Shamanism
Shamanism is the most ancient spiritual practice known to humankind and dates back 40,000 years and probably more. The word “shaman” comes from the Tungus tribe in Siberia and translated means spiritual healer, he or she who knows or one who sees in the dark. Shamanism has been practiced all over the world including Siberia, Asia, Europe, Australia, Greenland and native North and South America. Shamans have a strong ability to “see” and all their work originates from the heart.
A Shaman is someone who uses an altered state of consciousness and travels to the Lower, Middle and Upper worlds to seek information and for healing purposes. They also perform power animal retrievals, soul retrievals and remove blockages. Shamans have also been known to heal the earth and heal ancestral dis-eases. In the past and sometimes even now, Shamans would use enthogens like ayahuasca in the Amazon and peyote by the Navajo, to assist them in achieving an altered state of consciousness. Today, Shamans use the percussion of drums and or rattles to achieve an altered state of consciousness.
Once the shaman is in an altered state of consciousness, they travel or voyage from what we call ordinary reality to non-ordinary reality by going through a portal or door into one of the 3 worlds. Not only are there 3 worlds, but the upper and lower worlds have several levels or dimensions that you can experience. This voyage is called a journey. Non-ordinary reality can be also described as different dimensions, realms, parallel universe or “Other World” which is termed by the aborigine of Australia.
Shamans work with their Power Animal, Spirit Guide and Teachers that are in human form. Sandra Ingerman, a highly respected Shaman who lives in the USA, states “Shamanic cultures believe that when we are born, the spirit of at least two power animals volunteer to remain with us to keep us healthy emotionally and physically and also protect us from harm. These animals are akin to the Christian belief in guardian angels.”
Shamans understand that everything that exists is alive and has a spirit. They have the ability to communicate with fire, water, air, animals, trees, plants, rocks…anything. They also have the gift of divination through communication with their Spirit Guide, Power Animal, and even signs of nature. They have the ability to perform psychopomp, which means to assist earth-bound spirits to transition. Shamans perform ceremonies such a welcoming a child into this world, marriages and assist those who are dying to experience a gentle transition into the spirit world.
There are several ways to become a Shaman: a calling, an illness and or near death experience, birthright, or simply by an appointment by the spirits. Michael Harner phrased the answer very simply:
“Shamans are often called "seers" or "people who know" in their tribal language because they are involved in a system of knowledge based on first-hand experience. Shamanism is not a belief system. It's based on personal experiments conducted to heal and to get information. People ask me, "How do you know if somebody's a shaman?" I say, "It's simple. Do they journey to other worlds? And do they perform miracles?"
— Michael Harner
Founder of The Foundation of Shamanic Studies
Shamanism is the most ancient spiritual practice known to humankind and dates back 40,000 years and probably more. The word “shaman” comes from the Tungus tribe in Siberia and translated means spiritual healer, he or she who knows or one who sees in the dark. Shamanism has been practiced all over the world including Siberia, Asia, Europe, Australia, Greenland and native North and South America. Shamans have a strong ability to “see” and all their work originates from the heart.
A Shaman is someone who uses an altered state of consciousness and travels to the Lower, Middle and Upper worlds to seek information and for healing purposes. They also perform power animal retrievals, soul retrievals and remove blockages. Shamans have also been known to heal the earth and heal ancestral dis-eases. In the past and sometimes even now, Shamans would use enthogens like ayahuasca in the Amazon and peyote by the Navajo, to assist them in achieving an altered state of consciousness. Today, Shamans use the percussion of drums and or rattles to achieve an altered state of consciousness.
Once the shaman is in an altered state of consciousness, they travel or voyage from what we call ordinary reality to non-ordinary reality by going through a portal or door into one of the 3 worlds. Not only are there 3 worlds, but the upper and lower worlds have several levels or dimensions that you can experience. This voyage is called a journey. Non-ordinary reality can be also described as different dimensions, realms, parallel universe or “Other World” which is termed by the aborigine of Australia.
Shamans work with their Power Animal, Spirit Guide and Teachers that are in human form. Sandra Ingerman, a highly respected Shaman who lives in the USA, states “Shamanic cultures believe that when we are born, the spirit of at least two power animals volunteer to remain with us to keep us healthy emotionally and physically and also protect us from harm. These animals are akin to the Christian belief in guardian angels.”
Shamans understand that everything that exists is alive and has a spirit. They have the ability to communicate with fire, water, air, animals, trees, plants, rocks…anything. They also have the gift of divination through communication with their Spirit Guide, Power Animal, and even signs of nature. They have the ability to perform psychopomp, which means to assist earth-bound spirits to transition. Shamans perform ceremonies such a welcoming a child into this world, marriages and assist those who are dying to experience a gentle transition into the spirit world.
There are several ways to become a Shaman: a calling, an illness and or near death experience, birthright, or simply by an appointment by the spirits. Michael Harner phrased the answer very simply:
“Shamans are often called "seers" or "people who know" in their tribal language because they are involved in a system of knowledge based on first-hand experience. Shamanism is not a belief system. It's based on personal experiments conducted to heal and to get information. People ask me, "How do you know if somebody's a shaman?" I say, "It's simple. Do they journey to other worlds? And do they perform miracles?"
— Michael Harner
Founder of The Foundation of Shamanic Studies
Click here to go to workshop descriptions of the Basic Class, Beyond Death & Dying and Shamanic Extraction. Click here to go to workshop schedule.