The Rainbow Body Seeker
In the summer of 1987 just out of high school, while waiting tables at a restaurant, I met a woman who introduced me to books published by The Saint Germain Foundation, an esoteric religious organization. The Saint Germain Foundation, also known as the “I AM” Foundation, which some pundits claim to be a cult, was started in the 1930s by a man named Guy Ballard who walked with and received channeled information from angelic beings and professed to be the reincarnation of George Washington.
I was fascinated by Ballard’s writings and accounts of “Ascended Masters” whom I had never heard of, outside of Jesus, and their teachings. These masters have incarnated on our planet over the millennia, including Jesus and the foundation’s inspiration, a French alchemist named Saint Germain, and were ultimately able to raise the vibration of their bodies through meditation and other means to an “Ascended Master” state, conquering the mandate of our fallen state: “birth and rebirth” or karma.
I learned that these beings in cooperation with galactic organizations and higher dimensional beings have assisted and continue to assist our planet and inhabitants evolve to a greater spiritual awareness.
This was news to me! The organization also offered books of decrees that purportedly help an individual raise his or her spiritual awareness through repetitive decrees and affirmations. I tried the decrees for a while on my own and attended their services at a Saint Germain Foundation location in Houston for a short time.
I never progressed very deeply into their group, and quickly became disenchanted with the prospects of furthering my commitment with the organization, when I found a blank form in a drawer on the premises that signed away one’s possessions and estate to the organization upon one’s death. Just another church I thought! And even though I never became a card-carrying member of The Saint Germain Foundation, I was so influenced by their teachings and their affirmations, that I even had a tattoo inked on my upper back of an old illustration of “The ‘I AM’ Presence” from their books which depicts a person’s higher self, resembling an angel with a rainbow emanating from it and hovering over a person’s earthly body.
Over the years I have carried this possibility of physical ascension around with me even though I had no family or friends that shared this view. It certainly seems unattainable to most everyone I have talked to, with the prevailing view that death and leaving your mortal remains behind is not up for negotiation. Generally, whatever one believes comes after death is certainly up for discussion, but not “the final nail.”
I did encounter some hope for understanding this process through Drunvalo Melchizedek’s Flower of Life books which investigate and reveal much about the hidden history of ancient civilizations including Atlantis and Lemuria, and the Merkaba — An ascension vehicle that took Old Testament figures like Enoch and Elijah, and possibly Jesus into the higher dimensions. The Star of David is a two-dimensional representation of this sacred Merkaba star-tetrahedron geometry, according to Melchizedek and others. After being inspired by those teachings I even got a Star of David tattoo on my left forearm.
I had not previously been familiar with the documented evidence of thousands of highly attuned monks in the Tibetan Dzogchen tradition who have been witnessed in modern times, shrinking their bodies at death and attaining a rainbow body. Amazing! I was already familiar with the avatar Babaji from Paramhansa Yogananda’s seminal “Autobiography of a Yogi” who is essentially an ascended being that instructed the “param-guru” or “guru’s guru” of Yogananda, a householder named Lahiri Mahasaya who later became a yogi. Yogananda even wrote about his own personal contact with this divine being Babaji in his book.
Later I read a report that Yogananada’s body had stayed in an incorruptible state weeks after he had died, and that he showed no signs of decay. There is no record of which I am aware that he raised his body and left no mortal remains behind, as his body was embalmed and eventually buried. After attending some services years ago in Los Angeles at a Yogananda “Self-Realization Fellowship” church (directly adjacent to a Scientology compound in East Hollywood, no less), and taking some written correspondence courses from Yogananda’s organization, I did not feel like I was getting any closer to my understanding of physical ascension awareness or process. And by that time in my early thirties, I had long fallen out of step with the Christian church and could not seem to find a group of like-minded seekers.
Maybe it is inherently a greater challenge to find spiritual truth, living in our western world of fast-paced commerce and disposable commodities. Especially it seems so here in the US. Perhaps this type of frenetic, media-driven culture, and the decline of traditional religion, is also what is driving the growth of a new consciousness industry of which Gaia and other similar companies are an integral part.
From my experience having lived in Berlin, Germany before and after 9/11 and spending time in Europe, there is an appreciation of the past and generally a more leisurely daily pace, but I can’t say people are any more spiritual across the pond. I have yet to visit India or Asia to gain more first-hand understanding of Eastern spiritual traditions and their currency in that part of the globe, but look forward to at some point — hopefully soon.
So here we are now in the Internet age, and for all of us living in countries that are fortunate to have relatively unrestricted access, we can share and discover a wealth of knowledge about all things spiritual. And it is certainly my deepest hope, that maybe for some greater concentration of people in the near future, there will be a quantum shift, possibly with the aid of external, even “other-worldly” technology or galactic influence, or possibly on a more subtle level, where we shift toward a seemingly utopian “post-Fall” evolutionary dimension.
I feel the urge now more than ever to find answers to my quest, since my wife and I are in the process of raising children. I know it’s hard for humanity to envision a world where we are not limited by dense, physical bodies. Most people seem satisfied to return back to such a place after passing through the mystery of death!
I try to imagine what would daily life be like here if we were somehow able to undertake some sort of mass ascension?
What could the inhabitants of such a world create and manifest? Sometimes It feels so close, and sometimes so far away. Is it really just a matter of loving everyone unconditionally, all the time? Let’s see if we can make it a reality.
About the Author
How Do You Become a Shaman? A Beginner Practitioner’s Guide
Shamanism is one of the world’s oldest spiritual practices, with origins dating back thousands of years to Siberia, Central Asia, and Indigenous cultures across the Americas, Africa, and Australia. Its roots run deep with the natural and spirit worlds, shamanism has long served as a means of healing, guidance, and communion with unseen realms.
Today, many seekers feel called to explore this path not as a profession but as a profound journey of spiritual awakening and service. Whether inspired by ancient traditions or drawn by a modern sense of spiritual purpose, the path to becoming a shaman begins with an inner calling and a willingness to walk between worlds.
What is a Shaman?
A shaman is a spiritual practitioner and healer who bridges the physical and spiritual worlds to help others. In many Indigenous cultures, shamans are known for their ability to enter altered states of consciousness—often through trance, meditation, rhythmic drumming, or plant medicine—to communicate with spirits, receive guidance, and perform healing practices. They tap into the seen and unseen realms, using ancient techniques to restore harmony and well-being within individuals and communities.
Though shamanism varies across different cultures, the core principles remain consistent: shamans journey to the spirit world, retrieve lost knowledge or parts of the soul, and return with wisdom that promotes healing, clarity, and spiritual growth.
What Does a Shaman Do?
Shamans serve their communities in many vital roles, drawing upon their connection with the spirit world to offer healing, insight, and guidance. Their duties often include:
- Healing the Sick: Shamans believe illness may stem from spiritual imbalances, soul loss, or negative energies. Through rituals, energy healing, and soul retrieval, they work to restore health and wholeness.
- Spiritual Guidance: Shamans offer counsel, helping individuals navigate emotional challenges, life transitions, or spiritual crises by receiving messages from spirits or power animals.
- Conducting Rituals and Ceremonies: These may include blessings, purification, protection, or rites of passage to support individuals and communities.
- Divination: Using tools such as stones, bones, or direct spirit communication, shamans interpret signs to provide insight into present or future concerns.
- Psychopomp Work: Some shamans guide the souls of the deceased to the afterlife, ensuring a peaceful transition between worlds.
- Maintaining Harmony with Nature: Shamans often act as stewards of the Earth, communicating with natural forces and emphasizing balance with the natural world.
Whether in Indigenous cultures or modern spiritual communities, the role of the shaman is one of deep responsibility—offering healing and preserving sacred knowledge.
Hearing the Call: Can Anyone Be a Shaman?
Traditionally, becoming a shaman is not considered a personal choice but a spiritual calling. Many shamanic cultures believe individuals are chosen by the spirits, often through a “shaman illness,” near-death experience, or vivid dreams that signify an awakening to their path. This transformative event initiates the potential shaman into a journey of self-discovery and service.
While some modern seekers pursue shamanism as a spiritual practice or personal development path, the traditional view holds that ignoring the call can lead to emotional or physical turmoil. Acceptance of this calling often marks the beginning of shamanic training.
The Journey to Becoming a Shaman
The shamanic path to becoming a practitioner is both inward and outward—marked by spiritual awakening, mentorship, and disciplined practice. While each path is unique, there are common steps that many follow to cultivate the skills and wisdom needed for this sacred role.
Seek a Teacher or Mentor
True shamanic training often begins with mentorship. In Indigenous cultures, aspiring shamans undergo long apprenticeships under experienced elders. Today, some may train in person or through a reputable program, such as those offered by The Foundation for Shamanic Studies, founded by anthropologist Michael Harner. These training programs teach core shamanism and fundamental techniques like shamanic journeying, soul retrieval, and divination.
Mentorship is essential not just for safety in navigating the unseen world, but for transmitting sacred knowledge with integrity. A teacher with real experience can guide the student through deep personal transformation and spiritual initiation.
Training and Initiation
Shamanic training may involve years of disciplined practice, including:
- Learning to connect with spirit guides and power animals
- Practicing soul retrieval and energy healing
- Participating in sacred ceremonies and rituals
- Engaging in deep personal healing and shadow work
- Studying the natural world and spirit realms
This path may also include working with plant medicine such as ayahuasca, under proper guidance, to access spirit realms and accelerate healing. However, this is not required by all traditions.
Tools and Techniques of a Shaman
Modern and traditional shamans alike use tools that assist in entering trance states and performing healing work:
- Drums and Rattles: Induce altered states and guide shamanic journeys
- Feathers: Used in energy clearing and as symbols of connection to bird spirits
- Crystals: Amplify energy healing and spiritual insight
- Plant Allies: Include sacred herbs like sage or ceremonial plant medicine like ayahuasca
- Sacred Songs and Chants (Icaros): Invoked to call on spirits and enhance healing
- Gongs and Singing Bowls: Create vibrational frequencies that open energy channels
Shamanic Practices and Responsibilities
The practice of shamanism includes a wide range of spiritual and healing techniques:
- Shamanic Journeying: Traveling to the spirit world to receive guidance or retrieve knowledge
- Soul Retrieval: Reintegrating fragmented parts of the soul to restore wholeness
- Divination: Gaining insight through spiritual tools or spirit communication
- Spiritual Healing: Using energy healing, ceremony, or guidance from spirit allies to promote well-being
A shaman is also a guardian of their community, often tasked with preserving shamanic traditions, facilitating rites of passage, and maintaining harmony with the natural world.
A Way of Life, Not a Title
Being a shamanic practitioner is a lifelong spiritual path, not a profession or weekend pursuit. It requires humility, personal integrity, and a sincere devotion to the healing of others and the Earth. The shaman must undergo continual personal growth, learn to navigate the unseen world safely, and remain grounded in service.
In the Western world, those who practice shamanism may also integrate complementary healing modalities such as Reiki or energy work. The path of a shamanic healer is one of ongoing spiritual development, often requiring the courage to stand apart from societal norms in order to serve a greater spiritual truth.
If you feel the call, know that the path may be challenging—but also deeply rewarding. Through commitment, proper guidance, and an open heart, anyone drawn to this path can begin the journey into shamanic practice and explore the mysteries of the spirit world.
