What is Shamanism?

Shamanism is the oldest form of spirituality that exists on the Earth. It comes from a time when we, the two-leggeds, remembered that we were connected to all things. We knew that the animals were our brothers and sisters, that the trees were our elders, and we could hear the voice of the wind and feel the heartbeat of the Earth Mother as we walked upon her. Because of this knowingness, we never felt alone. We all took care of each other and the planet.

into the forest

There came a time that Black Bear called the “Great Separation.” It was in this time that we forgot that we were part of everything and we began to feel separated and alone. Fortunately, there have always been those people who remembered how to live in the old way, and those teachers passed on their knowingness orally down through the ages.

Shamanism is the memory of how to live in this old way. It is full of techniques, philosophies, healings and meditations, all designed to help you connect to the Great Spirit that moves through all things, including you. To walk a shamanic path is to walk a path of the heart, to become fully human. It is about feeling and experiencing everything in the human experience from great sorrow and loss to great joy and love. It is not an easy path, but the rewards are great.