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Shamanic Journeying
In Shamanism, one enters an altered mental state—typically by using drums or rattles to create a sound field that changes consciousness. The altered state, called a Shamanic Journey, is used to gain wisdom. It is called a journey because the experience is one of going someplace. In the journey the shaman encounters helping spirits. These spirits are experienced as a kind of consciousness that does not exist in a body. The spirits provide help and guidance when properly approached.
Journeying, like meditation is a tool for spiritual growth. It is also a tool that can be used for healing, obtaining information, and working through psychological issues.
When someone goes on a Shamanic Journey they are able to communicate on a spiritual level. So they can visit guardian spirits in addition to visiting spirits of the land. A journeyer can use a journey to examine the health of their body or another's body. They can also discover things about the world.
The places one will journey to will vary. Some will be much like the geography seen on earth, mountain, trees, valleys... Some places are airy like the sky, or feel very energetic, or peaceful. A journey destination can be anything because the geography is not bound by rules of gravity but the rules of energy. The purposes, and tasks of the shaman or shamanic journeyer will sometimes determine what places will be visited. Purposes can include:
- Healing oneself or another
- Spiritual growth, enjoyment
- Connection with guardian spirits
- Learning
- Religious growth
Journeying is natural, normal, practical & safe.
Everyone’s process/journey is different. Based on peoples individual learning styles there may be some who are more visual, auditory or tactile when they journey. Remember this isn’t an escape from reality but to enhance our reality and non-realities as we see/experience them. We undergo this work so we may enhance our lives by striving to answer questions we may have about ourselves or to help others.