The mystical experience of shamanism

Shamanism, one of the oldest spiritual healing practices, is gaining popularity among contemporary spiritual seekers. Thanks to the research and teachings of Michael Harner, an American professor of anthropology, shamanism has become accessible to Westerners. The Foundation for Shamanic Research, founded by Harner, offers training programs that allow for the exploration of shamanic healing methods. In this article, we will examine the mystical experiences associated with shamanism and its impact on personal growth and healing.

One of the best things about practicing contemporary shamanism, in my opinion, is the daily experience of the oneness and sacredness of all things. "All that lives."

When American anthropology professor Michael Harner began studying shamanism and shamanic healing methods in the early 1970s, shamanism was largely unknown to academics. Today, shamans, known as "shamanic doctors," can be found throughout the United States and Europe. Many thousands of contemporary shamans owe their skills to Dr. Harner and the Foundation for Shamanic Research, a nonprofit organization founded in 1985 to prepare, restore, and teach shamanism and shamanic healing methods worldwide. Harner's book, "The Way of the Shaman," is considered a pioneering work in the field of contemporary shamanism.

Shamanism is not a religion or a set of beliefs. Shamanism is the oldest spiritual healing practice, which, as archaeological research shows, was practiced over 30,000 years ago. Shamanism has been practiced on all inhabited continents by indigenous peoples, such as the Sami (Lapps) inhabiting northernmost Europe, the indigenous peoples of Australia, the South American Bushmen, and the indigenous peoples of the Americas. Religious and political persecution, along with the general decimation of populations and cultures, led to the near extinction of indigenous shamans and the loss of much of their shamanic knowledge.

Beginning in 1961, Dr. Harner was trained by shamans from two Amazonian Indian tribes and later conducted extensive research on shamanism worldwide to discover the fundamental cross-cultural principles and practices he called "Core Shamanism." Through diligent research and experimentation, Harner developed training programs, now offered by the Foundation for Shamanic Research, that motivate and discipline those beginning to walk the shamanic path and learn how to help others using shamanic healing methods. Core Shamanism is tailored to Westerners who desire a system free from cultural constraints that they can adopt and integrate into their lives.

My journey with shamanism began when I had a mystical experience involving my soul and spirit animal. While trying to understand this experience, I discovered its shamanic nature and came across the work of Michael Harner. I began studying shamanism through the Foundation for Shamanic Research. Each workshop and training program immersed me deeper in my own understanding of shamanism, and I learned how to use shamanic methods to heal others. I also experienced profound personal healing.

As a shamanic practitioner, I enter a kind of trance, a "shamanic state of consciousness," through monotonous drumming or rattling to access what is called "non-ordinary reality." In this altered state, which can range from the superficial to the profound, a trained shamanic practitioner engages in the central practice of shamanism, the out-of-body experience (OBE). During this journeying experience, I can interact directly with benevolent spirit beings to diagnose, heal, and seek counsel on behalf of others.

For experienced shamanic practitioners, shamanism is not a matter of belief. You no more believe in the existence of spirits than you believe that the sun rises from the east. You know these spirits because you see them, speak with them, and interact with them, both during your journeys and in your daily life—because the spirits, by helping you, also help others.

As you journey into the realms of benevolent spirits, you discover that in this totality of worlds, compassion and unity are the norm. This ecstatic experience transforms you, and you become more than you ever imagined—and you begin to understand that this world, too, is more than we ever imagined.