What is Shamanism?
Shamanism is the oldest way in which humanity has sought connection to the Sacred. Its documented roots go back 40,000 years, and, as the most widespread spiritual practice, it can be found all over the world.
The word Shaman originally comes from the Lake Baikal region in Russia, and the term is sometimes defined as ‘the one who knows or sees’, or ‘the one to heat up, to burn, to work with heat and fire’. Shamans voluntarily enter altered states of consciousness, in which they can interact with spirit guides and other entities in order to serve their communities. Some say that Shamans walk with one foot in our world, and with one foot in the other world/spirit world. Shamans understand illness as a loss or a disturbance of our positive power or energy. Our energy can be described as our ‘inner fire’ – hence the original connection of the word shamanism to heat/fire. With the support of their spirit allies, Shamans can help both individuals and communities to re-balance their positive power/energy and to find wholeness again. This idea is reflected in the word ‘healing’, which is related to 'holistic' (whole). Healing then means: To become whole again. 
Petroglyphs in Arizona - the fence-like structure is considered an early representation of the 'veil' that the shaman has to cross to get to the non-ordinary reality.
Shamanism is not a Religion
Practicing Shamanism in our contemporary urban societies is a spiritual path, not a religion. It has no defined understanding of 'God', no set path to enlightenment, no codex of rules how to live and worship, etc.
Universal/Core Shamanism is a system of practices and methods that allow the practitioner to connect with their deepest essence, the wisdom of the universe, the teachings of the earth - and if they wish to call it so "the Divine". What they find out when they 'journey' to the world behind the veil is utterly individual; the beauty and power of the practices is direct revelation - nothing that is translated and interpreted by a guru or a priest. Therefore, in our contemporary societies, people with a variety of backgrounds use Shamanic processes and tools. At the Fireside Lodge, people with Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim and Buddhist background sit in a circle. Some have no religion at all. |
The Shaman's tipi in a Mongolian Tuva village (2015)
'Universal' or 'Core Shamanism'
The Shamanism we practice in the Fireside Lodge - and generally in a contemporary/urban context - is a bit different from the ethnic shamanism of traditional societies. In these societies, Shamans - the Medicine Men or Women - have often had a strong role not just for the spiritual welfare of individuals, but also for their communities. Some of their local practices only make sense in their own context - for example when they work with the spirit of the land or when they lead ceremonies that were passed down from generation to generation.
Even without diving deeply into the shamanic tradition of a specific society - we can use Shamanic techniques to gain direct access to the parallel universe and take a look 'behind the veil'. For example, when we use the drum to meditate and 'journey', we can open a direct communication channel to the Universe and our own essence. We then can answer important questions of our life not just with our analytical mind, but through inner guidance and deeper wisdom. This system of processes and tools is inspired by a variety of traditional ways around the world (including the European Shamanic heritage), but it can now be used by everybody who spends the time to practice the methods. How was this 'universal' Shamanic system created? Mostly through two connected movements: One was initiated by native Medicine People themselves. In a world that is ecologically and morally at risk, a variety of Medicine Men and Women have made their knowledge available through books and teachings. One of the more famous ones is Sun Bear, a Chippewa Medicine Man, who was one of first teachers of the Medicine Wheel and the idea of 'power animals' for a broader, non-tribal audience. In addition, some non-native Shamanic teachers travelled the world, studied with locals and collected methods that could be meaningfully used in a modern, urban context. The most famous is probably Michael Harner (1929-2018, American anthropologist) and his Foundation for Shamanic Studies who called his system of knowledge 'Core Shamanism'. Through participative research, he explored and collected methods that were used in similar ways in many traditions. For example, most native Shamans use healing methods to dissolve energy blockages (some call this 'extraction') or perform soul retrievals when a part of their clients' essence has split off. Inspired by these methods, Michael created a system that can be taught to practitioners in any cultural context. Out of respect to native, traditional Shamans, most people who study Universal or Core Shamanism would not call themselves 'Shamans'. The term most in use is 'Shamanic Practitioner'. |
The Power of the Drum
Drum Journeys are probably the best known and most widely practiced technique of both traditional and core shamanism. The drum beat allows us to alter our state of consciousness for a short period of time, in a very intentional and disciplined way. Using this 'non-ordinary' mind, we can experience aspects of our reality which the analytical mind can't reach. There we might find new inspiration, healing energy, new ways of looking at the world, etc.
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Drum Journeying - like other aspects of Shamanism - fosters our ability to stop thinking in a logical way and open ourselves up to a different way of being and perceiving. There are other methods to do this: meditating, praying, being in nature, connecting to art, dancing, attending a sweatlodge, etc.
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When we widen our consciousness and connect to non-ordinary reality, we are supported by ‘spirit allies’ who help us find new inspiration, deep knowledge, healing potential and positive life direction.
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There are many ways
to journey to the Sacred. |
