The Eighth Tribe, 1977 (4. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1977-10-01 / 10. szám
October, 1977 THE EIGHTH TRIBE Page 9 Because of their special supernatural powers, shamans were not ordinary beings. They had to be predestined for their roles, and their predestination was generally revealed by such external marks as being bora with teeth, or having an extra finger or toe. Moreover, they displayed certain pathological symptoms already in early childhood. These symptoms may have included an unusual vision or the ability to fall into a trance. And if predestined to become shamans, there was no escape for them. At the appropriate time, supernatural beings would come for them and take them away for their final initiation. When this moment came, the shaman-novice would become gravely ill, lapse into a suspended state of animation, and then one of his two souls would leave his body and climb up to the very top of the World Tree, there to be initiated into shamanism. During this time his body would be torn to pieces by the evil spirits of the Nether World. But once his soul returned, his body would be reassembled, and he would wake up in full possession of the secrets of shamanism. The ancient Magyars believed that human beings had two souls: The Soul of Life (életiélek) and the Free Soul (szabadiélek). While the életiélek or simply lélek (which stems from the word lélekzik — to breathe) could pass out of the body only at the moment of death, the szabadiélek or íz could leave the body periodically without causing it to die. It was through their szabadlélek that the shamans communicated with the spirits of the Nether and the Upper Worlds. When in the course of their whirling dance — which was accompanied by the beating of the drums and the singing of incantations — they fell into a trance, their Free Souls usually left their bodies to search out the knowledge or the help they were after. This belief in the dualism of the soul, by the way, was not limited to the Magyars. It was and still is a widely accepted belief among the nomadic peoples of northern Eurasia. Elements of pre-Christian Magyar shamanism have been preserved in Hungarian folktales, folksongs, and traditional incantations. But some of the physical evidence of these beliefs have also been preserved in graves that are now being uncovered by archeologists. The most interesting of these artifacts are the small pieces of pierced animal bones, which are connected with the so-called “ongon cult,” that is, with the veneration of various kinds of animal spirits whose help was thought to be essential in human life. Initially only the spirits of the totem animals of the various clans and tribes were venerated. (As an example, the totem animal of the House of Árpád was the legendary eagle or falcon, known as the turul. According to legend, Emese, the mother of 57 ever heard of it! She was reluctant to have her picture taken and when I offered her some money for her trouble, she disdainfully refused. She would have preferred some nylons or a trinket. I gave the money to the little boy who also got into the picture. A recently married young couple I met in Transylvania told me that they had to live with the girl’s parents until they could get an apartment of their own, which may take as long as five years. They asked many questions about the United States and could not fully accept the fact that the News media is free to print anything it deems newsworthy about the President or any other member of the government. I cited the Watergate incident and they seemed confused and incredulous that the newspapers were “allowed” to cover it with impunity. One thing impressed me about Hungary: No muggers, etc., stalk the streets. No matter how late the hour, the women are not afraid to be out, — no one dares to molest them. This type of crime is practically non-existent in Hungary. It is true that there is nowhere for a criminal to hide, since everyone is registered and accounted for. But, I also found that their educational system is still based on the old moral and ethical mores, which seem to have fallen somewhat into disuse in our more free and modern society. Aside from this one disturbing thought, I am more than relieved to be back, to enjoy our land of plenty and the freedom to come and go as we please! Márta Nánay: Hungarians at the Crossroads of the World Migrations of people between continents have been a common phenomenon throughout the ages. But, while such movement at one time could be attributed to adventure-seeking, it is today very much a function of politics. The choice of leaving one’s homeland is no longer dictated by one’s own will; rather, it is politically motivated by a hunger for freedom. The desire for freedom has launched people from many nations on a journey in search of new homelands. Thousands have fled Asia in recent months. Political turmoil in Africa has sent many whites clamoring to the West for help. Many have.sought permission to emigrate to the U.S. Likewise, the suppressed nations of Eastern Europe have tossed up hundreds of refugees, who are currently encamped in German, Austrian, and Italian refugee camps, awaiting placement in various countries in the West. During my trip to Europe, I went to Rome to visit the “Latina” refugee camp, located about 70 kilometers outside of Rome. Most of the escapees who end up in Latina got out of Hungary in the course of the last few years without any sort of official exit permit. They crossed the border into Yugoslavia by walking or swimming to the Italian sector of Trieste. From there, they were sent to wait in Latina. The refugees in Latina are young, in their 20’s and 30’s for the most part. The journey to Trieste is difficult and requires a tremendous amount of physical and emotional exertion and endurance. Two hundred young Hungarians are presently in Latina seeking entry visas to someplace in the West. They wait for the one million Hungarians in the U.S. to think back to their days spent in similar camps. They wait for sponsors so they too can get
