True 'shamans' are men or women from ancient tribal communities such as those in the Amazon rain forest, Siberia, Tibet, Australia or in North America, who are blessed with magical powers and a special knowledge of the plants, herbs and animals in their environment. They have healing abilities and are able to commune directly with the spirits of the ancestors or of animals, through ritual and the use of psychoactive plants. Often enigmatic and regarded with awe due to their powers of sorcery, they are often 'marked out' for their role from childhood, for instance by being born hermaphrodite, or thorough undergoing severe trauma such as madness or a near-death experience. Painful or dangerous initiation ceremonies mark their transition from tribal member to Shaman.
In recent years 'shamanism' has undergone a revival of interest in Western countries. Shamanic practices are a way of living more respectfully on the Earth and of communing directly with the Spirit that animates all life, from the Moon and the stars to the dust beneath our feet. There are no religious injunctions or set of written principles - shamanism is more a journey of exploration through uncharted dimensions of reality. A shamanic journey is similar to a guided visualisation - one travels to another dimension and meets (or becomes) a variety of human or animal spirits, in order to gain knowledge, soul-healing or specific information. Such journeys can be profound, puzzling, frightening or even humorous, and can be taken as part of a group, to the accompaniment of drumming or music. Native American practices such as sweat lodges and the medicine wheel form part of modern shamanic practice.
Notes: Being part of a shamanic group, guided by an experienced leader who is not in it for the ego-gratification, can bring inspiration, encouragement and sharing, and help one avoid the dangers associated with exploring other dimensions in isolation. A sense of humour is a good way of keeping one's feet on the ground - and shamanism is about the Earth as well as the Otherworld.
(With thanks to Teresa Moorey, whose book 'Shamanism - A Beginner's Guide' (Hodder & Stoughton) provided the inspiration for the above).
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