Healing as a Journey
Shamans may be called upon to help those who have become ill or those who have
lost their power, their spirit guides, or even their souls. In such cases, shamans use
the shamanic journey to recover what was lost. Shamans also journey to gather
information to help and guide individuals or groups, solve problems, and answer
questions. Shamans, by offering their total commitment to a patient for as long as
several days, develop intense relationships that underscore the importance of caring
as well as curing in the shamanic healing tradition. In old cultures, shamans would
do the journeying for patients, but in today’s world, anyone can experience a
shamanic journey. It is through this process that people meet and talk with their
power animals and spirit guides and restore their own power and self-healing.
Basic tools for entering the SSC prior to the shamanic journey are the drum, provid-
ing lower vibrations, and the rattle, providing higher vibrations. A drum beat at a
steady 200 to 280 beats a minute serves as a focus for concentration and quiets the
chattering mind. The pace of the drumbeat corresponds to theta brainwaves associ-
ated with the hypnotic state, facilitating the move into nonordinary reality. It is a
remarkably safe practice for most people, because one can return to an ordinary
state of consciousness at any time. Some people add dancing or chanting to the
drum beat as another way to reach this altered state of consciousness.
Some shamans use teacher plants as a catalyst to the shamanic journey.
Throughout the world are many teacher plants: peyote, San Pedro cactus,
ayahuasca, psilocybin, and red and white mushrooms, for example. Shamans con-
sider these plants to be gifts to be used with care and awareness. Their use is never
intended to be recreational but rather as a part of a sacred ceremony.
Sometimes communities share in a group healing ceremony. An example is found
among the indigenous people of Hawaii, who come together as a group and experi-
ence a forgiveness ritual before the shaman begins the healing work. Family and
community members convey concern for the patient by their participation in the rit-
ual. This process underscores the belief that no one lives in isolation but is connected
to and affected by other people. When people join together in a show of community
support, new levels of healing are possible.
CHAPTER 21 SHAMANISM 265
