DEFINITIONs:
1. A shaman is one who helps people in their dealings with the other worlds. These other worlds are the realms above, beyond, and deep with the experiences of our lives. These are the realms of the spiritual, psychic vision and pure, natural Earth energies. In shamanism these worlds were traditionally represented as the upper world of the sky, or spirit levels, and the lower worlds of Earth and Nature.
SOURCE: Truth about Shamanism, Amber Wolfe
2. A family of traditions whose practitioners focus on voluntarily entering altered states of consciousness in which they experience themselves, or their spirit(s) interacting with other entities, often by traveling to other realms in order to serve their community.
Related Encyclopedia Articles
by Ross Heaven
Shamanic healing often employs plants to good effect, though it is rarely about herbalism, per se. Indeed, most shamans are explicit that the pharmacological properties of the plants they employ are of far less importance than the spirit which is held by the plant. It is the spirit which heals, ...
by Amber Wolfe
One of the most beautiful, synchronous aspects of the current shamanic reemergence is that it coincides with the great expansion in human consciousness and potential. The shamans of old may have had to rely on harsh experiences of physical and psychic trauma to access and tune into other worlds ...
by Amber Wolfe
Draw a
circle clockwise (either real or imaginary). Step inside the circle.
Hold the
power object, if you can, or place it inside the circle with you. If the object
is a spirit guide or power animal spirit, hold it in your imagination, or bring
something to represent it, such as a ...
by Amber Wolfe
It has been said, power is effective energy. In the shamanic philosophy all aspects of the universe have energy, which has potential use and power. Developing a relationship with objects in Nature, or in Spirit, to use their energy is called developing a totemic relationship. Power objects are ...
by Amber Wolfe
To understand the sacred, other world journey of the shaman, it is necessary to first understand shamanic consciousness. To begin with, consciousness is usually divided into two primary types: The focused, waking consciousness in which we are alert and aware of our surroundings. The unfocused, ...
by Amber Wolfe
Shamanic healings have long been shrouded in mystery, misunderstanding, and superstition. Still, as we learn to better understand the shamanic philosophy of life, we can begin to have clarity about this special form of healing. Basically, the shaman views the purpose of life as being spiritual ...
by Ross Heaven
Soul retrieval ??" a contemporary therapeutic practice rooted in the ancient spiritual tradition of shamanism - is attracting significant attention in the modern world as the holistic healthcare movement continues to gather force.
Shamans believe that we are all born with an amount of energy or ...
by Amber Wolfe
Functioning as a priest(ess), healer and channel between the worlds, the shaman calls on a very unique abilities??"that of divination. Divination is the ability to use perception and attunement to interpret signs and symbols. Shamanic divination is most closely related to the modern processes of ...
by Amber Wolfe
I recently heard a wonderfully simple definition of the word shaman.
It was: "A shaman is one who helps people in their dealings with the other worlds."
These other worlds are the realms above, beyond, and deep within the experiences of our lives. These are the realms of spiritual, psychic vision ...
by Amber Wolfe
We all have the capacity to follow a shamanic path. In our increasing attunement to Earth wisdom, we have all become like shamans mapping our journeys and our relationships with Nature.
Shamanism is an ancient art, a creative craft, and a way of wisdom, arising from the ages past to align us with ...