Understanding Shamanic Journeys

The classic shamanic journey is one of the most remarkable visionary methods used by humankind to access inner wisdom and guidance by the teachers within. Shamanic journeying is not an exceptional skill reserved for certain people, but knowing what to do with intuition, how to respond to it, and how to integrate it into day-to-day life is an exceptional skill that can -- and should -- be learned. It is important to release any expectations you may have about what a journey should be like. Too often people reject what they are legitimately experiencing because it doesn't fit their expectations of what should be happening. The key is to trust that what is happening is exactly what is meant to occur at that moment in time.

The most empowering gift shamanic journeying offers each of us is direct revelation, which manifests as visions, inner voices, or experiences with our own spirit helpers. Once you attain a state of ecstatic communion, how do you know you are listening to your spirit guides and not just making it up? For me, direct revelation comes from the heart and begins with my willingness to trust the guidance of my inner voice.

To better understand your journeys, I recommend recording your experiences in a journal as soon as you have returned to ordinary reality. Journeys, like dreams, tend to fade quickly from conscious awareness. Keeping a journal provides a record of your spiritual growth and allows you to reflect upon and better interpret journeys. In some cases, your journey experiences will be clear and easy to understand. At other times, your journey may be dreamlike and full of symbolism. Interpret such journeys as you would any dream. Look for possible associations related to each symbol or image. Don't overanalyze the journey, for its meaning will become clear at the appropriate time.

Not every journey you undertake will necessarily be coherent, vivid or powerful. Still, no matter how esoteric or random the experience may seem, it augments your shamanic skill and knowledge. Seemingly insignificant events in a journey or vision may manifest in a powerful way in your ordinary state of awareness. Be on the lookout for synchronicities, for they confirm that your shamanic work is producing effects beyond the bounds of probability or coincidence.

The more you practice shamanic journeying, the better you will get at it. Nothing may happen on your first journeys. You may not be able to turn off the mind chatter or go anywhere. When this happens, simply try again at a different time. Eventually you will be able to take a rapid inner journey anywhere or anytime the need arises. Try a shamanic journey: http://youtu.be/_bU0g8TiDUw 

What is Shamanic Journeying?

Shamanism represents a universal conceptual framework found among indigenous tribal humans. It includes the belief that the natural world has two aspects: ordinary everyday awareness, formed by our habitual behaviors, patterns of belief, social norms, and cultural conditioning, and a second non-ordinary awareness accessed through altered states, or ecstatic trance, induced by shamanic practices such as repetitive drumming. The act of entering an ecstatic trance state is called the soul flight or shamanic journey, and it allows the journeyer to view life and life's problems from a detached, spiritual perspective, not easily achieved in a state of ordinary consciousness.

Basically, shamanic journeying is a way of communicating with your inner or spirit self and retrieving information. Your inner self is in constant communication with all aspects of your environment, seen and unseen. You need only journey within to find answers to your questions. You should have a question or objective in mind from the start. Shamanic journeying may be undertaken for purposes of divination, for personal healing, to meet one's power animal or spirit guide, or for any number of other reasons. After the journey, you must then interpret the meaning of your trance experience.

Drumming is a simple and effective way to induce ecstatic trance states. When a drum is played at an even tempo of three to four beats per second for at least fifteen minutes, most novices report that they can journey successfully even on their first attempt. Transported by the driving beat of the drum; the shamanic traveler journeys to the inner planes of consciousness.

"Shaman's Drums" Album Release

I am pleased to announce the release of my new album "Shaman's Drums." Shaman's Drums combines trance-inducing drums, native flutes and droning didgeridoos in a rousing celebration of shamanic music. The music on this album is based on a simple trio of shamanic instruments: the drum, the flute and the didgeridoo. Each instrument opens a path of communication between the spiritual and earthly realms. Each instrument helps induce trance states, opening the inner, spiritual ear and eye. Each is related to the soul, which extends far beyond the physical body, connecting us to the symphony of the universe.

The sound of the shaman's drum is very important, for it is a voice with great power and it is a voice that is a gift to us from a greater being. Its steady beat is akin to the primal pulse, the heart, throbbing within all that exists. The shaman uses the drum to create a bridge to the spirit world and summon the healing power of spirit.

Aboriginal tradition equates the low-pitched, rhythmic resonance of the didgeridoo with the voice of the Earth itself. According to an Aboriginal Dreamtime legend, the god of creation Baiame created man and woman, giving them the didgeridoo to sound all other life into form. Didgeridoos produce a range of infrasonics; extremely low frequency sound waves that stimulate a wide array of euphoric trance-like states.

The flute is akin to birds, flight and the breath, which is spirit. Its chirp, warble, and bird-like notes make your heart soar. Its sound represents the voice of the birds, the voice of the wind and the voice of the soul -- those things that are free to move and fly. So taken all together this trio; the flute, drum, and didgeridoo, represents the whole voice of Creation. Preview the entire album on my website.

Native American Flute Therapy

The Native American flute, a traditional ethnic wind instrument developed by indigenous Native American cultures, is an end-blown flute fashioned either from cane, hardwood, or softwood. The instrument evolved from traditional uses in courtship, treatment of the sick, ceremony, signaling, legends, and as work songs. During the late 1960s, the United States saw a roots revival of the flute, with a new wave of flutists and artisans. Today, Native American style flutes are being played and recognized by many different peoples and cultures around the world.

The Native American flute is sometimes used by music therapists and music educators. Because of its simple and accessible design, virtually anyone can play the flute. A recent study exploring physiological responses to playing and listening to the Native American flute found a significant positive effect on heart rate variability and concluded that the instrument merits a more prominent role in music therapy and that a study of the effects of flute playing on clinical conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), hypertension, anxiety, and major depressive disorder, is warranted. Read "An Exploration of Physiological Responses to the Native American Flute."

Creating a Crucible of Transformation

Streaming live on the Co-Creator Radio Network on Tuesday, November 11, at 11am Pacific/2pm Eastern on "Why Shamanism Now? A Practical Path to Authenticity," Christina Pratt explores the elements required to create a crucible of transformation in our hearts and why our vulnerability is our great super power. Pratt notes that straight up, humans hate change…and they really hate transformation, which is change we cannot come back from. But shamanism, with its robust relationship with the Trickster, offers us skills to be clever in the face of fear, to risk the Unknown when faced with the certainty of repeating patterns, and to be vulnerable so that we can engage the wisdom of our courageous hearts. Prior episodes from "Why Shamanism Now" can be downloaded for free from iTunes. 

Evolving Shamanism

Shamanism, or more accurately an evolving form called Neo-Shamanism, has achieved a dramatic modern resurgence. Those who take the time necessary to properly investigate it are finding it to be an enlightening, rewarding and profound practice. Spiritual seekers are finding a sense of community, the healing they need, and an enhanced awareness based in a love for Nature and a connection with Spirit. Neo-Shamanism offers practical pathways or real, everyday life applications to enhanced awareness and vibrant health which can be objectively observed and verified. This is where Shamanism stands head and shoulders above other philosophies.

Thus, what is it about this evolving modern Shamanism that makes it so popular? First of all, Shamanism is not a religion, but rather a pragmatic and results oriented methodology. Shamanism has always been a discipline that delineates, very specifically, how to find what you seek. Everything you do is checked in the external reality, the observable world, to see if your work is bearing fruit. By observing the nature of the difference, or the specific places where no difference is made, Neo-Shamans apply their discipline to see where within themselves they are caught, and fix it. Simple as that. Read more.