Chances are Your Ancestors Practiced Shamanism

When I worked as a journalist, I was contacted by a member of one of the Native American tribes in New Jersey. (Yes, they are here, despite the state refusing to officially acknowledge them.) He expressed concern about the tribe’s relationship with the government as well as organizations that provided programs and support for members. Hearing the sadness in his voice, I agreed to look into it. I had no idea that phone call was the doorway to a spiritual awakening that would shake the foundation of my beliefs — and life — and reconnect me to my own ancestors.

Over the next year, I interviewed several tribal members. During one of my meetings with a medicine man, he started talking about traditional ways, how everything is connected and what happens in the spirit realm affects the physical world. And it all made sense to me. It settled on my ears and in my body in a way I knew it was the truth, and I heard my heart say, “This is what I have been trying to tell you.”

I wondered why these ideas and practices felt so natural, and so I started doing more and more research — and it narrowed down to shamanism.

Shamanism is an ancient spiritual practice that offers a core set of ideas that have flowed not only into Native American medicine but many other traditional variations around the world. In fact, evidence of shamanism has been found on almost every continent. So chances are your ancestors, possibly before history was kept on written record, practiced some form of it.

Over the centuries, shamanism has been adapted by so many different people in so many different cultures, but some commonalities prevail. Shamanism is characterized by maintaining a harmonious and respectful relationship with nature and all beings as well as by connecting the physical world with the spirit realm. That connection is usually facilitated by a shaman, meaning “one who sees,” or shamanic practitioner, who essentially is someone who is practiced at the art of journeying — getting into a deep meditative state to gain insights from the spirit realm and potentially conduct energy healing work.

While going through the complete overhaul of my life that started with that journalistic investigation, I visited a shaman. She journeyed and conducted a healing for me — and the results were amazing. Almost immediately, I felt less anxious, like someone had turned down the volume on my worries and intrusive thoughts. Feeling even lighter in the days that followed, I wondered why more people didn’t know about — or have access to it.

I decided I wanted to dive deeper into it. I studied with the tribal medicine man for a year and later, with the shaman for two years, before gaining more experience through my own practice and serving clients.

I love shamanism because it is based on appreciation and respect for nature and all beings. It is so ancient, so primitive that there is no set of rules or book to follow. There is no calendar of holidays or hierarchy. Like so many people have adapted it to their own cultures and traditions, you too can adapt it to make it what you wish, whatever works for you. I’ve made my practice my own by tapping into my intuition and flowing with what feels natural to me. And now I feel it in my bones that it is what my ancestors did.

I believe it is important for everyone to follow what feels natural to them. And so, I have made myself available to anyone who feels called to the ancient practice — either as a way to reconnect with nature, the self or the past.