Shamanism

[a_shikhs]

I've been attracted to the whole concept of Shamanism since a month, when I repeatedly started seeing the eyes of a horse in my mind almost every night. After googling this, I came across the word shamanic healer and it somehow made sense in a way. I've just started reading Caitlin Matthew's book Singing the Soul back Home and she explains it beautifully.

I know there are a lot of shamans here on AT and would love to hear about your experiences on what made you take this path and about your journey. Also any tips or ideas for a good shamanic course in the UK would be great, as I would love to learn more from a teacher.

 

[Cat*]

I don't have the time for an extended answer tonight, but I wanted to wholeheartedly recommend Mi-Shell's old Teaching Tent thread (closed by now but still an incredible source of information).
And then there's the Singing the Soul Back Home thread where a couple of us started working our way through the book of the same name. It has become rather quiet but please feel free to join in any time.
Milfoil might be able to point you to a trustworthy teacher in the UK.

You may want to be careful with the term "shaman," though, because many people believe it should be reserved for those trained within a traditional context (that is, an ongoing shamanic culture) and/or those who have been chosen by the Spirits to fulfill that role for their community (whether they like it or not). "Shamanic practitioner" is a more neutral term that many Western practitioners use for themselves.

 

[Milfoil]

Hi a_Shikhs

Horse is a strong ally here in the UK, the White horse cut into the chalk cliffs of Wiltshire:

http://www.wiltshirewhitehorses.org.uk/

Epona and Ellen of the Ways were both associated with horses, the path, journey and travellers (in life and death). Horse also seems to be associated with the land itself.

Speaking personally, I wasn't really given an option. When I got to rock bottom both in health and depression, the doctors were useless, they had no diagnosis and I wasted for about 7 or 8 years not fully understanding why I was debilitated or how to find a cure. Only when I came across a tarot deck in a shop and then came to AT, and then started reading other people's wacky experiences which compared to my own and then reading a book which a friend sent me which expressed many of the things I was struggling to understand. Then I started to look around at the messages the Universe was showing me. Going from one clue to the next and that was back in 2005. It was like a revelation, something I had always known to be true in my soul but never had the frame of reference to acess it by.

It would take too long to go over it all but I did write a bit about it on my website.

Cat* makes a good point, there is concern over the use of the term Shaman since it is a word from the Tuval region of Siberia. Other cultures use different names and many 1st Nation Native Americans find the term offensive, if not inappropriate in connection with their medicine people (since they don't journey in trance as such - some do, some don't).

There is also a good distinction to be made between Shaman - a person who works in close connection to the Spirits to bring about healing to others and Shamanic Practitioner - western healers and non-healers who follow a shamanic path. Most people who use the term practitioner are actively involved in the healing of others.

The distinction between Shamanic and shamanistic is also worth mentioning.

Shamanic - Any culture or process using basic procedures which involve altered states of consciousness to engage help from the Spirit world. For example the Inuit people, although they may not use the name Shaman have a shamanic world view and their healers go through a shamanic initiation by the Spirits.

Shamanistic - Practices relating to shamanism or having a similar basis. For example UK traditional witchcraft has shamanistic traits such as the use of 'familiars' which are related to helping spirits in shamanic cultures.

Every person on the globe, if we go back far enough in time, pre Christianity, Pre Judaism, to the Egyptians, Sumerians, Toltec, Australian Aboriginals, Japanese Ainu, Inuit, Myans, Hindus etc, has ancestors who held animistic world views. Our ancestors are often waiting in the wings to help us see the deeper and more profound connections we have to everything. If Horse is coming to teach you, what can you find out about the mythology of horses, their significance, what they mean to you?

 

[a_shikhs]

I don't have the time for an extended answer tonight, but I wanted to wholeheartedly recommend Mi-Shell's old Teaching Tent thread (closed by now but still an incredible source of information).
And then there's the Singing the Soul Back Home thread where a couple of us started working our way through the book of the same name. It has become rather quiet but please feel free to join in any time.
Milfoil might be able to point you to a trustworthy teacher in the UK.

You may want to be careful with the term "shaman," though, because many people believe it should be reserved for those trained within a traditional context (that is, an ongoing shamanic culture) and/or those who have been chosen by the Spirits to fulfill that role for their community (whether they like it or not). "Shamanic practitioner" is a more neutral term that many Western practitioners use for themselves.

Thank you for the links Cat. I'm already hooked to them.

 

[a_shikhs]

Hi a_Shikhs

Horse is a strong ally here in the UK, the White horse cut into the chalk cliffs of Wiltshire:

http://www.wiltshirewhitehorses.org.uk/

Epona and Ellen of the Ways were both associated with horses, the path, journey and travellers (in life and death). Horse also seems to be associated with the land itself.

Speaking personally, I wasn't really given an option. When I got to rock bottom both in health and depression, the doctors were useless, they had no diagnosis and I wasted for about 7 or 8 years not fully understanding why I was debilitated or how to find a cure. Only when I came across a tarot deck in a shop and then came to AT, and then started reading other people's wacky experiences which compared to my own and then reading a book which a friend sent me which expressed many of the things I was struggling to understand. Then I started to look around at the messages the Universe was showing me. Going from one clue to the next and that was back in 2005. It was like a revelation, something I had always known to be true in my soul but never had the frame of reference to acess it by.

It would take too long to go over it all but I did write a bit about it on my website.

Cat* makes a good point, there is concern over the use of the term Shaman since it is a word from the Tuval region of Siberia. Other cultures use different names and many 1st Nation Native Americans find the term offensive, if not inappropriate in connection with their medicine people (since they don't journey in trance as such - some do, some don't).

There is also a good distinction to be made between Shaman - a person who works in close connection to the Spirits to bring about healing to others and Shamanic Practitioner - western healers and non-healers who follow a shamanic path. Most people who use the term practitioner are actively involved in the healing of others.

The distinction between Shamanic and shamanistic is also worth mentioning.

Shamanic - Any culture or process using basic procedures which involve altered states of consciousness to engage help from the Spirit world. For example the Inuit people, although they may not use the name Shaman have a shamanic world view and their healers go through a shamanic initiation by the Spirits.

Shamanistic - Practices relating to shamanism or having a similar basis. For example UK traditional witchcraft has shamanistic traits such as the use of 'familiars' which are related to helping spirits in shamanic cultures.

Every person on the globe, if we go back far enough in time, pre Christianity, Pre Judaism, to the Egyptians, Sumerians, Toltec, Australian Aboriginals, Japanese Ainu, Inuit, Myans, Hindus etc, has ancestors who held animistic world views. Our ancestors are often waiting in the wings to help us see the deeper and more profound connections we have to everything. If Horse is coming to teach you, what can you find out about the mythology of horses, their significance, what they mean to you?

Hi Milfoil The whole shamanism concept is so nice and positive. I'm really enjoying reading the book and I like the small details mentioned about respecting Mother Earth and plants and insects around you. Simply beautiful. I've even tried a few exercises mentioned in the book. Today I tried journeying to the middleworld to know your power animal guide, and I met a beautiful unicorn. So yes, the horse that kept coming to me a few weeks back makes complete sense now. Do you know any shamanic teacher or any workshops happening close to London? I would love to learn as much as I can about this path.

 

[a_shikhs]

Well, I attended the shamanic beginners course taught by John Matthews this weekend and LOVED the whole teaching. Everything happens for a reason and things fall into a synchronic sequence on their own somehow.

A month before the course, I started reading Caitlin Matthew's book - Singing the Soul Back Home. I did practice a few exercises and met my animal guide and did a bit of 'journeying', which at that time I didn't know I was actually journeying. I thought I was making up stuff and quite enjoyed it. It felt nice. Then after attending the workshop, I realised that I was actually journeying without knowing it and everything is so REAL. Things are falling into place somehow and I've been meeting new guides and teachers, which is really nice.

John Matthews is an extraordinary person and an amazing teacher. He's full of life and so attentive. I even ended up buying the Wildwood Tarot at the workshop and feel that this deck will help me in my shamanic journeys. I meditated with a few cards and got some powerful messages which make so much sense. I can't wait to attend the next part soon.

There' so much to life and it's funny how little we know about it. I'm on a spiritual high all of a sudden and feel in touch with the spirits around.

Just curious, How often do you journey? How long does the journeying last?

 

[celticnoodle]

how wonderful for you a_shikhs! I hope you will continue to share your experiences here with all of us.

 

[SarahRacheal]

a_shikhs to answer your curiosity I journey when I have a reason to and it takes as long as it takes, sometimes I need to go back to an issue a few times or re-read notes I have taken days/weeks/when ever later for things to "Drop into place" and sometimes still I have no idea what I have been shown or how it links to the reason for my journey.
Everyone is different and we all learn differently

 

[Milfoil]

I've never met John Matthews but he has a lovely reputation. Like SarahRacheal I journey when I need to, sometimes I am in there in seconds, other times it takes me nearly an hour to drop down to the real stuff (and not just the mental clutter in my head).

 

[a_shikhs]

Thank you for your answers. I have been journeying at least once a day since I'm new to it and it's nice getting my questions answered. Do you keep a shamanic journal where you write about your journeys? I've been thinking of doing so just to keep a record of all the messages I'm being given.