What kinds of Shamanism are there today?

In addition to the surviving Native
American traditions, people are rediscovering
their cultural roots in Ireland, Scotland,
Great Britian, Wales, Iceland, Siberia,
The Hawaiian Islands, Africa and Asia
and many other places. Most indigenous
cultures show some indication of shamanic
practices, and so by tracing one’s own
roots one can usually find a way to
some kind of shamanic tradition.
So universal are these ways, that
Michael Harner, author of "The Way of
the Shaman" and founder of an institute
for shamanic studies has proposed that
these practices can be separated from
their cultural contexts into a set of
practices that anyone can use to
navigate the spiritual realms.
This is known as "Core Shamanism",
and while it might seem reasonable to
assume that western peoples, who have
by and large lost a deep connection
with their ancestral heritages, would
be very attracted to a non-cultural
spiritual practice, many still seek out
traditional ways and a cultural context
in which to learn and practice the
ways between the worlds, even when
those ways seem to differ from the
cultural heritage they were born into.
Examples of this include Native American
and Celtic paths.

What is a Shamanic journey like?

To induce a gentle trance state,
facilitating the shift in consciousness
necessary to the work, drums, bells or
rattles are often used to pace a steady,
driving beat. As if in a lucid dream, the
shaman can move and walk about, can see
and hear as well. While journeying the
shaman goes to the subtle spiritual worlds
which lie next to and intertwine with
our own, conscious world, and from the
character of the place he or she goes,
and the nature of the animals and other
beings he or she sees there, the meaning
of the journey takes shape.

What are Power Animals?

Animals are seen by shamans as demonstrating certain lessons and capabilities. As guardian spirits, or helpers, each person is said to have at least one and frequently many different spirits who can help him or her spiritually, in harmony with the individual’s innate character and talents. These spirits can leave the individual if the individual ignores them or fails to honor them. A shaman can help individuals recognize or draw back their power animals when this happens.

What is Soul-Loss?

Soul loss is the term used to describe what happens spiritually when our boundaries are nor honored. It is as if a part of our essential self has left us and become stuck in the source of the conflict, or as if a part of us inside has gone to sleep. Shamans say that soul loss is very common in the modern world, with its quick-paced impersonality, and soul-loss is something that shamanic practitioners can usually help heal.

What is Power-Loss?

Shamanic power is really more a question of being properly hooked into a circuit of flow. The power, like water or electricity, comes from a universal spiritual source, manifests in myriad ways through the spiritual and physical realms, comes to us, and is used by us, and so flows out, and eventually back to source. The trouble happens when we shut ourselves off from the flow, or it "grounds out" in us, or becomes blocked and floods us out. Because we are in "circuit" with other human beings, this sometimes means that when people get detached from the right flow, they inappropriately turn to each other to seek the power they really need to come from the universal source. This is not good for either party, and Shamans are trained to recognize and help correct this kind of imbalance

What is Celtic Shamanism?

This reconstructed shamanic path works with symbolism and mythologies from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Brittain. It often involves study of the Ogham, the wisdom of the Trees. Celtic Shamanism is NOT Druidism. Celtic Shamans do many of the same things shamans in other cultures do, but they have their own terminologies for these things, for instance, Celtic shamans call their inworld journey work "imram". Celtic Shamans must study the Healing Arts and the Craft of War, so that every Celtic Shaman is both a warrior and a healer. There is also a great emphasis on Bardic knowledge.

What is Faerie Shamanism?

This is shamanism which involves belief in and work with the Faerie/Feri/Faery mythologies, also known as nature spirits or elementals. Many Celtic shamans work with Faery. Celtic shamans call their inworld work "imram", and while in imram, Faery Shamans will often see and work with Fae beings.

Can anyone do Shamanism?

There are many Shamanic techniques that anyone can practice safely, for example, grounding, or honoring one’s ancestors. However, practicing shamanism and being a Shaman are two separate things. The trained Shaman must be able to recognize things that are crucial to a balanced application of the intense energies that can be activated almost casually with easily learned techniques, and he or she must be able to work for other people in a way that will facilitate their healing and support their well-being. Shamans must get good results for their workings, and must use their powers wisely, or as worldwide legend has it, they will lose their powers. Beginners, especially those who learn the techniques from books, may not have this background, and can run into unexpected and potentially dangerous spiritual and energetic ground. When in doubt, seek out a well-trained and experienced individual for workings or teaching.