What is Shamanism?
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Shamanism is an ancient spiritual practice that has existed throughout the world for tens of thousands of years and is still practiced today, here in the 21st Century. The term Shamanism was first conceived by western anthropologist, who were describing the spiritual practices of the Mongols, Tungusic, and Samoyedic speaking peoples of Northeast Asia. The word ‘Shaman’ is generally known as a being a Siberian word for a spiritual healer and is also used to describe such a person as ‘One who knows’ or ‘One who sees in the dark’.
The key aspect of Shamanism, is a shaman’s ability to connect with discarnate beings in the Spirit World, which is achieved by attaining an altered state of consciousness. This altered state of consciousness is greatly enhanced by the use of rhythmic/repetitive rattles and drumbeats, which allow a shaman’s consciousness to transcend this ordinary reality and access non-ordinary spiritual realities called the Middle World, the Lower World, and the Upper World. Once this has been achieved, a shaman has direct access to his/her spirit guides, who are benevolent and helping spirits.
The primary purpose of this practise, is to facilitate healing work, rituals, and ceremonies, which historically could mean the difference between life and death for an indigenous tribe. Shamanic healing is primarily focused on healing a patient’s soul, while divination would be used to diagnose illness and to gain esoteric information that would ensure the survival of the tribe. A shaman’s primary purpose is to heal self, heal others, heal the tribe or community, and to heal Mother Earth.
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Shamanic healing is primarily concerned with healing of one's soul essence, which is achieved by removing misplaced energy (that shouldn't be there) and replacing it with positive energy (that should be there). When successful, shamanic healing replaces your natural energetic 'Personal Power', which has been lost, taken, or subdued, due to shock, abuse, or trauma, especially during childhood. Regaining your 'Personal Power' can make you feel whole again, and on a personal level, I can honesty say that discovering Shamanism has been a life-changing experience.
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Shamanism is not classed as a religion, and it does not include the standard dogma, creed, and structural hierarchy that exists within mainstream religions. Shamanism is a belief system that is based on Animism, which is the belief that everything that exists possesses a unique spiritual essence and everything is intrinsically connected to form a universal ‘Web of Life’. Shamans believe that all living creatures possess a spirit, and also believe that inanimate objects such as trees, rocks, rivers, weather systems, and even the words that we speak all have a living essence and are all ‘energetically alive’.
Shamanism is a practice of ‘Direct Revelation’ and is humanity’s earliest example of truly connecting to Mother Earth, the Spirit World, and the Source of Creation. Spiritual practices such as Shamanism have been subjected to many centuries of persecution, however, Shamanism has survived this persecution and has become increasingly popular, as people try to rediscover and regain the natural spirituality and divinity that lies within us all.
