FLIGHTS OF THE SACRED - SYMBOLISM AND THEORY IN SIBERIAN SHAMANISM

After Soviet repression, shamans and curers are responding to renewed spiritual yearnings, the democratization of religion, and a growing na tionalism among believers. This essay explores animal, especially bird , symbolism in shamanic cosmologies and in specific sociopolitical con texts. Using Siberian Sakha (Yakut) voices, it draws comparisons with other peoples and examines theories about shamanism in order to achiev e locally adapted matches among various theories and diverse data.