Shamanism in Norse Myth and Magic 1-2 (FF Communications 296-297)

• Published in: Fabula Vol. 52; no. 1; p. 160
• Main Author: Höfig, Willi
• Format: Book Review
• Language: German
• Published: Berlin Walter de Gruyter GmbH 01.01.2011
• Subjects: Norwegian language
• ISSN: 0014-6242; 1613-0464

"Eurasian analogues to the Norse world tree illustrate that the Norse mythologem belongs, even in details, to a widerspread concept found in many parts of Eurasia, where the belief was the subject of popular cult, and formed a central element of shamanic practices", führt Tolley aus (366). [...]closer examination has revealed that, while certain details are indeed comparable, over all the Norse myths lack many of the typical elements of shamanic initiation", faßt Tolley seine Untersuchung zusammen (462). Die schamanische Séance, hier nach russischem Muster mit dem turksprachigen Kamlanie bezeichnet, läßt sich in der altnordischen Literatur nicht nachweisen: "An investigation into the nature of some of the key Norse texts which have been used as evidence of a shamanic element in Norse religious practice has revealed that they are of spurious value" (516 f.).