Shamanism helped me make sense of what I’ve always known in my bones: that everything is connected.
There is a divine thread of miraculous intelligence that flows through everyone and everything.
Shamanism revealed a spiritual path that led me straight to Spirit, no barricades or gatekeepers in between. It opened a door to ancient wisdom that validated my experiences and brought deeper meaning to my spiritual practices.
Understanding Shamanism
Shamanism is a spiritual philosophy and practice connecting us to the natural rhythms and cycles we share with the living world around us. These ancient teachings offer pathways to commune with Spirit and journey through the spirit realms
The role of a Shaman is distinct from the broader practice of shamanism. Communities across the world have long honored certain individuals as their spiritual healers—whether they're known as Shamans, medicine people, or healing practitioners in their local traditions. These sacred healers earn their role through rigorous training and initiation from established Shamans, preparing them to bring spiritual healing to both individuals and their broader community. The title of Shaman itself carries deep significance—it is an honor bestowed by the community, never claimed by the individual.
My Journey to Shamanism
Growing up in the farmlands of Humboldt County in Northern California, I felt an innate connection to nature. I could feel the aliveness of trees, I sensed that the land acknowledged me, and I felt surrounded by an unseen divine intelligence. I longed to honor and speak with these presences but didn't know how to.
Being highly intuitive since childhood brought both joy and challenges. While nature filled me with wonder, seeing the spirits of those who had passed and other beings in the spirit realm sometimes felt overwhelming. Unlike New Age spirituality's focus on universal light, I experienced diverse energies and vibrations. Later, shamanism would validate that both physical and spiritual worlds contain shadow and light.
During my teenage years, I explored religious services and churches seeking answers. New Age spirituality introduced me to meditation, altars, and crystals. While spiritual texts offered glimpses of the oneness I sensed, these teachings felt fragmented until I discovered shamanism. Here, at last, I found a path that transformed abstract spiritual concepts into direct, living practice.
Core Shamanism :
Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times
My journey deepened when I encountered "core shamanism," introduced by anthropologist Michael Harner and taught to me by Jan Engle-Smith and Pamela Rico at 'LightSong'. These teachings revealed universal elements shared across Indigenous cultures:
The power of rhythmic drumming
Spirit songs and communication
Ceremonies celebrating community and nature
Recognition of divine unity
A form of Medicine Wheel teachings
Through guidance from teachers like Karen Heftner at 'Igniting Spirit', I learned how each direction on the Medicine Wheel carries wisdom about life's cycles and living in harmony with nature. These teachings validated my need for rest and reflection—aspects often dismissed in our modern world.
Essential Elements of Shamanic Practice
Shamanism rests on fundamental truths:
Interconnectedness: Humans, nature, and spirit realms form one unified whole
Animism: Every being has consciousness, from stones to rivers
Spirit World: Unseen realms exist where spirits and ancestors dwell
Healing: Practices restore harmony within and between worlds
Ceremony: Rituals honor life's transitions and deepen spiritual connections
The Art of Shamanic Journeying
Shamanic journeying offers a unique path to spiritual guidance. Unlike meditation's focus on stillness, journeying involves intentionally entering spirit realms for insight. While many intuitive people naturally sense the spirit world, shamanic journeying provides deep, direct access to traverse these realms.
This powerful practice requires proper guidance. Working with an experienced teacher creates safety for exploring unseen dimensions and understanding their often metaphorical messages.
Ancient Wisdom, Modern Relevance
Archaeological evidence dates shamanic practices to 30,000-77,000 years ago, as noted by Sandra Ingerman in ‘Soul Retrieval.’ These traditions endure because they evolve while preserving essential truths. Today's renewed interest in shamanism reflects our collective yearning for wholeness and connection in an often fragmented world.
Finding Wholeness Through Shamanism
Through shamanic practice, I've discovered a profound connection with spirits and ancestors, learned to honor natural cycles, and embraced the truth that personal healing ripples out to collective healing. This path has helped me embrace my intuitive gifts and find my place within life's greater web.
Shamanism offers a bridge to reconnect with nature, ourselves, and the divine presence flowing through all things. When you begin working with these ancient ways, remember your spiritual path is uniquely yours to explore. [With gratitude to Michael Harner for core shamanic teachings, and to my teachers Jan Engle-Smith (LightSong) and Karen Heftner (Igniting Spirit) for their wisdom and guidance.]
If you're drawn to explore shamanic practices, develop spiritual safety, and connect with your spirit guides, I've created a course to guide you. Through ancient wisdom made accessible for modern life, you'll discover tools for empowerment and self-awareness while deepening your connection to your authentic self. This journey will help you validate and honor your true nature through time-tested shamanic teachings.