So, What is Shamanism? What does a Shaman do?
What I gathered from the conversation, is that there are some key practices and ways of being that shamans are.
What does a Shaman do? A common practice for shamanism is that shamans (men or women) get themselves into an altered state of consciousness in order to transcend the ego and the thinking mind to connect with inner wisdom and higher guidance from the spirit world.
This altered state of consciousness is typically entered into via a variety of means, through drumming, percussion, rattles, and bells are a common thread for getting into this altered state.
Another means is through song and dance.
What is Shamanism? It’s a practice. Shamanism is the oldest practice of humankind, dating back over 100,000 years. And practiced all over the world in all cultures.
It’s a spiritual practice that Sandra likens to being “gardeners of the energies”. They “see” where the energies are disharmonious, whether that be in an individual, a community, your home and yard, or in today’s modern world, your office, co-workers, teammates or businesses.
What is a Shaman? Shamans have also been considered healers, knowers, seers of the dark and wisdom sharers.
The shaman is a Master or Mistress of entering the altered states and journeying into higher spiritual realms to help bring through higher wisdom, grace and guidance.
Spiritual guidance from higher realms, it is believed, comes into many forms including, that of animals, plants, trees, ancestors, teachers or religious figures like Mother Mary or Jesus, to be able to help us and bring guidance into our lives.
Non-physical Spiritual guides or guardian angels are not in the thick of our world and can take an Eagle’s eye view of the picture of the whole. They can see many perspectives on the human condition and see how we, as a community, can come together as a whole, or as an individual. They are guided by higher wisdom and understanding and offer a more holistic perspective and guidance for the Shaman to share with their community, individual or other forms of entities or communities, like a workplace.
The Shamanism definition from the anthropological point of view is a man or woman who travels into unseen realms to work with helping spirits for higher wisdom and guidance.
Another essential aspect of what the Shaman does is harmonizing the human community with nature. And when the community is in harmony with nature, there’s a beautiful balance, honoring and respect for all of life. In fact, Sandra describes it beautifully as making all of your surroundings your family.
What is Shamanism?
It is also the practice of ceremony and ritual. For every conceivable event in life, there is an opportunity to celebrate, bless and be grateful for the continued abundance in all aspects of life. It is also the opportunity to continually celebrate our connection to nature and all living things while engaged in ceremonies and celebrating specific events and blessings.