16 November 2024 12:10 am Views - 99
Shamans are known for their deep connection to the physical and spiritual realms, using rituals that harness the power of nature, sacred tools, and ancestral wisdom.
While identifying the dark spirits or negative energies, Shamans use a combination of intuition, spiritual vision, and physical or emotional signs. They may rely on their inner knowing or heightened spiritual awareness to sense disturbances in a person or space. ShaGuru stated, “Shamans use spirit journeys, clairvoyance, and energy sensing to identify spiritual entities and imbalances. Through trance, they interact with spirits, sense unseen entities, and detect energy disruptions.”
Most shamans recommend cleansing a space of negative energies, with the help of simple actions that can shift the energy and create a more positive atmosphere. In a conversation with Kuauhtli Vasquez on my podcast, he highlighted the power of positive vibrations in driving away negative energies. “A lot of times people think that their house is inhabited by dark spirits. So I tell them, well, if you play nice music, you light some candles, you burn some incense, you bring some flowers, you put them in the middle of the room with a vase, and you start saying beautiful words, maybe read poetry or spiritual phrases, all of this creates a vibration.” Vasquez, who's a peyote shaman, and rooted in the Mexican traditions of Central America, further added “This vibration is what is moving the ether. When we have ceremonies, we'll have a fire, because a fire is one of the most important tools for healing work in our culture. We have water. We use feathers for the wind, and then we're usually sitting on the earth. So as far as the tools, these four elements would probably be considered the most powerful tools in our culture.”
Explaining the contemporary perspective to traditional shamanism, Julie Kramer who has been practising Shamanism for 24 years, explained, “One of the ways in which I've seen spiritual healers or shamanic healers to work very effectively when it comes to assisting with diagnosis is actually to work in partnership with a psychiatrist or a psychologist or a therapist. Because, unfortunately, part of what we're seeing in the mental health field is that there is often a misdiagnosis where the presenting symptoms are considered to be originating from the person and have labels associated with them, diagnostic labels associated with them.”
However, she also further added the risks of misdiagnosing “I think the first step is to consider mental illness through more than just the typical lens that we're looking through. For example, one of the very common symptoms of possession illness is hearing voices. And of course, that's a symptom that we associate, speaking in very broad terms, with mental illness or imbalance. But if we take a step back and consider that from a diagnostic perspective, we might be leaving out the possibility that it's actually someone else's voice.”
Even though Shamanism is a healing practice, it is also a very emotionally draining practice. Krishnaja, who has been a Shaman for six years, explains, “One should approach shamanic healing with respect for its cultural roots and should be aware of the Shamanic practices, benefits, and risks. Some shamanic practices may involve emotional or physical discomfort, so it is essential to communicate openly about your experiences, boundaries, and comfort levels with your Shaman. Since Shamanic healing is a personal journey, it is important to embrace it with an open mind.”
Shamanic rituals are powerful tools for warding off the negative energies and restoring harmony in both body and mind. Rooted in ancient traditions, these practices connect us to the spiritual and natural worlds, offering profound healing. By working with experienced shamans and staying open to the journey, you can explore its transformative potential.