www.susangrimaldi.com Actual Energy Clearing June 1214 Sedona AZ Oct. 2325 Portland OR Ancestral Healing Clearing Cultural Illness Nov. 68 Portland OR LAST MASK CENTER FOR SHAMANIC HEALING Explore the medicine of the Healer and Death intimacy with spirit and faith in your calling. Year One progresses from learning shamanic skills to their direct application in actual energy clearing working effectively with power objects and sacred space and true intimacy with your helping spirits. The Cycle gives you access to mentorship teleseminars and ayni-based membership in Last Mask Community. July 510 2015 COD Ranch outside Tucson AZ presents The Cycle Teachings Shamanism for the New World with shaman author teacher Christina Pratt For registration and more information visit lastmaskcenter.orgcalendar