The Subtle Art of Shamanism and Energy Healing
Both shamans and energy healers seek to serve their community by working on the subtle levels of energy rather than simply the physical body. We do this in great commitment to our planet and out of love for our fellow beings.
Energy healing—which includes modalities such as reiki, aura clearings, and even acupuncture and chiropractic—seeks to move or shift energy so it’s more supportive of the life functions of the client. They work with proven techniques to alleviate the client’s discomfort and bring more harmony into the physical body. Energy healing is a course of study, with practices and protocols in place that can be easily replicated.
Shamans deal with the soul. We have practices in place to perform soul retrievals, soul extractions, and spirit de-possessions. We serve Spirit, not the physical realms. We see Spirit in each person and ask the animating force to shift in ways that will bring peace to the client. We don’t simply move energy, we ask that Spirit transmute it. This is done through ritual and ceremony. From drumming and feathers to incense and prayer, we work with Spirit to help support the soul.
How is the Training of Shamans Different?
Shamanism is a life calling, not simply a workshop one stumbles into. There are no schools, and rarely can you find two shamans doing treatment the same way. Shamans are called to this path and may learn from elders in the community, or venture to far-off lands to find their teacher.
Shamanic healing is an art form. There is no “right” way to perform a shamanic ritual or ceremony. While there may be similar elements (prayer, drums, and other tools) each shaman’s direction from their own Spirit Allies ultimately shapes the session.
Journeying (rhythmic drumming to induce a trance-like state) is our primary tool and allows us to retrieve from the spirit world the remedy the soul requires. We work in non-ordinary reality, stepping outside of the here and now, to gain insight and bring it back to benefit the client.
Each shaman comes to her gifts from a deep desire and commitment. We must learn and practice each tool, not through workshops or continuing-ed classes, but through our ever-deepening relationship with our Spirit Guides. We see healing as a gift and an art form, and one that must be respected and well-tended.
While, on the surface, the benefits of shamanic and energy healing may be similar, it is the process through which we bring the healing that differs. From the outside, it is subtle…but to the shamanic soul, the love and respect we convey feel fundamentally sacred — holy, even.
I find this path not only gratifying but also deeply humbling. The healing has nothing to do with me, and everything to do with my relationship to Spirit. The more I move (and my ego) out of the way, the more powerful the healing flows through me. In working in such close communion with Spirit, co-creation, manifestation, and true miracles are within grasp. The world around us feels different—magical, even—when we see ourselves as a contributing force within creation.
Receiving shamanic healing is also a gift. Each shaman shares their art and allows you into their intimate relationship with Spirit. It can feel raw and primal energy, especially when venturing into the depths with the Spirit Allies and Power Animals to seek well-being. With the beat of the drums, the smell of herbs and incense, an ancient mood is set. This ambiance takes us outside of reality to meet with other-worldly forces. Shamanic healing allows us to dance in rhythm with the breath of life and emerge feeling renewed and whole!
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.
