Shamanism is a very old tradition rooted in faith that is frequently misunderstood. Before we had our present-day priests, doctors, and life coaches, there were shaman. The word shaman has most often been attached to visuals that create a stigma in many minds. Perhaps something mysterious, archaic, or “evil.”

However, true shaman, medicine women/men, and spirit warriors lift the veil for divine intervention rather than summoning any sort of unholiness. The word shaman originates from the Evenk tribe of Siberia whose ancestors arrived around 3500 BC. They speak a language called tungus. The word shaman is translated from the tungus word “saman” meaning “one who knows, is moved, or raised.” A shaman seeks heightened awareness and connection to all things for the purpose of sharing spiritual knowledge and healing. Shamanism was the first known spiritual practice of humankind. Most all communities that had a shaman or spirit medicine person for support practiced shamanism as a collective. Cave carvings and artifacts that date back well over 20,000 years ago provide scientific evidence that shamanism is an innate part of our being. It is present within the history of every single culture and continent to ever exist on planet Earth.

Through centuries of time different ideologies and practices have developed across the World, but the root was always the same (assuming the individuals’ aligned their practices with good). The intent of a shaman (in my experience) is to walk between Worlds. Shaman traverse non-ordinary reality on behalf of themselves and others. Through devotion, personal sacrifice, and prayer the shaman strengthens connection to all creation. The animals, elements, and spirits offer guidance on behalf of creator for the sake of deep healing and true understanding. Often, this path is not chosen by the individual. It is a path that grabs hold through near death experience or other difficult journey. This path is not one rooted in self service (for it requires much sacrifice), but one rooted in service to others across many realities.

We serve others by continuously healing ourselves, but it is only modern shamanism that monetizes and markets healing. A new age form of shamanism more accurately known as neoshamanism or “new shamanism” formed in western societies in the 1960’s. This type of shamanic practice can be done by anyone, a chosen path, where one often integrates some indigenous practices learned in text or group “training” and combines these practices with types of psychotherapeutic techniques. Anyone can be a shamanic practitioner. They can learn and share integrative techniques as part of the western shamanic practice, but not everyone who practices forms of shamanism, or shamanic practitioner, is a shaman.

Shaman are women and men who receive divine messages from nature, creator, our ancestors, and spirit. Beings who have undergone training and initiation. They walk between Worlds able to feel, sense, see, and hear things others may not. This takes lifelong practice and devotion. It is not a self proclamation, but a calling that cannot be ignored.