Upcoming Classes:
Lama Wangdu Rinpoche initiates practitioners into the ancient Tibetan practice of Chod
Still Meadow Retreat Center in Clackamas,Oregon
3-day Advanced Depossession
Boulder, CO
July 25 - 27, 2008
Compassionate Depossession in England
To be announced
The Shamanic World
Shamanism is thought to be one of humankind’s oldest and perhaps original spirituality. Early in human evolution, we began to look to the spirits of ancestors, animals, plants, elements and deities for help, guidance and sustenance. These compassionate beings assisted by teaching humankind about how to live in the world and by offering protection. The spirits taught ceremonies and rituals for hunting, agriculture, fertility and healing. The spirits provided a framework and sense of continuity that helped people to feel safer and to function well within their world. The spirits offered relationship, thus spirituality in a shamanistic sense means having relationship with Spirit or spirits.
Certain people were observed to have strong affinities for communicating with these spirits and they became known as the shamans. The shamans served their community in many capacities. Some shamans were healers, seers or masters of ritual to ensure the success of various endeavors. Shamans were the ones whose job was to ensure that balance be kept between the seen and unseen worlds. Shamanism exists today as the substratum of most if not all cultures and it exists because the relationships between the helping and compassionate spirits and people continue to exist.
Modern shamanism is alive and thriving. Many people are discovering that connection to and relating with the Helping Spirits is not confined to shamans, but is available to all of us. There is a resurgence of interest in shamanism as well as a remarkable rise in classes on many different types and aspects of shamanic healing and practices. (Please see Classes and Links for shamanic workshop opportunities.)
Shamanism is thought to be one of humankind’s oldest and perhaps original spirituality. Early in human evolution, we began to look to the spirits of ancestors, animals, plants, elements and deities for help, guidance and sustenance. These compassionate beings assisted by teaching humankind about how to live in the world and by offering protection. The spirits taught ceremonies and rituals for hunting, agriculture, fertility and healing. The spirits provided a framework and sense of continuity that helped people to feel safer and to function well within their world. The spirits offered relationship, thus spirituality in a shamanistic sense means having relationship with Spirit or spirits.
Certain people were observed to have strong affinities for communicating with these spirits and they became known as the shamans. The shamans served their community in many capacities. Some shamans were healers, seers or masters of ritual to ensure the success of various endeavors. Shamans were the ones whose job was to ensure that balance be kept between the seen and unseen worlds. Shamanism exists today as the substratum of most if not all cultures and it exists because the relationships between the helping and compassionate spirits and people continue to exist.
Modern shamanism is alive and thriving. Many people are discovering that connection to and relating with the Helping Spirits is not confined to shamans, but is available to all of us. There is a resurgence of interest in shamanism as well as a remarkable rise in classes on many different types and aspects of shamanic healing and practices. (Please see Classes and Links for shamanic workshop opportunities.)
Artwork by Juan Ulloa