"... our companion animals chose us because we have something to learn from them about being human. Part of our humanity is to learn the way of respect and the compassionate tending of animals." Sandra Ingerman, Awakening to the Spirit World/The Shamanic Path of Direct Revelation, by Sandra Ingerman & Hank Wesselman.
WHAT IS SHAMANISM?
Shamanism
is the most ancient form of healing, practiced by humans world
wide.Through a change in consciousness, Shamans enter “non ordinary”
reality to request healing and advice from compassionate animals,
humans and other spirits. Spiritual healing is complementary to modern
medicine, therapy and training. Often it is the missing link, the wind
in the sails that allows healing, recovery and training to rapidly
progress. Core shamanism is a distillation
of shamanic practices which are common to many diverse cultures. The
methods of core shamanism are practiced by modern shamanic healers
throughout the world. In core shamanism, the shaman enters a shamanic
state of consciousness through listening to rhythmic percussion. He or
she then journeys to the world of spirits and connects with spirit
allies for healing work. These spirits are available to help everyone,
and the shaman’s role is often to reconnect clients with their helping
spirits, restoring their personal power. The best way to learn more
about shamanic work is to learn to journey yourself!
What is a Shaman? "The
word "Shaman" is derived from the language of the Tungus peoples of
Siberia-where anthropologists and ethnologists assumed shamanism
originated-has been defined as "one who knows" or "wise one" because of
the ability to shift conscious awareness beyond the physical. The
word shaman has also been definied as "one who walks between the
worlds". This too, is a meaningful defninition because it identifies
the shaman with different aspects of Reality. These "worlds may also be
regarded as different levels, planes or dimensions of existence which
co-exist with the world of "ordinary" pysical existence. By extending
our conscious awareness through shamanic techniques, attuning with the
wave-lengths of these other levels of existence becomes possible.
The
word shamanism has become quite fanshionable among people with an
interest in mysticism, the occult, and so-called New Age thinking. But
it is misleading to use the word as a synonym for "occult" or a as term
for Nature-worship religion or esoteric cult. By definition shamanism
is the study and practice of the principles and techniques of shamans
and of the interrelationship of one's own spirit with that of anything
and everything else, be it human, animal, plant, mineral or celestial-a
reaching out from within to the withing of everything else." Kenneth Meadows, Shamanic Experience
What is the difference between practicing shamanism and becoming a shaman?
"All authentic visionaries agree that it is destiny that calls one to be a shaman; shamanism is a calling. This is not a profession that one seeks out...In virtually all indigenous traditions one never calls him or herself a shaman. This is seen as bragging about one's power...whenever you brag about your power, you tend to lose it. The term "shaman" is a mantle bestowed upon the individual's abilities to stand and deliver the goods or as a diviner of information on behalf of others. Jose Stevens points out that although it is is difficult to come up with a concrete definition for a true shaman versus a healer of another kind, making these distinctions is not always what is most important: ...what is of greater importance--how to use the ancient art of shamanism for practical visionary purposes in our daily life without actually being a traditional shaman. " Awakening to the Spirit World/The Shamanic Path of Direct Revelation, by Sandra Ingerman & Hank Wesselman.
What is a shamanic journey? "Shamanic journeying is a method of direct revelation and it is the experiential centerpiece through which shamans make contact with their helping spirits to access empowerment, personal guidance, and healing help." Awakening to the Spirit World/The Shamanic Path of Direct Revelation, by Sandra Ingerman & Hank Wesselman.
What is a power animal? Power animals are "spirit guardians who provide us with power, protection and support. ...According to the shaman, the power animal is not the spiritual essence of one animal but rather the essence of the group oversoul of the whole species. So we don't have the spirit of a bear, a kangaroo, a snake or an elephant as a power animal. Rather, the spirit of all lions, all owls, all eagles, provides us with protection and power..." for more information on power animals see page 33 in Awakening to the Spirit World/The Shamanic Path of Direct Revelation, by Sandra Ingerman & Hank Wesselman.
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