Episode 509: "Shaman Me? Shaman You!" Part 1 of Spooktacular 2025

Episode 509: Shaman Me? Shaman You! This week Host Dave Bledsoe visited the Old Wise Woman at the edge of the village for herbs that would help him experience enlightenment.  (Meaning he bought some weed at an unlicensed dispensary.) Along the way we learn that Dave was scared by an old lesbian when he was a kid.  (Lesbians are nothing to be afraid of!) Then we dive right in by dispelling some myths about the matriarchy.  From there we explore the role of the shaman in pre-history and how they were much more than just some dudes with horned masks and good weed. (A lot of them had shrooms as well!) We discuss how the tribal shaman became the village healer once humanity settled down to an agrarian lifestyle and how important they were in society for over a thousand years.  We wrap up with why they went from a vital part of rural life to demonic sin peddlers.  (Yep, it was capitalism!) Our Sponsor this week is the Herb Hut, don’t cast your spells without us! We open with Christine O’Donnell who wants us to know she isn’t a witch and close with Armen Chakmakjian who wonders if maybe she is.  Show Theme: Hypnostate Prelude to Common Sense The Show on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/whatthehellpodcast.bsky.social The Show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthehellpodcast/ The Show on Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjxP5ywpZ-O7qu_MFkLXQUQ The Show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatthehellwereyouthinkingpod/ Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/kHmmrjptrq Our Website: https://www.whatthehellpodcast.com Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/Whatthehellpodcast The Show Line: 347 687 9601 Closing Music: https://youtu.be/H2OgKpcvMYw?si=69jc_XHyoJSCqVD1 Buy Our Stuff: https://www.seltzerkings.com/shop Citations Needed: The Myth of Matriarchal Prehistory https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/first/e/eller-myth.html The Evidence of Shamanism Rituals in Early Prehistoric Periods of Europe and Anatolia https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/1715302 History of magic in Western worldviews https://www.britannica.com/topic/magic-supernatural-phenomenon/History-of-magic-in-Western-worldviews What is Cunning Craft and who are Cunning Folk? https://medium.com/@crystalcavendish/what-is-cunning-craft-and-who-are-cunning-folk-993102962a01 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices