The Practical Power of Shamanism

by Sulana Stone

EXERCISE FOR EXPLORING 
THE POWER OF LOVE

For at least one full minute, sit quietly, close your eyes, and compliment yourself unceasingly for any good quality, characteristic or behavior you can think of. It’s okay to repeat yourself if you can’t think of a lot to say. With practice it gets easier. If negative responses or self-criticisms arise spontaneously, don’t give them importance; just keep on complimenting. When you’ve finished, be aware of your feelings and sensations. Do you feel better or worse? Do you have more energy or less?

Next, for at least one full minute, sit with your eyes open and compliment any good quality, characteristic or behavior you can be aware of in your immediate environment. Again, don’t pay attention to criticisms. What have you learned about focus, choice and energy levels?

HEALING

A shaman is a bridge between this world and the invisible world of the spirit. A shaman is very anchored, very present in this world. Being so centered and grounded, a shaman can assist a person to travel into dimensions and see things from a much bigger perspective. Then people can heal because there is more room for them to expand and open to fresh new realities. This expanded awareness from the shaman creates a strong foundation for people to awaken to their own healing power within. The goal of the shaman is always to support the awakening of the soul. The shaman acts as an anchor so the person can reach their own depth and move through their own cellular transformation. Shaman Frederick Wolf concurs. "People really know how to heal themselves. It’s an illusion to think that someone is going to come and heal them. But what will happen is, when they feel the support and safety that the shaman can hold for them, they will have faith enough to go into that place inside of them that knows how to heal. It’s not some magical thing that happens. It’s very natural."

WAY OF LIVING

Shamanism is a way of living on the altar of Mother Earth. It’s a way to live in balance on the earth, a way of finding not only peace with yourself personally, but peace with nature and your environment. Shamanism is bringing the two worlds together your inner world—your heart—with your outer world. It’s important to be balanced, to be grounded in both worlds. We should be able to go anywhere and be at home, whether it’s in a cave or a big city. Shamanism is a pathway that can help us to realize the sacredness and magic within and all around us. Birds that soar into the heavens, trees whose roots reach deep into the earth, everything in nature reflects an aspect of our souls. As the poet Rumi said, "You will see stars and moons mirrored in your being." Shamanism is letting go of our limited ideas and concepts of who we are. As we abandon our illusions of separateness, we open to the beauty and simplicity of our true nature—our connectedness with all of life.