Exploring Shamanism

Tribal people of the past, as well as those throughout the world today, experience reality very differently than do most of us in the modern, technological world. According to these ancient belief systems, the physical realm is alive with spirits, both beneficial and malevolent, and that proper interaction with these intelligences is necessary for the harmony and health of the individual and the community. The mediator between the sacred and the mundane is the shaman, a man or woman who can, at will, enter into altered states of consciousness and make contact with the realms of spirit in order to receive the knowledge and power needed to bring transformation to the physical world. Exploring Shamanism introduces the reader to the shaman's role as healer, priest and visionary, and invites her or him to follow the shaman's journey from neophyte to master of ecstasy. This book delves into some of the basic skills that must be developed in order for the individual to be effective as a shamanic practitioner. It also examines and defines the art and science of this ancient spiritual practice from both right and left brain perspectives. Not only does the book seek to explore shamanism as a theoretical spiritual system but also investigates how these same beliefs are reflected in our everyday systems of science, psychology and mythology. The reader is offered practical exercises that will allow them to loosen the controlling grip of the logical mind, allowing their heart - that deeply intuitive channel of the spirit - the chance to speak clearly.