Peculiarities of mythological consciousness and its role in shaman outlook (some aspects of study)

Some aspects of mythological consciousness as a necessary part of peoples consciousness are considered in thearticle. They are considered as a base for forming of archaic and traditional outlooks and inner core of unstable consciousness typical ofshaman tradition. While studying peculiarities and forms of consciousness in some cultural context, integration of approaches in necessary.Structural-functional analysis lets consider mythological consciousness and ritual practices connected with it as spiritual base of social institutionsin primitive society. Psychological approach considers mythological consciousness as a necessary element of mans psyche, opensprospects of revealing of mechanisms in forming of cultural symbols which are the reflection of inner spiritual experience. The third approachis connected with myth as „expression of divine reality. This approach was formed in Romanticism age and its base is experience of„something saint. Mythological creation of consciousness was leading in primitive societies. It was the first contacts of consciousness withthe world. Next the myth, according to the structural scheme, is always a binary structure. Firstly consciousness took possession of space.The main characteristic of myth is its heterogeneous and plasticity. It is divided into myth and physical reality. Mythological consciousnessoperates with „live space and „live time. We can speak about unity of space and time characteristics of universe in mythological consciousness.Relations with the world which mythological consciousness builds are the relations with organisms, with beings. Myth operateswith one more dual structure, which is built of a „part and a „whole . Mythological consciousness is a base of shaman outlook. Awakeningof consciousness in primitive age was accompanied by the first experiments of its transformation. Mystical experience is connected with thewish to overcome dualism of mans nature. The beginning of shamanism is ancient and connected with totem system of believing. Shamanfigure as a social event appeared late. In the frames of totemism we identify a man with socium and contradictions between socium and nature.Shaman is in opposition with socium and nature. In the making of shamanism from early ecstasy experiments with their collective characterto individual mystical experience tells us about a stage of complicated and contradictory development of mans spirit in the contact withthe secrets of the universe.

Keywords

Authors

References