Shamanism

Shamanism is the oldest spiritual practice, dating back as far as 100,000 years. As humankind walked the earth in those ancient times, it was crucial to survival to be in a relationship with the Web of Life. This includes all life, seen and unseen. The word shaman comes from the Mongolian shamans of Siberia and means “sees in the dark.” The shaman guided the community and acted as a spiritual leader, healer, ceremonialist, psychologist, storyteller, and more. 

Before religious traditions, indigenous cultures worldwide had different names for their expressions of shamanism. While practices may vary in shamanic cultures, four cultural universals seem to remain present.

Shamanism is Nature:  

Stepping into a relationship with nature.  All the web of life, plants, minerals, animals, humans, and the elements of water, earth, air, and fire sustain our life on earth.  Also, it includes the unseen worlds or the spiritual world. 

Shamanism is Direct Revelation:

Direct revelation is the direct connection and communication with Source.  Shamans work with the unseen realms (spirit realms) and with helping compassionate spirits.  Each shaman is unique in how they work with their Team, be they power animals, ancestors, spiritual guides or angelic realms.  Journeying is the spiritual practice that enables us to work with our helping compassionate spirits and to connect with Source.   

Shamanism is Ceremony:

Ceremony provides a physical stage for us to honor and heal our woundedness. It brings more of our essential energy and life force into our bodies and our lives.  Additionally, ceremony or ritual need not be complicated. It can be a simple reflection of our connection to the All. 

Shamanism is personal/inner work and healing:  

All illnesses/dis-ease in Shamanism are considered spiritual.  The shaman is called the wounded healer.  Through their woundedness and healing, they hold the space for others in their healing.  Personal healing never ends as we embrace our humanness and our spiritual light.  We continue to remember, grow, and evolve in our spiritual light.

Shamanism is a spiritual practice of connection with the All.  As a spiritual practice it enhances other spiritual traditions, for We are All One. 

 

“Many paths lead from the foot of the mountain, but at the peak we all gaze at the single bright moon.”

– Ikkyu –