Shamanism: Seeing Spirit Everywhere

For thousands of years Shamans have served as emissaries between the communities they serve and the world of spirit.  They are the conduits through which spirit can come forward to provide healings to community members.  A person may be asked by Spirit to play the role of Shaman or they may have a life threatening illness or near death experience that serves as the initiation process into the life of a Shaman.

Shamans play many roles in their communities, such as astrologers, wisdom keepers, storytellers, community leaders, artists, and healers. They may have a regular job during the day and offer their Shamanic services at night.  Many Shamans access the world of spirit and summon their helping spirits through dance, or by playing a drum or rattle. Shamans may facilitate a healing in collaboration with their helping spirits; other times they simply “hold space” for spirit to work directly with a client. They may enter the world of spirit seeking answers to specific questions or to simply ask for a healing. It all depends on the reason, the intention, or the change that is desired. 

Shamanism is the oldest spiritual and healing tradition on the planet, with records of Shamanic practices found all over the world, some dating back 10,000 years. Shamans believe that everything in nature carries spirit, or energy. They honor the spirit that flows everywhere, they see spirit in all things, and, naturally, they work with spirit to help their communities and community members to remain healthy and balanced. This way of living is common in many indigenous communities. 

To honor the natural world is to give thanks to the air we breathe, the sun and the fire that sustains all life, the earth that provides our food and shelter, and the water that cleanses and sustains us. These elemental energies are seen as powerful helping spirits that one can work with to heal.  Many indigenous communities honor the directions. They give thanks to the West, the North, the East and the South, which they see as healing spirits, as sacred grandfathers, grandmothers and ancestors.  They honor the four legged and two legged animals; the winged ones and insects; the reptiles and fish of the oceans. They honor the plants and flowers; the mountains and rivers; the forests and jungles; the lakes and trees.  These energies and beings carry wisdom and “medicine” bestowed upon them by the Universe/Creator, or Great Spirit. When we engage in Shamanic work, we open to a magical relationship with the Universe and the world of spirit, which offers wisdom, power, medicine, messages, and gifts that we can use as we grow and evolve as individuals and the greater society.

Over the past several decades, more and more westerners have discovered and turned to the healing power of Shamanism.  Much of this interest is the result of greater research on Shamanism and several helpful books that have been published on the subject (I list a few below).

It is important to distinguish between titles.  An individual who is trained in the practice of Shamanic healing may not necessarily be a “Shaman”.  If a label is required, a more appropriate title for a westerner who practices Shamanism could be “Shamanic practitioner”. I identify with this later title. To me, Shamans in the traditional sense are medicine men or women who have been placed into this venerable role within a community or village in which the Shaman plays a critical role in guiding/counseling residents and offering healing services.  I see the title of Shaman as an honorific title bestowed upon someone by the collective.  A true Shaman would never say, “hi there, I’m a Shaman”.  There’s too much ego in this way of thinking. Ego blocks the flow and the guiding light of spirit.

Helpful reading materials:

Walking in the Light: The Everyday Empowerment of a Shamanic Life by Sandra Ingerman (a very practical and well written book the offers many Shamanic Journeys to take)

Black Elk Speaks by John Neihardt (this is the biography of a great Medicine Man of the Oglala Lakota people. Black Elk lived through forced migrations, the Massacre at Wounded Knee and eventually converted to Catholicism.  A fascinating life account)

How to Heal Toxic Thoughts by Sandra Ingerman

The Four Agreement by Don Miguel Ruiz