Secrets of shamanism

by Jose Stevens, Lena S. Stevens

Publisher: Harper Collins Published: 1988-08-01 Category: Spirituality & Mindfulness

Ancient wisdom traditions hold keys to personal power, healing, and transformation that modern seekers are only beginning to rediscover. For thousands of years, indigenous cultures around the world have practiced shamanism, a spiritual technology for accessing non-ordinary reality, communicating with spirit guides, and facilitating profound healing. What once seemed exotic and inaccessible to Western practitioners has been demystified and made practical for contemporary use, offering anyone willing to learn a pathway into these time-tested methods of spiritual development.

This comprehensive guide serves as both an introduction and a practical manual for those drawn to shamanic practice. Rather than requiring readers to abandon their current lives or embark on lengthy pilgrimages, the material presents shamanism as a flexible system of techniques that can be integrated into modern daily existence. The focus remains firmly on experiential practice rather than mere intellectual understanding, emphasizing that shamanic knowledge comes through direct experience rather than abstract study.

At the heart of shamanic practice lies the journey, a technique for entering altered states of consciousness to access spiritual guidance and power. Readers learn precisely how to undertake these journeys safely and effectively, discovering how to use rhythmic sound, particularly drumming, as a vehicle for consciousness exploration. Detailed instructions guide practitioners through meeting and working with power animals, those spiritual allies from the animal kingdom that offer protection, guidance, and specific gifts. The relationship with power animals forms a cornerstone of shamanic work, providing a personal connection to the wisdom of nature and the spirit world.

Beyond power animals, the material explores how to connect with teachers and guides in human form who exist in non-ordinary reality. These spiritual mentors offer instruction, answer questions, and provide perspectives that transcend ordinary consciousness. Learning to establish clear communication with these guides opens doorways to wisdom that can illuminate life challenges and spiritual questions with startling clarity and practicality.

Shamanic healing represents another crucial dimension covered extensively. Practitioners discover techniques for extracting intrusions, those negative energies or thought forms that can lodge in the energy body and create physical or emotional distress. The practice of soul retrieval receives thorough attention, addressing how traumatic experiences can cause fragmentation of the psyche and how shamanic methods can facilitate profound integration and wholeness. These healing approaches complement rather than replace conventional medicine, offering spiritual dimensions to the healing process that conventional approaches often overlook.

The material addresses common concerns and obstacles that beginning practitioners encounter, demystifying experiences that might otherwise seem confusing or frightening. Guidance on discernment helps readers distinguish between genuine spiritual contact and imagination, while practical advice ensures that shamanic work enhances rather than disrupts daily life. Ethical considerations receive appropriate attention, emphasizing respect for the spirits, for the traditions being drawn upon, and for the well-being of those being served.

What makes this approach particularly valuable is its cultural accessibility. While honoring the indigenous roots of shamanic practice, the presentation recognizes that modern Western practitioners need methods adapted to their own cultural context and psychological framework. The techniques remain true to core shamanic principles while being presented in language and frameworks that resonate with contemporary seekers.

For those interested in personal empowerment, these practices offer direct access to spiritual guidance without intermediaries. Rather than depending on external authorities to interpret spiritual truth, practitioners develop their own relationships with helping spirits and their own capacity to navigate non-ordinary reality. This democratization of spiritual power represents a significant shift for those accustomed to more hierarchical religious structures.

The implications extend beyond individual transformation to planetary healing. Shamanic practice reconnects practitioners with the natural world, fostering ecological consciousness and respect for all forms of life. In an era of environmental crisis and spiritual disconnection, these ancient techniques offer pathways back to harmony with nature and access to wisdom that transcends the limitations of purely rational thinking. Whether seeking personal healing, spiritual development, or tools for serving others, readers will find practical methods grounded in humanity's oldest spiritual tradition.