Shamanism is a range of traditional beliefs and practices centered around communication with the spirit world. A practitioner of shamanism is known as a shaman. The shaman uses mystical powers to journey to other worlds or realities and communicate with spirits in order to bring about a balance between the physical and spiritual worlds. Shamans are intermediaries between the human and spirit worlds. They can treat illness and are capable of entering and being in what some call “supernatural” mystical realms. Teacher shamans facilitate others raising their consciousness and ability to operate in these worlds.
Shamanism is the oldest form of human healing. It is a practice that originated over 25,000 years ago in the cultures of Siberia and Central Asia. The English word shaman is derived from the Siberian Tungus word “saman.” which is defined as a technique of ecstasy. The shaman is considered a great master of trance and ecstasy.
There are many variations of shamanism throughout the world and several common beliefs are shared by all forms of shamanism. Shamans perform a variety of functions depending upon their respective cultures: healing, leading, preserving the tradition or effectuating change by storytelling and songs; acting as a guide. In some cultures, a shaman may fulfill several functions within one person.
Sacred Voyages incorporates many forms of shamanism into our retreats from various cultures and traditions. Magick calls this form of mystical practice Universal Shamanism, as he says it combines the core fundamental pieces that are the same or similar in many forms of shamanism. Love and truth are the foundation from which Universal Shamanism flows.
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