Secrets of Shamanism

(^30) SECRETS OF SHAMANISM
pose of communicating with your spirit self and retrieving
information. Your spirit self is in constant communication
with all aspects of nature far and near. You have only to
learn to journey within to communicate with your spirit self
and thus become part of this hidden realm. As Michael
Harner explains in The Way of the Shaman, the shaman is a
"self-reliant explorer of the endless mansions of a magnifi-
cent hidden universe."
From ancient times shamans have used the process of
journeying to travel to what they call the underworld.
Whereas many schools of metaphysical thinking talk about
reaching outward into the universe or the cosmos for infor-
mation, shamans have always believed that the answers can
be found within. Therefore the journey begins at an entrance
to the earth usually in the form of a cave or hot springs, and
the travel is generally through a tunnel. A friend of ours
likens it to a mine shaft that goes deep into the earth.
Before beginning the journey you must first prepare
yourself by focusing on a question or a subject that you wish
to know about. Tuning into the process without focusing first
is like turning on the TV to watch your favorite program
without tuning the dial to the right channel: you are likely to
get a lot of static and experience a chaotic mishmash. Be sure
to focus and tune into exactly what you want to know about.
Second, you need to clear your mind of everything, give up
the need for control, and begin your journey without any
expectations or preconceived notions of what you'll discover.
We will provide you with a relaxation exercise that may help
you for starters.
To focus their energy, shamans frequently use rapid
rhythmic drumming that drives them on their inner journey.
The drum is affectionately called the horse or canoe because
of its use as a vehicle to travel to the spirit world. Although
not absolutely necessary for a shamanic journey, the drum-
ming sound helps you focus, decreasing the tendency to in-
tellectualize, quieting what might be called "mental chatter,"
and allowing the images or visions of the journey to form in
your mind. Creating a focus with the drum helps induce a
sense of urgent movement that will help start you on your
journey and, once you've arrived, will help you effectively
retrieve information.
If you are concerned about being overheard, you can lis-
ten to a tape of a drum using a set of headphones. (You can
make your own tape or order one [see resource directory]).
You can even get away with tapping your fingers on the back
of a tissue box. Remember that shamans are pragmatists: