I´m curious to what you people think.

It's easy to be a monk on a mountain, never as easy in the real world to refuse the games and desires.
It's also easy to feel like a shaman when you have access to a huge amount of lsd in the late 60's while having to do little in life because you are in college with someone footing the bill.

When the initial psychedelic magic wears off, seeking solace is heavy drugs like heroin, cocaine, and excessive amounts of alcohol does not really point the finger at being a shaman.

Psychedelics are often called a shortcut to enlightenment. This is partially true as you can attain a 'false enlightenment' with any single trip. The true path is long and may take far longer than this one lifetime... you must make the walk slowly, thinking that "I ate peyote, I'm a shaman" is a mistake of the most tragic kind.

“I change too quickly: my today refutes my yesterday. When I ascend I often jump over steps, and no step forgives me that.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra

well i guess it all depends on what your definition of shaman is. i was thinking he was often tripping balls and singing which is what ayahuasca shamans do. there was really no initiation for him and he didn't really follow any code so idfk

He was a rockstar.

Good musicians often have some kind of message, as he did, but he was definately no spirit-world cab-driver.

Not one I trust anyways. I think he would've freaked me out a bit.

Yes, but couldn´t shamans have their weaknesses or weak moments, just like we all have? Or couldn´t drunks have their moments of enlightenment, just like we all have?

To me shamanism is a learned path, typically being schooled by an elder that follows that path.
To me at least, calling Jim Morrison a shaman because he had a few mystical visions is kinda like calling me a Doctor because I gave you aspirin for a headache.

Great musician and poet however.

he was not a shaman.

I didn't see arrogant jerk on the ballet.


" Yes, but couldn´t shamans have their weaknesses or weak moments, just like we all have? Or couldn´t drunks have their moments of enlightenment, just like we all have?"

The answer is yes, but I don't think Morrisons lifestyle was compatible to healing.

According to my exhaustive research (meaning watching the Oliver Stone film a couple times ), He was a drunken poet possessed by the spirit of a medicine man.

Shaman - No. A fucking rythmic genius who widened peoples horizons- yes!

..Means that the term "Shaman" is grossly misunderstood. You might as well call Russel Brand one as well...

Of course he was. Jim was pushing language beyond what society was ready for and if you have ever heard him talk about the future of music, he nailed it. Shamans know the ending. As did Jim. His music has led to many altered states. I'd almost call him more of a drug than a shaman, he was certainly a trip. "Break on through"

He was not a shamen, he was a very naughty boy.

I would say that Jim was not a Shaman. Jim was fascinated with the idea and role of a Shaman and read what he could about them, which was sparse at the time. He did become a drunk within his lifetime, near the end, which is unfortunate given all of his talent and charisma. Jim Morrison and The Doors were able to take large crowds of people into a trance like state with their music, so that is similar to a Shaman. Jim was an extremely intelligent and well-read individual. He was also very psychic and was able to read people and situations really well. All of these could lead one to think he was Shaman like and perhaps he was Shaman-like, but he was no true Shaman. He was an amazing poet and musician and wordsmith and understood the power of music and rhythm to alter group consciousness and take that group on a shared journey. So Shaman-like yes, but not a Shaman. I put the Grateful Dead in this same category, being able to alter the consciousness of large groups of people and take them on a collective journey, but not real Shaman's. Interesting and excellent question though.

Agreed. The man definitely had shamanic qualities at times but also had a hard time battling his darker side which probably lead to his alcoholism. An extremely intelligent man and he had some thoughts on reality that influenced my own model of reality to a certain extent, R.I.P. James Douglas Morrison.

That's not a shaman. Look it up:

quote" Shamanism (play /ˈʃɑːmən/ SHAH-mən or /ˈʃeɪmən/ SHAY-mən) is a term used in a variety of anthropological, historical and popular contexts to refer to certain magico-religious practices that involve a practitioner reaching altered states of consciousness in order to encounter and interact with the spirit world.[2] A shaman is a person regarded as having access to, and influence in, the world of benevolent and malevolent spirits, who typically enters a trance state during a ritual, and practices divination and healing.[3] The exact definition and use of the term "shamanism" has been highly debated by scholars, with no clear consensus on the issue."

That's the "magic of rock". In my book there is shaman's in all experiential activities. Guides of all walks of life. I'd even simply call it "people who get it". Of course the ones who use drugs tend to have wilder stories and the ones with true power of the spirit.

he pissed on his fans.
he was just a drunk asshole in my honest opinion.

no excuses.

I love the doors....you know the band. However, JIm was nothing but an egotistical douche bag in my opinion.

The rest of the band actually didn't get nearly enough credit IMHO.

NO!

He wasn't a shaman, NOT EVEN CLOSE....