Following the traditional rituals of the shaman of Siberia

(15 Apr 2017) LEADIN:
In the bleak Russian outpost of Siberia the ancient tradition of the shaman continues to thrive.
The shaman is a spiritual man who is in tune with nature and his followers believe he sometimes has the power to heal.
STORYLINE
On the shore of Lake Baikal, the world's deepest and perhaps the oldest freshwater lake, people continue ancient traditions and teachings which were once widespread throughout Siberia.
Here the teaching of Shamanism focuses on a connection between human spirit and nature and promotes the well being of all creations.
Valentin Khagdayev, the head shaman of the Olkhom area of Irkutsk region has the respect of shaman believers, but also among worshipers of other religions.
Thousands of people of different faiths from all over the county come to him seeking help or just advice.
Khagdayev was born into the ancient Buryat clan 'Buyan', so among his ancestors he's able to count nine generations of shamans like him.
Both his grandfather and an uncle were also shamans.
His thumb has been forked since birth with what was interpreted by his community as a God's sign attesting to his spiritual abilities.
Khagdayev practices a Buryat shamanism which also has a mixture of some Tibetan and Mongolian traditions.
At special ceremonial stations in the landscape he stops to pray alongside the ritual ribbons called zalaa.
Explaining the principles of his religion he says: "Shamanism is worship of the Creator of the Universe - the Mother-Nature, it means living in the harmony with yourself, with people around, with nature. It means never do to others what you would not want to be done to you. Simple truths. And instead of icons I have he images of mother, father, grandma, granddad. For us shamanists, parents and ancestors are much closer and dearer than apostles and saints."
For these ceremonies Khagdayev escapes from his village to his places of worship at the foot of the sacred Lake Baikal and the mountain Yord.
By banging his drums he says he enters a trance like state from where he can reach the spirits.
One place of ritual is this fenced off area around a birch tree.
The tree has grown through a rock and symbolises the desire for a life living in harmony with nature.
Besides the ancestors' spirits, Khagdayev uses North Asian folk medicine methods in his healing practice.
The shaman claims he is able to treat infertility, some internal diseases and mental illness.
As an example Khagdayev describes what happened with a local woman who he claims to have brought out of a coma.
He says: "(she) had to be brought out of a coma and doctors said: "You may invite a shaman, it will not make any difference." And I was invited. Generally, a human has a 'wandering point' as this is believed in our religion and in the folk medicine. I found it (this point) near her knee, pressed the point. She hadn't gotten out of her coma for three days, I pressed, and she woke up and got out of a coma."
However, Khagdayev doesn't view shaman ritual as being suitable for broken bones. He advises: "If you broke your arm, drums don't help you! Go to a hospital!"
Local villagers support Khagdayev's beliefs.
Lev Kachkov says:"We believe in our shamans. Twice, no, three times a year, we do rites with local (shaman). In spring and autumn."
Mother Valentina Pistonova says: "(We come to shaman) to ask for everything to be fine at home, for the children to be healthy."
Khagdayev is convinced that modern and traditional medicines can and must coexist.
Using both he believes, will benefit everyone.

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