What is shamanism?
THE ORIGINAL HOLISTIC METHOD FOR THE BODY, MIND & SOUL
Hello, and thanks for popping by! What I’m sharing here is a VERY brief overview- think of it as the CliffsNotes! There are SO many wonderful books, articles, videos and websites that have covered these topics EXTENSIVELY, and I would prefer to boost the signals of those content creators than to recreate the wheel.
What is Shamanism?
Shamanism is the oldest form of spiritual healing, and the most ancient spiritual practice on earth. Practiced worldwide for millenia, shamanism can serve as one’s entire spiritual system, or it can be practiced within the boundaries of a specific religion.
“Shaman”, derived from the word šaman, originates from the Tungus tribe of Siberia, and translates to "one who knows". There is some debate around “who is a shaman”, versus “who is a shamanic practitioner”. Both shamanic practitioners and shamans use the shamanic journey to seek information for the protection, healing and wellbeing of the members of his or her community. Most of us doing this work delineate the two as follows.
What is A shamanic practitioner?
Shamanic practitioners live in the modern world. We often apply our wisdom and tools in ways that fit within the context and lifestyle of our community, and our own cultural melting pots. This may include blending our shamanic training with other modalities, and sometimes, scientific insight. Many of us specialize in a smaller handful of services, unlike a shaman. You can learn about the shamanic healing services I offer here.
What is a shaman?
Shamans devote their entire lives to their shamanic practice. They are the doctors, pharmacists, healers, storytellers and wisdom keepers of their communities. For tens of thousands of years, our ancestors trusted shamans to access the wisdom necessary to treat physical, emotional and mental ailments. A skilled shaman was (and in few places around the world, still is) an asset to their community when it comes to hunting, planting, harvesting and potential threats. Their foresight guides the community to safety and abundance.
Shamans are to thank for several modern medicines of the Western world. The Amazonian shamans, for example, have been blending medicinal plants for thousands of years to cure a myriad of ailments. As the scientific community caught wind of these powerful plant-based medicines, they began to study, use and synthesize them for use in Western medicine.
What is a shamanic journey?
Shamanic journeying is the way in which a shaman or shamanic practitioner gains knowledge and wisdom for the healing and betterment of their community or client. During a journey, one enters an unordinary state of consciousness, most often through listening to the quick, repetitive beat of a drum or rattle. Information comes in one or multiple senses.
You do not need to be a shaman or shamanic practitioner to reap the benefits of journeying. Once you learn how to journey, you can use your skills for your personal wellbeing. Journeying is an excellent tool to use when you’re feeling stuck, unclear, unable to make a decision, or too overwhelmed to chart a new path for yourself.
Shamanic resources
learn about shamanism
Here are a handful of the books, videos and articles that I’ve enjoyed. If you’re interested in more resources, check back, as I do add to this list periodically.
** indicates resources that either touch on (or center) the effects of “conquered” cultures, colonization, land theft, and/or genocide on indigenous cultures. I believe this is important information for us to know and consider as we exercise our birthright in accessing our own ancient spiritual wisdom :)
Podcasts
The Shaman’s Cave- Sandra Ingerman & Renee Baribeau, on Youtube and Spotify.
Why Shamanism Now? by Christina Pratt- WOW- SUCH a wealth of wisdom here!
Saga Kraft- myths, fairy tales and legends with a shamanic flavor- on Spotify by Betsy Bergstrom
Freyia Norling- Norse shamanism/Witchcraft. Think of “shamanism” as the umbrella of the shamanic practices of all cultures, and witchcraft is one specific shamanic practice under that umbrella. As with everything, witchcraft can be practiced for “good” or “bad”, so don’t let the word scare you. I’ve noticed some shamans from other parts of the world poo-pooing witchcraft because they don’t understand this. Let’s not allow harmful steroetypes to be perpetuated:) Remember the witch trials? Yeah.. So just a little PSA to please be mindful before talking negatively about practices we lack an understanding of.
Groups
The Shaman’s Cave Facebook group- this community was created by Sandra Ingerman & Renee Baribeau, and is a place for shamanic minded folks to ask questions, share experiences and grow. It’s an excellent place to share about your shamanic journeys, ceremony, and ritual experiences, and learn from others. (Thank you Araceli for reminding me of this incredible resource!)
Shamans Are the Gardeners of Energy- This is Sandra Ingerman’s group. It’s a place to uplifting and inspiring one another. Password is Transfiguration
videos
Core Shamanism: The Way of The Shaman: The Work o Michael and Sandra Harner
Core Shamanism: Intro to Shamanism | Sandra Ingerman Teaches on Transforming Toxic Thoughts
Reindeer Shamanism: Shamans of the Reindeer Herders of the Northern Mongolia Taiga
Siberian Shamanism: Shamans of Siberia: Powerful Healers Chosen By Spirits
Russian Shaman & musical artist: Olena Uutai
Sami Shamanism ( AKA Saami ): Living Yoik ( AKA joik )
Sami Shamanism: “The Sami People of the North” PBS video, Tom DuBois, Professor, Department of Scandinavian Studies
Sami & Finnish Culture (shamanic in nature): My book review about Tero Isokauppila’s book, “Santa Sold Shrooms”. This is a delightlful and beautiful book based on the Sami culture’s Santa Christmas story.
North, Central & South American Shamanism: SJ A Twisted Hair Lineage
Andean Shamanism: The Ancient "Pachacuti" Prophecy - Tito La Rosa @ Gather-IN
Irish Shamanism: Shadow & Light (a short documentary highlighting shamanic practitioners in Ireland)
Crazywise- there’s a trailer, and an option to rent the full documentary here. This film is AMAZING, but if you can’t watch the full film for whatever reason, I highly recommend these TED talks: Psychosis or Spiritual Awakening: Phil Borges at TEDxUMKC as well as Myths, Shamans and Seers: Phil Borges at TEDxRainier
“All About Shamanism- Terence McKenna”- a 10 minute talk
Sami, Norse, Scandinavian & Icelandic videos: my YouTube playlist
Indigenous cultures: my YouTube playlist
Articles
Andean Shamanism: “The Inca prophecy of the Eagle and the Condor”- this article touches on a handful of prophesies, including the Q'ero people's Prophesy of the Pachacuti.
The Shamanic View of Mental Illness- largely written by Malidoma Some & Jayson Gaddis
Baiki- The North American Sami Journal: archive of newsletters
Websites
Norse & Germanic Shamanism: This website site covers Norse magic & shamanism (Seidr) as well as German & Norse mythology
Sami Shamanism: A brief introduction to the Sami people’s ancient art of joiking AKA yoiking
books
**Andean Shamanism: “Masters of the Living Energy: The Mystical World of the Q'ero of Peru”, by Joan Parisi Wilcox
Toltec Shamanism: “The Wisdom Of The Shaman”, by Don Jose Ruiz
Toltec Shamanism: “The Four Agreements”, by Don Miguel Ruiz
Core Shamanism: “The Way of the Shaman”, by Michael Harner
Core Shamanism: “Soul Retrieval”, by Sandra Ingerman
Core Shamanism: “The Book of Ceremony: Shamanic Wisdom for Invoking the Sacred in Everyday Life”, by Sandra Ingerman
Sami & Finnish culture (with shamanic roots): “Santa Sold Shrooms”, by Tero Isokauppila. Watch my review HERE
“The Sámi Peoples of the North: A Social and Cultural History”, Neil Kent
“Inari Sámi Folklore: Stories from Aanaar”, by August V. Koskimies (Author), Toivo I. Itkonen (Author), Lea Laitinen (Editor), Tim Frandy (Translator)
“Spirited Medicine: Shamanism in Contemporary Healthcare”, a book of many contributors; edited by Cecile Carson MD
“Jaguar in the Body, Butterfly in the Heart; The Real-life Initiation of an Everyday Shaman”, by Ya’Acov Khan
“Animal Speak”, by Ted Andrews
“The Cosmic Serpent” DNA and the Origin of Knowledge”, Jeremy Narby
“Shaman, Healer, Sage: How to Heal Yourself and Others with the Energy Medicine of the Americas”, by Alberto Villoldo
“One Spirit Medicine: Ancient Ways to Ultimate Wellness” by Alberto Villoldo
Various shamanic cultures: “Traveling Between the Worlds, Conversations With Contemporary Shamans”, by Hillary S. Webb
Various shamanic cultures: “Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy”, by Mircea, Eliade
Novels With Shamanic Themes
“Diana, Herself: An Allegory of Awakening”, by Martha Beck
“Star Mother: A Novel”, by Charlie N. Holmberg
Other
(Sami) Author and Professor of Scandinavian Studies, Folklore, and Religious Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison: Thomas A. DuBois- many books & more
Sami Shamanism: Learn how to joik/yoik: an online course
“Two Work Away” opportunities that caught my eye: “Learn about Sami culture in Gratangen, Norway”, as well as “We are looking for all kinds of help in spectacular Finnmark in North of Norway”. There are many more opportunities to stay in a Sami household- search from the homepage- location: Europe, keyword: Sami. You can also search for any location and does not have to be culture specific.
Music
Sami + Finnish Shamanism: Joik AKA yoik playlist on Spotify HERE
“Daniel’s Joik”, Jon Henrik Fjällgren. WOW, just WOW!
Learn About Indigenous Cultures
Each November I dive deep into learning from people of indigenous cultures around the world. I wrote a blog post about this HERE.
My shamanic-specific resources are wonderful ways to learn about indigenous cultures too. Jump to “Shamanic Resources”.
This brand new section will continue to grow. It’s currently mostly Native American information, as that’s the folder I’m uploading from at this moment.
** indicates resources that either touch on (or center) “conquered” cultures, colonization, land theft, and/or genocide on indigenous cultures.
Videos
The Story Of The White Buffalo Calf Woman | Joe Flying By LOUD CROW
Sioux Chief Speaks About Star People/White Buffalo Calf Woman 1/2
Tobacco Offerings by Wayne William Smoke-Snellgrove
Daily Medicine Teaching by Wayne William Smoke-Snellgrove
"NEW" SCIENCE - Hawaiian Huna & scientific discoveries, ancient wisdom, strange discoveries
Indian Chief Talks Nephilim Giants, Star People & Star Gate Portals - Joseph Riverwind 2017
Manoomin: Food That Grows on the Water | The Ways (the traditional gathering of wild rice)
The Sacred Food- the creation story and the prophesy of the sacred wild rice of the Anishinaabe Ojibwe tribe of northern MN
Documentaries
More Than A Word: an INCREDIBLE documentary
**“Bad River”- This documentary is about a major current event issue that everyone in the Great Lakes region- I’d highly recommend it.
Youtube Channels
Articles
** Arctic Region: “The Arctic Suicides: Its Not The Dark That Kills You” -NPR
“The Wisdom of 10 Influential Native American Leaders” by Kyle Pearce
Websites
Indian Country Today (their Instagram is great too)
Books
**”Everyday is a Good Day, Reflections of Contemporary Indigenous Women”, by Wilma Mankiller
Purchase Native Made or Harvested Goods
Beyond Buckskin is a Native owned store selling Native made goods
Etsy’s “Indigenous Owned Shops” page
Tribal Trade Co- this is Mallory Rose’s shop- she’s the YouTuber I mentioned above. She sells smuding materials and hosts workshops
Red Lake Nation Foods (they also have some jewelry and baskets)