The Noajdie and his ecstasy: a contribution to the discussion

Authors

• Louise Bäckman

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30674/scripta.67134

Keywords:

Experience (Religion), Sami (European people) -- Religion, Shamanism, Shamans, Psychology and religion, Scandinavia, Altered states of consciousness, Trance, Ecstasy

Abstract

It is obvious that the trance state of the noajdie (the Saami shaman) and his supposed abilities to discover hidden and unknown things have fascinated the neighbours of the Saamis ever since the first contacts were established. The view of the Saamis as the wizards (trollkarlar) has been dominant in the history of the Saamis from time immemorial right up to the present day, a history that has been written for example by the Scandinavians. From the Viking sagas, we know that a noajdie had an aura of sorcery, and that the "Finns", meaning the Saamis were in general looked upon as skilled in the arts of magic. In the historical sources, as well as in the archives, there are also documents from the time of the colonization of the Saami area, in which amazement at, and dread of, Saami sorcery is profoundly expressed by the intruders.