Shamanism: Between the Worlds

Article #7: The Great Remembering

How is Shamanism relevant in today’s world?

There are many different ways one can define Shamanism… but to me it is simple. A Shaman performs ceremonies, used to heal, have visions or connect to spirit. In tribal times the Shaman was the wise one of the village who was seen to have super-human abilities, they were fully initiated into this role often after crisis. One was seen to have these abilities either through a family lineage, an ancestral lineage or through a spontaneous sickness that had brought them close to death, even such events as being struck by lightening. It was also common for the initiation to be completely in a dream state, or a vision. This is referenced in many anthropological findings, and it has been said that most of these initiations occurred across realms or universes. It was a passing on of a timeless, multi-universal wisdom and lineage.

For some people, the onset of psychosis was also seen as a sign that the person had such tremendous ability that it brought them to insanity, only retrieved and recovered through an initiation process. In this process they would learn to use their power to rid their body of mental disease and to protect themselves from spiritual attack.

All of this may seem outlandish and irrelevant to today, but the truth is, mental dis-ease and suicide is at an all time high with doctors unable to heal such ailments. As for the spiritual, I see many people of today detached from their spirit, unaware of the great power they posses. I would like to share my story, as an example of the power and timelessness of Shamanic practice.

My shamanic initiation was spontaneous, it happened in my two month journey in the Sacred Valley of Peru. It was an experience like no other, one that I will never forget. It is tattooed on my skin as a reminder, so when delusion rids my being, I may see this symbol and remember. Many Shamanic cultures say that we are dreaming during the day and when we are in an “altered state” or a dream state (asleep) we are in the true world, awake. To me, it is all the same, there is delusion and truth in every moment, be it conscious or unconscious.

One thing I know is that visions I experience when I am awake are ultimate truth, direct from source through the conscious mind. In these spaces I am in a liminal state, my senses are fully alive and my mind is without judgement. This is the story of my vision that would see me become an initiated Shaman, an initiation that would never be witnessed, that could potentially never be believed. Tattooed on my skin, so that I may never forget, the seed that was given to me, that would become my gift… this was my becoming.

It had been a tremendous week, with a shamanic healing and multiple ceremonies in the mountains. My senses were truly alive, and I was receiving more information from my environment then I ever thought was possible. This was the time when I began to see and hear beyond normal capacity. My abilities were strengthening and evolving so rapidly that my mind was left behind. The mind could never be as fast as the senses, it could never keep up with the amount of new information streaming into my being.

One night, exhausted from a full day of ceremony, I lay my head down. Almost immediately the vision began, so awake and awe struck I lay motionless, barely breathing. I saw another realm, a universe that had existed much longer than ours, but its people had become so ridden with corruption and darkness they were almost extinct. In my vision I was witness to the last of the wise people, this one man I saw was special, he was the last one to hold the light. These people were extraordinarily intelligent, but now there was only one man left, one man with love in his heart. He was being followed by the murderous people of the dark who had lost their light, they were lifeless. Their only mission was to kill all who held light, so they could have ultimate power. This wise man, he held a light, and the only way it could be carried on, was to be passed onto someone from another realm. He chose earth, he chose me.

Before the final passing of this light there was held a council. Wise ones from all the realms sat around a big round table. I heard the words spoken, she is ready, it must be now. And with that the wise man passed on the light and was killed moments later, his people extinct but the wisdom of the light carried forth.

Sharing this story brings me to tears, as the possibility of it been validated by someone beyond myself feels real. Thank you for reading, may you be open to the possibility of becoming your own Shaman, capable of beholding the light, true power.

~ I honour all Shamans, men and women. I write this with reverence and pure intention. I honour the custodians past, present and future and ask forgiveness if any information is misaligned to traditional belief systems. ~

Anthropological evidence:

- Mircea Eliade: Shamanism & Rites and Symbols of Initiation

Shamanism originated in Asia (some reports say Japan, some say Siberia). Today it is practiesed traditionally (old way) on almost every contient.

Find me at: www.youngshamanfoundation.com

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