Grape #36: Introduction to Shamanism

Welcome to a brand new series on Shamanic Journeying! If this is your first time visiting my blog, you'll find all kinds of spiritual discussions over the past few years. Poke around a bit, and see if any of the other conversations appeal to you.

I'm really excited to launch this brand new, interactive experience with you, because for the past six years of my life, Shamanism has become a true passion, something that helps me get in touch with the spirit world in a truly up-close-and-personal manner.

Now despite all the funny memes lately referring to spirit animals, I'm willing to bet most people I know don't really understand what shamanism entails, and some may even think it a bit suspect. Well, I promise you it is not just real, but REALLY COOL too.

I thought I'd use this space to tell you what shamanism is exactly, and then in future blogs, I'll write in more detail about some of the amazing journeys I've enjoyed over the past six years since I began attending monthly circles. Because I write down what I see, hear, feel, and experience each time I do this, I have notebooks filled with my shamanic journeys, and I think you're going to really enjoy hearing about them.

While you'll need to take a class somewhere to really learn how to journey, here's a very short, very free overview.

First, we smudge. We burn sage, and along with a feather, take turns guiding the sage smoke onto each other as a way of healing one another from negative energy and relaxing into the spirit-centered atmosphere we choose to create for ourselves.

Led by our shaman, we next set circle by calling in the directions and inviting in our spirit guides and teachers, asking them to join us in creating sacred space. A small altar at the middle serves as a center for the circle's energy.

Once we've smudged and set the circle, we sit and wait for our shaman to tell us what his or her plans are for the evening. They will have journeyed on the intentions they'll share with us at this time, and give us instructions for our first journey.

With the lights dimmed and all participants sitting or lying down with their eyes closed, usually with something covering our eyes as well, the shaman will begin to beat the drum at 200 beats per minute, activating the theta waves in our brain. Nothing weird here, I promise. The steady drumbeat simply helps you go to a place between sleep and awake where you can most easily commune with spirit.

And the spirits themselves are nothing scary either. In fact, you can feel free to call them angels, saints, spirit guides, teachers, loved ones, spirit animals, and so on.

Shamanism is not in any way a contradiction to religion. It is simply a spiritual practice, a beautiful direct pathway to communion with the spirit world.

As the shaman beats the drum, you'll go to what we call the lower, middle, or upper worlds. The lower world is where we generally meet with and commune with spirit animals in nature, the middle world is our own world for the most part, but as seen spiritually, and the upper world is where we usually find and meet with our spirit guides and teachers.

Visualization is the key, but it cannot come through resistance. You must be open to the absolute truth that spirit guides, spirit animals, teachers, and truths can and will arrive. As long as you are fully open to this, the drumbeat from the shaman will help you connect. Though it takes practice, you'll be amazed at how quickly you get used to it.

That's all for now. I don't want to overwhelm you too much at the beginning. Next time I'll take you through an evening of journeys. Please ask me anything you'd like any time, and I'll be very happy to explain things to the best of my ability. Thank you for your interest.