The term “shaman” comes from the Evenki language of Siberia, meaning “one who sees” or “one who knows the origin.” At its core, shamanism—whether traditional or neo-shamanic—has the aim of uncovering and healing the root causes of physical, emotional, spiritual or other types of challenges.
Neo-shamanism means new forms of shamanism, and is a spiritual practice rooted in the universal archetype of the shaman—a healer, guide, and seer chosen by Spirit (often called Great Spirit) to serve others. Like traditional shamans, neo-shamans are called to the sacred path by Great Spirit and undergo a profound initiation process, called “shaman sickness”—a period of trials, tests, ordeals, psychological crises, life challenges, initiations and lessons that might span many years, in order to awaken their spiritual gifts. They must accept their role and cure the shaman sickness or they will continue to be sick.
Every shaman is unique, bestowed with a traditional and/or a neo shamanic role by Great Spirit, transcending cultural boundaries. While practices like grounding, journeying to the other world, and rituals are shared with other spiritual paths—such as those of druids, witches, wiccans, or energy healers—the shamanic archetype is distinct, marked by a unique initiation process and specialised techniques like soul retrieval, extraction and spiritual diagnosis of issues from Great Spirit, The Spirit of the North, East, South & West, power animals and other spirit guides.
Traditional Shamanism vs. Neo-Shamanism
Traditional shamans follow structured lineages, drawing from specific cultural practices, learning from elder shamans and working with their spirit guide team, while neo-shamans also guided by their spirit guide team and intuition may use ancient techniques in new ways, embracing new angles on how to get at issues, while honouring some of the core principles of ancient shamanic practices like ceremonies, journeying, trance states, and learning from experienced neo shamans, and traditional shamans.
In my shamanic practice, I see neo-shamanism as yin—embracing the chaotic, fluid, and creative flow of intuition, open to new guides and methods channeled from Great Spirit. Traditional shamanism, by contrast, is yang—rooted in the structured, disciplined order of ancient lineages and time-honored rituals. Together, these energies balance like two sides of a sacred whole, both validated by Great Spirit, guiding practitioners and clients toward alignment and wholeness.
Traditional Shamanic Practices:
- Working with plant medicines
- Extraction
- Soul retrieval & power retrieval
- Journeying to the lower world, middle, world and upper world
- Drumming & other sound healing
- Vocal Toning
- Smudging
- Visions
- Channelling & divination
- Ritual
- Ceremony
- Enter trance states
- Emotional, physical, mental etc healing
- Cord cutting & energy clearing
- Illumination
- Ancestral Healing
- Use of Sacred Tools {crystals, altars, essential oils etc}
- Prayer
- Spiritual diagnosis from guide team / Great Spirit
- Shadow integration
- Shamanic abilities they gain from going through and completing shaman sickness
- Working with the elements, the directions, the enlightened ancestors, power animals, spirit animals, totem animals for insight, healing and more
- Other
Neo-Shamanic Practices:
- Creative and playful, blending traditional techniques with new methods channeled from Spirit
- Energy retrievals and other types of retrievals
- Journeying to different places like source
- Neo shamanic abilities they gain from going through and completing shaman sickness
- Going wherever the spiritual investigation leads to make sense of things
- Not having to follow a strict set of guidelines or protocol, allows more freedom for solutions to problems
- Working with all the traditional guides in neo shamanic / different ways, and also working with different guides like christ consciousness, angels, dragons, Greek deities, Hindu deities etc for insight, healing and more
- Using traditional and non traditional tools in neo shamanic / different ways
- Open to working with the new and unknown
- New techniques that they channel from Great Spirit
- Other
My Path As a Shamanic Practitioner
My path of shamanism began at age 10 with a vivid dream that, in hindsight, marked the start of my shamanic initiation. Unfamiliar with shamanic traditions growing up in Western culture, I faced years of challenges before learning about and embracing my role. This outsider perspective has been a gift, allowing me to understand and support clients navigating life’s complexities in the West.
Through my practice I use traditional and new methods that I channel from Great Spirit & my guide team, and have learnt many things from my mentor – shaman Jim Kunkle.
A Word of Caution
Not all who claim the title of shaman are authentic; some are fake shamans, lacking the sacred initiation from Great Spirit, while others, known as evil shamans, misuse spiritual power for harm. Trust your gut and intuition to choose a practitioner who embodies integrity, and aligns with Great Spirit’s guidance. For a path of true healing, discern for yourself and connect with a shaman whose authenticity resonates deeply with your soul.
(Stay tuned for a future post on discerning authentic shamans.)
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