Speaking as one who is an artist and has the experience of the shamanic journey on numerous occasions, there are no contradictions:
'it foils almost every contradiction. How can a trance and the artistic quality of prehistoric drawings be reconciled? Easy, the shaman painted once the trance was over. If the darkness of the caves played a primordial role in unleashing visions, how can one explain the existence of Paleolithic art outdoors? No problem, the shaman also had access to drugs or abstained from eating for several days,'
Many times an artist will experience a light trance while creating exquite works of art in the 'realistic' form. Shaman may experience trance in different degrees. Shaman walk between the worlds and are therefore aware of both worlds and can function in either or both to varying degrees. It is possible to be in trance and walk through a busy metro area and function normally, with all the awareness of present danger. Experienced shaman do not need darkness to produce anything creative including the shamanic journey. There is no black and white, we all have varying degrees of expertise. It seems that some people will invent opposites to make an argument when an observant person sees no contradiction.
Something is not right. This message is just to keep things from messing up down the road