THE SHAMANIC KHAZARS OF CENTRAL ASIA

The Khazar Empire had a population of immense variety from many corners of the world, speaking many languages and having customs unique to them and their beliefs. The great crossing of the Itil from Khazaran, on the east bank, to Itil on the west bank, was achieved with a massive two-way pontoon bridge and a ferry system. It brought to Khazaria Zoroastrians, Christians, Muslims, pagans, and Jews from Babylonia, and peoples from China and India, all of them following the great trade routes for one reason or another. Khazaria was, in fact, a great gathering place, not only of merchants and wares, but of sages and wisdom.

The early Khazar shamananic practice had combined the nomadic spirit with the steppe cult of the ruler of the heavens, Tengri, believed responsible for the elevation of the Kagan, the high Khazar Shaman King, and the upholding of justice in the land. The Kaganate was an early DUAL kingship, being both Shaman, responsible for the spiritual direction and welfare of the nation, and King, (or Bek), being Commander-in-Chief of all military forces and responsible for the safety and protection of the Empire.

A major practice of Khazar shamanism was their custom of ceremonial strangulation at the elevation of the new ruler. This caused him to enter into a near-death trance by which he was initiated as an oracle, a major part of his ceremomial duties. Then he was raised up and spun around nine times, indicating his near relationship and access to the Cosmic Powers and the Other Worlds.

Some scholars have confused shamanic ways with those of the Heathens who practiced human sacrifice. To use a very modern phrase: THE PRIME DIRECTIVE of the shamanic world is not to do, or to bring harm, to any living being. That law is the basis of true shamanic practice, and it was as recognized 40,000 years ago as it has been down the ages and is the same today. The Toltecs did not practice human sacrifice, the Aztecs did. The Toltec wisdom is based on the recognition of duality, the power of kinam, and the work of the kiname, to bring opposites together. The dual monarchy of the Khazars was a recognition of the same principle, the two in the one.

When, later, Bulan made his decision to covert to Judaism, the dual monarchy in the one person became a DUAL monarchy separated between TWO persons. In other words, the disintegration started from the top down. Bulan confirmed to me that he was the last Shaman-King of the Khazars.

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