Why Shamanism?

There have been many moments when I’ve thought, why shamanism? Of all the energy healing modalities, why this one? There are so many others that people know about now, that are accepted. Like Reiki. Many people don’t understand shamanism, are even afraid of it. Why did I choose this?

The short answer is: I didn’t. It was chosen for me.

It started when a friend told me I was an empath. I knew the word, but not what it meant to be one. I did some research and realized she was right. It explained so many things in my life! I read a couple of books about it and started learning how to handle it.

Then suddenly, I began seeing spirits. And talking with them! I started wondering about my sanity. Was this really happening? Was I making this up?

Although I’d made a few visits to psychics and had a few psychic experiences in my life - like seeing my grandfather floating above his casket and being able to use a pendulum to talk to my deceased father - this was a whole other level of crazy!

It was also exciting! Luckily, I have a sister and a group of friends who were encouraging and supportive.

Then a spirit guide showed up and started to help heal me - emotionally, mentally, physically. My knowledge of energy healing was minimal before this began. I was skeptical. But I had done some research and was developing a relationship with my spirit guide so I decided to go with it and see what happened.

It was amazing!

My chronic anxiety and depression disappeared. Anger that I’d held onto for years was healed. Emotions and beliefs that I thought were “just how I am” were released. I was meditating regularly and feeling better than I had in…well, ever!

A few months later, I was helping someone with a meditation to get in contact with her spirit guides and ask for healing from them. My spirit guide showed up and started working on her - rooting out some old traumas, hurts, and pains. And I realized I could SEE and FEEL what he was doing with her! This was getting weird(er)!

After explaining this as best I could to my supportive friends, we started testing my abilities - what could I do? How far could I take this? They asked me to “look” at things for them. A pain in the chest, an ankle that had been injured in a fall, a back problem. And I seemed to be able to see inside them and feel emotions related to chronic issues. Because I knew this was not coming from me, that I was just a conduit, I asked my spirit guides to show me what to do. And they did.

And my friends started getting better! Pains were lessened or eliminated altogether. A friend who had not been able to move her toes for a decade due to an accident was able to wiggle them again. Old emotional stuff was getting sorted out.

I have not witnessed any immediate miraculous healings. No blind gaining their sight. No lame able to walk. But people I’ve worked with have told me they are better. And that is a wonderful thing.

Spirit is using me to help heal others, and that is shamanism. Shamanism is a healing practice conducted in relationship with Spirit.

There are many different energy healing practices (Reiki, acupuncture, EFT, etc.) but shamanism is where my guides led me.

So shamanism it is!