The Cross-Cultural Evolution of Shamanism

Shamanism is the most ancient and most enduring spiritual tradition known to humanity. It predates and constitutes the foundation of all known religions, psychologies and philosophies. It originated among nomadic hunting and gathering societies. These ancient shamanic ways have withstood the tests of time, varying little from culture to culture. Over thousands of years of trial and error, primal peoples the world over developed the same basic principles and techniques of shamanic power and healing. Shamanic practice is so widespread that it can be deemed a human universal.

So why did shamanism evolve in cultures all around the world? A recent study by one of the foremost scholars on shamanism today reveals that shamanism evolved all around the globe because the shamanic narrative is hard-wired in us all. In his book, Shamanism: A Biopsychosocial Paradigm of Consciousness and Healing, Michael Winkelman presents the shamanic paradigm within a biopsychosocial framework for explaining successful human evolution through group rituals. According to Winkelman, shamanism is rooted in innate functions of the brain, mind, and consciousness. As Winkelman puts it, "The cross-cultural manifestations of basic experiences related to shamanism (e.g., soul flight, death-and-rebirth, animal identities) illustrates that these practices are not strictly cultural but are structured by underlying, biologically inherent structures. These are neurobiological structures of knowing that provide the universal aspects of the human brain/mind"

Winkelman's groundbreaking book extends our understanding of the evolutionary origins of humanity's first spiritual, healing and consciousness tradition. Though shamanism has been conventionally considered a spiritual practice, it has ancient biological, social and psychological roots. Shamanism has its bases in innate aspects of human cognition, engaging the use of altered states of consciousness to integrate information across several levels of the brain to produce visual symbolism exemplified in visionary experiences. This explains why shamanism evolved cross-culturally and is still relevant to the modern world.

The Ultimate Nature of Existence

Metaphysically, the ultimate nature of existence is that there is but one consciousness which presides over a singular, yet multidimensional, field of energy that it can form into any patterns it desires by the exercise of its thoughts and intentions. And these patterns encompass everything seen and unseen. This consciousness has been referred to as source consciousness, universal consciousness, or cosmic consciousness. Moreover, cosmic consciousness not only creates patterns of energy, it can also perceive and experience them.

There is only consciousness, information and the perception of information, and this facilitates the creation and experience of multiple realities. The world that you believe exists outside of you is basically an illusion -- it is a purely perceptual experience. Your experiences are real, but the outer world is imaginary. Your reality is only information that was imagined into existence and is essentially just imagery that your consciousness perceives. Perception is an illusory product of consciousness. The world around you is nothing more than a very convincing perceptual illusion. To learn more, look inside The Great Shift.

Giving Thanks

Celebrating a bountiful harvest once a year is a wonderful tradition. But giving thanks should be more than just a yearly event. Rather, the expression of gratitude ought to be a daily practice. Gratitude, like any other spiritual practice, is something we do, not just something we feel. And it is something we need to practice. Try to cultivate a spirit of gratitude in all things. Even in situations that seem difficult to give thanks for, just remember that you are on the Earth to experience, learn and grow. An "attitude of gratitude" in all things helps connect us to our core values and purpose for being here.

Foster a reciprocal relationship of meaning to the Earth. Take time to honor and respect the reciprocal cycle of give and take, for Mother Earth provides everything we need to live and flourish. Express your gratitude through prayer and offerings. Give thanks also for the things you are praying for. Giving thanks before needs are met is a way of making space to receive them. Reciprocity is the guiding principle of the indigenous shamanic path. We can restore balance to the planet. We humans have all the necessary talents to be reciprocal caretakers of Mother Earth. In this season of gathering in, let us bring forth the spiritual fruit of thanksgiving in all things.

Traditional Halibut Hook Revival

Indigenous peoples of the northwest coast of North America have been catching halibut on what are known as "wood hooks" for centuries, but very few fishermen use them today. Over time, wood hooks were replaced with off-the-shelf fishing tackle. As the hooks came out of the water, they found new homes on land as art pieces and collectors' items. In fact, many carvers started crafting hooks specifically to hang on the wall rather than above the seafloor. But now, Native carvers are trying to revive the ancient tradition by teaching people how to make and use the hooks for what they were intended, and helping them reconnect with their culture in the process. The wood hook is a rare example of an object that ties together the different domains that collectively form Alaska Native identity: mythology, art, carving, and the subsistence lifestyle. The carved imagery frequently features the shaman and animals associated with power and mythology, such as the raven, octopus, and even halibut. The shaman, who seamlessly traverses the natural and supernatural worlds, is believed to help fishermen make similarly smooth transitions from land to sea. Read more.

Dangers of Shamanic Journeying

Shamanic journeying is not without its risks. It is not a practice to be taken lightly, and one should not attempt it unless they have a comprehensive understanding of grounding techniques. Otherwise, it can sometimes be quite difficult to fully ground yourself into your body and restore self-awareness. It is possible to journey too much and spend too much time out of your body in other realms. It can leave one feeling ungrounded and disconnected from life on the physical plane. It is important to have an energetic balance between the spiritual and physical. The dangers of shamanic practice arise when one attempts a certain level of shamanic technique when not sufficiently ready for it. The function of consistent, regular practice is to develop the skills and talents so that shamanic practitioners do not unintentionally hurt themselves or others. Shamanic practice requires discipline, concentration and purpose.
 

Shamanic journeying involves dissolving the boundaries of how we normally interact with the world. The comfort we derive from the familiarity of ordinary reality gives way when we enter non-ordinary reality. If doing this brings up intense emotions that feel uncomfortable, threatening or out of control, then I suggest stopping. If you have a known history of dissociation or psychosis, then there is the potential for those symptoms to be triggered by such an experience. In that case, it would be best to consult a shamanic practitioner who is trained in such matters. When we are not fully in our bodies, we are disconnected from personal boundaries, sense of self and the wisdom held within our bodies. It makes us more vulnerable to any non-benevolent beings that exist in other realms.
 

So how can we protect ourselves when we take a shamanic journey? Always begin by smudging in order to create a purified sacred space where you are protected and safe. Smudging is a method of using smoke from burning herbs to dispel negative energy. Sage, cedar and sweetgrass are traditionally used for smudging. To smudge, light the dried herbs in a fire-resistant receptacle, and then blow out the flames. Then use a feather or your hands to fan the smoke around your body and home. I recommend cracking a window or door for ventilation and for releasing unwanted energies.
 

After creating sacred space, you may wish to ritually open the space by invoking the benevolent powers of the seven directions, and then call out to your helping spirits for help and protection. It is very important to take a trusted spirit guide with you when journeying. Your spirit guide knows the spirit world well and will lead, assist and protect you when necessary. When taking a shamanic journey, you will meet an entity at the entrance to the spirit world that will act as your guide. Once you meet your own power animal, you can call upon it to accompany you on your journeys.
 

Beyond that, for a studied shamanic practitioner, the dangers are relatively few as long as you adhere to a few simple rules: always ask permission before doing any healing work, offer gratitude to any and all beings that assist you in your work, be clear with your intentions and objectives, be respectful of the Earth and all our relations, and do not dabble. If you are not ready for deep spiritual work, hard truths and serious accountability, then this may not be the right path for you.