Primitive societies, or social groupings, had shamans, and…
“Primitive societies, or social groupings, had shamans, and some of them even more recent in time. Shamans were tricksters. There was a tradition of the trickster, and the trickster was a clown, a humorous fellow. His task was to trick the gods, to humor the gods into laughing, so that there was access to the divine - because laughter is a moment when we are completely ourselves.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Shamans used humor to approach the divine, showing laughter reveals authentic self and connects to the sacred.
In simple terms: Laughter lets us meet the divine and be ourselves.
Use humor to explore deeper truths.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- rituals
- creative writing
- therapy sessions
- cultural studies
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- In what ways does humor help you face serious topics?
- Can laughter become disrespectful?
Humor may trivialize sacred traditions.