So, you’re interested in knowing what shamanic energy healing is. Then, it’s likely that you’re seeking help with a particular issue. For example, you’re feeling blocked or stuck in old unproductive, or unhealthy patterns. Alternatively, you might have a vague sense of a loss for a part of yourself. Or, maybe you have a constant craving for something impossible to define. Or, you’re simply seeking clarity on a new path or purpose. These are some of the signs that suggest a client could benefit from shamanic practices. (For more, see my blog post When Is It Time to Explore Holistic Energy Healing and webpages on Energy Healing and Shamanic Practices.)

Briefly, What’s Shamanism

Dating back nearly ten thousand years, shamanism is probably the oldest form of spirituality, healing, and guidance for individuals and whole communities. Some form of shamanism is central to nearly every indigenous culture. The underlying intrinsic belief systems and practices are diverse across cultures, but there are many similarities. For example, shamans everywhere serve similar needs within their communities.

Shamans have two key roles: 1) spiritual healer and 2) diviner. In addition, a Shaman may take on the role of medicine woman/man, who typically works primarily with plants to promote healing.

Many cultures continue to practice shamanism today. Increasingly, people in the Western world are familiarizing themselves with its beliefs and practices and turning to it as part of their spiritual and everyday life. By reading this, you might be considering how shamanism can support you, your healing, and what you desire to manifest.

Turning To Shamanism for Help

Shamanism is holistic. Thus, it encompasses physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and energetic aspects of health and well-being. I consider many of its fundamental practices forms of energy healing. This way, I can integrate them into my other energy healing modalities such as Reiki Energy Healing (e.g., Reiki Shamanism or Shamanic Reiki.)

What’s Unique About Shamanic Practices

There are four primary areas where I feel shamanism is superior to other common energy healing. Most modalities clear and balance energy and assist with self-discovery and clarification of purpose. Many offer past-life regression and facilitate behavior change and life moving forward. Shamanism possesses unique capacities in divination, dreamwork, soul retrieval, and power animal retrieval.

Divination

Shamanic divination typically involves the practitioner journeying into non-ordinary reality (an extraordinary, trance-like state) to retrieve answers for him/herself or a client. Alternatively, the practitioner reads and interprets cards (e.g., oracle cards), bones, runes (symbols), rocks, and crystals to derive information and answers relative to a particular question or issue.

Dreamwork

Through various techniques, the practitioner can explore the meaning of his/her or the client’s dreams. In addition, the s/he can utilize the power of some dreams, called Big Dreams, for healing purposes and as a type of soul retrieval.

Soul Retrieval

A person might intentionally or unintentionally give a piece of his/her soul to another during an emotional and intense interaction. The latter could do the same. In fact, people often lose and gain bits of energy (the soul) through negative and positive interactions and experiences. For example, trauma and chronically stressful situations can result in soul loss. Similarly, losing yourself in another such as a strong loving mother and child relationship can also cause soul loss. Unfortunately, this type of loss (and attachment) can lead to imbalance, significant dysfunction, and disorientation. Soul retrievals, along with several other complementary practices, act as remedies to restore the whole.

Power Animal Retrieval

A shamanic practitioner might retrieve a power animal for a client who is particularly weak or experiences repetitive debilitating issues. Although power animals have many functions, in this type of situation, the power animal is offered to the client for strength and protection.

I’m Patricia Bonnard, Ph. D, a Shamanic Practitioner, Energy Master/Instructor, Spiritual Life Coach, and Aromatherapist. I blend my services to fit your needs and better ensure the deep holistic desired healing and change.

If you’re interested in learning about and working with shamanic energy healing yourself, join my shamanic journeying class, and consider a Shamanic Reiki session.

For more on energy healing and wellness, see my mind-body-spirit blog posts using this “Energy Healing and Wellness” category link, or the blog dropdown in the main navigation menu.