Shamanism and the Path of Heart

"There is no right or wrong way to practise Shamanism." - Sandra Ingerman, Shamanic Visioning.

Shamanism and Shamanic practices are fast becoming popular in Western society. There is some controversy around the idea of appropriation of indigenous cultural practises, yet when we actually go deeper into our exploration of European spirituality we will find similarities that exist in our distant past with Pagan practices and Celtic Shamanism that, unfortunately, the Western world largely lost when our healers, herbalists, doula's and spiritual teachers were systematically burned and tortured as witches with the rise of the patriarchy.

Everyone can be a Shamanic practitioner but not everyone can be a Shaman, and this is an important differentiation to be made. Shamanic practices utilize movement, singing, chanting, drumming, music and occasionally psychoactive plant medicines to enter into an altered or trance state to journey into other realms. The purposes are varied, we may seek guidance or insight, we may wish to connect with guides in the Spirit realm, we may wish to retrieve parts of ourselves lost through trauma and adversity, we may wish to ask for healing or help a loved one pass into Spirit. These are practises that we can all enter into and integrate into our lives.

Shaman are people who are called to serve their community as healer and guide. They have faced deep struggle and adversity in their own lives and are what is called the Wounded Healer. Through their own lived experience and path of healing they have found their way to the Path of Heart and live their lives from this place. Their light shines with them wherever they go and oftentimes their mere presence offers healing to those they encounter. Many modern Western Shamanic Practitioners have undergone other formal training and education, they may be counsellors; psychotherapists; psychologists; doctors and nurses, for example, and integrate both their educational background with Shamanic practises to provide a holistic approach to overall wellbeing. Shamans work alongside their own Mentors and Teachers to learn to harness their innate power and hone their skills, dedicated to service of their communities.

So what is Shamanism?

In a nutshell, Shamanism is a lifestyle of honouring all life, the elements; the sun; the moon; the stars and planets; the rivers; the oceans; the mountains, ALL beings that inhabit our sacred Earth and Earth herself. It is connection to the unseen worlds and the Spirits that dwell therein. Through this honouring and connection we live with the premise to do no harm and engage with life through the Heart with grace and Love.

Where to start with Shamanic Practise?

Shamanic lifestyles and spirituality are unique to each person that practises this way of life. To begin on the Path of Heart, one must reconnect with the Heart itself, look inwards and meet the shadows that lie within that hide behind beliefs and stories of our pasts. We must be willing to be open to change and releasing old patterns and behaviours that are born from the social constructs we have been taught. We must allow ourselves the space to find our deep inner stillness beyond the incessant inner dialogue that plagues our consciousness. We must become conscious of our unconsciousness in order to make the required shifts into a new way of seeing, hearing and being. We must discover the art of not-doing that allows us to expand into deeper levels of insight and wisdom.

In order to this there are a variety of tools and strategies that support the process:

• Meditation

• Journeying

• Journalling

• Drumming

• Chanting

• Plant Medicines

• Heart-Coherence Practice

• Movement such as Qi Gong, Tai Chi, Yoga, Dance

• Connecting with Nature

• Creativity such as Art, Poetry, Writing

  
  

To cultivate a spiritual practise is unique to each practitioner and can look different for everyone. Finding the ways that support your journey is a beautiful part of the path and allows for self-discovery. Over time, we develop our intuitive knowing and begin to notice the signs and synchronicities that life offers to us. We connect with life on an entirely new level with open hearts, open minds and a willingness to be malleable with our beliefs and the constructs that govern our lives.

The deeper we go, the more open we are, the more we see with a clarity of vision that slices through the veil of illusion that surrounds us. We may find that as we transform, people and things that we once aligned with begin to fall away as we recognise a deeper truth. This part of the process can be lonely and isolating, which makes it important to connect with others on this path. Joining groups and participating in events that align with Shamanic and spiritual practises is a beautiful way to create new connections and meet new people.

Finding a Mentor is a potent way to support your journey, to open perspectives, offer insight and support your practise. Choose your Mentor wisely, make sure you feel a connection and feel that you are able to trust them with your vulnerability. Know that your Mentor will challenge you and, at times, potentially trigger you, yet it is part of the journey. Your Mentor is your Mirror, reflecting back to you all that needs to be seen, heard, felt and expressed, and sometimes ... it is not pretty.

In conclusion, Shamanism is simple, Spirituality is simple ... it is our need to complicate things that oftentimes stands in the way. Be present. Be in the Heart. Be Love. ... In this way, you are already on the path.

Love and Blessings

Always in All Ways

Tatz