Shamanism is a spiritual practice where individuals, known as shamans, interact with the spirit world through altered states of consciousness, such as trance or altered states of awareness, to facilitate healing, divination, or other purposes. Shamans use their connections with the spirit world to influence the physical world, often acting as intermediaries between the human and spiritual realms. Shamanic practices vary across different cultures and regions, but the core concepts of connecting with the spirit world, healing, and community guidance remain consistent. Shamanism has been seen in all cultures in all parts of the world, although the term "shaman" May not be what the title was. The term Shaman or Shamanka (female shaman) originated in Siberia with their indigenous people. It means "One who sees in the dark". The dark here refers to the many unknown and unseen aspects of reality and dimensions that others either ignore or refuse to see. Our lives are incredibly intricate, we experience life in the physical, mental, emotional, and 3D planes all of the time. In Shamanism, we learn to heal those by leaning into the mythic, the 5D, the other worlds, meeting our ancestors, our spirit guides, and more! Opening ourselves up to endless possibilities and childlike imagination, which is the key and doorway to intuition and psychic gifts. Traveling back or forward in time and healing generations back and those yet to exist by healing ourselves. The path of Shamanism doesn't end when we get a certificate, we continue growing and expanding. It is a spiritual life path, a journey continuing to cycle and teach at every age. Present day Shamanism in western culture, looks to many different ancient traditions and blends them to make a much broader and encompassing overall healing experience. Thanks to the amazing people around the world sharing their heritage and traditions we have access to the traditions we thought we would never experience again. Whether your DNA relatives were Norse, Celtic, Native American, Siberian, African, Indian, Asian, German, European, etc... they all had a type of connection and medicine person that aided the community with moving energy, meeting with the spirits, working with helping herbs and traditions. They would perform ceremonies from weddings, coming of age, and death rites. They would assist with rituals and counseling for the betterment of the tribe. If a concern or issue came up, the shaman would go on a quest to meet with helping spirits to find an answer or solution. Returning to the tribe, they would then teach and implement the knowledge to the community.
A shaman looks just like you and me. She or He might wear jeans, a ball cap, tennis shoes. Today's Shaman's aren't separate from the general population. Although their tribes tend to look a lot different than what we expect from an imaginative perspective. They may wear protective talismans, have tattoos or not. What we do have in common with the Shamans of old, is the ways in which we work. A shaman as a child, May have been a day dreamer, mixing mud puddles and making "potions". They tended to be loving nature and animals. May have been seen as the weird kid at school, and often known to have deep wisdom they could express in words from a very young age, whether they were words of compassion or blunt words of truth.
Many Shaman's go through initiations, these are very tough and often dark trials. Sometimes it's a physical limitation, sometimes it's what psychology refers to as a mental illness, sometimes they are emotional struggles and no matter what counselor or help they seek, it is not resolved. These initiations are the challenges the shaman eventually overcomes or learns to live with in a different way. They are not meant to be a hindrance but their gift to share and aid their future community with. As they overcome or see their challenges from a different perspective they learn how to handle each obstacle and gain knowledge to pass down to those experiencing the same trials. At some point the shaman realizes they are the ones that hold the wisdom to their experience. They may have picked up parts of the puzzle along the way, whether parents taught them, a doctor mentioned an herb, a pastor gave a sermon, etc the shaman puts the puzzle together with all the forces physical, mental, emotional and adds the mythical element. This is where true healing can be achieved.
The next initiations is often brought on by the death of a loved one, a catastrophic change or loss, it is an uncomfortable but necessary moment. This earth shaking trial wakes the shaman to seek change and higher learning. They often realize at this point there is more to life than everything we see, hear, feel, and see in the physical 3D world. They learn to live their truth and step outside of status quo norms by ridding themselves of the limiting beliefs.
They seek assistance and often find mentors along the way that teach them tough lessons that they may not want to hear but that are very necessary. They learn to heal themselves and look within themselves for the answer, rather than depend on answers from other people. If they can develop good habits and walk the red road, the right order according to nature and their wisdom, they eventually become teachers and mentors for those following in the initiations.
What a shaman does is highly dependent on what the shaman is the naturally drawn to. Many Shaman's practice many different modalities at the same time. Divination is a common practice whether they use tool such as bone throwing, runes, card reading, psychic methods, pendulums, dosing, and trance states. Healing and Guidance is usually a calling the shaman whether through the form of life coaching/counseling, herbal remedies, diet changes, and suggestions to help other balance their spirit and body. Many Shaman's participate in altered states of consciousness which can be achieved holistically through meditation, journeying, swaying or dancing, drumming, humming, singing, intentional breath work, or more voluntary methods like substances that alter the mind. I choose to use holistic methods only.
Shamanism often emphasizes the interconnectedness of all things, where the physical world and the spirit world are seen as inseparable. Everything is energy and contains an essence, therefore contains a life force that we can connect with. Many Shaman's believe in this idea and the term for it is animism. Animism is defined as the attribution of a soul to plants, inanimate objects, and natural phenomena. Many Shaman's use tools they have found in nature or have been gifted at significant moments in their life when they were learning lessons. The Andean shaman's make up mesa's, these traveling alters aid them in the process of their healing and continue to help them as they aid in the healing of others. Mesa's often contain 13 stones, three for each of the cardinal directions and respective lessons of those directions and one lineage stone pass down from their teaching shaman.
Many shaman's do what is now call 'energy healing' although it is not exactly the same as reiki, many practitioners now add in many modalities. A shaman's energy healing often involves removing crystalized energy wounds from past lives, cutting negative cords of attachment, clear and recharge chakras, and proform soul retrievals for those feeling like they are missing parts of themselves.
Psychopomp practices are closely related to the death doula rites, here a shaman May help prepare a family grieve and let go of a loved one before they pass. They may help the loved one clear any karma or heavy energies from this lifetime, aiding in their transition into the next life, heaven, or their spirit place, respectfully. As Shamanism is not religious based, many shamans are equipped to keep our personal beliefs aside and curate the experience your family needs at this delicate time. Psychopomp practices also can help earthbound spirits cross over to the light. (Earthbound spirits are often a kinder and softer term to ghost which can make many fear the idea of spirits that either refused to cross over or had unfinished business.) A shaman sees, hears, of feels them and their spirit team helps to clear karma, heavy emotions and in healing them. Often calling their loved ones from the other side to meet them and usher them to the light in peace.
Shamans tend to be in touch with the spirits of places and buildings and can offer help clearing homes and business' that may be considered haunted or not as abundant as the owner would like. Often stuck energy from arguments or family troubles are removed, leaving the house feeling like a home once more.
Many shamans are ordained ministers, legally able to perform weddings, acting as a death doula, or even ceremonies for types of baptisms.
Shamans often drum or rattle to get to higher states of consciousness where they can meet ancestors, spirit guides, and more. Climbing or crawling down what is known as the world tree to act a as a mediator for themselves or others. They often lead drum circles, shamanic journey's and meditations for other people.
They often go on journey's in nature to get messages from the Divine and help heal Mother Earth on a mythical level. They often already contribute to by caring for wild animals, cleaning up lakes, rivers, or oceans, or even practices gardening or better farming practices.
We have went over a lot of what Shaman's do but I wanted to highlight some so you can get a broad scope.
Key Functions of a Shaman:
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