What is Shamanism?

Overlooking Machu Picchu, Peru.

Shamanism is a method of spiritual healing where the practitioner works directly with a client’s spirit and spirit guides. A shamanic practitioner journeys to non-ordinary realities that are often only known through dreams, visions or near-death experiences. In these other realms, they work with the patient’s spirit guides and their own helpers to bring healing.

This type of work takes many forms, but the most common healings are extractions and soul retrievals. Extractions are removal of foreign energy... ending with a reinforcement of our own energy to prevent future intrusions. Soul Retrievals are healings that address soul loss. Often in a traumatic situation where the soul does not know how to deal with the situation, it will fragment. This is a protection mechanism which can result in soul loss. (In extreme cases, psychology defines this as dissociation.) After the retrieval, the returned soul part is reintegreated.

Who May Benefit from Shamanic Work?

Common symptoms include:

• Pain that does not respond to treatment the way it seems it should.
• Pain that moves around, but cannot be vented.
• A sense that something is missing. Especially comments like, "I just never felt the same after the accident".
• Sense of feeling numb, dazed, thick, fuzzy, apathetic, deadened.
• Difficulty staying in the present.
• Frequent, chronic, or stubborn illnesses. Patient just cannot seem to re- build energy. This may also manifest as a lowered immunity.
• Memory gaps.
• Multiple personalities, hearing voices *.
• Struggles with addictions (alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, food) *