Concepts of Evil Spirits, Bewitchment and Purification Rites Among Contemporary Tuvan Shamans

The article is a study of concepts related to curses and evil spells in contemporary shamanism in Tuva. The author draws attention to the point that although curse, as a “diagnosis” pointing to the character of relationships between people, goes side by side with traditional ideas of supernatural substances or evil spirits in the culture of post-Soviet shamans, it still more often than not functions as the main or even sole explanation of diseases, depressions, energy losses, and other problems in human lives. Curse is understood by shamans as a material, even though invisible, energy or essence that has to be cast off to ensure a person’s recovery or to prevent possible trouble. Therefore, purifying rites of various kinds assume paramount importance in the activities of today’s shamans in Tuva. The complex of corresponding practices and concepts is analyzed in detail in the article.