Shamanism can mean a lot of different things, it is probably a term that is over-used these days because it is so non-specific. In my view it has become an umbrella-term for earth ways, living in tune with nature and her cycles. It evokes a sense of ancient wisdom, a simpler way of living life in harmony with each other and this planet that sustains us, 
the food we eat, the homes we live in, the communities we walk with—don’t forget that we, humanity, are a part of nature, a part of the earth and her cycles—we are all One.
As things in our mundane world get more chaotic, the more we question who we are and what our purpose is, the more we long for simpler ways of living, and thus more and more people are being drawn to this thing called Shamanism. So what is it? I can only answer that by telling you what it means to me.
Roots
First, let me tell you a wee bit about where I’m coming from. The term “Shamanism” refers to the spiritually-centered lifestyle of the “Shaman.” The term Shaman comes from Siberia, but today is often used to refer to the one who is the village or community spiritual leader—the healer, the story teller, the ceremonialist. This roll goes by many different names and is found in indigenous tribes and cultures around the world, going back to ancient times. Each culture has its own set of practices, each a lifetime of study on their own. Because we’re talking about a vast number of cultures, traditions, points-of-view, and opinions, simply be aware that there is a lot of room for disagreement and confusion.
Contemporary Shamanism
Just as humanity is evolving, the role of the Shaman is changing so much these days. “Urban Shamans” and people that practice “Core Shamanism” or “Post-Tribal Shamanism” are becoming more prevalent. Traditionalists would argue that this is an affront to indigenous-culture shamans, holy ones, and healers. In my view, it’s not a question of dishonoring the old ways but a question of evolution. Going beyond tradition, we are moving forward as one human family. It seems reasonable that the role of the Shaman also evolves, to continuously connect with the ever-changing, ever-growing community, modern people.
I see the wave of the future as a melding of modern technology and traditional ways of living. Learning to simplify, conserve, and utilize sustainable resources doesn’t have to mean going back to the dark ages—I think we can have the best of both worlds. In today’s society stress has become an epidemic and we are lucky to know our next-door neighbors’ names, much less are we aware we might rely on them for … anything. We have so much to learn from our ancestors that walked this earth, not only living peaceful lives in harmony with the land, but also being strong in their community support networks.
A Way of BE-ing
Practicing Shamanism is not an isolated event that is done every so often. It’s a way of viewing the world and a way of living life.
The two-legged, the four-legged, the creepy crawlies, the winged, the finned, plant, mineral, the elements, bad people, good people, the desk I am sitting at, your spirit guides, ancestors, the planet we walk on, the atmosphere that hangs over us, the stars and the no-thing-ness that lie beyond … everything is connected. Sometimes this is referred to as the “Web of Life.” We are all our relations. We are all one big happy family. Perhaps you could call this family “God” or Great Spirit….
Just as all of life is connected, all the parts that make up our Self, an individual, are connected. When it comes to healing an illness, we cannot just look at the physical symptoms, we also have to look at the mental, emotional, and spiritual states of being, they are all connected. Also important is the environment, the physical environment where we spend most of our time as well as the people we surround ourselves with (including at our jobs). How do we feed ourselves physically, but also, how do we feed ourselves emotionally? Mentally? Spiritually? Do we balance work and play? Rest and activity?
We are surrounded by cycles, the solar cycles and the changing of the seasons, the lunar cycles, the ebb and flow of the ocean tide, our personal cycles from birthday to birthday, women’s “moon cycles” … to name a few. When we learn to flow with these cycles, it means the difference between flowing with the current and swimming up stream. There are naturally times when it is better for us to take it easy and not be too hard on ourselves, and times that are more conducive to productivity. When we align ourselves with this flow, we come into alignment within our Self, physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually.
Spiritual Practices
Knowledge is gained through experience. Conversations, books and reading are a great place to start, but ultimately one will only learn through experience and good ol’ fashioned trial and error. Spiritual practices are called “practices” for good reason.
The Shaman, sometimes referred to as a “Walker Between Worlds,” explores human potential in both the known/physical world and the unknown/spirit world. The practice that is common to all forms of Shamanism is often referred to as Shamanic Journey. It is the act of intentionally sending out part of our consciousness into the spirit world to seek information, wisdom, and healing.
The Shaman has allies in many forms, seen and unseen, that help with this work. Spirit helpers can come in the form of guides, angels, ancestors, and animals, to name a few. These spirit helpers can easily be accessed through trance states and journey.
Shamans are also the keepers of their community ceremonies and traditions. Humans thrive on symbolism, rituals, patterns. We love to celebrate markers in time like our birthdays and honor rites of passage like weddings, coming of age, and major events like birth and death.
Does Practicing Shamanism Make Me a Shaman?
You don’t have to be a Shaman to practice Shamanism. The Shaman is the one that is called to do this work on behalf of others, anyone can do this work for themselves. The Shaman is chosen by Spirit (my usual name for God), and is recognized by the community or people they serve. Practicing Shamanism is a means of self-transformation, a way of living life connected to our planet and nature, living as our authentic self, and a way to maintain our connection to Spirit and All That Is. In my view this way of living is integral to being a whole person, living in good health and happiness, and maintaining authentic, healthy, happy relationships to … everyone.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS