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About Shamanism |
Shamanism is an ancient spiritual practice that has been found on every continent dating back to prehistoric times. Some archeologists estimate that shamanic practices have existed somewhere between 10,000 to 40,000 thousand years.
Shamanism is based on the concept of animism, which holds that all things on this planet have a spiritual essence. Our ancestors believed that their health and survival depended on maintaining a relationship between the natural and spiritual worlds. They relied on the shaman to act as their intermediary between the visible and the invisible worlds. Through rituals designed to work with the helping spirits, the shaman facilitated the wellbeing of the community and addressed the spiritual disharmony believed to be at the root of an individual's illness.
For thousands of years, shamanic artwork has played an essential part in shamanic ritual. Evidence of shamanism can be found in cave paintings that date back to the Paleolithic era. These paintings show that the shaman played an important role in attracting or locating animals through spiritual means for the hunt. The fact that these paintings have been discovered on several continents underscore how common it was to rely on the shaman.
As mankind modernized, organized religion succeeded in marginalizing shamanic practice. But over the past twenty years, interest in shamanism has surged in the western world. Several books on the topic continue to be published every year. In addition, many western therapists and health practitioners have incorporated shamanic techniques into their own practice. For these professionals, this practice is by no means to take the place of traditional or alternative healing methods. Rather, these professionals seek to create an integrative approach to healing that adds a deeply personal and profound spiritual dimension.
For more information check out these links:
Foundation for Shamanic Studies
These are some items that can be used to help alter consciousness and clear a space for shamanic practices.