Martial Arts Gear

Pewter Wizard with Crystal Ball

Traces of shamanism have been found all over the world, from Australia to South America to the Arctic. Shamanic practices still survive in some parts of the world; their strongest bases today are Mongolia and Siberia. Shamanic activities and beliefs have also helped to shape our ideas of magic. The original image of Merlin - living wild in the woods, traveling with a wolf and a boar, running with the deer - has elements of shamanism. More generally, the idea of spiritual communication with animals has been a key part of contemporary depictions of wizardry, from White's Merlin through Terry Pratchett's Granny Weatherwax to the shape-shifting wizards of Hogwarts.