(See also: plant medicine and ayahuasca.)
The term Shamanism refers to ancient spiritual traditions practiced throughout Central and South America as a way of life in many tribal communities. The Shaman, generally born into a lineage or taught the practice by apprenticing with an elder, is imbued with powerful healing and divinatory capabilities. He or she calls on the wisdom and powers of the natural world to conduct individual as well as group healing, 1:1 as well as in ceremonial settings. Traditionally, shamans work with practices like fasting, singing, dancing, drumming, ingesting hallucinogenic plants, entering sweat lodges and even living in isolation. This enables them to enter altered states of consciousness, in which he or she performed healing. Often times, instruments and song were used to intensify these sessions.
Our human world is one of an infinite number of realities available to the shaman for interaction and communication. The very basis of shamanism is to connect the spirit of the healer with spirits from other worlds who are supplicated to intercede in our reality. The shaman acts only as a vessel for these entities to reach us. Particularly, the shaman cultivates relationships with positive spirits in order to heal.
Shamanic Retreats
A shamanic retreat is a unique opportunity to participate in ancient practices which can offer a unique type of healing that reaches us on a deep level of our being. Each Shaman offers his or her own approach to healing work depending on the lineage he comes from, including what types of plant medicine are involved, what other types of supportive work are included, and the possibility for one-on-one healing work. With many different traditions and approaches, including longer term possibilities where a deeper relationship can be built, choose to work with a Shaman you trust and respect and begin your work with an open mind.