What Is a SHAMAN?

Urarina shaman in the Peruvian Amazon, 1988 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A shaman is a particular kind of healer and magical practitioner who is on a path of service in an animist-shamanist culture. To understand what a shaman is, you must remember that while all shamans are healers, only a certain type of healer is a shaman.

A shaman is someone who has the ability to journey to the spirit world to find important information (such as where to find food, water, or shelter) and to do spirit work such as retrieving lost souls. To do that, a shaman goes into a deep (theta state) trance and journeys to the spirit world.

The person who fills the role of shaman serves an animist community by healing and harmonizing the humans with nature and the spirits.

All Shamans are Healers. Not All Healers Are Shamans  An important task of all shamans is healing. All shamans are healers. but not all healers are shamans.

A culture may have several kinds of healers who work in different ways. To be a shaman, a person must journey to the spirit world to do healing or other work that benefits the community or the spirits connected with the people or place the shaman serves.

A shaman may also be an herbalist. But a healer can be an herbalist without being a shaman (without journeying to the spirit world).

Indigenous women, who gather plants for their families, learn a lot about the use of plants as food and as medicine. Shamans use such knowledge, but so do all women in animist cultures.

Where Do Shamans Come From?  The word shaman comes from the language of the Tungus tribe in Siberia. It refers to a person who does shamanic work for the Tungus people. Each Siberian tribe has a different word that means shaman. In fact, in cultures throughout the world, each tribe or nation has its own word(s) for the shaman.

Shamans are found in many parts of the world, but they are almost always found in animist cultures. That means shamans hardly ever exist except in gathering-hunting, nomadic animal-herding, or horticultural (gathering, hunting, and gardening) communities.

Once a culture turns to agriculture, religion usually changes from animism to something else, such as the worship of goddesses and/or gods. Shamanism gradually disappears, though some cultures retain some elements of shamanic practice longer than others.

When Is "a Shaman" not a Shaman?  What a shaman is called in a given culture depends on the language spoken by the people of that culture. Bear in mind that people often casually and mistakenly describe any indigenous healer as "a shaman." That creates confusion.

Also, the various terms for native healers are sometimes wrongly translated as a shaman by linguists who do not truly understand what the word shaman means.

If someone calls himself a shaman, he probably is not one. Indigenous cultures each have their own term for a person who fills the role of shaman, and only one of them, the Tungus tribe of Siberia actually calls that person a shaman.  A real shaman serves a particular animist community, and we generally do not have those in European and American culture anymore. So if a modern westerner tells you that he is a shaman, beware. He probably is not one, though he probably does not realize that.

With people of indigenous heritage, it is harder to tell. It is important to be very tactful and diplomatic until you find out more about who they are and what their background is.

But be cautious. There are people (indigenous and modern) who are all too willing to take advantage of the modern craze for shamanism.

Some are sincere but ignorant. Others are hoping to impress you, get your attention or money, or gain power over others by calling themselves, shamans.  Learn as much as you can and use common sense before submitting to treatment by someone calling himself or herself a shaman. If the treatment is very expensive, the odds are that the person is not genuine.

Even if the treatment is quite effective, someone who is out to make a lot of money as a shaman is more of a sorcerer (someone who seeks personal gain rather than seeking to be of service) than a shaman.

By Kathleen Gresham - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Why Study SHAMANISM?

Chapito, a Seri shaman from Punta Chueca, Sonora, Mexico. Chapito wanted to be photographed this way, pointing toward the mountain caves.  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is probably the most common question asked today. And you know why so many people ask it? Because we are brought up in a society that does not have Shamanism. Worse than that we are brought up without community.

In the old days, we were raised with a strong community around us. We lived together, played together, grew up together and sometimes even died together. We had elders and doctors and teachers and medical advisors right within this strong close-knit community. Think of the Klingit tribes of Indians who live in Alaska. Although they may seem isolated from the outside, they are completely self-contained with a very strong sense of communal identity.

But today, we are lucky to have a strong family or church community and in many ways, we are less fortunate than long ago.

In the old days, the elders would watch the children and find what each child was strong in and had a knack for. Then that gift or gifts were encouraged and the child grew into whatever came naturally to him or her. If a child seemed good with numbers, that talent was grown and the child might become the treasurer for the community. If the child was given to visions he or she may be groomed to be the community's visionary. If the child could speak to the animals, perhaps the child would become the communicator to the spirit world. Each child would have one or more gifts he or she was born with. It was the community, the elders, the teachers, and the parents who realized the blessings and were happy to help the child be what he or she was meant to be in life.

Today we have no such possibility for ourselves or for our children. For the most part, we are raised to fit into a box; to learn what everyone else learns and to ignore or abandon anything that does not fit into society's box. If our parents see us talking to the birds we are taken to a psychologist and told not to do that. In fact, there is very little encouragement to develop the gifts and talents that we were born into. And so our society is losing out on the largest talent bank ever assembled on this planet today.

This is the problem. Shamanism could disappear from the face of the earth because children of today are not allowed to study it and to grow their own special gifts of healing for themselves and for society. It doesn't have to be this way. We have a choice. It is not too late to look inside and find those special gifts we were born with. We may have pushed them down and buried them deep inside because our parents, our family, our society said they were wrong or worthless or should not be used. But they are still within us.

What are these gifts?

Healing the spirit is the primary function of a Shaman.

This includes

Soul-extraction,

Soul-retrieval,

Soul-restoration

Herbal healing

Hands on healing

Divination

Dream Work

Soul Leading

Soul extraction involves the Shaman extracting psychic darts or chords that have intruded upon the soul or etheric body of the patient. This is sometimes an attack from someone who has attempted to harm, maim, or kill the patient. The classic dart attack will often manifest as pains where no wounds exist. This involves, according to Michael Harner, author of The Way of the Shaman, a literal "sucking out" of the intrusion. This sucking out of the intrusions is done both psychically and mentally. There are other methods of soul extraction as well.

Soul-retrieval is the process by which the Shaman retrieves pieces of the person lost soul. This is often accomplished by journeying to the spirit world and requesting assistance from the spirits, ancestors, and guides that dwell in Other Realities or Worlds. These beings assist the Shaman in discovering what is wrong with the person and often help the Shaman fight a battle with the being now possessing those parts to win them back and bring them to the patient. Some of the classic symptoms of a person in need of soul retrieval would perhaps include those suffering from a mental illness; those abused as children, or those who sense that something is missing in their lives.

This is a dangerous act and often the Shaman if he or she is not trained well enough can fall into physical or mental traps laid by the possessing entities that may cause illness or psychosis for the Shaman.

Soul restoration is the literally restoring of one's soul. This occurs when a person is near death and his/her soul seeks to move on. This "death" could be the result of a psychic attack or an accident from which the body has recovered physically, but not spiritually. Again the Shaman will journey to the place where the patient has lost his or her soul and barter for that soul to bring it back and restore it to the patient. It takes much strength and power by the Shaman to deal with these otherworld entities and the Shaman must know how and where to wield that power for the good of all. Shamans are not in the business of destruction but rather healing. I cannot emphasize the role of personal power and education for the Shaman enough.

Hands-on healing or bodywork is most certainly a part of what a Shaman does. This technique is still widely used today by Reiki masters, massage therapists, chiropractors, and Shamans. Shamanistic hands-on healing involves the energy or spirit of the Shaman working with the energy or spirit of the patient.

Divination is the means by which a Shaman can foretell the future, describe the illnesses of people and find their cure. Divination shows the path to the Shaman; which direction the patient should walk to receive healing. This is accomplished in varying ways and the method used often depends on the teaching the Shaman received from his particular tribe or elder. The most common shamanic method is journeying to the Otherworld and requesting information from elders, guides, and spirits who live there. It is been said that Genghis Khan used his shamans that way. There are many other beings who are greatly involved in your life and wish to see you whole and happy. A Shaman has an intimate relationship with these wise ones and uses this gift on the patient's behalf.

Herbal healing gives credence to the true belief that a Shaman is a medicine man or witch doctor. Herbal healing began at the beginning of the earth. Many of the hunting and gathering tribes had the ability to heal with plants indigenous to their area. Today this knowledge is fast disappearing and Shamans everywhere try to support the preservation of indigenous plant life and the lore surrounding them. Many Shamans spend their entire careers discovering and recording these plants for the future of us all.

Herbalism is used in conjunction with spirit healing to facilitate recovery. All Shamans are herbalists.

Dreamwork or dream interpretation is another Shamanic tool to assist with healing. Shamans will listen to the dreamer's dream, sometimes for several days, until they fully connect with it. Then they will dream the dream themselves and resolve the conflict to the highest good of the dreamer. This again is a difficult task and requires rigorous training by the Shaman in his or her apprenticeship to accomplish.

Soul leading is another important function of a Shaman. This is the process by which the Shaman will escort the newly dead to their place in the Otherworld. This is done because the Shaman who is familiar and a frequent visitor to the Otherworld will be able to find the "soul" its proper place.

Not all Shamans are all of the above but a good Shaman is all this and more. What a Shaman is according to Eliade is a "Master of the Ecstatic." This is true for it is in the mastery of the ecstatic that the Shaman garners his or her power.

Each of us had one or more of these gifts buried somewhere inside our spirits. It is our gift, our right, actually our duty to find the gift, study the gift, gain power over the gift or gifts and use the gift to heal ourselves and others. Can you imagine how beautiful this world would be if each of us took responsibility for the gifts we were given? Who would be left sick? Or poor?

There is a course available called Shaman Apprenticeship 101 to help unlock those gifts and remember the skills and the power to make one's life everything it is meant to be! Studying Shamanism will bring back the harmony in one's life and create a strong connection to spirit. Come Home! Allow yourself to be who you truly are! Find your personal power. Take charge of your situation. Find your sense of purpose in this world. Give that gift that is uniquely yours to give.

By Maggie Wahls You can find out more about this course by going to http://www.shamanelder.com As a Shaman Elder, Maggie Wahls has spent years working with children, observing them in constructive and purposeful play activities designed to discover those gifts and talents within each child. As a community, we can then encourage and nurture those gifts into the powerful skills that they can be for happiness, self-fulfillment, motivation, excellence, achievement, and success. And so, she is also creating an experiential self-discovery course for children. Maggie is available for counseling in this area and would be happy to offer assistance in helping your child find his or her own true potential. It is the job of a Shaman.  Aho! Shaman Elder Maggie Wahls is one of America's most loved teachers of Shamanism for today's modern society. Her classes are ongoing online and in 5-day intensives in New Mexico. She is currently writing a book on the art of Shamanism and also offers free counseling to anyone who wishes it. Learn more at http://www.shamanelder.com Article Source: EzineArticles

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SHAMANISM Today

"Hamatsa emerging from the woods--Koskimo" "Hamatsa shaman, three-quarter length portrait, seated on the ground in front of a tree, facing front, possessed by supernatural power after having spent several days in the woods as part of an initiation ritual."
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Some cultures retain shamanism longer than others. And some cultures retain some aspects of shamanism even as they transition from gardening to farming.

Reviving and Preserving Shamanism

It is hard to preserve animism and shamanism in modern life. The agricultural, dualistic worldview on which most world religions are based is incompatible with the animistic-shamanic reality.

The Foundation for Shamanic Studies uses proceeds from classes and memberships to help revive shamanism in cultures where it was stamped out by European conquerors,

In some countries, such as Tuva and Mongolia, shamans have come out of hiding, and shamanism has begun to flourish again after being brutally persecuted by the Soviet Union for decades.

Oneness vs Duality

The oneness, or nonduality, is very hard for modern people, whether religious or materialistic, to understand. Modern people, especially in Europe and North America, literally live in a different reality from traditional animists.

Duality is the belief that everything has an opposite: good/bad, black/white, up/down, yes/no. Nonduality, or oneness, is the reality that all things exist somewhere on a spectrum, a range from harmonious to less harmonious, like the continuous scale of grays from white to black. Nonduality also means that the same event can be harmonious or inharmonious, depending on the context.

Without an intuitive grasp of the oneness of animism, the reality of the spirit world, the world of the shaman, is unimaginable.

Yet the effort to break through, to be able to enter into the animist reality, is worthwhile. Shamanic practice is a road to health for individuals, for modern society, and for the survival of life on Earth.

Humans Need the Spirit World

Humans seem to have a deep inner need to sense and interact with the spirit world. Our mental and physical health seem to require it.

Without that interaction, people lose touch with themselves and become unhealthy. We see the results of that in horrendous wars and in the rape of the Earth.

Pitfalls of Calling Oneself a Shaman

Indigenous shamans almost never refer to themselves as shamans. That is not only because the word shaman is used only by the Tungus tribe in Siberia. Indigenous shamans tend to speak humbly about themselves because they don't want to offend the spirits or their own people (or cause envy). Shaman (in whatever language) is a title for others to confer. It is also because the spirits do not like bragging.

According to the book Fools Crow: Wisdom and Power, Lakota ceremonial chief Frank Fools Crow cautioned that if you brag about your powers, the spirits will take them away, and if you misuse your powers, the spirits will kill you. He said he had seen it happen several times over the years, and that while the death might look like a sudden illness or freak accident, it was, in those cases, the punishment of the spirits.

Always remember that spirits are real, and shamanism is serious business. We have to work at remembering that, because, generally speaking, in our culture only what is physical and provable is considered to be real.

Among people who have studied classic or core shamanism, it is also considered is considered inappropriate and pretentious to call yourself a shaman. Those who understand what shamanism is, and what real shamans are, do not award themselves the title of a shaman.

Without a community to serve, without a group of people who recognize us as shamans, we can't really be shamans. We call ourselves "students of shamanism" or "shamanic practitioners." So be aware that if you call yourself a shaman, people who have really studied shamanism will generally assume that you are not one.

And never, never brag about "your" powers. The spirits are listening.

Can We Understand Shamanism?

If we make the effort to understand the oneness of all that is, and the equality (not superiority) of humans with all other life, if we become humble, perhaps we can restore respect for all beings, including the Earth herself.

Perhaps we can save the elephants, tigers, wild orchids, orangutans, gorillas, bonobos, chimpanzees, redwoods, native peoples, plant medicines, and all our relations. Perhaps it is not too late after all. If we try.

By Kathleen Gresham Want to know more about shamans, shamanism, spirit animals, shamanic healing, and soul retrieval? You'll find a wealth of resources for everything shamanic at Shamanista.com. White Cranes has taught and led shamanism groups since 1992 and is the Organizer of a 200-member Shamanism Meetup group. For more information on shamanism and animism, see http://www.shamanista.com and http://shamanista.blogspot.com Article Source: EzineArticles

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How to Become a SHAMAN

Copper carving depicting a Sámi shaman with his magic drum (meavrresgárri).
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Are you called to be a shaman? If you are how do you know? If you aren't how do you know? If you don't want to be a shaman but would like to take advantages of some of the shamanic practices and techniques. Can you? Are you allowed to or not? Do you have to be initiated to be a shaman? These are all questions that I once had after I finally submitted and embarked upon this quest. And I will share what I have learned with you from my experience.

First, it is important to understand, that every world culture has an individual or group of individuals that has acted as a mediator between the spiritual and the physical. These eccentric individuals have been called medicine man/woman, viziers, spiritual healer, witch doctor, etc. but the most prevalent term used today is a shaman and the practice is called shamanism. Shamanism is the general term that has been used incorrectly to describe any person that feels that God, the Great Spirit, the ancestors, spirit guides and/or guardian spirits have called them to help others through spiritual means, which has contributed to the confusion of the term. So to clarify, it must be understood that a shaman can be a preacher, psychic, counselor, medicine man or woman, herbalists, priest or priestess, medical intuitive, psychic healer, etc. but a preacher, psychic, counselor, medicine man or woman, herbalists, priest or priestess, medical intuitive, psychic healer, doesn't necessarily have to be a shaman. The key difference being that a shaman usually has a unique perspective about life whereas the other healers do not.

The reason the shaman's viewpoint is so different from the other healers is that he or she have undergone either a formal initiation (e.g. apprenticeship, ceremonial rites, etc.) or informal initiation (e.g. life-transforming event via gross misfortune, illness, etc.). During this (formal or informal) initiation, the initiate is forced to overcome old traumatic issues, including their anger, fear, hatred, feelings of abandonment and other emotional wounds, in order to learn how not to be controlled by their emotions but rather guided by their intuition. During this transformative period, the initiate comes face to face with death, where they learn that death is not "the end" but simply a stage in the cycle of birth-life-death and rebirth. In this unique experience, which cannot accurately be intellectualized, but has to be experienced, the initiate usually meets her or his ancestors, spirit guides or spirits, which leads them to adopt a new perspective about life reflective of this experience. This new perspective on life that the shaman initiate adopts usually becomes the cosmology or cosmogram that the initiate follows.

It is through this cosmogram the shaman initiate is able to move beyond their personal preferences and societal imposed prejudices, which allows them to see everything (plants, animals, human beings, etc.) in the universe as an interdependent part of a whole. It is here the initiate begins to see him or herself as a microcosm of a greater Macrocosm and learns that all is composed of divine energy. The life cycle the initiate soon learns is based upon a natural exchange between the spiritual and the physical. It then becomes apparent that in order to implement any positive change. They have to learn how to petition the right the force that will bring about the type of change that they desire. The shaman learns about this exchange by observing these forces in nature and seeing that just like the right conditions are needed in order for a wild game to return to a particular area. The same conditions are needed to make an individual prosperous and so on.

It is this observation that makes the initiate take responsibility for her and his actions. This is how the true shamanic journey begins because the initiate is not perfect by any means, but is expected to perfect his or her character. This is the reason why shamans from all over the world may not profess to be Buddhist, Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Muslim or any one religion. They will easily practice the tenets of major religions like loving their neighbor as themselves and acknowledge that seeing ourselves separate from one another will lead to our ultimate demise. Where shamanism differs from major religions, is that it is not governed by religious dogma but by the calling, which is dictated by the laws of nature.

These laws are taught to the shaman initiate by the same one(s) that called them per that individual's culture. Therefore, violation of these laws may not be punishable by man but they are punishable through God, the Great Spirit, ancestors, spirit guides, or the guardian spirits that called the individual to be a shaman, because the rapport that the initiate has developed with his or her guides through the initiation process is very strong and personal. So when a true shaman breaks a taboo they make amends as soon as possible, and try to live in harmony with others, because it will weaken their spiritual power, connection with their spirit guides and may result in them losing divine blessing or grace. No true shaman would risk jeopardizing this for a quick selfish, monetary thrill.

Because shamanism differs in every country, culture, region, etc. what may be the norm in one area may be completely different in another. For instance, in South America, Amerindian shamans use entheogens like peyote, whereas Amerindian shamans in North America do not. All shamans don't engage in "vision quest" just to get an answer nor do they have to use a drum and rattle to enter and maintain an ecstatic state of trance. Clearly, all shamans are not created equal but there are some general norms that exist about shamans. For one, they are not chauvinistic nor are they feminist either. They see the purpose of both natures. True shamans also do not have on their walls their list of accomplishments. They do not sit back and brag about their accomplishments or drop names to prove how strong and powerful they are to impress people. One look into their eyes and you will be able to see if they are for real or a charlatan.

Now, don't get me wrong, all shamans are not extremely humble or meek individuals, nor are they all eccentric individuals either. They do boast but their boasts, which may come off as arrogance is not meant to impress the living. It is to glorify their spirits, on one hand, cause negative spirits to tremble and flee on the other, and strengthen their own faith. Another thing, true shamans don't go looking for trouble or imbalances. Trouble or imbalances seem to find them (at least this has been my experience), and they use the situation to create balance.

Overall, I must admit that the shamanic journey is a wonderful and rewarding journey because a shaman helps him or herself by helping others. This is why it is said that shamans wounded healers because most shamans specialize in healing situations that they have or had to overcome themselves. This is what makes shamans exceptional over other healers because they are a reflection of what they have accomplished and believed. If a shaman will heal a relationship between a husband and wife, it is because they usually have done the same for their relationship and so on.

As your intuition develops, you will know when it is time to help others because you will find yourself (with no effort of your own) being asked to assist another in resolving a situation. You may be walking down the street to the park and get a hunch to say a prayer to bless and protect the children at the park from harm. Then, you may get an idea to solidify your prayer by building a small makeshift altar out of sticks and rocks. These are all signs that you have been called to put your skills to service.

The great thing about shamanism is that it is honest and a powerful universal practice full of wonder. True shamanism doesn't lie and tell you what you want to hear just to get your money, participation and membership. It is a real gut practice that presents to you the problem and helps you to find ways to resolve it so that the problem never occurs again. It tells you what you need to hear (in the gentle or harshest way possible). In order to get you to do what you have been called to do, which is fulfill your destiny or purpose in life. These are some of the things that I have learned in my own journey, which by the way is unique per individual. It is through this shamanic walk I also discovered that if you are called and ignore your calling. You will wish you hadn't, not because your spirit guides will punish you, but because the next stage of your development requires that you accept your calling in order to advance forward. Another thing I learned that just because you accept your calling, it will not eliminate humiliation, misery, pain and suffering out of your life. Shamanism will, however, help you to develop the peace and power needed to navigate right through it, thus making you a more resilient and strong individual.

But, the shamanic journey is not an easy path to follow because it can be very challenging at times. Not to mention that finding a true spiritual teacher in these contemporary times can be painstakingly difficult. And, if you have been called to become a shaman or just to partake in the practice. It can be a bit confusing especially when there is no one to help you. So to help ease a headache, here are some recommendations I have compiled based on my experience.

Instead of wasting your time and money, borrowing and imitating another's cultural practices without being sure if you have been called or not. I suggest that you begin by investigating your own spiritual heritage. For instance, if you come from a Christian tradition, try to understand how you or your family got into that tradition and why you are or are not in that tradition today. Ask yourself the hard questions like are you involved in the religion because you were raised in it and know nothing else? Are you not in this religion because you don't agree with their political or social views? In other words, you don't like what they said, etc. This will help you to clarify your purpose of embarking on the shamanic path. Far too often, many of us jump around from faith to faith because we don't know what we are looking for.

Once you have done that, then I would recommend that you research and learn about traditional practices of your ancestors. If you cannot do this then learn about the traditional practices of your distant ancestors. For instance, I being of African and Native American descent in the United States, was not able to learn about my ancestral path due to slavery. I was, however, able to learn about the Kamitic (ancient Egyptians) civilization, which was the greatest, longest standing and most influential African civilization that has existed. That many scholars have culturally tied to Sub-Saharan Africa. It was through my research, Kamit became a gateway that led me to discover that my family has a heavy Kongo influence. Through this, I discovered the shamanic path that I walk today, which is why I refer to it as Kamitic shamanism.

So, research your distant ancestral path because through it you will discover your Way and find if you have been called to be a shaman or a "keeper of the flame" sort-of-speak, which is someone meant to help their family, friends, and others they come in contact versus being a shaman who services an entire community. When you have honestly completely these two steps. If you have been called you will have a stronger conviction of your calling because you will find yourself being initiated (formally or informally).

By Derric Moore - Article Source: EzineArticles

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SHAMANISM - Overview

Photo  by awsheffield 

This is only a general overview of shamanism. This is only to familiarize you with the some of the guidelines and terms used in both traditional and contemporary shamanic experiences.

Shaman is one of the few spiritual paths that has remained relatively unchanged through the centuries. While many spiritual paths have evolved into the many practices of neo-pagan groups and Christian frequency religions, Shamanism has outlasted the test of time which leads to its continued popularity. There is no way for any website or book to translate the necessary training nor experience of Shamanism. One must study with a teacher or Master to truly have the shamanic ecstasy referred to.

What is shamanic ecstasy? The word itself comes from a Greek term ekstasis meaning to be placed outside. This is a state of joy that transcends the ability to describe in words. It literally means to enter a form of trance or state of consciousness that allows the shaman to journey to stand outside of themselves. During the state of this Shamanic ecstasy, a Shaman is journeying to engage in a soul retrieve, to guide the soul or the dead, to divine answers or to add their personal knowledge by associating with higher beings.

The Shaman may also enter a state that is for pure Prophetical purposes during this journey. This form of Divination is seen many times during the workings of John the Baptist. It is a seership that is entered in which they are retrieving certain information in regards to the events of the future.

The last state we will discuss is the state of Mystical journey. This is when the Shaman enters a state of consciousness to become closer with the Divine Masters. This state of trance is usually done through the use of mantras and tends to bring a greater or higher level of spiritual understanding and awareness. Many Shaman uses meditation, contemplation, visualization or spiritual concentration as well as mantras to reach this state. This is a state of consciousness that allows the out of body journeys so often referred to by contemporary Shamanic journeys. They invoke physiological, emotional and intuitive responses. On the physiological response, the body will exhibit an involuntary response related to being electrically charged. The emotions of the Shaman can run a gauntlet of feelings and emotions that can range from complete overwhelming joy to a shocking fear. The mind and body completely blend together allowing an expanded state of consciousness for greater awareness.

It is important to note that this is not the same state of consciousness that is referred to as astral projection or transcendental meditation that is so popular in today's New Age groups.

A traditional Shaman is one who is associated with a group or tribe of gathering or hunting peoples. This can be anything from Native Americans to the aborigine groups of South America. It is not to say that a contemporary Shaman of today that follows traditional practices lives in the middle of the forest by themselves or in a tribe. It does, however, imply that every Shaman I have met is involved/participates on some level with a society of traditional nature and engage with training within this tribe. For the most part, these societies will not train one who is not part of their own tribe. In certain cases, this has happened; however, it is the exception, not the rule.

There are modern neo-Shamans who practice principles of Shamanism but have not engaged in the traditional initiations and training of Shamanism. Does this make them less of Shamans? No. In all Shamanic cultures, the basis of a Shaman is a healer and spiritual consultant. Although in many cultures they also have other roles in which they participate such as the priest, the primary role of a Shaman always has been the interaction of the people and the Spirit World to enlighten and heal.

By definition, a Shaman is a person who can enter the described state of consciousness at will.

Shamanism is considered by many as the oldest form of spiritual practice. It does predate all known religions. It is important to understand that Shamanism is not a religion in itself. It is simply a set of beliefs, behaviours and guidelines followed by a select few. These beliefs and practices allow the Shaman to obtain information unavailable to others, heal, retrieve souls and seek ancestor guidance.

As stated, it is in its traditional form nearly unchanged over the centuries. The best description I have heard is from Tom Cowan's book Shamanism: As a Spiritual Practice for Daily Life, Shamanism "...draws upon what is best in our society while it reforms those areas harmful to the human spirit and the health of the planet."

The word Shaman is from the Tungus word to mean "to know". Tungus are a tribe located in the Altai Mountains in Siberia. In the Tungus language, the word means a way of life, experience and belief. There are some who say that the word came from a Tibetan word Samana which is the word for a Buddhist monk. The word is, in relative comparison, a word. The derivative of the word is insignificant as the definition remains the same in every debate. It has come to represent a variety of persons from Witchdoctors, medicine men, diviners and healers. The Shaman may go by a variety of names in these various traditions, but all practice nearly identical techniques. From the Angakok's of the Eskimos to the Geilt of the Celtics, they are persons who have the ability to reach the hidden truth accessible only by a journey to the Otherworld.

What is Shamanism really? It is not a person, it is not a religious path, it is not a spiritual calling. Shamanism is an avocation. The ability to reach the altered state of consciousness in journey upon stated will is what makes a shaman a shaman. It is what defines the term.

There are two primary ways of becoming a Shaman.

Hereditary. Literally having a Shaman in the family. This never happens in neo-shamans.

The receiving of the Call. This is being appointed by the tribe or choosing to do so of your own free will. The self-taught, self-made Shaman is never as powerful as the appointed tribal Shaman or the hereditary Shaman.

What is receiving the call? The first is being appointed. The Shaman is selected as an apprentice from an early age because of some difference in personality. A solitude seeker or some sort of fit that causes a mental unbalance. This is not the same thing as a mental disorder that is often confused in modern times with epilepsy. The Call is simply a temporary moment of a shift of consciousness unfamiliar to the person. In many cases it comes with other patterns such as being attacked by an animal, struck by lightning or a near-death experience. It is common for a hereditary Shaman to receive this call from an ancestral Shaman relative to indicate it is their time.

A personal choice is a conscious decision that a person makes to study the beliefs and practices of the Shaman. For most, this self-appointed Shaman will remain less powerful and less likely to experience the state of communication with the Otherworld as compared to the appointed or hereditary Shaman. This is the path that most neo-Shamans follow.

The traditional apprentice of the Shaman will follow oral teachings of their ancestral lineage or from their tribal leader. This training can happen in two different methods. One is an ecstatic method which is training through vision and dream. This training is done by the ancestral guide or spirit guide and involves a definite initiation into the Otherworld. No book or article can exchange this information or even come close to describing the experience. The second method is traditional training by a current Shaman or tribal elder. This is the typical training of today's Shaman.

The neo-Shaman training of engaging in reading how-to books or attending a seminar should only be the journey to lead to a teacher qualified to teach the practice and beliefs.

The initiation of the Shaman is a phenomenon that is so involved that it has been known to cause death or permanent disability. In some traditions, organs are actually removed and replaced with a crystal or other object. Many do not survive the initiation process. It is said the reasoning for the physical initiation first is to ensure the readiness and worthiness of the Shaman. This is only the first part of the process. The second is the initiation into the Otherworld. This is an initiatory dream or vision that includes a ritualistic death that last three days. In many cases, it has been described as the Shaman being dismembered and reconstructed by the Divine.

Many in the neo-Shamanic belief reproduce this experience through meditation or drugs. It is vital to understand that in no way does the use of drugs have any place in traditional Shamanic belief, ritual or initiation. That is not considered shifting consciousness at will by traditional Shaman, but rather the manipulation of free will.

The initiation of Shamans regardless of a process will have a common theme. The Shaman will have a ritual dismemberment of the body and the replacement of organs with another matter such as crystals. It will include time alone in the wilderness, being symbolically dead, symbolically descending into the Spirit world through a self-induced trance, a following of training ending with the rite of passage through torture. It is not a joyous easy process that is related by some neo-Shamanic groups. It is not a walking into a bright light and a feeling of joyous release. It is filled with highly ritualistic feats that test the pain and fear of the Shaman. It is not a five-minute process. It can take days to complete. The purpose is to embark on a spiritual or prophetical quest which will prove one's worthiness as a Shaman.

The role f the Shaman varies greatly in cultural areas. They are truly dependent upon the natural gifts of the Shaman. There are some who are medicine men, warriors, priests or even a simple carpenter. The service of the Shaman will always be the same - healing the spirit. Not always a healer of the body, but always a healer of the spirit. A Shamans primary functions are for soul-extraction, -retrieval, and -restoration. Soul extraction is the process of removing the soul from that which is attacking it either psychically, spiritually, or mentally. The soul-retrieval is the process of retrieving pieces of soul that are lost. This will always require assistance from the Other World. The beings of the Other World will assist the Shaman in determining what is wrong with the person, finding why the piece is missing, lost, or stolen and to do battle to retrieve the missing pieces. The soul restoration is literally what it says. When a person is near death a soul will want to move on. The Shaman can assist in guiding the soul to where it needs to go.

Many Shamans has natural gifts, this is especially true of hereditary Shaman. Herbal healing is one such way. Herbal healing goes back for centuries and is why many cultures looked at the Medicine Man as the Shaman. A Shaman may be a Medicine Man. A Medicine Man is not always a Shaman.

Bodywork and hands-on healing through modularities of Reiki, massage, energy work is the energy or spirit of the Shaman practices. Divination or prophecy, dream work, vision quests, soul leading and spiritual healing are all others natural gifts of the Shaman. Again, it is important to remember that a person can be Shaman and have any, all or none of these healing gifts. A person can have one or all of the healing gifts and not be a Shaman.

One misconception is that all Shaman shapeshifts into animals. Not all Shamans possess this ability. Not all who possess this ability are Shamans. Shapeshifting is the ability to change your physical form into an animal or change the physical form in the astral plane to a particular power animal. While most Shaman can do this, it is not an ability that defines Shamanic practices.

Another misconception is that black Shamans are evil. There are not white or black Shamans. Just as with other spiritual movements that discuss workings of white magic and black magic, it is not the ability to work within the Divine Spirit or Spirit Worlds that define white or black - but rather the intent of the one working within these realms. This is true of every being. There are no evil or bad spirits but rather the intent of the person working with the spirits that determine the positive or negative influence.

In many tribal cultures, the Other World or Spirit World is not as the rest of the Spiritual paths think of. For example, in some cultures, there are nine levels heaven while in other cultures there is only this world and Dream time. Most look at three worlds as the symbolic levels. These are the upper, middle, and lower worlds. These are the levels that most neo-shaman will speak off. These are the worlds that are located on the Tree of Life. Symbolically the Upper World is the world of the branches. Where spirits and gods are. The trunk is the middle world and is the here and now. The roots are the lower world and is considered a very powerful place. It is the place of the ancestral knowledge and where many answers lie hidden.

The process of how Shaman travel is widely variant in the description. This is partly due to the inability to express into words certain aspects of the Shamanic journey. It can be described by some as travelling the tunnels of life. The Tree Life being the central object to travel through. The roots leading to tunnels to both the upper and lower worlds. There are some who speak of the inner tunnels being the chakra system. There is no right or wrong description. The variance in terminology is based solely on the culture of the Shaman and the creative imagination of relating the indescribable to the world.

The actual journeying to the Otherworld is leaving the here and now and allowing the spirit to leave the body and journey to the spirit realm. This Shamanic state of consciousness is both a trance state and a learned state of being completely aware of whats occurring and in control of the situation. A guided journey is merely a journey to learn and has no comparison to the Shamanic state of consciousness. A guided journey is different in one vital way. A Shamanic journey is at will and instant. A guided journey is where a guide (spirit, animal or of this world) takes control of the dream or meditation and leads you to where they want you to go. It is not always pleasant. Much like other types of Shamanic journeys, this is not a simple joyful encounter. The purpose is to take the Shaman to a place where they can learn and grow in their powers. It is where they can meet and learn from the guide lessons that are vital in their training.

The guides referred to are spirit helpers. They can be an ancestral god or figure, animal totem, or Shamanic ancestors. An animal totem or power totem is something that has special powers or meanings to that particular Shaman. It is more important as to the way the totem represents rather than what it is.

There are no rules, nor rides in being a Shaman. There are certain beliefs and behaviours that guide a Shaman. A moral code of ethics of sorts. They are truths for the Shaman. For example, the physical world has physics and boundaries that are linear. The Spirit world is not bound to inflexible laws of the physical world. All in life is connected and interdependent upon one another. All power is connected to life. The shaman must know the entrance and exit to the Other World. There are beliefs and behaviours that Shamans must follow that are innate to their souls.

Bright blessings,

Rev. Carla Goddard Mom of three absolutely amazing children. Married for 15 years to my soul mate and best friend. Mom to four dogs who all believe they are my favourite. Blessed to have too many family and friends to list.  I am first and foremost a spiritual being having a human experience. Ordained Pagan Minister. I am a Spiritual Life Coach, Intuitive, Spiritual Healer and author. I also do motivational speaking and operate a specialized publishing company. Having just completed my Bachelor's Degree, I am currently working on my Master's Degree in Holistic Healing. I am also currently taking classes in Physic Development.  I love to spend time in my gardens and talk with the fairies. Usui Reiki Ryoho Master Chakra Therapist Spiritual Life Coach Biofield Energy Worker Intuitive  3rd Degree Wiccan Priestess with the Temple of Brigit, Saco Maine Member of: Reformed Druids of North America United Pagans (UPF) The Association of United Pagans Distance Healing Team Lightworkers The Reiki Council The Gaia Foundation The Wiccan Collective Article Source: EzineArticles

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Don't Believe... KNOW!

Photo  by Tony Fischer Photography 

The spiritual evolution of this planet and its inhabitants is currently in a rapid state of change, a new era is being born, and we are no longer content to be believers, as sheep in a "flock". People are waking up to the knowledge that we can be masters of our own destiny, and are looking to the ancient cultures who have survived to show us the way forward.

How can we break free from our definitions, when we are bound by systems, and rules and regulations, and "normal procedures". What escape routes are there when all we know is all we have been taught. What is there outside the world we know, and how can we find it and finally be free.

Ancient knowledge and practices from Shamanism, Wicca, Vodou, Druidism and many others are being used and adapted to our modern lives to re-connect us to the worlds of spirit. We are re-discovering that everything in our universe has energy, consciousness, vibration and a power of its own, something the ancients have always known.

By lovingly connecting ourselves to this universal energy, we can know that everything within it has its own spirit, and is connected to everything else. Deep personal transformations can occur as we align ourselves to the loving universal consciousness, giving us back the power to create our own personal spirituality and to KNOW spirit to the very core of our being.

“I don't believe, I know.” Carl Jung.

“You are not my enemies, you are my brothers and sisters. You did not do anything to me or my people. All that happened a long time ago in the lives of our ancestors. And, at that time I might actually have been on the other side. We are all children of the Great Spirit, we all belong to Mother Earth. Our Planet is in great trouble and if we keep carrying old grudges and do not work together, we will all die.” Chief Seattle.

“There is no one who can take our place. Each of us weaves a strand in the web of creation. There is no one who can weave that strand for us. What we have to contribute is both unique and irreplaceable. What we withhold from life is lost to life. The entire world depends upon individual choices.” Duane Elgin.

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Out Of This World - SHAMANISM Healing

Photo   by      adpowers 

Many of the ancient cultures of the world adhered to one or the other form of Shamanism. This is a tribal healing tradition where a Shaman is said to transcend the boundaries of the conscious world and travel to a world unbeknown to the ordinary man. Here, the Shaman converses with spirits and come back with secrets that allow him to heal others, foretell the future, control the weather and even ward off attacks.

The word ‘Saman’ is defined as a technique of ecstasy. A Shaman is a practitioner who is able to enter an altered state of consciousness where he can communicate with the supernatural. He acts as an intermediary between the world of man and the world of Gods and often has the power to descend to the realm of the dead. He leaves his body when he is in trance. This trance is induced by chanting, beating the drum or passionate dancing. In the more unsophisticated cultures, Shamans even used to take to fasting, ingesting psychotropic drugs or even undergo torture to achieve the trance.

As seen from the practices, Shamanism is based on the principle that the world is divided into 2 distinct parts – that visible to the ordinary man, and that visible only to the man with powers. In the second part, there is a miraculous world populated by the spirits who influence the world of the living and who are always willing to help. The Shaman acts as a link between the two worlds and works for the benefit of his society. Shamans are therefore experts employed by animistic societies.

Healing is the most important function of the Shaman followed by prophecy. Shamanism, in the larger sense of the word, is thus perhaps the oldest form of healing. It is a form of religious medicine that originated more than 25,000 years ago. The healing practices of most of the ancient cultures stem from a shamanic tradition.

The Shaman is often credited with magical healing powers and is crowned as the religious or spiritual head of a tribe. He is called upon to treat the sick and to drive away demons. It is important to remember that in most ancient cultures, sickness was considered to be the result of demonic forces acting on the individual. The difference between the ordinary man and the Shaman is that while the man is possessed by spirits, the Shaman controls the spirits.

All this may lead one to believe that Shamanism is an occult practice that is buried in the past and that it has no significance to the modern man. But Shamanism is still practiced all over the world, although it has evolved into different forms. Native Americans are said to perform Soul Flights to heal. In Tibet, the Shamans use a drum to help them in soul retrieval. In Kerala, Shamans are closely tied to the temple and use amulets and music to contact the spirits of the netherworld. Shamans in Africa often use hallucinogenic plans to induce trance.

Shamanism has found a place in modern day healing because of the importance it places on the soul, mind, and spirit. Shamanic healing includes relief from pain, anxiety, stress and emotional healing. It is believed that there is an inner Shaman in everyone – a force that can be released if one is able o concentrate hard enough. Unleashing the power of this inner Shaman will help cure maladies that afflict us.

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Is SHAMANIC ENERGY Healing For You?

What is healing energy? First and foremost, energy healing is not new. Nearly every ancient culture had some form of energy healing. A form of energy healing can be found in both Eastern and Western religions. Archeological evidence suggests such healing is at least 40,000 years old.

"Hamatsa emerging from the woods--Koskimo"
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Traditionally, energy healing meant the realignment of the body's physical energy to promote healing. Today, still relying upon the realignment of body energy, energy healing is viewed as an alternative approach to contemporary medical practices and is also viewed by many medical professionals as complementary.

All things are energy. This includes all plant and animal life forms. This energy is generated by the vibration of the molecular structure of these life forms. Quantum physics tells us that all things are in a constant state of movement. A wide number of things can cause a disruption of that movement resulting in illness, physical or mental. The healer's job is to realign the patient's energy so the body can heal itself.

There are several healing approaches currently available. Among these are the following:

• Reiki

• Qigong

• EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques and sometimes called Tapping)

• Biofield Energy

• Therapeutic Touch (TT)

• Spiritual Healing

• Faith Healing (Laying on of hands)

• Yoga

• Meditation

• ARCH (Ancient Rainbow Conscious Healing)

• Visualization

• Chakra Balancing

• Shamanic Healing

Much is being written about shamanism. Many people are taking courses in shamanic healing to become shamanic practitioners. Others are going on vision quests in South America, in Nepal or in Tibet. Please be aware that these people are not shaman. Going through training programs offered by various institutions doesn't make one a shaman; it makes them healers. Such programs train people in energy manipulations. In actuality this is similar to the manipulation carried on by a chiropractor.

The focus here is healing practices carried out by a shaman. Like other healers, the shaman makes a determination about the patient's conditions. He or she may do this by moving his/her hands over the individual's body. The shaman may then use sound to realign the patient's body energy. Drums, flute, rattles and the human voice are the sound producing instruments used by a shaman. Their vibrations aid in the realignment of the patient's energy. A wide variety of herbs may also be used in the form of teas, poultices, salves, ointments, or oils. Unlike many other healers, the shaman can and does travel to other realms to seek the help of the spirit world in healing his/her patient. Whatever the shaman does, it is energy based; either realigning the patient's energy, restoring energy through the use of herbs and herbals, or transferring energy from him or from the spirit world.

Two cautionary notes are appropriate at this point. Whenever you choose an alternative healing approach make sure you consult your medical physician. A second caution is that all of the alternate healing approaches are faith based. You must have faith or believe the healing approach works.

By Norman W. Wilson, Ph.D Dr. Wilson is the author of a dozen or more books, hundreds of articles. He is a Reiki Master and a metaphysical minister. Among his nonfiction books are Shamanism: What It's All About, Activating Your Archetypes, and Shamanic Manifesting. Article Source: EzineArticles

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