Shamanism is not a religion or a spiritual path. You don't have to be from any particular lineage or bloodline to be called to this path. It’s more of a job description. It is a core of related practices that can be found in nearly every cultural tradition from around the world. At it's core is the ability to alter consciousness and "travel" to non-physical realities. This is done for a variety of reasons: personal knowledge, transformation, healing, and wisdom; as well as to perform healings for others, obtain information about past, current, or future events, and contact spiritual beings residing on non-physical planes.
A Shaman is a very specific title that is not earned lightly. Some sort of extreme experience, often a life-or-death situation, traditionally creates a Shaman. Because of the extreme nature of this initiatory experience, a Shaman is often considered chosen by the Gods. In many cultures, being so chosen is hardly an honor... it's more of a scary burden.
Being a Shaman requires dedication and commitment, because it isn't easy. It is a role of selfless service to the community. A Shaman serves many spiritually significant roles within the community. He is the intermediator between the World of Form and the World of Spirit. He informs the community when relations between the two are out of balance by returning with messages from beyond the veil that separates them. He might also return with suggestions for what can be done to remedy this division. As such, the Shaman is also a “Sacred Dreamer”, envisioning a better future for the community, and helping to bring this future to pass.
The Shaman is also a traditional healer. When disease strikes a member of the community, the Shaman will often travel to the Spirit Worlds for the solution to the illness. Disease is thought to be a dis-ease of the soul, and it can cause pieces of a person’s spirit to leave them. The Shaman cures this fragmented spirit in a process often referred to as “soul retrieval”.
Shamanic techniques are designed to alter the consciousness in order to interact with the Spirit Worlds. Shamans specialize in the trance state. There are as many different ways to do this as there are cultures that support Shamans. Drumming, dancing, meditation, sensory deprivation, fasting, psychoactive compounds, or a combination of these methods can be used to achieve shamanic trance. Temporal lobe epilepsy is also thought to be responsible for some historical cases of Shamanic trance. Lucid dreaming and precognition can also be considered a part of shamanic practice.
As described, many NeoPagans and Wiccans use some shamanic techniques in their practice and rituals... especially the trance work done by way of guided meditations. However, practicing the techniques does not necessarily make one a Shaman. You can practice shamanic techniques without being called to the service as a Shaman. If you are called to the service of the Shaman, you will usually know it. Even so, because of the expanded awareness that can result from this style of work, it can enhance anyone’s personal path, regardless of spiritual affinity or tradition.
~Flame RavenHawk
November 22, 2003