Tuvan shamanism is the traditional spiritual system of the Turkic people of Tuva, a remote region in southern Russia near Mongolia. It is one of the best-preserved shamanic traditions in Central Asia and blends ancient animism, ancestor worship, and later influences from Tibetan Buddhism
This worldview is often called animism. Humans must live in balance with these spirits. Everything Has a Spirit. Tuvan shamans believe nature is alive with spirits: mountains, rivers, trees. animals, the sky and earth.
The Shaman, known as a kam is a healer, fortune-teller, and interpreter of dreams who communicates with spirits.Shamans perform kamlanie—a ritual involving drums, singing, and costumes—to enter a trance and communicate with or fight spirits. Shamanism is typically hereditary, with ancestors passing on the gift of communication with spirits.
Modern Tuvan shamanism is recognized as a blend of traditional healing practices and cultural preservation. In the daily life Shamans are frequently consulted for both personal and health issues.
Shamanic costumes and drums are seen as essential tools containing spirits that help the shaman.Divination is commonly performed using bones, stones, and sheep scapula (shoulder blades). Public ceremonies to the sky are a key feature of the traditions
