The Ethics of Shamanic Healing

In shamanic work, there is one essential ethical requirement; permission. According to Susan Mokelke, who leads the Foundation for Shamanic Studies, "Permission means the express, informed consent of the client for a specific individual or group to perform shamanic healing or divination—including the consent to disclose any information about the client." Healing without permission is not only unethical, but deviates into the realm of sorcery and black magic. It is unethical because it is every person's right and responsibility to decide what to do in matters relating to his or her own soul.

If the healee is in a coma, permission should be obtained from the person's closest living relative or guardian before doing shamanic work of any sort. Even then, you should still journey to ask that person's soul what healing, if any, they wish to have done. Before doing psychopomp work or other mediation involving the soul of a deceased person, you still need to get permission from his or her next of kin. When you journey to help a deceased person, you should ask their soul what assistance, if any they want. When in doubt, don't perform the work.

Even in cases of natural disasters and crises, it is essential to get permission from the spirits of the land or people involved before trying to help. When doing distance shamanic healing in drumming circles, it is important to do only the work that was requested and to work closely with your helping spirits.

Experience the Power of Chanting

Chanting is prayer. In ancient times, chant was the closest thing to dialogue with the spirit. There are chants to honor the dead, to pay homage to deities, or to invoke qualities such as wisdom, compassion and empathy. Given our contemporary hectic lifestyles, chanting is the most conducive path of spiritual practice for the times we live in. Chanting has no limitations of time and space and can be done anytime or anywhere. Chanting as a spiritual practice helps to foster maximum spiritual growth and overall well-being. It is a simple and effortless way to still the mind and bring deep relaxation to the body. It is an effective way to open the heart and connect with a higher power.
 

Many chants are mantras—single words or phrases repeated over and over. Mantras are indestructible positive energies, meaning they remain in the universe indefinitely for the greater good of all. One of the most simple and powerful mantras we can chant is the sound of OM, the primal sound from which the universe constantly emanates. Chanting the mantra OM attunes us to the eternal oneness of all that is, unifying body, mind and spirit. When pronouncing OM, it should sound like "home" without the "h" sound. When chanting OM, equal measure should be given to both the "O" and the "M" sounds (i.e., oooommmm). Take in a deep breath and voice the sound as you exhale through the mouth. When chanted with love, devotion and sincerity, the positive effects are greatly accentuated.

The Soul of Rhythm

Neuroscience research has demonstrated the therapeutic effects of rhythmic drumming. The reason drumming is such a powerful tool is that rhythm is rooted in innate functions of the brain, mind and consciousness. Our relationship with rhythm begins in the womb. At twenty-two days, a single (human embryo) cell jolts to life. This first beat awakens nearby cells and incredibly they all begin to beat in perfect unison. These beating cells divide and become our heart. This desire to beat in unison seemingly fuels our entire lives. Studies show that, regardless of musical training, we are innately able to perceive and recall elements of beat and rhythm.

We respond to rhythm whenever we sense it and seek it out when it is not present, for we are innately rhythmic. Every rhythm has its own quality and touches you in a unique way. These qualities, in fact, exist within each of us, longing to be activated. It is this process of internalization that allows us to access the inaudible yet perceptible soul, so to speak, of a rhythm. One of the paradoxes of rhythm is that the audible pattern is the inverse of the “inaudible matrix.” Every rhythm has both an inaudible and audible aspect—silence and sound.
 
Silence and sound are the two fundamental aspects of our vibrational world. Silence is the unmanifest essence of the unseen world. Audible sound is the manifest form. It is the inaudible intervals between audible beats that allow us to hear the grouping of beats in a coherent cycle or pattern. We sense the interval as the offbeat, or light element, and the audible beat as the heavy element. The drummer establishes the audible beat, whereas the silent pulse quality unfolds by itself in any rhythmic pattern.

How to Establish Clear Personal Boundaries

Establishing clear personal boundaries is the key to ensuring relationships are mutually respectful, supportive and caring. Boundaries are a measure of self-esteem. They set the limits for acceptable behavior from those around you. Weak boundaries leave you vulnerable and likely to be taken for granted or even damaged by others. Set aside some time to clearly define what your physical, emotional and spiritual boundaries are with friends, family, co-workers and strangers. Make a list of things you want people to stop doing around you, things you want people to stop doing to you, and things that people may no longer say to you.

Once you have established strong, clear boundaries, people will give you more respect. This means you can be your authentic self, asking for what you really want and need without fear of judgment. Emotional and spiritual manipulators will back off and in their place sustainable, loving relationships will thrive. Extending boundaries comes with a price, and this may be losing acquaintances along the way. Of course, those relationships that are worth having will survive and grow stronger.

As time goes on, your boundaries may require updating. It helps to identify your core values, belief system, and outlook on life so you have a clear picture of who you are and how you want to live. When linked to your core values, boundaries help you align your daily activities and behaviors with your life’s purpose. The passionate expression of our soul’s purpose is precisely the medicine the Earth needs at this time.

The Spiritual Significance of the Number 4

The number 4 has long been considered a sacred number in shamanism and Native American spirituality. All events and actions are based on this number, because everything was created in fours. The Great Mystery reveals itself as the powers of the four directions and these four powers provide the organizing principle for everything that exists in the world. There are four winds, four seasons, four elements, four phases of the moon, four stages to humanity’s spiritual evolution, and so on.

For instance, the Native American sweat lodge ceremony (Inipi) is usually carried out in four rounds. The whole process is modeled after the Medicine Wheel, which is a universal symbol that can be found in many indigenous cultures around the world. The Medicine Wheel represents the natural cycles of life and the basic way in which the natural world moves and evolves. The Medicine Wheel represents the archetypal journey each of us takes in life. This journey has four stages or rounds, each associated with a cardinal direction. Four rounds signify completion, wholeness or fullness.