A Shamanic Healing
Looking behind, I am filled with gratitude. Looking forward, I am filled with vision.
Looking above, I am filled with strength. Looking within, I discover peace. ~ Cheyenne
What is a Shamanic Healing
A true healing, or spiritual healing, cannot be done on a physical level. Healing means to return to wholeness, and returning to wholeness is purely an inside job. Spiritual healing addresses the root — the spiritual — problems that cause dis-ease.
It is important to note that shamans believe that despite their great accessibility to the spirit realm, all healing is self-healing. A shamanic healer knows how to move and manipulate the energy of another’s body and can pass wisdom through from the spirit realm, but true healing must take place inside the spirit of the individual.
A person must be willing and ready to take full responsibility for his or her own healing; there is no magic pill that lies outside of one’s spiritual body. A shaman can be an outstanding tutor, but will not give all of the answers. It is also important to note that shamanic healing is not to be a substitute for conventional medical or psychological services, but is to instead be worked with.
There are two main types of shamanic healing practices: a shamanic healing session, and a shamanic plant medicine healing ceremony. The main difference between these two types of healing is that with plant medicine ceremony, the client joins the journey with the shaman by taking the plant medicine and journey with the shaman.
Shamanic Healing Sessions
Increasing number of people are currently turning to shamans to support their well-being. As shamanic healers exist in nearly all cultures, their exact customs may vary, but the essence of what they do remains the same. They act as a sort of “hollow bone,” or an intermediary, by merging with the spirit realm and connecting with helping spirits to channel energies and wisdom in order to aid in healing within individuals on this dimension.
The helping spirits of the shamans are able to diagnose the cause (since they are spirit, they can easily see all that is happening on the spiritual level) of an illness, give insight, and then help to facilitate the required treatment for healing. For that, during a shamanic healing ceremony, the shaman must go on a shamanic journey to retrieve this energy and information — that is the core of a healing session. As well, many shamans will perform a bit of energy work in order to integrate the effects of the journey, locate, and release blockages, and increase the body’s ability to heal.
Finding a Shaman Right for You
Shamans are people. For that, just like anyone else, they come in all shapes, sizes, attitudes, and flavors. In order for one to find the right shaman, it is advised to follow these guidelines:
Methods and Specialties
Just as all shamans have their own unique preference and style of healing, every person who seeks healing has their own preferences, as well. For that, there is a lot of beauty to be found in the vast variety of shamans and their various methods of healing; one shaman may be perfect for one person but not-so-great for another.
Some shamans work a lot with stones and crystals, while others focus on rhythm and chanting. Some shamans personally train clients to embark on their own shamanic journeys, and others journey alone. Some work one-on-one, while others work in a group setting. There are also shamans who specialize in specific fields such as addictions, PTSD, soul-retrieval, and energy balance.
In order to get the most out of shamanic healing, the right client must be matched to the right shaman.
Qualities
It is of great importance to note that although someone has the title of “shaman,” this does not automatically make them a patron saint of ethics or a supernatural, God/Goddess-like being. Someone can claim that they are a shaman but that does not always mean they have the best of intentions. Below are some positive shamanistic qualities to look out for:
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They are humble-a real shaman does not walk around as if they are a rock star;
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They are trustworthy;
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They do not push personal boundaries;
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They let you come to them;
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They accept you as you are, without even the slightest hint of judgment;
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They possess a playful, peaceful demeanor;
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They are of pure spirit.
However, it is primarily about whether or not one feels good and comfortable around the shaman.
