Anatol Donkan talks about the helper spirits of the shaman

“This is a figure that can be called a shamanic figure. Shamans made such figures for hunters. These figures possess helper spirits, such as the wind, which is represented by spikes. The shaman makes these figures for the hunter, whose spirits assist him during the hunt. They are fed while the hunter prepares his hunting gear – his bow, traps, and slingshot. He says: ‘With these, I will come.’ And when he is in the forest, Kalgama also helps him track the game. The shamanic helper spirits embodied in this figure stand by the hunter’s side to keep him safe and prevent him from having a bad fall. The wind spirit is always present and can foresee situations. Before the hunter does anything, it warns him to be careful here and there. Of course, the hunter gives them something to eat – he feeds them with fat, offers them vodka, and shares with them all the things that bring him joy.” (Video in progress)

Recorded by Erich Kasten. Viechtach, 2024.