Shamanic Journey

What is a Shamanic Journey?

Shamanic journeying is a deep, transformative experience that involves entering an altered state of consciousness to connect with spirit realms for insight, healing, and guidance. (No plant medicine or other substance needed. The state is entered through the sound of the drum. The Drum is the Medicine.) Shamanic journey connects us to our innate ability to heal.

One may have many thoughts when hearing the word “Shamanism.” Every culture on this earth has shamanic roots, and while the mythologies and practices of each culture might look different, all share a few things in common—including the ability to enter altered states of consciousness in order to communicate with the unseen world. My introduction and initiation into shamanism was from my teachers, John Cantwell & Dr. Karen Ward in Ireland. I am trained in my own lineage, Irish Celtic Shamanism. Shamanism is a spiritual practice, a healing art form, and a way of simply being in the world. My teachers often remind, one definition of the word shaman is, one who has died many times. Having a professional background in Mental Health as a Trauma specialist, I have witnessed deaths. If you have experienced trauma, and you have, then you have experience a (figurative) death. It is just a different way of thinking about death. Shamans understand that death offers us the gift of a new beginning and they will intentionally “die” to retrieve information.

In many ways, we can think of shamanic journeying as a type of meditation—but there are some aspects that set it apart. 

The intention setting for each journey begins weeks prior to gathering as I begin to work with the energies, elements and alter for the gathering. Then when we gather, we make our individual “nest”. A comfortable space for our journey. Most often people will lay in their nest with an eye covering to encourage a journey inward, some people will sit up and others may move or dance. Then the experience begins with clearing, cleansing, Creating of Sacred Space and Invocation (calling in of guides.) Our collective intention will be to cross over the threshold and receive guidance, insight and healing for the highest possible good in the best possible way. We will then be invited to set an individual intention for the journey. Once your intention is set and you are nestled in you will be guided by words to one of three worlds. The Lower World where one might encounter animal spirits and ancestors; the middle world, representing everyday life; and the upper world, a space for higher spiritual guidance. The guiding words will then change to the beating of the drum. The rhythmic beating is one of the most common ways to enter an altered state of consciousness, as it naturally entrains your brain into a slightly altered state that allows for deeper and easier spiritual explorations.

After completing a shamanic journey, integration of the experience is highly encouraged and will aid you in reaping the most benefits. This may involve journaling, discussing insights with a trusted individual, visually expressing the experience through art or bringing it to life in some other way. The aim is to bring the wisdom gained into daily life, fostering a deeper connection with oneself and, by extension, the world around us.

I look forward to sharing this experience with you!