Shamanic Study Topics:
a partial list of the contents of the course series
Shamanic Practices
Shamanic Journey. Also known as the shamanic trance (or ecstasy), the shamanic journey is considered a 'hallmark' of shamanism. Despite any mystery about it, given a little bit of preliminary guidance, a shamanic journey is actually, very easy to take! I believe that the shamanic journey is your birthright. I have provided extremely thorough instructions in how to journey. Whether you choose to study with me through your college or university, or as an independent student through this website, or even if you decided to come meet me and work individually or study at one of our training retreats, you can be assured that you will be mentored confidently in this crucial art throughout your education.
Power Animal Retrieval The retrieval of power with a power animal is one of the most commonly recognized forms of shamanic healing. Your basic, level 1 class provides a complete understanding and training in this historic practice. There is little that is as exciting to a practitioner who is just starting, to find, retrieve, and return to another person a power that is truly theirs, yet had been compromised, if not lost.
Extraction As you approach more advanced shamanic study, extraction training draws you into serious reliance on the basic training in Level 1. Extraction involves the careful removal of what are known as intrusions, which drain a person's power and can lead to serious secondary effects. This is a Level 2 technique, where complexity and potential danger builds on the careful development of power and protocols learned in Level 1.
Soul Retrieval The exquisite practice of soul retrieval is one of the most delicate and significant practices in the shamanic arts. The successful retrieval of souls yields almost incomparable satisfaction to the practitioner. This is an advanced, Level 3 technique, involving technique complexity, a tremendous relationship with spirit helpers, the practitioner's keen sensitivity, familiarity with non-ordinary reality, and sound shamanic judgment. Mastering soul retrieval and follow-up care empowers an extraordinary service for a human being.
Shamanic Cleansing You will be provided with instructions for cleansing yourself with sage; either a standing style cleansing (for another), or a kneeling style cleansing for preparing oneself. Whether doing a personal cleansing or assisting another, these are wonderful ways to ground, center and focus our heart and intention as we prepare for shamanic work.
Opening Circle (or 'Calling in the Directions'). As many people are seeking to rediscover a natural spirituality of the Earth, I will be training you in an extraordinary ritual which supports this re-orientation into an Earth-centered spirituality. Variously known as 'Calling the Directions', 'Calling the Spirit of the Directions' or 'Calling in the Spirits', this ritual is a perfect way to open a sacred circle for yourself or with others, so that we may center ourselves in our wondrous world, ground ourselves amidst the daily bustle, and orient ourselves to the fullness of existence. It is from here that we can step forward into our practice. Though some of the particulars of Calling in the Directions vary between peoples and cultures, its essential nature is easily recognized anywhere around the world.
Fundamental Shamanic Understandings
Shamanic Reality. What's real in a shamanic, Earth-centered way of understanding? Shamanic Reality is very different from that which is the unexamined basis of much of the contemporary world!
Shamanic training bring a much needed, healthy corrective to the common Western Western world view. Increasing numbers of people around our globe are discovering that religious ideas civilization have left a deep alienation from our natural world, and even from the living, breathing fullness of our own natural selves. As a consequence, it has become the 'norm' among people today to treat the Earth and other with disrespect and separation. They terrorize each other, and the planet. Now, somewhat surprised at how miserable they feel, they have found themselves in a kind of a self-imposed alienation from their own tribe of other human beings, and from their Earth-home.
Shamanic studies offer an extraordinary voice that helps us reach back to a healthy connection with life, and helps us fulfill our longing for the affection and respect we could have for this Earth and each other. In a very real sense, shamanic studies lead us back to the vital, joyful, and compassionate powers of our true self and full nature.
Western Shamanic History. Did you know that most likely, your family lineage had a shamanic, and definitely an Earth-centered spiritual past? Our memory of such an ancient, world-wide wisdom has been nearly lost over time, especially over the last several thousand years. Students learning shamanism today, especially those with a European ancestry are surprised and delighted to find a western shamanic history, and able to recover their own lost shamanic and Earth-centered spiritual roots.
The Shamanic World View. In the course of your studies, you will experience how a shaman sees and works with the world. Did you know that for the shamanic practitioner, mind and world are interwoven as one? The shamanic world view challenges the common, and often blithely accepted 'consensus reality'. As I said above, this is the particular expertise of the shaman! Classes in shamanism encourage us to look deeply at the world and understand it in a way that can facilitate a much needed healing for ourselves, each other, and our Earth.
Shamanic Ethics. Goodness knows there are plenty of people in every career, from politics to business, whose ethics became, shall we say... 'softened' once they became powerful. Shamans are - naturally - people too, so it shouldn't be any surprise to hear that this problem has also appeared in the history of shamanic practice.
Shamanic ethics is a crucial part of the healing art. When we make the decision to step forward and bring our compassionate healing attention to the world, we will be facing crucial ethical decisions. I make it a fundamental part of my internet curriculum that each student who learns shamanism in these internet classes with me looks closely at the ethics of shamanic healing and of caregiving in general, and develops a clear sense of their own ethical understanding.
Shamanic Healing. Perhaps it seems a 'no-brainer' that shamanic studies and the curriculum in contemporary medical schools are very different! But what is it that makes shamanic healing, 'shamanic'?
In our online class, you will learn how the nature of reality is seen very differently by a shamanic practitioner from that seen by many other healing modalities, including that of the contemporary 'medical model'. Hence, the understanding of illness differs dramatically and the paths of shamanism and Western medicine diverged. On the other hand, the 'hard' sciences such as organic chemistry 'de-spiritualized' the healing process, and with this was lost the particular wellness that a shamanic world view provides.
You know, it doesn't really matter whether someone considers shamanic healing to be spiritual, psychological, or even physical. How we conceptually frame things is really irrelevant. Human narcissism aside, the world doesn't really care what we call it and will continue to be what it is regardless of the terms we choose!
Shamanic Trance. The shamanic journey, the 'ecstasy' that is so often referred to in discussions of shamanic practice... what is the shamanic trance? Shamanic healers for tens of thousands of years have known from direct experience that shamanic trance, during the shamanic journey or merging with compassionate spirit helpers, could circumvent the restraints of ordinary reality. Recent research has begun to point to some of the reasons why. I make certain you are provided with the absolute best journey techniques.
Our True Self. As the nature of reality is enlarged and deepened through our understanding of shamanism and our connection with our Earth, we widely discover a deepening connection with our true self. The limited, shortened sense of selfhood so familiar in the contemporary world finds a way to heal, with the simple and straightforward ways of shamanism. Shamanic healing helps return us to our vital fullness as a whole and empowered person, as we recover and reintegrate with our true nature.
The simplest way to take the greatest perspective on compassionate shamanic practice and ritual is by remembering that shamanism relies on a connection and integration in the inclusive 'community' of our whole Earth. Our study of shamanic spirituality, practices and lifestyles provide an avenue of natural healing, relying on knowledge gleaned within the long histories of widely differing cultures and from around the world.
At its essence, shamanism is about our empowerment as our full, true self, and our reintegration with the deep, rich tapestry of life.
Shamanic Spirit Teachers, Power Animals,
and the Shamanic World View
Shamanic Spirits, Worlds. As you learn the healing practices of shamanism, you will discover animal spirits (power animals), spirit teachers, and your true self. You will discover the shamanic upper world, shamanic lower world, and shamanic middle world. Somewhere amidst all of this, you will rediscover the spiritual healing and wellness of our global ancestors, waiting to be rediscovered by a civilization where this was forgotten.
Power Animals. What are animal spirits? Animal spirits (power animals) bring us, unsurprisingly; power, but they are also guides and protectors. Power animals empower us with strength, courage, tenacity, vigor, and any other aspect of our full, true self. We all have animal spirits just waiting to be discovered, and with whom we can be reunited. As a training shamanic practitioner, in the first level internet coursework, you will learn how these powers can be returned to someone else.
Shamanic Spirit Teachers. Sometimes students in my class think of me as a teacher, and I chuckle, for I am just pointing towards their spirit teachers, who will be there real teachers! Spirit teachers, primarily found during a shamanic journey to the upper world, provide the information and direction we need to develop as a person and as a shamanic practitioner. They are there to teach us, and drive the lessons home!
Shamanic Upper World. Yes, this is where the spirit teachers tend to reside, and is a realm we are capable of visiting through a shamanic journey. The shamanic upper world is, however, just one portion of a shaman's 'non-ordinary' reality. No need for worries, for the shamanic upper world is a completely benign place, totally safe to the practitioner, and full of power and information.
Shamanic Middle World. Yes, there is one, and unfortunately it can be just as tricky and full of ignorance as our world is in ordinary reality. The non-ordinary middle world in shamanism provides our paths to the upper and lower worlds, but aside from this, is not a place for beginners to dally. Your shamanic education will adequately prepare you to study 'middle world work', which requires you to be well informed, that you follow careful protocols, and only move forward when you re strongly empowered. This shaman training will prepare you for to undertake middle-world study.
Shamanic Lower World. Animal spirits live here! The lower world is where you tend to find your power animals. First, as a point of clarification, the ancient shamanic lower world has absolutely nothing in common with realms that some religions posit 'an underworld' associated with 'bad' or even 'evil' things. Actually, shamanism pre-dated such religious beliefs by many thousands of years, and the hypothesis that the Earth could actually be 'evil' is a relatively recent, and totally erroneous misconception that has led to tremendous human suffering.
How different is shamanism! The shamanic lower world is usually encountered as a natural, wild environment, full of huge trees, rich jungles, sky-high mountains. These are very Earth-like, natural places that are full of benevolent animal spirits who are waiting there to help us return to our full human empowerment. Perhaps I sound a little bit like a park ranger, but so be it, I will say it anyway: 'if you relish hiking in nature, you'll love the shamanic lower world!'
Share this page with a friend!