Shamanism - What brought you to this path?

[Kyoht]

Well, since people seemed really interested in my idea about starting threads about different aspects of Shamanism, I thought I'd start off with a sort of introductory one.

What brought you to this path? Or, what about Shamanism interests you? Was there a major turning point in your life that was a sign for you to start walking this path, or was it a gradual immersion?

I was going to give my answer here, but I'm finding it hard to get the words down. I'll post my response later, when I'm not thinking so much about getting the food together for today's First Harvest party. Jeez, my brain has been pudding lately! :)

[Ladyvi]

an old shaman spirit showed up in front of my face and well started learning shamanism.

[Phi]

Shamanism, the word can cover a lot of territory.

I suppose my love for what animals can teach began as a child and Aesop, and pets. Reaching out to animals has always been part of me I love to talk to them, particularly the birds. Their mystical meanings also.

If you mean shamanism as in the definition of a shaman as someone who has prophetic abilities, or healing abilities acting as a go between of the worlds I relate to that.

The Northern Asian legends are full of good lessons. But I haven't read as many of those as of others.

[Shanti]

I had a NDE and ever since have had the ability to walk into differant worlds. So, it just happened.

[punxzen]

ecstatic states of oneness with everything brought me to the shamanic side of my path. lots of trance, dance, and ex static prayer :)

[Tranquility]

My interest and "Connection" with the spirituality of the native americans, and I too, was fascinated by not only what animals can teach you, but also of what trees stones and rivers speak of..

[Lilith79]

I am just now starting to study this path. I picked up The Way of the Shaman by Michael Harner, yesterday. Dh has always shown an interest in Shamanism, and I thought it was high time I took some initiative and bought a book on the subject. I am finding that Shamanism is a good fit for me, darn near perfect. I've been having many of the experiences naturally for a long time, I just didn't know what they meant, I just accepted it. I am very excited to be learning about this path, and I look forward to following it. :)

[Nighthawk]

Hmmm, well, it was kind of in the family. And I never fit in in other places. There were to many things that were not 'me'. It was accidental for me to assist in a class on Collective memory/Tribal...and then I had these two men come to me... and well, I am here now. Of course, I might add..I follow a Native American path of this..perhaps not even true Shaman.... Oh well, I try. I am more Medicine man... but so many people use the words in exchange.I post here.

[Dove]

( I hope I'm asking this question in the right place )

From what I’ve learned and experienced ….
Shamanism, is an extremely misunderstood and misused word.
It’s been used to describe any manner of nature based spirituality, magic, and religion.

The vague usage of the word “Shamanism” … brings with it so much miscommunication and confusion, that it’s a term I personally am uncomfortable with.

Maybe it’s just “Me”….*sighs*
Maybe I just don’t understand the word, and what it represents.

I know the word Shamanism comes from an Evensk word from the Tungus region of Siberia.
It was used to describes a very specific role, and methodology, within Siberian tribal societies.
Anyway … that’s what I’ve read.

As I understand it …
The methodology of Shamanism includes the use of the drum beat.
Which brings to the Shaman, an altered state of consciousness which allows his, or her own spirit to enter the spirit world.
Sooooo … instead of calling the spirits to our world, Shaman go into the Spirit world.

Being of Native American heritage, and having basically grown up in that culture,
I seriously don’t recall any of the elders, wise ones, teachers, or medicine peoples I‘ve known, EVER using the word “Shaman” or “Shamanism”
Yet today … when ever I hear either of these two words used … it’s inevitably by someone wishing to learn the Native American “Medicine” ways, and live some kind of lifestyle associated with Native American culture.

HELP!!
What is Shamanism … who is a Shaman??
What does a Shaman do??

[Tullip Troll]

Sometimes trying to say what path I am is like choosing a character to paly in D&D...I want to play a druid and a cleric and a sorcerous who's good at fighting...I consider myself a witch really just plain and simple not a wiccan...pagan too general but shamanism is so very close to what I feel practise and believe but I am not sure I could call myself a shaman...so...well if there can be a christian witch maybe there can also be a shaman witch...lol

MheraPai...just-a-witch

[Shanti]

( I hope I'm asking this question in the right place )

From what I’ve learned and experienced ….
Shamanism, is an extremely misunderstood and misused word.
It’s been used to describe any manner of nature based spirituality, magic, and religion.

The vague usage of the word “Shamanism” … brings with it so much miscommunication and confusion, that it’s a term I personally am uncomfortable with.

Maybe it’s just “Me”….*sighs*
Maybe I just don’t understand the word, and what it represents.

I know the word Shamanism comes from an Evensk word from the Tungus region of Siberia.
It was used to describes a very specific role, and methodology, within Siberian tribal societies.
Anyway … that’s what I’ve read.

As I understand it …
The methodology of Shamanism includes the use of the drum beat.
Which brings to the Shaman, an altered state of consciousness which allows his, or her own spirit to enter the spirit world.
Sooooo … instead of calling the spirits to our world, Shaman go into the Spirit world.

Being of Native American heritage, and having basically grown up in that culture,
I seriously don’t recall any of the elders, wise ones, teachers, or medicine peoples I‘ve known, EVER using the word “Shaman” or “Shamanism”
Yet today … when ever I hear either of these two words used … it’s inevitably by someone wishing to learn the Native American “Medicine” ways, and live some kind of lifestyle associated with Native American culture.

HELP!!
What is Shamanism … who is a Shaman??
What does a Shaman do??
Your correct in Shamanism being the practise of going to the spirit world through altered states of consciousness.

The term is not Native American. They use the term medicine man and such. The term Shaman has become so common that many use it these days. What the Native American and Africans and Siberians and all Shamanistic people do are basically the same...they go to the spirit world, the main differances are they way they do it. Not all use drumming. Not all use a rattle. The ways are differant but the goal the same...to eneter the spirit world for whatever reason.

[Lilith79]

Dove-Try reading this (http://www.faqs.org/faqs/shamanism/overview/), it may answer your questions.

[Dove]

Your correct in Shamanism being the practise of going to the spirit world through altered states of consciousness.
LOL .. well at least I got that part correct 'eh Shanti??
And what you said here ......
The term is not Native American. They use the term medicine man and such. The term Shaman has become so common that many use it these days. What the Native American and Africans and Siberians and all Shamanistic people do are basically the same...they go to the spirit world, the main differances are they way they do it. Not all use drumming. Not all use a rattle. The ways are differant but the goal the same...to enter the spirit world for whatever reason
THIS is extremely well said and makes very good sense!!!
Maybe it’s just that the words (terms) Shaman / Shamanism … have just been over used, and in so doing … have become a blanket term that’s readily excepted by everyone except maybe “Native Americans”

WOW Lilith … LOL … I just took a peek at that link.
Talk about a lot of reading!!!
I’ll take some quality time and do some serious reading later today.
Thank you for taking the time to share the link.
I appreciate it.

MheraPai
I honestly know what you mean …
I just believe the things I believe and don’t ever seem to fit into anyone’s else’s idea of a specific “Path”
Believe me … I want to!!
It would give me more of a feeling of being connected to something.
But I can only just be me … and walk what I see as my Red Road.

So please tell me here ….
For everyone following a Shamanistic path …. Do you actually practice entering the spirit world?
I’d be very curious as to what tools you use to alter your state of consciousness.

[Shanti]

So please tell me here ….
For everyone following a Shamanistic path …. Do you actually practice entering the spirit world?
I’d be very curious as to what tools you use to alter your state of consciousness. Gee I dont use tools to travel to other worlds. When I had my near death expirance ( over 20 yrs ago), I entered the spirit world and when I came back, I came back with the gift of being able to will it to happen. Plus ever since I have walked on a parallel path with this reality and other planes. I often am here and there as a regular part of daily life. I guess its kinda like multi tasking!! LOL

[Grace]

Shamanism is a term to describe too much.
My heritage had seers and healers .

One was not necessary both.

[semi]

How did I become a shaman? I was just born that way. My earliest memories are of going into trance and "seeing things" (the dead, otherworldly creatures, etc.). I have always heard voices whisper in my ear and voices in my head that are not mine. I have always experienced very strange things.

Tools? Whatever works. I drum not to go to the spirits but to call them to me. Traditional voodoo and santeria rhythms. I use cigars to heal. I don't "use" but I work with animals to access their energy. Snake offers help with divination. Dog offers protection and enhanced senses. Crows find things for me. Anything can be used as a tool for shamanic or any ritual use. A computer, a car, a tree, whatever works.

What is shamanism? To me it's just a word that describes a wide and varied field of knowledge that overlaps other fields such as psychology. It's a very abstract term used in too many ways. I call myself a shaman only because it's a simple way to sum up what I do. It doesn't define what I do but it helps other people understand. Does any of this make sense?

[Grey]

Well my mom and grandparents and some of the aunts and uncles have visions... Dont know about the cousins though. Some Im told have shown the ability, I seem to be blind for the most part but have a good knack for divination. Mom has had OBE, which is the only reason I knew what they were. I Dont often travel in that manner, its sort of scary and Im not always sure how to get where Im going or do what I want to.
I Didnt use to do that, though I often went into trances... I dont remember much about those though. Anyways I only started doing that after freshman year... alot of stress that year. The final straw came I guess and I kind of slumped over by the gym for a while and had a weird dream... I saw myself kind of floating there... but parts of me were missing, and then the peices came flying at me and built up in me tell I could barely recognize myself. I cried for probly 3 days. I havent since. It was also only after this that I finally had a recognisable OBE.
*shrug* I never used the word shamanism tell a good friend of mine and I were talking about it and she told me the term... a little research comfirmed it and there we go.

[Ladyvi]

i havnt had a NDE. not to much like shanti. i walk with one foot on the spirit relm and one foot on the prime material. my sight may not be as clear.

[Wolfscout1]

Well,
I've been walking an eclectic warrior shamanic Path for nearly 13 years.
Only , recently my intensity and Urgings have become much stronger to seek and grow .
I've found that i have had talents/gifts that i did not know of due to some recent contacts and visions mixed .

[Nighthawk]

I am often lumped into this category..... though not a shaman. More a healer and small bit warrior. For the most part, one cannot mix the two, so I am careful to watch my movements. I mean inside...the feelings. I am more Medicine Man than Shaman...

[MorningDove030202]

I am just now starting to study this path. I picked up The Way of the Shaman by Michael Harner, yesterday. Dh has always shown an interest in Shamanism, and I thought it was high time I took some initiative and bought a book on the subject. I am finding that Shamanism is a good fit for me, darn near perfect. I've been having many of the experiences naturally for a long time, I just didn't know what they meant, I just accepted it. I am very excited to be learning about this path, and I look forward to following it. :)

I have heard very good things about this book, and his school. Aparently some of the leaders of my local coven have been threw this school and recomend it.
http://www.shamanism.org/

Dove

[MorningDove030202]

http://www.pantheist.net/

Is this related to shamanism? I mean are most shamans Pantheistic? According to the web site it means:

Pantheism holds that the cosmos, taken or conceived of as a whole, is synonymous with the theological principle of God. The Cosmos is divine, and the earth sacred.

Dove

[Shanti]

http://www.pantheist.net/

Is this related to shamanism? I mean are most shamans Pantheistic? According to the web site it means:

Pantheism holds that the cosmos, taken or conceived of as a whole, is synonymous with the theological principle of God. The Cosmos is divine, and the earth sacred.

Dove I dont believe in gods for myself, so for me the answer is no.
I also believe in multi planes of existance and in multi universes.

[WolfMoon]

Uhm...heh...I started off learning Asatru, how's that for a round about entrance?

The deeper I got into it, the more I learned some of the basic principles and ways of doing things (as I was taught) are similar to what we label as 'shamanism'. I kind of blend the two together, I suppose. Neither one nor the other....

Hopefully that made sense!

[Fane Ayuma]

an old shaman spirit showed up in front of my face and well started learning shamanism.


Yup, thats what happened to me, although im not strictly shaman, im really into native american beliefs as a whole including shaminism rather then shaminism on its own.