What is Shamanism

30 questions you may have about shamanism

I’m often asked what shamanism is and what does a shamanic practitioner do. Here is my best attempt to answer those and many other questions you may have about shamanism.

1. What is shamanism?

The oldest form of healing and spiritual practice in the world.
A way of relating to and understanding the universe or multiverse around us
A hollow bone/open channel to work with the spirit world and energy
A practice of entering altered states of consciousness to interact with, perceive and receive messages and healing from the spirit world.

2. What lands do shamans come from?

Every corner of the world

3. How old is shamanism?

Historic records from burials and cave art place shamanism back as far as the Paleolithic era.
It may predate that.

4. Where does the word “shaman” come from?

The word came to us from the Evenks or Tungus people, traditional reindeer herders in Siberia.
Shaman derives from the Tungus word “saman” which stems from the verb sa, meaning “to know.”
And yet (little known fact) … further study shows the Siberian word may have connections to Indian Sanskrit
It may be associated with the German word “Schamane”
It may also be associated with the Russian word “sha’man”
Perhaps associated with the Chinese word “sha men” (meaning Buddhist monk?)
Which connects back to Prakrit “samaya-“ from Sanskrit “Sramana-s” (meaning Buddhist ascetic?)* (see Origin of the Word Shaman by Berthold Laufer in American Anthropoligist, New Series, Vol 19, No. 3 (Jul – Sep, 1917) pp. 361-371

5. Is shamanism a religion?

No, it is a way of life
It is a call to serve the community
It is a leadership role in the tribe
A serious commitment

6. Is shamanism a cult?

Absolutely not

7. Why is shamanism important in modern times?

In our modern world, we have created imbalances with nature and the spirit world that need to be corrected
Shamanism reconnects us with nature
It restores us to sacred relationship with everything
It empowers us to heal our wounds
It can restore links to our ancestors
It also brings healing to our ancestral line and our descendants

8. What kind of wounds can shamanism heal?

Personal – spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical
Nature – land, air and sea traumas and destructive imbalances
Community – loss of connection, soul loss of tribal groups
Ancestral – near and ancient ones; and those to follow (aka descendants)
Animals – all creatures, four legged, winged, finned, gilled, crawling…
Anything that needs a return to harmony through spirit work or energy balancing

9. Where is shamanism practiced today?

All over
In a yurt in Mongolia
In a suburban home in Ohio
In an office building in London
In a yoga studio in Geneva
On the land in Guatemala
All over

10. How does shamanism help?

Restores balance
Restores harmony
Restores sacred relationship

11. How does shamanism heal?

Restores balance
Restores harmony
Restores sacred relationship
With the help of Spirit and Nature
With clear intention and no agenda or attachment to outcome
In non-linear ways to bring rapid healing
In the most beautiful and surprising ways

12. What is the traditional role of the shamanic healer in the community?

Healing
Divination
Ceremony

13. Is contemporary shamanism for me?

Does it interest you?
Are you called to explore it?
Does it feel like a good fit?
Do you feel safe with the shamanic practitioner you are talking to before you go for a healing?
Are you willing to do your own work toward healing?
Are you ready for things to change?

14. Where do I begin with shamanism?

Retrieve a spirit guide
Drum circle
Healing session

15. What do shamans believe?

Everything is alive
Everything is conscious
Everything is interconnected
Everything transforms
Everything responds to focused intention

16. Can I receive shamanic healing if I have a religious affiliation or go to church?

Yes, shamanism is not a religion

17. What is the shaman’s drum used for?

Guide you into journey space, like riding a horse into the dreamworld.
Repetitive beat to put you into a deep meditative and trance state.
Reconnect you to the heartbeat of the mother/Mother Earth.

18. Do all shamans drum?

No, there are many different shamanic techniques to enter altered states of consciousness, including: rattles, song, staff, ecstatic dance, etc.

19. What other tools does the shaman use?

Nature (plants, stones, feathers, water, fire…)
Candles, incense, sacred tobacco
Perfumed flower water, smudge plants
Food and alcohol
Shamanic journeying
Sometimes even candy from the local market
And lots more – they use what is on hand, what they are guided to use

20. Do I learn shamanic practices from a book, online, workshop or teacher?

It is a path of direct revelation. You will learn it from Spirit/Source.
But first, you can read a book, take a course, and find a teacher.
Good teachers will guide you to opening to direct revelation.
Your spirit helpers will be invaluable resources on your journey.
Spirit/Source will do the rest.

21. Is it true you must have a near-death experience to practice shamanism?

Not anymore
We have evolved beyond the trauma of the wounded healer.
At the same time, aren’t most of us wounded in some way. The near-death experience of ancient times looks and feels very different now. Who are we to judge?

22. Why do contemporary shamans charge money?

Energy exchange has always been the way. It maintains balance – we don’t carry livestock around anymore, instead we carry dollars and plastic cards that hold the energy of the exchange.
When you pay for something, you have “skin in the game,” and are generally more committed.
Most of us live in cultures that attach value to money. If you pay for something, you are more likely to value it.
Contemporary shamans need to make a living too.
Priests and doctors charge money, how is a shamanic practitioner different?
Money isn’t bad. Money is just energy, and it grows and thrives when allowed to flow freely.

23. Can a shamanic practitioner heal me?

You will heal with the help of your spirit guides, and
Your own effort and involvement, plus
Your personal power
Allied with the spirit guides of the shamanic practitioner
Nature, and
Energy from Spirit/Source/God/Goddess… whatever you are comfortable calling the Great Universal One.

24. I’m a white person from the West, is it cultural appropriation for me to receive or practice shamanic healing?

Depends on your intent and personal beliefs
1. Are your actions and intentions to exploit, steal, or dishonor a culture?
2. Did you find your own path and ways of working, or did you copy exactly from another without permission?
3. Were you called and are you of service or are you just trying to make a buck and grasping at an illusion of power over others?
4. Does it make you feel superior to those around you or do you truly feel your oneness with everyone and everything – are you humble?
What I believe:
1. Shamanism belongs to humanity
2. Shamanism comes from Spirit, Earth and Cosmos, the Unified Field, it is ancient and modern, alive, and ever changing while always constant.
3. We are all interconnected going back to the very first modern humans and their predecessors from which we all descend.
4. We are also interconnected with the earth and the mountains and the rocks and the stars, shamanism comes from all of it and all of us.
5. Humanity and all of this planet, all living beings (and that is everything), will be better off when we embrace living the shamanic way every day.
6. But then I’m a white woman in the USA who practices and teaches contemporary shamanism as a way of living in the world with deep respect and sacred intentions. I truly do not intend to offend anyone.

25. Who becomes a shamanic practitioner?

Anyone can be called
I used to be in investment banking and trained as a clinical herbalist, now I serve my community practicing contemporary shamanism.
My first shamanism teacher was a bee-keeping Buddhist monk turned shamanic practitioner.

26. What is the difference between shamanic practitioner and a shaman?

Shamanic practitioner generally refers to a non-indigenous person practicing and living a shamanic life.
Shaman refers to an indigenous person who was named by their community as a healer, specifically a shaman.
You don’t call yourself a shaman, it is an honor and a responsibility bestowed upon you by your community, tribe or Great Spirit. It is a calling that is identified by those you will serve. Meet it humbly.

27. Do all shamans believe in the same things?

No, but there are fundamental beliefs true to all shamanic work.
See question #15

28. Do all shamans practice the same way?

No, there are regional and geographic differences
Community differences
And some specialize working with people, land, elementals, blessings, cleansing, ceremonies, healing, divination, ancestors, some even specialize in helping humans cross over (psychopomp), there are many ways to practice.

29. Can men and women be shamans and shamanic healers?

Yes, from the earliest times shamanism has been the realm of all genders.
Norse shamanism has a special word for men who practice Seidr, a form of Norse shamanism traditionally practiced by women. But even the All-Father, Odin, learned the craft.
There are many stories of shamans who exceeded or moved outside of gender norms to work with the spirits.
All are welcome.

30. Can I receive shamanic healing if I am taking prescription medicine?

Shamanic healing will complement any allopathic treatments and diagnoses you are currently working with.
You are more likely to heal when you include a spiritual healing component such as shamanism.
Be sure to find a healer who is willing to work with your medical team.
You deserve a shamanic healer who honors your choices regarding any diagnosis and allopathic treatments you choose.

In summary, shamanism is an ancient healing tradition and way of life. Shamanic practices are deeply connected to the power of Nature. Shamanic practitioners believe that all things have spirit, and it’s possible to connect with those spirits. Whether it be the spirit of the wind, a sacred place, an animal, or ancestor, etc. Shamans and shamanic practitioners are guided by helping spirits, such as animal spirit guides and spirit teachers, among others, to bring healing to themselves, clients, or the community. The shaman or shamanic practitioner gets special training and initiations enabling communication with the spirits of the other worlds. They have experience with expanded sensory perception and live in relationship to nature and unseen, or alternate, realities. As such, the shaman opens as a channel to higher healing powers and works as a conduit for healing energies, spirit communications and messages.

If you are interested in learning more or receiving a shamanic healing, reach out to me. I'm passionate about sharing this ancient wisdom with as many as I can reach. I offer private individualized instruction in shamanic practices, shamanic counseling, instruction in shamanic journeying, and shamanic healing sessions. If you don't know where to start, book a free Soul Chat and we will find the best starting place for you.

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