A Soulful Cure

Working With A Shaman

Since time immemorial, certain men and women have felt called to
heal the sick, to safeguard knowledge, to guide the lost, and to
commune with the spirit world. These unique individuals, known as
shamans, were mystics and seers, repositories of wisdom, and keepers
of herbal lore. During those periods when ignorance loomed large in
the world, shamans across the globe bided their time, peacefully
practicing their practical yet refined arts in the jungle,
mountains, deserts, and tundra that protected them from those who
misunderstood shamanism. Today, however, shamanism has reemerged, as
modern men and women feel the same call to service that their
ancestors felt long ago. Also, as more individuals explore the
notion that healing necessarily involves the soul as well as the
physical self, people are consulting shamans in their search for
wellness, wisdom, and guidance.

The word shaman literally means "he or she who knows." Shamanism is
an art that has not changed in any quantifiable way for millennia
and is not bound to any particular form of spirituality. It is
grounded on the principle that the visible world is saturated with
unseen forces that influence the lives of human beings. Shamans, in
addition to acting as fonts of wisdom, are dedicated to diagnosing
and curing human suffering-whether emotional, physical, or
spiritual. To treat an illness, a shaman may communicate with the
spirit world in order to connect more directly with the soul of
their patient or with the force causing ill health. They often work
closely with animal guides, plant and earth spirits, or your spirit
guides, and may make use of use of herbal remedies to supplement
other forms of treatment. Shamans, as intermediaries between the
physical and spiritual realms, recognize that all objects are in
manner alive and retain information that can be utilized to heal.

Shamanism is powerful in part because its practitioners tailor
healing to the individual needs of those who seek them out. A shaman
manipulates energy, giving you power where you have lost it and
removing misplaced energy lurking within you. When you seek out a
shaman, they will endeavor to know and understand you before
treating you. In this way, they can provide you with therapies that
act on your whole being, positively influencing your body as well as
your soul.