Shamanic Journeying- See A Reflection of Yourself in a New Light
31 May, 2021
Shamanism: a religious practice that involves a practitioner who is believed to interact with the spirit world through altered states of consciousness.
What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘Shamanism’? Perhaps you envision a healer seated in a cave, waving sage in the air, traveling to distant realms and performing healing rituals for their culture and community.
To approach this topic with cultural sensitivity, it is important to note that every tribe, culture, and community views Shamanism in different ways. At ReikiCafe University, we are ‘Shamanic practitioners’, meaning we use Shamanic methods such as the Shamanic Journey to facilitate our own healing paths.
Traditionally, to call yourself a ‘Shaman’ is to be egotistical, an act that will result in your Shamanic power being revoked. A true Shaman is selected by the tribe or community, not someone who is self-made or self-proclaimed.
But what is Shamanism?
Despite the vast history and cultural variation of Shamanic practice, many commonalities can be found, and these threads of familiarity weave their way across cultures and tribes, finding their way into this blog post.
Shamanism can be seen as the creation of a narrative or new perspective within your awareness that leads you to a greater truth. The path to this Truth may call upon guides and spirit helpers to illuminate the path to healing and insight.
To reach and understand this guidance, the hallmark of Shamanic practice rests in the hands of the Shamanic journey. These journeys take the practitioner to one of three main realms- Lower, Upper, and Middle.
The Lower World is the realm of the animals and the Earth. Here you meet your Power Animals, stone people, and mythical creatures. The Lower World is the realm of symbology, and answers become clear through symbols, pictures, or metaphors shown to you by your Lower World guides. The Lower World calls to you when you seek to learn something new.
The Upper World is the realm of the Angels, Spirit Guides, Galactic entities, and Teachers. This realm provides information through direct communication with your Spirit Team, who offer you guidance and support along your journey.
The Middle World is the energetic reflection of the world you currently see, the reality in which you now live. This is the realm in which distance Reiki occurs. It is the space between the veil that allows us to touch the other side without completely crossing over.
Journeys to these realms each hold their own value, power, and insight. For the Shamanic practitioner, these realms hold the keys they need to achieve healing and wellbeing, insight and wisdom. The knowledge Shamanic practitioners acquire form these realms can be carried back into the current world and applied to their daily life.
When you engage in Shamanic practice, your worldview, and therefore your life, will inevitably change.
Shamanic traditions hold to the theory of animism- the belief that everything, even seemingly inanimate objects, has spirit, energy, and emotions. By tapping into their energy, you come to live integrated into the world, aware of the connection and illusion of it all, while still keeping both feet rooted on the ground.
Diving into Shamanic perspectives takes you so far out of your own problems, beliefs, and contexts that you come to gain a new understanding of the world around you, so much so that it takes you far beyond your previous pain and suffering. The shamanic practitioner is able to slip between the veil, only to see a reflection of themselves in a new light.
To learn more about Shamanism, and the difference between Shamanic Journeys and Shamanic Reiki, check out our podcast!
ReikiCafe University offers an intensive 4-month program which guides students through healing at the level of the Chakra System with an emphasis on developing their intuition through Shamanic practices. If you are interested in learning more about this training click here.
In passion and purpose,
Isabel Wells
ReikiCafe University
In passion and purpose,
Isabel Wells
ReikiCafe University
