Getting Started with Shamanic Journeying

Shamanic journeying is one of humanity's oldest spiritual practices, used for millennia by cultures around the world to access guidance, healing, and wisdom from the unseen realms. At its heart, journeying is a method of shifting your state of consciousness so you can connect with spirit guides, ancestors, and the living energies of nature. While its origins are ancient, the practice is deeply relevant today for anyone seeking clarity, balance, and a stronger connection to the web of life.

If you've ever felt the call to explore your inner worlds, meet your spirit helpers, or tap into a more intuitive way of living, shamanic journeying can be a profound and empowering path. Here's how to begin.

What Is Shamanic Journeying?

In shamanic traditions, reality is understood as having multiple layers or planes of consciousness:

• The Lower World -- a place of earth energies, animal spirits, and ancestral roots.
• The Middle World -- the spiritual dimension of our everyday reality.
• The Upper World -- a realm of higher wisdom, teachers, and celestial energies.

A shamanic journey involves entering a light trance state--often through rhythmic drumming, rattling, or chanting--to travel into one of these realms. While your body remains still and grounded, your consciousness "journeys" in search of guidance, healing, or insight.

Why People Journey

People turn to shamanic journeying for many reasons, including:

• Personal healing -- working through emotional, mental, or spiritual blocks.
• Receiving guidance -- asking spirit allies for insight on life's challenges.
• Reconnecting with nature -- deepening relationship with the living Earth.
• Self-discovery -- uncovering gifts, purpose, or hidden strengths.
• Ancestral connection -- learning from those who walked before us.

The practice is both deeply personal and universally accessible. You don't need to belong to a particular culture or follow a specific religion to journey--only an open mind, respect for the process, and the intention to use it for good.

Preparation: Creating Sacred Space

Before journeying, preparation helps you align body, mind, and spirit. Here's a simple approach:

1. Choose a quiet place: Select a location where you won't be disturbed. This could be a meditation space, a comfortable corner, or even outside in nature.

2. Clear the space: You might burn sage, cedar, or palo santo, ring a bell, or simply visualize the area being filled with light.

3. Set your intention: Be specific. For example: "I seek to meet my power animal" or "I ask for guidance on a decision I face." Clarity of purpose helps focus the journey.

4. Gather tools: While not essential, many find it helpful to have a drum recording, rattle, blanket, or eye mask to deepen focus.

The Journeying Process

Here is a beginner-friendly method to get started:

1. Get comfortable: Lie down or sit in a relaxed position. Cover your eyes to block visual distractions.

2. Use rhythmic sound: A steady drumbeat of about 4–7 beats per second is ideal. This rhythm has been shown to help shift the brain into the theta state, associated with deep meditation and dreaming.

3. Enter through an "opening": In your mind's eye, imagine a natural entrance--such as a hollow tree, cave, or tunnel--that leads to the spirit world. This becomes your gateway.

4. Travel with awareness: Follow your inner vision without forcing it. You may meet animal guides, ancestors, or other beings. Observe, listen, and interact respectfully.

5. Ask your question or seek guidance: Once connected with a helper, state your intention and be open to responses that may come as words, images, feelings, or symbols.

6. Return consciously: When it feels complete--or when the drumbeat changes to a "call back" rhythm--thank your helpers, retrace your path to the entry point, and re-emerge into ordinary reality.

7. Ground yourself: Move your body, drink water, or eat something nourishing to fully return.

Recording Your Experience

After journeying, immediately write or record what you experienced. Even if it feels dreamlike or symbolic, details may hold meaning later. Over time, patterns may emerge--such as recurring guides, places, or symbols--that deepen your relationship with the spirit world.

Common Spirit Allies

While everyone's experiences are unique, many beginners encounter:

• Power Animals -- animal spirits that protect, guide, and empower you.
• Teachers -- wise human or spirit beings who share knowledge.
• Nature Spirits -- rivers, mountains, plants, or elemental forces that offer connection and perspective.

Trust what comes, even if it surprises you. Spirit often speaks through imagery that resonates on a symbolic or emotional level.

Tips for Beginners

• Practice regularly -- even 10–15 minutes a few times a week builds skill and familiarity.
• Release expectations -- each journey is different; avoid comparing to others.
• Respect the process -- this is a sacred practice, not a casual game.
• Stay grounded -- balance spiritual exploration with practical, everyday life.
• Seek guidance if needed -- working with an experienced practitioner can help you refine your technique and interpret your journeys.

Ethics and Respect

Shamanic journeying is powerful and should be approached with humility.

• Always ask for permission before working on behalf of someone else.
• Use the practice for healing, insight, and connection--not manipulation or harm.
• Remember that different cultures have their own ways of journeying; be mindful of cultural appropriation by honoring the roots of the practice and acknowledging your sources.

The Gifts of Journeying

Over time, shamanic journeying can transform how you see yourself and the world. You may feel more connected to nature, more in tune with your intuition, and more able to navigate life's challenges with clarity and courage. Many discover a renewed sense of belonging--not just to their personal story, but to the great unfolding story of the Earth and cosmos.

The journey begins with a single step--or in this case, a single beat of the drum. Approach it with openness, respect, and curiosity, and you may find that the worlds you visit are not "somewhere else" at all, but woven into the fabric of life that surrounds and sustains you.

Shamanic journeying is not about escaping reality; it's about seeing reality more fully. By traveling inward, we awaken to the living connections all around us--and to the wisdom that has always been within.

Facing Down the Darkness

Darkness is a universal metaphor. It represents fear, despair, uncertainty, and the shadow side of human experience. Across cultures and spiritual traditions, "the darkness" has been a symbol of the trials we must face--both in the world and within ourselves. Yet from a spiritual perspective, darkness is not only something to fear; it is also a teacher, a threshold, and a path to transformation.

Facing down the darkness is not about eradicating it. It is about meeting it with courage, awareness, and compassion, so that what was once a source of fear becomes a gateway to deeper wisdom.

Understanding the Nature of Darkness

In spiritual traditions, darkness often plays a paradoxical role. It is the void from which creation emerges, the womb of potential, the quiet place where seeds germinate before breaking into the light. At the same time, it is the realm of ignorance, illusion, and suffering.

Mystics throughout history--from the Taoist sages of ancient China to the shamans of the Amazon--have recognized that life is a dance of opposites. Just as day cannot exist without night, the light of the soul is most clearly perceived against the backdrop of our shadows.

The spiritual journey inevitably leads us into encounters with darkness. This can take many forms:

• Personal trials: grief, loss, betrayal, or illness.
• Inner shadows: unacknowledged fears, suppressed anger, unresolved trauma.
• Collective darkness: societal injustice, war, and ecological crisis.

It is tempting to avoid or deny these realities, to cling to the light and pretend the shadows do not exist. But avoidance only gives darkness more power. True spiritual growth requires turning toward it.

Why We Must Face It

Avoiding darkness does not dissolve it--it buries it. Unmet pain festers. Unacknowledged fears shape our decisions from the shadows. Denial can create more harm than the truth we are trying to avoid.

Spiritually, facing the darkness is essential for three reasons:

1. Integration of the Self: Carl Jung spoke of "the shadow" as the unintegrated parts of ourselves. By bringing our shadows into awareness, we become whole. Spiritual maturity is not about becoming flawless; it's about knowing all parts of ourselves and choosing how to act with integrity.

2. Strength and Resilience: Meeting life's challenges with open eyes strengthens the soul. Just as a muscle grows through resistance, the spirit grows through confrontation with difficulty.

3. Access to Deeper Light: Paradoxically, our deepest experiences of light often arise after we have moved through profound darkness. The night sky reveals the stars; the darkest times can awaken our most radiant compassion.

The Inner Battle

Facing the darkness is an inner battle more than an outer one. While the events of life may be beyond our control, our relationship to them is a matter of choice.

When fear rises, the mind often spins into stories of catastrophe. Spiritual practice teaches us to witness these stories without getting lost in them. Whether through meditation, prayer, breathwork, or shamanic journeying, we learn to meet fear not as an enemy, but as a messenger.

The darkness inside often takes the form of:

• Limiting beliefs ("I am not enough," "The world is hopeless")
• Old wounds that we carry like unhealed scars
• Unconscious habits that keep us in cycles of suffering

By facing these inner shadows with compassion, we can transform them. Sometimes, this transformation is gentle--a slow untying of knots. Other times, it is fierce, requiring us to burn away illusions.

Tools for Facing the Darkness

1. Awareness: Darkness thrives in ignorance. Simply bringing attention to what we fear can begin to dissolve its power. Journaling, contemplation, and honest self-reflection are powerful allies.

2. Spiritual Anchors: Practices like meditation, prayer, chanting, or drumming keep us connected to the light while we navigate the shadows. These anchors remind us that we are more than the darkness we face.

3. Sacred Community: Walking through darkness is easier when we have companions on the path. Supportive friends, spiritual teachers, and trusted communities offer guidance and remind us we are not alone.

4. Ritual and Symbol: Many traditions use ritual to externalize and transform inner darkness--burning what is no longer needed, offering it to the fire, the river, or the earth. Symbolic acts engage both the conscious and subconscious mind in healing.

The Gift in the Darkness

Every confrontation with darkness carries a gift, though it is often hidden. The alchemists spoke of turning lead into gold, a metaphor for transforming the dense, heavy aspects of life into spiritual treasure.

Sometimes the gift is wisdom--the understanding that only comes from experience. Sometimes it is empathy, born from knowing suffering firsthand. Sometimes it is a renewed sense of purpose, forged in the crucible of hardship.

The great mystic Rumi wrote, "The wound is the place where the Light enters you." This is not to glorify suffering, but to acknowledge that our broken places can become openings for grace.

A Larger View

From a higher spiritual perspective, darkness and light are not enemies; they are two aspects of the same wholeness. The cosmos itself was born from a formless void. In the cycles of nature, night gives way to dawn, winter to spring.

When we face the darkness, we participate in this larger dance. We recognize that even the most difficult experiences are part of an unfolding that is ultimately creative.

Walking Forward

Facing down the darkness is not a one-time event--it is an ongoing part of the spiritual path. There will be seasons when the shadows seem overwhelming and times when the light feels distant. Yet each step we take toward truth, each act of courage in the face of fear, becomes a beacon for others.

The spiritual path asks us to trust that no darkness is absolute. Somewhere, even in the blackest night, the seeds of dawn are stirring. Our task is to keep walking, eyes open, heart steady, grounded in the knowing that light and darkness are both sacred teachers.

The next time you feel the darkness closing in, pause. Breathe. Remember that you are not alone and that within you is a light no shadow can extinguish. Facing the darkness is not about conquering it--it is about becoming so rooted in truth that even in the deepest night, you can see the stars. To learn more, look inside my book, The Great Shift: And How To Navigate It.

How Does Shamanic Drumming Affect the Brain?

Shamanic drumming has been used by indigenous cultures for thousands of years as a tool for healing, altered states of consciousness, and spiritual exploration. At the heart of this ancient practice lies a rhythmic, repetitive beat--often played at around 4 to 7 beats per second--which has a profound impact not only on the emotional and spiritual body, but also on the brain itself. As modern neuroscience continues to evolve, we are beginning to understand more clearly how shamanic drumming influences brainwaves, consciousness, and psychological well-being.

The Science of Rhythm and the Brain

The brain is a rhythmic organ. It generates electrical impulses known as brainwaves, which are categorized based on their frequency: beta, alpha, theta, delta, and gamma. Each type corresponds to a different state of consciousness. For example:

• Beta waves (13–30 Hz): active, alert, problem-solving state.
• Alpha waves (8–13 Hz): relaxed, calm, meditative state.
• Theta waves (4–8 Hz): deep meditation, creativity, dream-like states.
• Delta waves (0.5–4 Hz): deep sleep, unconsciousness.

Shamanic drumming, especially when played at 4–7 beats per second, naturally encourages the brain to synchronize with the rhythm through a process called entrainment. Entrainment is the phenomenon by which biological systems align with an external rhythm. In this case, the external rhythm of the drumbeat nudges the brain into a theta state, which is associated with vivid imagery, intuition, and non-ordinary states of consciousness.

Entering the Shamanic State of Consciousness

In traditional shamanic practices, the drum acts as a bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds. When a shaman begins to drum at a steady tempo, it induces what many refer to as the "shamanic state of consciousness"--a deeply focused, trance-like state that allows for journeying, visioning, and spiritual healing.

This theta-dominant state is neurologically similar to what we experience during deep meditation, hypnosis, or REM sleep. It is a highly creative and receptive brain state in which the subconscious mind is more accessible. In this altered state, individuals often report:

• Vivid visual imagery
• A sense of timelessness
• Heightened intuition
• Connection to spirit guides or power animals
• Emotional insights or healing experiences

The Drumbeat as Auditory Driving

The steady, monotonous rhythm of the shamanic drum is not designed for entertainment. Rather, it functions as a form of auditory driving, a technique that uses rhythmic sound to shift states of consciousness. Studies in psychoacoustics (the study of the perception of sound) have shown that continuous drumming can alter activity in various brain regions, including the thalamus and limbic system--areas associated with sensory processing and emotion.

Auditory driving through drumming can bypass the analytical, rational mind (associated with beta waves) and activate the intuitive, sensory parts of the brain. This is why people often feel as if they have entered a dream or vision-like state during a drumming session.

Neurological Benefits of Shamanic Drumming

In addition to altering consciousness, shamanic drumming has been shown to offer a range of psychological and neurological benefits:

1. Stress Reduction: Rhythmic drumming has been found to lower cortisol levels, the hormone associated with stress. A study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that group drumming sessions significantly reduced anxiety and improved mood among participants.

2. Emotional Regulation: Drumming stimulates the release of endorphins and endogenous opiates, which can help regulate mood and create a sense of well-being. The rhythmic pattern can also serve as an emotional anchor, helping individuals process and release trauma.

3. Enhanced Focus and Attention: Paradoxically, while shamanic drumming induces a trance-like state, it can also increase focus and attention. This is particularly true for people who struggle with overactive thoughts. The repetitive beat creates a focal point, helping quiet the mind and reduce internal chatter.

4. Neuroplasticity and Healing: Emerging research in neuroplasticity--the brain's ability to rewire itself--suggests that rhythmic activities like drumming can help re-pattern dysfunctional neural pathways. For trauma survivors, engaging in rhythmic drumming may offer a non-verbal pathway for healing that bypasses cognitive resistance.

Cross-Cultural Consistency

Interestingly, the use of repetitive rhythm to enter trance states is consistent across many indigenous cultures. From the frame drums of Siberian shamans to the ceremonial drums of Native American and African traditions, the power of rhythm transcends geography. The fact that such diverse cultures discovered similar methods independently points to a universal human capacity for rhythm-based transformation.

This cross-cultural consistency supports the idea that shamanic drumming taps into a fundamental neurological mechanism common to all humans. It is not tied to belief systems, rituals, or specific traditions alone--it works because of how our brains are wired.

The Drum as a Neurological Tool

While the spiritual significance of the drum should not be diminished, it is fascinating to consider the drum as a neurological tool. Modern practitioners often use recordings of shamanic drumming to facilitate meditative states, personal journeys, or even creative inspiration. Whether used in sacred ceremony or personal practice, the drumbeat becomes a functional mechanism for shifting consciousness and activating inner wisdom.

Integrating Science and Spirit

Science has only just begun to scratch the surface of what indigenous shamans have long known--that the drum is not merely a musical instrument but a tool for transformation. By understanding the brain-based mechanisms behind shamanic drumming, we gain new respect for ancient practices and how they align with modern therapeutic principles.

This fusion of ancient wisdom and neuroscience opens up exciting possibilities. Could shamanic drumming become part of trauma recovery protocols? Could it be used in therapeutic settings for mental health or addiction? As clinical research expands, the therapeutic and transformative potential of rhythm continues to be affirmed.

Final Thoughts

Shamanic drumming is far more than a rhythmic activity. It is a profound tool that interacts with our brain's natural rhythms to induce healing, insight, and altered states of awareness. Whether approached as a spiritual ritual or a neurological technique, its effects are undeniable. As we rediscover the science behind these ancient rhythms, we are reminded that the journey inward often begins with a simple, steady beat--a reminder that healing doesn't always require words, only rhythm, intention, and a willingness to listen.

The Darkening of the Light

In this blog post, I am expanding on a post from January of 2017, when Donald Trump began his first tenure as the president of the United States. The original post is still relevant to the times we live in, so I felt the need to revisit it in this post. 

In January of 2017, I consulted the I Ching in order to gain some insight into the dire situation of our planet. The I Ching is an ancient Chinese text and divination system which counsels appropriate action in the moment for a given set of circumstances. Each moment has a pattern to it and everything that happens in that moment is interconnected. Based on the synchronicity of the universe and the laws of probability, the I Ching responds to an inquiry in the form of a hexagram. By evaluating the hexagram that describes your current pattern of relationship, you can divine the outcome and act accordingly. The oracle serves as a gauge--a precise means for placing oneself in relation to the pattern or way of cyclical change, and that way is known as Tao (the core principle underlying the Universe).

The I Ching is a microcosm of all possible human situations. It serves as a dynamic map, whose function is to reveal one's relative position in the cosmos of events. The hexagram texts address the 64 archetypal human situations. The commentary of each hexagram reveals the optimal strategy for integrating or harmonizing with the inevitable for a given condition. It provides the appropriate response to your inquiry. It affords a holistic perspective of your current condition and discusses the proper or correct way to address the situation.

The Dark Night of the Soul

When I consulted the I Ching regarding our current situation on the planet, I received Hexagram 36: Darkening of the Light. This hexagram symbolizes the sun sinking into the earth and is often associated with the "dark night of the soul." The dark night of the soul is a kind of initiation, taking you from one phase of life into another. Since modern man has lost the ritual of initiation into the dark underworld of the unconscious, the soul precipitates this experience. Descent into the realm of the shadow (humanity's repressed dark side) is most often precipitated by physical, psychological, emotional or spiritual events that force the surrender of our ego. For those who have entered this phase of the inner work, it is good to remember that no one is given a test that they can't pass if they sincerely want to. 

The dark night of the soul denotes a time of darkness when oppressive forces obscure the beauty and clarity of light. As stated in the I Ching, "Here a man of dark nature is in a position of authority and brings harm to the wise and able man." It is a time of maximum darkness and ignorance; a time when the dark forces of the unconscious are at their peak. It isn't hard to see that even though we live on a planet that surrounds us with beauty, that there is a lot of darkness manifesting within humanity.

Humanity as a whole is currently undergoing a dark night of the collective soul. It's characterized by global challenges like ecological collapse, social fragmentation, and a sense of spiritual emptiness. Some ancient philosophies suggest that this period involves a "clearing of the karma of the collective consciousness." The collective dark night also involves a shift in consciousness, a questioning of societal structures, and a search for deeper meaning. In essence, the dark night of the collective soul is a call to awaken to a new way of being, both individually and collectively, in the face of unprecedented global challenges.

Hiding One's Light

According to the I Ching, when the darkness of stupidity reigns in human affairs, it is best that you keep your brilliance "hidden under a bushel basket." The oracle counsels us to show our intelligence by concealing it. In other words, let your thoughts and efforts be quiet, self-contained, and protected, as much as possible, from harmful influences. The time to assert yourself will come. 

Lao Tzu, the reputed author of the Tao Te Ching and the founder of philosophical Taoism, gives us the best paraphrase of the idea in his famous proverb: "He who knows does not speak; He who speaks does not know." The proverb suggests that true knowledge is often quiet and unpretentious, while those who speak the loudest may lack genuine understanding. It implies that deep wisdom is earned through experience and contemplation, not through constant chatter. 

Conversely, those who talk a lot may be trying to compensate for a lack of real knowledge or may be insecure about their understanding. The "superior man" manages the situation by subduing his need to speculate, meddle, or call attention to himself. In dealing with the masses, true leaders act unobtrusively while in fact being illuminated. What sages learn is to become daily more illuminated unbeknownst to others.

Navigating the Collective Dark Night

The journey through the collective dark night is not passive; it requires conscious effort and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths. It is considered a phase of internal purification where the collective ego, is "stripped away" and attachments are dissolved, allowing for a deeper understanding of reality to emerge. It involves questioning our beliefs, identity, and the meaning of existence itself. It demands that we let go of old, outdated ways of thinking and being, and embrace a new perspective. This process may involve grief, anxiety, and a sense of disorientation, but ultimately leads to greater self-awareness and a more authentic connection to ourself and the world. 

According to Hinduism, time speeds up or, more precisely, karma speeds up in the dark age of humanity. In Sanskrit, karma is the spiritual principle of cause and effect where intent and actions of an individual (cause) influence the future of that individual (effect). Due to the rapid pace of life and the prevalence of moral and ethical challenges, the consequences of actions are often experienced more quickly. 

But the truth is, according to Vajrayana Buddhist teachings, this intensification makes this an exceptional time for spiritual practice, because the fruits of such practice are now more magnified and immediate. Even in the worst of times, the possibility to be well above it is always there for an individual human being. This is a time filled with unparalleled opportunities for spiritual growth and inner transformation.

Cultivating Our Inner Light

For the time being, it is in our best interests to accept our collective situation. Like the winter time, circumstances require that we turn within to stoke our inner fire with spiritual practice. A spiritual practice is a deliberate and regular activity undertaken to foster spiritual growth, deepen connection with the divine or something greater than oneself, and cultivate a more meaningful life. A spiritual activity might be dancing, drumming, chanting, meditating, praying, doing yoga or tai chi. Regular spiritual practice fosters deeper self-awareness, inner peace, insight, compassion, empathy, non-attachment, integration and a sense of unity. 

So we must tend to our inner light and maintain a low profile. So long as we conceal our inner glow, it cannot be extinguished. Until conditions are more favorable, remain yielding and compliant externally, while maintaining your inner vision, convictions, and principles. Such an attitude will sustain your inner light in even the darkest of times. Try not to become too depressed or anxious; this period will pass. The darkness that is now showing itself everywhere will eventually consume itself and perish, for it has no inner light to sustain it. The dark times will pass, and the light will return. The sun will rise again. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the world will be reborn.