I thought that I would start a new weekly (every Friday) series of blog posts ‘For Newbies’ to outline the basic practices and terminology of shamanism in as clear and easy to understand prose as I could. I’m going to start with the question my mother regularly asks me…
What exactly is a shaman?
A shaman is someone who accesses the spirit world through an altered state of consciousness, in order to gain enlightenment and for healing (for themselves and for others).
What do you mean by ‘altered state of consciousness’?
When we turn our thoughts inwards and become less aware of our external surroundings we enter a condition, which is somewhat different from our normal waking state. It is a similar phenomenon to that experienced when meditating, daydreaming, or when under hypnosis. It is a perfectly natural, temporary phenomenon, which we regularly enter into each and every day.
No drugs involved, then?
No. Although, it is true that the same sort of mental state can be induced pharmacologically, through the use of psychoactive substances. Indeed, some shamans have traditionally made use of these substances to enter an altered state, perhaps, most famously, through using Ayahuasca [see my blog ‘Ayahuasca for Newbies’, a link will be here when this blog has been posted].
Only ‘some’ shamans? How do shamans usually enter this state?
By far the most common method of entering this altered state for shamans around the world is through the use of a drum. Simply by listening to the rhythmic beat of a drum, closing your eyes and visualising, you can enter this same altered state and journey for yourself [see my blog ‘Journeying for Newbies’ for more specific information on how to enter this state and how to ‘journey’, a link will be here when this blog has been posted].
How old is shamanism?
Older than any organised religion by some margin. The earliest known undisputed burial of a shaman is 30,000 BC at Dolni Vestonice, Czech Republic. The oldest forms of shamanism probably originated with the Australian Aborigines but ‘classical shamanism’ is seen as having developed thousands of years later in Siberia and the Americas.
Which branch of shamanism do you follow?
I have a particular interest in the energy medicine of the Peruvian Incan tradition (the Q’ero lineage) having completed my Medicine Wheel training with the ‘Spirit of the Inca’ group and visited Peru a number of times. I also have an interest in ‘Core Shamanism’, particularly the work of Michael Harner, which considers the common elements of shamanism across the world.
What is ‘neoshamanism’?
This is a word describing the new forms of shamanism that have evolved, invented by individual practitioners (such as the anthropologists, Michael Harner & Alberto Villoldo) but borrowing, or gaining inspiration from, indigenous cultures. Some people are critical of this, seeing neoshamanism as a form of ‘cultural appropriation’.
What is a ‘plastic shaman’?
This is a disparaging term for a follower of neoshamanism who seeks to exploit their knowledge of ancient practices for ego, power or money.
Native Americans, whose history with invading Europeans is, admittedly, appalling, coined the phrase. I think that critical Native Americans have legitimate concerns that even well meaning neoshamans might put clients in psychological or spiritual danger. They point to the fact that their own healers are governed by a group of elders but that there is no such formal mechanisms for the administration of neoshamans. The truth is, anyone can call himself or herself a healer or a shaman, so it is worth doing some homework on your teachers/healers before deciding if they have undertaken sufficient training.
What is the folded parcel you are holding in some photos?
That is my ‘mesa’ or ‘medicine bundle’. It is not common to all shamanic traditions but many indigenous American cultures wrap up their sacred items in cloth. For the Q’ero Inca and their followers, our sacred bundles contains, primarily, our medicine stones. My own mesa is a representation of my own personal healing journey and of my connection to a particular lineage of medicine men and women.
What are medicine stones?
The 13 stones in my mesa comprise of four sets of three, dedicated to each corner of the compass, and a lineage stone. The stones are a physical representation of my training but they have also undergone the same transformational process as I underwent – changing old stories and wounds into new possibilities and compassionate power. I use them in my energy healing work.
What is energy healing?
Shaman believe that healing is necessary at several different levels – physically, psychologically and spiritually – energy work is so effective because it works at every level. I believe energy healing utilises the body’s natural energy field to promote healing, stimulated by ancient breathing practices and visualisations.
What exactly happens in a shamanic session?
There are different ways of treating, depending upon the shaman’s lineage and on how many times the client has visited them. I do not propose to cover the more advanced shamanic treatments here but I imagine that it might be useful to give you some idea of what happens in a preliminary session.
So, a shaman of my lineage would listen to what is troubling you and seek to uncover, very quickly, three key incidences in your life where you have felt this issue previously arise. They would then ask you to pick one of the medicine stones from their mesa and they might then ask you to lie down. The stone is placed on one of your chakras by the shaman [see my blog ‘Chakras for Newbies’ for more specific information about chakras, a link will be here when this blog has been posted]. You might then be asked to imagine blowing your concern/issue into the stone with each ‘out’ breath, as the shaman cradles your head. The experience is generally a very relaxing one but it can bring up some intense emotions. The session is concluded when the shaman feels the bad energy (‘hucha’) has been released from their client’s body. At this point, the shaman would perform a process called ‘Illumination’, where they visualise white, healing light filling their client’s body. Generally, after a shamanic session, clients will report feeling much better about the issue which was explored and much happier in themselves, perhaps with a new sense of purpose.
Isn’t this just making use of the placebo effect?
The placebo effect holds that a patient is cured by the power of their belief that they will be healed and that, if any healing occurs, it is not miraculous but just an example of the body’s natural healing abilities. I say to that – wonderful! How incredible are our bodies and minds? Just as we can make ourselves sick with worry and stress, it stands to reason that we can heal and improve ourselves through utilising positive energy. In my view, energy healing does exactly what it is accused by its critics of doing – ‘merely’ enhancing our body’s natural ability to heal itself.
I despair sometimes at the sneering dismissiveness towards acts of ‘spontaneous remission’, or when people discover resources, which allow them to feel better about themselves, without recourse to counselling or drugs. I would never advocate against traditional medicine but I do think that there are forms of complimentary (never, for me, ‘alternative’) medicine, which can really help and assist. I know that my own depression, for instance, was immeasurably improved through my shamanic work.
That’s all very nice but there’s no real evidence is there?
This is often the claim that is made but, actually, there is. There are certainly some conflicting studies as to its clinical veracity (although none suggest any harm has been caused by energy healing practitioners) but, to date, energy psychology does have over 100 published studies in refereed journals and 20 RCTs (randomized controlled trials), with 98+% of findings supporting the efficacy of energy psychology. Of the studies looking at follow-up from 3 months to 2 years, 100% found that the gains held. There is even a meta-analysis showing medium effect sizes. In a world of over 400 therapies, most of which have no research, these findings place energy psychology in the top 10% of all therapies in terms of research on effectiveness.
So, can you cure my ailment?
I would never make any claims that I can ‘cure’ anyone. Energy healing does not work on curing specific illnesses but rather on addressing the underlying issues at an energetic level – it contends that physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing can be improved through gaining a sense of wholeness, rediscovering who we were meant to be. When we are disheartened and disillusioned with life, how can we possibly expect to feel healthy and upbeat? Furthermore, how can we expect those who share our lives to feel positive about us when we do not feel positive about ourselves? So, often our bad experiences, our ‘wounds’, and our own sense of ‘imbalance’ can come to define us, which is never a good thing! Shamanism helps us to step out from the masks we so often hide behind in our lives and to throw off any unhelpful patterns of behaviour we have picked up, which no longer serve us.
So, you’re going to try and convert me?
No, not at all. You’re free to try a shamanic healing or to journey for yourself and see if those experiences help you but I have no interest in ‘converting’ anyone. I respect your own personal journey too much – you must walk your own path! I wish you much ‘munay’ upon it…