What is Shamanism?

Since spring last year when I enrolled in my shamanic practitioner training and started telling people about it... I've gotten this question a lot. What is Shamanism?

I thought I would take some time to share with you what it is, since it was a part of my shamanism homework anyways.

What is Shamanism?

The word Shaman comes from the Tungusic word šaman, which is often translated to "one who knows" or "one who sees in the dark". Shamanism is the world's oldest and most widespread healing practice and way of life that we can trace to ancient civilizations. Evidence of shamanic beliefs and practices have been found in Palaeolithic cave art, and it is generally agreed that shamanism originated in the time period of the hunter-gatherer cultures. This was a time of prehistory when nothing was written down or recorded, and as such the shamanic practices we know today have been passed down to us by the shamanic communities and teachers who have preserved the knowledge.

As Shamanism has travelled throughout time, the original practices have remained consistent and for the most part, unchanged. It is a path of direct revelation, meaning that you are connecting and communicating directly with the Creator and receiving all of your knowledge and insights straight from the source. For this reason, it is also a path of self- empowerment. Not relying on a teacher, guru, or leader to give you the answers and instead learning to experience it all through and for yourself.

Shamanism is so much more than just a method of healing; it is a way of life. There are some essential principles of understanding that shamanism around the world has in common:

• Nature. Connection to nature is the backbone of Shamanism. Not just connection to what we commonly associate with nature but also the nature of all that exists. Nature is our greatest teacher.
• Animism. Shamans see the world through the understanding that everything is alive and has a spirit or soul. This is known as the practice of animism and includes all that is - people, places, animals, rivers, trees, things... everything is alive with life-force energy. This means that we can connect and communicate with everything.
• The Otherworld. There exists a reality beyond and woven into our ordinary reality that is often called non-ordinary reality, Dreamworld or The Otherworld. This is the parallel world we journey into during shamanic practice that allows us to communicate with all that is through shamanic methods.
• Community. The health and healing of the individual is just as important as the health and healing of the community. Including all people, plants, places, rivers - all of life.
• Journeying. The consistent practice of Shamans or Shamanic Practitioners around the world is the Shamanic Journey. This spiritual practice is the main method that allows the shaman or shamanic practitioner to connect with all that is in non-ordinary reality.
• Ceremony. Shamans and shamanic practitioners will often engage with ceremonies to honour nature, healing, rites of passage and celebrations. The act of ceremony promotes balance in the community and restores harmony to individuals. When you see a Shaman or Shamanic Practitioner for healing, you are engaged in ceremony.

What is a Shaman?

Most often you will not encounter someone who refers to themselves as a Shaman. Usually, you will hear people call themselves a Shamanic Practitioner, Healer, Teacher, Guide or Medicine person. It is usually the community who grants them the title of Shaman. They are generally spiritual leaders who can travel between worlds to assist the community through healing and returning to wholeness. Shamans have two feet planted in both worlds and are able to interact with both worlds at the same time.

What is a Shamanic Journey?

Shamanic journeying is a practice that has been used for thousands of years as a way to connect with the spirit or soul of all that is. When we journey, we leave ordinary reality to venture into non-ordinary reality to receive messages, insights, healing, information, wisdom and even find lost objects, connect with our ancestors and more. This practice is the foundational piece to all shamanic work.

To practice journeying, the individual will enter an altered state of consciousness, also known as a trance state, to go into the Otherworld and communicate with their helping spirits that will allow them to do their healing work and/or be of service to others. In this practice you are always working in partnership with your helping spirits with you acting as the channel for the healing and transformation to occur. The shamanic journey creates a unique opportunity for everyone to connect with their own inherent wisdom and to know their power and purpose in the web of life. While this practice is happening, the Shaman will engage the use of drums, rattles or some form of percussion to help them enter that altered state of consciousness, which is why the drum is the signature tool of the Shaman.