The Way of the Shaman, Short Doc

Shamanism is an ancient religious practice which involves contacting the spirit of deceased ancestors for guidance in this present life. In Buryatia, a region of Russias Siberia that borders Mongolia, the religion had been marginalised for decades. But since the early 2000s, its been undergoing a revival, and now hundreds of people are being initiated as shamans. Once a year, they flock to Olkhon island, a mystical place on the other side of Lake Baikal, to receive grace for the year ahead. The spirits of your ancestors have ways, not always pleasant, of indicating its your turn to answer the call. But thats only the beginning. In Buryatia, shamanic initiation ceremonies last 3 days, and all the ancestor spirits have to give their blessing. Candidates arent necessarily enthusiastic about the role, and some would rather the spirits picked someone else. But what is really going on during shamanic trances Scientists havent found the way to pin down communication with the underworld, but the