Shamanic Practice
How can Shamanic Practice nourish you?
Shamanic practices have been integral to various cultures for millennia, serving as traditional methods for addressing both mental and physical ailments. Societies closely connected to the land, sea, skies, and waterways—such as South American, Celtic, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Pacific and Indonesian, North American, Siberian, and Inner Asian communities[2] have maintained these practices as a way to honour their reciprocal relationship with nature.
In our fast-paced, modern world, Shamanic practices offer a way to reconnect with deeper truths about yourself and the world around you. By facilitating a connection to the spiritual realm and nature’s wisdom, Shamanic practices provide nourishment for the soul, promoting balance and harmony in your life. As a growing spiritual movement[3], Shamanism's core principles are increasingly accessible to those outside traditional lineages[4], offering universal pathways to healing and self-discovery.
Benefits of Shamanic Practice
Shamanic practices are deeply transformative, working on multiple levels to bring about physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual healing. Some benefits include:
- Emotional Healing: Shamanic practices can help release negative emotions and patterns by addressing deep-seated emotional wounds, leading to greater peace and clarity.
- Stress and Anxiety Reduction: Engaging in rituals, drumming, or guided journeys can induce a meditative state, reducing stress and promoting relaxation.
- Enhanced Self-Awareness: Through connection with the spiritual realm, Shamanic practices foster a deeper understanding of your life’s purpose and your place within the interconnected web of existence.
- Spiritual Growth: Shamanic rituals provide a sacred space for reflection, growth, and alignment with higher consciousness.
- Holistic Healing: Addressing the root causes of physical and energetic imbalances can improve overall well-being.
- Social Cohesion and Wellbeing: Through the communal experience of Culture, purpose and connection, social bonds are strengthened, strengthening the individuals within this Community[5].
- Reciprocity with Nature: The respect generated for Nature’s capacity to endure, heal, and support is in itself healing enhanced awareness of the damages humanity has inflicted on Mother Earth, becoming self-aware of the damages we have inflicted on each other and the planet. From this perspective, healing can start.
- Enhanced immunity: Shamanic Practices that involve rhythmic drumming assist in elevating immune response, a sign of resilient good health[6].
Recent scientific investigations have begun to explore the efficacy of Shamanic practices, offering insights into their potential therapeutic benefits. Studies suggest that practices such as rhythmic drumming, guided visualization, and trance states can support cognitive flexibility, reduce stress, and even address pain and enhance immune function[7].
Shamanic practice may assist in relieving symptoms related to:
What to expect from a Shamanic Practice session
Due to such a wide and varied field of practice[8], each Shamanic session is a unique experience tailored to your needs, but it generally includes these elements:
- Preparation: The session begins with a brief discussion to identify the areas of your life you’d like to focus on. This helps the practitioner tailor the experience to your specific concerns.
- Rituals and Techniques: The practitioner may use tools such as drums, rattles, feathers, or crystals to create a sacred space. Techniques like guided visualization or soul retrieval may be employed to facilitate healing and insight.
- Altered States of Consciousness: Through rhythmic drumming or chanting, you may enter a meditative or trance-like state, allowing you to access deeper layers of your subconscious and spiritual realms.
- Integration: After the session, you’ll have time to reflect and discuss your experience. The practitioner may provide guidance on how to integrate the insights and healing into your daily life.
Shamanic practices are rooted in timeless wisdom yet remain relevant today as a powerful tool for healing and transformation. They are increasingly being integrated with more Western medical approaches leading to a wider scope of effective practices available to those seeking healing[9].
Whether you seek clarity, healing, or spiritual connection, these practices can support your journey toward wellness and wholeness.
References
1. About Us. Shamanic Arts Australia; 2024.
2. Member Directory. Society for Shamanic Practice; 2024.
3. Shamanism Emerges as the Fastest-Growing Spiritual Movement. Embracing Shamanism; 2023.
4. Core Shamanism. The Foundation for Shamanic Studies; 2024.
5. McClenon J. Shamanic healing, human evolution, and the origin of religion. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion; 1997.
6. Bittman BB, Berk LS, Felten DL, Westengard J, Simonton OC, Pappas J et al. Composite effects of group drumming music therapy on modulation of neuroendocrine-immune parameters in normal subjects. Alternative therapies in health and medicine; 2001.
7. Marie N, Lafon Y, Bicego A, Grégoire C, Rousseaux F, Bioy A, et al. Scoping review on shamanistic trances practices. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies; 2024.
8. Shamanism. Occult World; [cited on 2024 Dec 10].
9. Hanifie S. Ngangkari healers: 60,000 years of traditional Aboriginal methods make headway in medical clinics. ABC News; 2018.