Constructing Sacred Space: Establishing Ritual Space for the Initiation or Promotion of a Shaman

Two rituals performed by Mongol shamans of Inner Mongolia, China, in 2003 and 2010 are described. One is an initiation ritual that formally brings a female shaman candidate into contact with her guiding spirit. The ritual makes much use of birth symbolism. The second is a ritual in which an established shaman is promoted to a higher rank that brings increased power. In both rituals, birch trees play a vital role as links between the worlds of spirits and humans. The construction of sacred ritual space makes the interaction between spirit beings and humans visible and at the same time, productive.