What is Shamanism? And Why It Never Became a Religion
Many clients who come to see me as a traditional psychotherapist often hear the story of why I became a Shamanic Practitioner 10 years ago and why I fell in love with this path. While I usually give a brief explanation, I wanted to share a more detailed account here.
I was deeply moved by the rich lineage and reverence for indigenous wisdom from African, Celtic, Native American and Latin cultures. My journey began with Temezcal/Sweat Lodges in 1988. And in 2013, I began apprenticing under Shamanic Practitioners who carried these profound teachings. The connection I felt was powerful, and the experiences were transformative. I knew that it was my childhood calling - to connect humans with a Source of Energy that was Pure Love. And that it was possible that there was a Source of Infinite Energy that was available to us at all times that didn’t punish and reward. Just like my mom had taught me. And that you could name this Source for yourself. My mom always said “God is Love.”
My passion for Shamanism and Shamanic work is immense. I love when humans can make decisions based on not causing harm to themselves, or others. This is a mainstay of Shamanism.
Many people are unaware that Shamanism never evolved into a formal religion because it lacks several defining characteristics of organized religions. Here are a few reasons why:
1. Lack of a Formalized Structure:
Shamanism is not a single, cohesive belief system but rather a collection of practices and beliefs that vary widely among different cultures and regions. It lacks a centralized organization, sacred texts, or a standardized set of doctrines. Stories and actual experiences are passed down as the teachings.
2. Role of the Shaman (or Shamanic Practitioner):
In shamanistic traditions, the shaman is a mediator between the human world and the spiritual world. The shaman's practices, such as healing, divination, and communication with Spirit, are highly individualized and often based on personal experiences and insights rather than codified religious teachings. Meaning…you can’t teach one to be a Shaman. It is a name bestowed upon the healer by the tribe/the people. Calling yourself a Shaman in many cultures lacks humility, and so we refer to ourselves as healers or Shamanic Practitioners. We hold space and provide love, empathy and compassion for humans to find their own answers.
3. Cultural and Contextual Diversity:
Shamanistic practices are deeply rooted in the specific cultural and environmental contexts of the societies that practice them. There is no single, unifying belief system that all shamanistic traditions adhere to, which makes it difficult to categorize them under a single religious framework.
4. Focus on Experience over Doctrine:
Shamanism places a strong emphasis on personal spiritual experiences and direct interactions with the spiritual realm. This experiential focus contrasts with the doctrinal and institutional focus seen in many organized religions. This is my FAVORITE part of Shamanism. It’s individualized. It teaches one to think for themselves and learn from their experiences. In my book M.A.P. 2 Consciousness, I say “Be your own experiment.” I also say to “Pay Attention” daily - look for synchronicities that many call coincidences.
5. Integration with Other Beliefs:
Shamanistic practices are often integrated into other religious systems rather than standing alone. For example, shamanistic elements can be found in some forms of Buddhism, Christianity, and indigenous religions. This integration makes it hard to separate shamanism as an independent religion.
6. Animistic Elements:
Shamanism often includes animistic beliefs.. the belief that natural objects, natural phenomena, and the universe itself have Souls. This animistic aspect is more about a worldview than a formalized religion with a distinct deity or pantheon. The idea that plants and stones are alive like we as humans are alive. We don’t “worship” the plants or stones, we honor them.
Summary:
What I noticed about my Shamanic teachers is that they would give me the teachings, then invite me to integrate the teachings and make them my own. They never judged me and offered me suggestions only. They never instilled fear. They trusted, as long as I wasn’t harming myself or others, I would learn my lessons on my own from the experiences I had. This is why I personally love Shamanism. I don’t need to make decisions for myself based in fear or worry. I get to connect with Love, compassion and empathy and know this energy measures at a high frequency and vibration. Reference The Hawkins Scale for a deeper dive that is pictured in this blog.