What is Shaminism

Shamanism
mystical enlightenments and healing.

The shaman draws power and knowledge through their respect and reverence into their relationship
with the Earth and with Spirit. The shaman incorporates their healing knowledge and Spirit into the
modern world - restoring balance and harmony to ourselves, our communities, and our planet as a
whole.

Shamanic way of life requires honoring and living the sacred. Shamanic healing and service is
not only for the initiated shaman but a way of living sacred life available to all of us. The time we
are living in requires that we all come into right relationship with creation and the Mystery if we, and
our planet, is to survive. Healing, restoring to balance, our people, our communities, out Earth, in
service to Creator/Great Mystery, that is the work of those who embrace the shamanic way of life.

Altars
An altar is a place where we are reminded of our union with spirit, where we place objects that
signify our relationship with the spiritual world. a personal altar may be very simple to begin with.
Perhaps a candle, incense, stones, a feather, shell, rattle and other objects that remind you of
powerful spiritual experiences. When you engage with your altar it will take you to a higher state of
consciousness.

Incense
all over the world to purify a place, a person, an object. Sage banishes negative energies and
thought The familiar fragrance of incense immediately sets the space for sacred ceremony. Incense
is used forms; cedar balances the energies and lavender and pinion blesses all present. Florida
Water and are the negative ones produced by electric current around polluting fumes) and
encourages negative ions which are the positive life affirmative ones found in clean, clear, flowing
water.

Rattle - higher vibrations for healing
The rattle is a very powerful instrument. Shamans use the rattle for journeying, entering
sacred/altered consciousness, to connect with the spirit world and for healing. Connect with your
heart as you rattle. Listen and feel what your heart and rattle is giving to you and your body. When
you are depressed, sad, sit and rattle and channel this energy out of you. If you feel pain in an area,
then rattle around that area.

Invocation
Invoke the archetypal powers of the four directions, Mother Earth, Father Sky, Great Spirit, and the
spirit within you.

Spirits that heal and guide us from within the natural world / the middle world of
space and time.
Stone spirits are the oldest spirits on our Earth. They hold the memory of creation itself. A stone
may call your attention and you develop an appreciation for its presence. Hold the stone in your left
hand, close your eyes and go into meditation. Where does the stone want to go on your body? Let
the stone guide your hand to wherever it wants to be placed on your body. Quietly remain receptive
to what message the stone my have for you. You will instinctively know when the stone is ready to
be removed and the meditation is completed. It is helpful to keep a journal of all engagements with
the spirits of the middle world.
Plant spirits- As with the stone people, you may enter the same process with plants that have drawn
your attention.

Animal spirits - Animal spirits speak to us each day. We only need to listen to their voice to
receive their message. Be aware of animals that come into view repeatedly, such as seeing a red
tailed hawk each day on your way to work. One of the first ceremonies in shamanic healing is the
shaman's journey to retrieve a power animal for the client. A power animal is a great protector and
reflects many levels of awareness on how to engage in life and how to respond to challenging
situations.

Shamanic States of Consciousness
Indigenous cultures have varying representation of the states of consciousness and yet, they have a
common perceptions of our states of consciousness within our emotional, physical, intellectual,
spiritual bodies. The following is an example of states of consciousness:
First State - Serpent - returning to the beauty of "the garden", a state of peace with no agenda.
This may be likened to the deep state of relaxation, clearing the mind and emotion, that viualization
and hypnosis provides.
Second State - Jaguar - With clear objectivity one can enter the state of heightened awareness.
Third State - Condor/Eagle - Having entered the first two states we engage our hearts and enter into
love and compassion.
Fourth State - Inka- become a being of light and open to receive the wisdoms available to us;
attaining our highest destiny of service. At this state of consciousness we no longer need to rely on
analytical information but are available to helping spirits and "Christ Consciousness".

Ceremony and Ritual - Sacred Space and Time
We can enter the magical place outside of time and space in which the here and now is all there is.
When the Hopi plant corn they do so in sacred time and space. They turn an ordinary act into a
sacred act through their intention and focus. it is a sacred way, a ceremonial way, to live each day in
all that we engage in. It is a way to give energy back to Mother Earth and to hear her voice and the
voices of her great powers. It is a way to live in balance, restoring harmony to our engagements in
life.

Reciprocity - Restoring Harmony
Reciprocity is the practice of keeping the flow of life giving energy in balance. it is a thank you and
prayer in symbolic images. Do not ask for anything, rather, pray as if your prayer is already
manifested. Practices in reciprocity are in all shamanic cultures. The practice of tobacco offerings,
despachos, corn offerings are all examples of energetic exchanges that maintain harmony with
creation.

Daily Practices
"Lighten Up" - Don't take yourself so seriously but take your life's purpose, your calling, seriously.
Laugh - when you awaken in the morning, immediately stretch, feel yourself coming back into your
body. Start to laugh. It is a signal to your body, mind, and spirit that today is a good day.

Smile - Smiling uses more than 50 muscles and changes our biochemistry. Smiling has its own
breathing pattern. Putting our face into a certain position changes our whole body chemistry into
that mood. So simply SMILE. Then send happiness to the liver - heart - spleen - kidneys - any
problem area.

Hucha Mikhuy (hoo cha mee qwee)
Cleanse heavy, dense energy from your energy field. Bring the light of your energy field, your light
body, into your body through you nave and circulate it through your whole body, all your chakras,
down to your bones and every cell. Let the light flow out of your crown chakra and back into your
energy field. Note how you feel in thought mind and spirit as a result of this process.

Be Awake.......Practice heightened awareness of your environment, your feelings, others energy
and their agendas. Most of all, be aware of how you can be the peaceful warrior; one who has no
enemies but has access to personal power.