Exploring the Shamanic State of Consciousness

Shamanism, one of the world's oldest spiritual practices, is rooted in the belief that there is more to reality than what meets the eye. Practiced by indigenous cultures across the globe, shamanism involves a deep connection with the spirit world. Central to this practice is the shamanic state of consciousness (SSC), a unique altered state that allows shamans to journey beyond the ordinary, accessing realms that provide healing, guidance, and wisdom. In this blog post, we'll explore what the shamanic state of consciousness is, how it is achieved, and the profound impact it can have on both individuals and communities.
 

What is SSC?
 

The shamanic state of consciousness is an altered state in which the practitioner experiences a shift in perception and awareness, enabling them to connect with the spiritual realms. This state is often induced through various techniques, such as drumming, chanting, dancing, fasting, or the use of entheogenic plants. In this altered state, the shaman becomes a bridge between the physical world and the spiritual world, communicating with spirits, ancestors, and other non-ordinary beings.
 

Unlike other altered states of consciousness, such as those induced by meditation or psychedelics, the shamanic state is intentional and controlled. Shamans are trained to enter and exit this state at will, maintaining full awareness and control during their journeys. This intentionality allows them to navigate the spiritual realms with purpose, seeking out specific information or performing healing rituals.
 

Techniques to Induce SSC
 

Shamans use various techniques to enter the shamanic state of consciousness, each tailored to the cultural and spiritual context of their practice. Here are some of the most common methods:
 

1. Drumming and Rhythmic Sounds: Drumming is perhaps the most widely recognized technique for inducing SSC. The repetitive, monotonous beat of a drum, typically played at around four to seven beats per second, can shift brainwave patterns from the normal waking state (beta) to a more relaxed and receptive state (theta). This shift in brainwave patterns is crucial for entering the SSC, as it opens the door to non-ordinary realities.
 

2. Chanting and Singing: Chanting or singing specific songs or mantras can also alter consciousness. The vibrations created by the voice, combined with the focused intention of the chant, help to quiet the mind and facilitate entry into the spiritual realms. These vocal techniques often carry spiritual significance, with the words or sounds used believed to have inherent power.
 

3. Dancing and Movement: Certain forms of dance, especially those involving repetitive movements and rhythms, can induce a trance-like state conducive to shamanic journeying. The act of dancing, when combined with music or chanting, helps to break down the barriers between the physical and spiritual worlds, allowing the shaman to enter SSC.
 

4. Fasting and Sensory Deprivation: Fasting and sensory deprivation are ancient methods used to alter consciousness. Depriving the body of food or external stimuli can weaken the ego's grip on reality, making it easier for the shaman to access the spiritual realms. These practices are often accompanied by solitude, further enhancing the shaman’s ability to focus inward and journey into non-ordinary realities.
 

5. Use of Entheogenic Plants: In some shamanic traditions, the use of entheogenic plants like ayahuasca, peyote, or psilocybin mushrooms is central to inducing SSC. These plants are considered sacred, and their consumption is often surrounded by ritual and ceremony. The altered states induced by these plants are powerful, often leading to profound spiritual experiences and insights.
 

The Purpose and Benefits of SSC
 

The shamanic state of consciousness is not pursued for mere entertainment or escape. It serves a higher purpose within the context of shamanism, providing a means to heal, gain wisdom, and restore balance in the community.
 

1. Healing: Healing is one of the primary reasons shamans enter SSC. In this state, they can communicate with spirits, diagnose illnesses, and retrieve lost souls or energies. The shamanic belief is that many physical and mental illnesses have spiritual roots, and by addressing these spiritual causes, the shaman can facilitate profound healing.
 

2. Guidance and Wisdom: Shamans often journey into SSC to seek guidance for themselves or others. This guidance can come in many forms, such as visions, messages from spirits, or encounters with power animals or ancestors. The wisdom gained from these journeys is then brought back to the ordinary world, where it can be used to help others or guide the shaman in their spiritual practice.
 

3. Restoring Balance: In many indigenous cultures, shamans play a crucial role in maintaining the balance between the physical and spiritual worlds. By entering SSC, they can identify and correct imbalances in the community, whether these are caused by negative energies, disharmonious relationships, or disruptions in the natural world. Through rituals and ceremonies performed in the SSC, shamans work to restore harmony and ensure the well-being of their people.
 

Modern Applications of SSC
 

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in shamanic practices, including the use of the shamanic state of consciousness, among those seeking spiritual growth and healing in the modern world. Workshops, retreats, and online courses offer individuals the opportunity to learn shamanic techniques and experience SSC for themselves. While traditional shamanic practices are rooted in specific cultural contexts, modern practitioners often adapt these techniques to fit contemporary spiritual needs. This includes integrating shamanic journeying with other forms of spiritual practice, such as meditation, yoga, or psychotherapy. The benefits of entering SSC, such as deepened self-awareness, healing, and spiritual insight, resonate with many people seeking to reconnect with their spiritual selves in a meaningful way.
 

Conclusion
 

The shamanic state of consciousness offers a profound opportunity to journey beyond the ordinary and access realms of reality that are normally hidden from view. Through techniques like drumming, chanting, dancing, and the use of entheogenic plants, shamanic practitioners can enter these altered states at will, using them for healing, guidance, and restoring balance. As interest in shamanism continues to grow in the modern world, more people are discovering the transformative power of these ancient practices, finding ways to integrate them into their own spiritual journeys. Whether you are a seasoned spiritual seeker or simply curious about the mysteries of the mind, exploring the shamanic state of consciousness can open doors to new levels of understanding and connection with the spiritual world.

The Mystical Journey of Shamanic Dance

Shamanic dance, a practice deeply rooted in ancient traditions, serves as a powerful means of connecting with the spirit world. This transformative art form encompasses rhythmic movements, chants, and rituals that transcend the ordinary and invite participants to explore the depths of their consciousness. This blog post delves into the origins, significance, and transformative power of shamanic dance, offering insights into how it can enrich our modern lives.
 

The Origins of Shamanic Dance
 

Shamanic dance traces its roots to prehistoric times, long before written history. It was practiced by indigenous cultures around the world, from the Siberian steppes to the Amazon rainforest. Shamans, the spiritual leaders of these communities, used dance as a medium to communicate with the spirit world, heal the sick, and guide their tribes. Each movement, rhythm, and chant was imbued with symbolic meaning, creating a language that transcended words.
 

The Role of the Shaman
 

The shaman, often regarded as a mediator between the physical and spiritual realms, played a crucial role in these rituals. Through dance, shamans entered altered states of consciousness, allowing them to journey to other worlds and communicate with spirits, ancestors, and deities. This connection provided guidance, wisdom, and healing for their communities.
 

Cultural Variations
 

While the core principles of shamanic dance are universal, the practices vary significantly across cultures. In Siberia, shamans used elaborate costumes and drumming to induce trance states. In Africa, rhythmic drumming and body movements played a central role in connecting with ancestral spirits. In the Americas, indigenous tribes incorporated elements of nature, such as feathers and animal skins, into their dances to symbolize their connection with the Earth.
 

The Significance of Shamanic Dance
 

Shamanic dance is more than just a series of movements; it is a holistic experience that engages the body, mind, and spirit. This practice holds profound significance in several key areas:
 

Healing and Transformation
 

One of the primary purposes of shamanic dance is healing. By entering a trance state, shamans and participants can access deeper layers of their psyche, uncovering and releasing emotional, mental, and spiritual blockages. This process promotes physical and emotional well-being, leading to profound transformation.
 

Connection with Nature
 

Shamanic dance fosters a deep connection with the natural world. Many dances mimic the movements of animals, plants, and natural elements, reminding participants of their intrinsic bond with the Earth. This connection nurtures a sense of respect and reverence for nature, encouraging sustainable living practices.
 

Spiritual Awakening
 

Engaging in shamanic dance can lead to spiritual awakening and enlightenment. The rhythmic movements and trance states open channels to higher consciousness, allowing participants to gain insights, receive guidance, and experience a profound sense of unity with the universe.
 

The Elements of Shamanic Dance
 

Shamanic dance incorporates several key elements that create a transformative experience. Understanding these elements can enhance your appreciation and practice of this ancient art form.
 

Rhythm and Music
 

Rhythm is the heartbeat of shamanic dance. Drumming, chanting, and music create a vibrational field that facilitates trance states. The repetitive patterns of sound and movement help to quiet the mind, allowing participants to enter altered states of consciousness.
 

Movement and Gesture
 

Every movement in shamanic dance has symbolic meaning. Gestures, postures, and dances often mimic the natural world, embodying the essence of animals, plants, and elemental forces. These movements are not just physical; they are energetic expressions that connect the dancer with the spiritual realm.
 

Intention and Focus
 

Intention is a vital component of shamanic dance. Participants set clear intentions for their journey, whether it is healing, guidance, or spiritual connection. This focus directs the energy of the dance, amplifying its transformative power.
 

Sacred Space
 

Creating a sacred space is essential for shamanic dance. This can be done through rituals, the use of sacred objects, and invoking protective spirits. The sacred space provides a safe and supportive environment for participants to explore their inner worlds.
 

Modern Applications of Shamanic Dance
 

In today's fast-paced world, shamanic dance offers a powerful antidote to stress and disconnection. Its timeless principles can be adapted to suit modern needs, providing a path to holistic well-being.
 

Therapeutic Practices
 

Many therapists and healers incorporate elements of shamanic dance into their practice. Movement therapy, for instance, uses dance to help clients process emotions and trauma. The rhythmic, repetitive nature of shamanic dance can be particularly effective in promoting relaxation and emotional release.
 

Personal Growth
 

Individuals seeking personal growth and self-discovery can benefit from shamanic dance. Regular practice can enhance self-awareness, foster a deeper connection with nature, and promote spiritual development. Workshops and retreats offer opportunities for immersive experiences, guided by experienced practitioners.
 

Community Building
 

Shamanic dance can also serve as a powerful tool for community building. Group dances foster a sense of unity and shared purpose, strengthening social bonds and creating a supportive network. Community rituals and celebrations that incorporate shamanic dance can promote collective healing and transformation.
 

Conclusion
 

Shamanic dance, with its rich history and profound significance, offers a unique pathway to healing, transformation, and spiritual awakening. By embracing this ancient practice, we can reconnect with our true selves, our communities, and the natural world. Whether you are seeking personal growth, therapeutic healing, or a deeper spiritual connection, shamanic dance provides a timeless and powerful tool for transformation. As we dance, we journey beyond the physical, opening ourselves to the mysteries of the spirit world and the wisdom it holds.

Every Step You Take is a Prayer

The coronavirus has now arrived in many Native American communities. In an online strategy, Native women are working to heal their communities through virtual jingle dress dances. Umpaowastowin -- or Pat Northrup, as she's known in English, arranged an event and someone posted it on Facebook with the hashtag #jinglehealing. "Wear your jingle dress at home and be connected," the posting said. "Remember the reason we were given this dance."

According to Dan Kraker's coverage on Minnesota Public Radio, Native American women from Pennsylvania to Nebraska to Ontario to Northrup's apartment in northern Minnesota joined in. "This isn't just an Anishinaabe prayer. This is an "all-people-prayer," said Northrup, 70, who is Dakota, widow of the late Ojibwe author Jim Northrup. "The virus isn't going to have prejudice," she said. "It will affect all people. So that's what the prayers are for." 

Michele Hakala-Beeksma also danced, but in Duluth. "We literally say that dancing is prayer. That every step you take is prayer," she said. Hakala-Beeksma, a member of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe, started dancing about 15 years ago. She sewed about 150 copper cones on to her purple dress herself. "That tinkling sound, that kind of sounds like water, like rain -- that's the healing part that comes in. When you become a jingle dress dancer, there's a responsibility that comes with it. You're dancing for the healing of your people," she said.

The jingle dress dance originated with the Ojibwe people, or Anishinaabe, during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. There are different versions of the story about how the dance began. But they all include a little girl who was very sick. Her father had a dream about a dance that would make her better. She wore a dress lined with rows of silver cones. The sound of the jingles healed her. The sacred dance has since been taken up by women throughout Indian County, after it spread through the pow wow circuit in the 1980s.

Ojibwe women were defying the U.S. government when they developed the dance. At the time, the government forbade ritualistic dancing on reservations. So a century after that first pandemic when they danced as a prayer for healing, women from Minnesota and Wisconsin, Utah and Colorado, Kentucky and all around Canada -- danced again, praying for healing. 

Photo by JMacPherson

Coronavirus Moves Powwows Online

The names pop up quickly on Whitney Rencountre's computer screen, and he greets them as he would in person.

He spots someone from the Menominee Nation, a Wisconsin tribe that hosts competitive dancers, singers and drummers in traditional regalia in late summer.

"Beautiful powwow there," he says.

The emcee from the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe in South Dakota typically is on the powwow circuit in the spring, joining thousands of others in colorful displays of culture and tradition that are at their essence meant to uplift people during difficult times. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the gatherings are taking on a new form online.

"Sometimes we have this illusion that we're in total control, but it takes times like this of uncertainty and the challenges of the possibility of death to help us step back and reevaluate," said Rencountre, a co-organizer of the Facebook group Social Distance Powwow, which sprung up about a month ago as more states and tribes advised people to stay home.

Normally this time of year, a string of powwows hosted by Native American tribes and universities would be underway across the U.S., with tribal members honoring and showcasing their cultures -- and socializing, like family reunions. The powwows represent an evolution of songs and dances from when tribal traditions were forced underground during European settlement, Rencountre said.

The pandemic has canceled or postponed virtually all of them, including two of the largest in the U.S. -- the Denver March Powwow and the Gathering of Nations in Albuquerque, New Mexico, held in April.

Social Distance Powwow has helped fill the void, quickly growing to more than 125,000 members.

Members from different tribal nations post photos and videos of themselves and loved ones dancing, often in their regalia. The page has become a daily dose of prayer, songs, dances, well wishes, humor and happy birthdays.

In one video, Jordan Kor sits in his vehicle after a shift at a San Jose, California, hospital emergency department. An old Dakota war song he learned as a child that can be a rallying cry was bouncing around his head. He pulls off his mask and cap and sings, slapping a beat on the steering wheel.

"The biggest ones, social distance, keep working in whatever it is that brings you joy and helps you keep connected," said Kor, who is Tarahumara and Wapetonwon Lakota. "And wash your hands!"

The page also hosts a weekly, live powwow with the organizers -- Rencountre, Stephanie Hebert and Dan Simonds -- assembling a lineup of volunteer drum groups, singers and dancers for the hours-long event. This past weekend, Rencountre patched people in from across the country on the live feed.

A marketplace on the site lets vendors showcase their paintings, beadwork, jewelry, basketry and clothing.

An online powwow lacks some of the grandeur of being in person and seeing hundreds of performers fill an arena for the grand entry. It doesn't have a roll call of tribal royalty, singers and champion dancers. And it doesn't have categories for competitive dancing.

But it offers a way to keep people connected.

"When we dance, we are dancing for prayer and protection," said member Mable Moses of the Lumbee Tribe in North Carolina. "No matter what we do, may the Lord always protect us whether we're living or dying."

Moses learned to dance later in life and now competes in the "golden age" category at powwows. In a video of her Southern Traditional dance, she moves around a dogwood tree in her yard slowly but with high energy.

"Even though I'm 72, I'm like 29," she said.

Moses said the dance meant to calm people helps her cope with the fear surrounding the coronavirus, and the difficulty of staying away from others.

Tribal members also are posting elsewhere on social media, including youth hoop dancers from Pojoaque Pueblo in New Mexico.

For those viewing for the first time, Rencountre encourages an open mind.

"We ask them to break down the wall, to feel the dances, to feel the songs, as you're watching," he said. "Don't think about it from a technical point of view. Understand the creation of these songs and dances comes from a place of uplifting."

Leiha Peters grew up doing jingle dress dance meant for healing. The dress is characterized by cone-shaped jingles typically made from the lids of tobacco cans. Now, she does beadwork for her children's outfits and is a Seneca language teacher.

She recently posted a video of two of her children and their cousins doing smoke dance in the living room of her home on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation northeast of Buffalo, New York. Its origins are mixed as a dance for men to bless themselves before they went to battle and a way to clear smoke from traditional homes called longhouses, she said.

Her children grow up knowing the respect and the protocol that accompany the dance and its songs. They also have fun with it, sometimes competing in the family's backyard to win cups of Kool-Aid or bags of candy, Peters said.

"For them, dancing is medicine on its own. It's everything to us," she said. "It's energy, it's athleticism, it's staying healthy and living a better life with food choices. It's not easy doing what they do."

The Ghost Dance at Standing Rock

Siege at Standing Rock

Early Wednesday morning, the acting secretary of the army -- appointed two weeks ago by President Trump -- ordered the Army Corps of Engineers to reverse course and grant the permits necessary for the Dakota Access Pipeline to be completed. Hours later, the barricades on Highway 1806 were taken down, paving the way for a raid of one of the Water Protectors' newly established camps by militarized police and the North Dakota National Guard. American Indian activist Chase Iron Eyes was among dozens of demonstrators arrested after trying to establish a new camp on private property located on the west side of N.D. Highway 1806 in southern Morton County, North Dakota. 

For much of 2016, demonstrators in Cannon Ball, North Dakota, withstood tear gas, arrests, rubber bullets and severe weather while camped out in an isolated area that has become known as Oceti Sakowin Camp. While on its face, the encampments are demonstrations against an oil pipeline, some have called the battle between a Dallas-based oil company and the Standing Rock Sioux a larger civil rights movement for Native Americans -- a comparison bolstered by law enforcement's use of water cannons on protesters in late November 2016.

The Last Ghost Dancers

Chase Iron Eyes, a former Congressional candidate and member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, calls the demonstration "our Ghost Dance." The Ghost Dance was a new religious movement incorporated into numerous American Indian belief systems in the late 1880s in an attempt to revitalize traditional culture and to find a way to face increasing poverty, hunger, and disease. According to the teachings of the Northern Paiute spiritual leader Wovoka, proper practice of the dance would reunite the living with spirits of the dead, bring the spirits of the dead to fight on their behalf, make the white colonists leave, and bring peace, prosperity, and unity to indigenous peoples throughout the region. He also stated that the people must be good and love one another, and not fight, steal, lie or engage in war.

The Ghost Dance was based on the circle dance. Participants joined hands and sidestepped clockwise around a circle, stooping to pick up dirt and throwing it in the air, all the while singing special songs and striving to fall into a visionary trance. Each ceremony lasted for five successive days and was repeated every six weeks. The ritual dance swept throughout much of the Western United States, quickly reaching areas of California and Oklahoma. As the Ghost Dance spread from its original source, Indian tribes synthesized selective aspects of the ritual with their own beliefs. 

 

The Ghost Dance affected the Lakota Sioux bands who adopted it more than any other group. Though the Ghost Dance provided hope to all American Indians, it proved particularly appealing to the Lakota at Standing Rock, and on all the newly defined Sioux reservations, who were in poor health, starving, and suffering relentless assaults on their traditional way of life. It also appealed to Lakota leaders such as Sitting Bull, who had resisted assimilation under the Dawes Act of 1887 which authorized the President of the United States to survey American Indian tribal land and divide it into allotments for individual Indians. Sitting Bull and his followers let it be known they would not take allotments when the time came; they stated they had not signed the Sioux Bill and would therefore "continue to enjoy their old Indian ways."

Brutal Suppression of the Ghost Dance

Wovoka's prophecy of a new golden age, however, did not come to pass. Instead, the peaceful indigenous movement was met by a brutal Army suppression. The Lakotas' white neighbors and reservation officials viewed the movement as a threat to U.S. Indian policy and believed the Ghost Dance ceremonies indicated that the Lakotas intended to start a war. Reservation officials called on the U.S. government to outlaw the dancing. The government dispatched the U.S. Army and called for the arrest of key tribal leaders such as Sitting Bull and Big Foot. Indian police from Standing Rock killed Sitting Bull while arresting him. Two weeks later, on December 29, 1890, members of the Seventh Cavalry killed Big Foot and at least 145 Miniconjou and Hunkpapa Lakota ("Sioux") men, women, and children (casualty estimates range to higher than 300) in the Wounded Knee Massacre, thus eliminating key leaders most opposed to the United States and its Indian policy.

The Ghost Dance died out among the Lakotas after Wounded Knee, but experienced a revival during the 1970s as part of the Red Power movement. To many, the Ghost Dance represented resistance to U.S. Indian policy and American culture and was a rallying point for preserving traditional Indian culture. The Ghost Dancers envisioned a perfect world, a vision of an idealized past that would be restored to those who honored the traditional way of life.  It gave people hope amid tragedy. Again, the Sioux stand on the brink of uncertainty, with a new administration in the White House and a president who has ordered the Army Corps of Engineers to reverse course and grant the permits necessary for the Dakota Access Pipeline to be completed.

In a recent interview, Chase Iron Eyes responded to the president's order by declaring, "We are staying. We don't have a choice but to stand up. The world is depending on us. We have been referred to as the Ghost Dancers of our time. The thing that's different though is that we have a world of allies that have supported us because they see themselves in this struggle. We have the critical mass to win and to change the trajectory of our planet."

The battle to protect the land and natural resources of Standing Rock from the threat posed by the Dakota Access Pipeline has only just begun. To help power the movement to protect Mother Earth and win justice for the Lakota people, please visit the Lakota People's Law Project at http://lakotalaw.org/.

The Hopi Butterfly Dance

In the summer of 1989, my wife and I had the opportunity to attend the Hopi Butterfly Dance in northeastern Arizona. The Butterfly Dance is one of the most beautiful and spectacular of the Hopi social dances. Like most Hopi ceremonies, the Butterfly Dance is a petition for rain, good health and long life for all living things. The dance is a celebration of the harvest that recognizes the butterfly for its beauty and its contribution in pollinating plant life.

The main participants are Hopi youth and young adults who are accompanied by a drummer and a chorus of singers. The participating girls each wear an elaborately painted headdress or kopatsoki made for them by their male dance partners. The imagery includes symbols of the girl's clan and sometimes of her dance partner's clan. The boys wear loosely fitting velvet shirts and tailored kilts that are embroidered with cloud and rain symbols. Everyone dances lightly, keeping time with the constant drumbeat. The dancers' gestures interpret and emphasize each song's meaning: lowering the arms depicts the lowering clouds, moving the arms in a zigzag motion denotes lightning, lowering the palms signifies rain, and lifting the hands symbolizes the growing stalks of corn.

To watch the Butterfly Dance is to be transported to a way of life rooted in the distant past. The Hopi (The Peaceful People) have carried on their ancient way of life and culture in northeastern Arizona for more than 2000 years. To be Hopi is to strive toward achieving a state of total reverence and respect for all things, to be at peace with these things, and to live in accordance with the instructions of Maasaw, the Creator or Caretaker of Earth. The Hopi observe their traditional ceremonies for the benefit of the entire world. Watch the Hopi Butterfly Dance.