Good question!
The word shaman originally comes from the Manchu-Tungus language to describe the spiritual leaders of the Evenk, a small Siberian community of reindeer herders. There is no precise translation of the term into English, but widely accepted attempts include “one who knows” and “one who sees in the dark.” As twentieth-century anthropologists studied cultures around the world, they observed certain patterns of thinking and practices that recurred across a wide range of landscapes, cultures, and social and political situations. They began applying the terms shaman and shamanism to all of these cultures as a way to draw attention to their shared or similar beliefs and practices. Today, people all over the world continue to use these terms to identify themselves and their belief systems. Of course, most of them have terms that are specific to their own cultures and languages, and they use those, too. But they also use shaman and shamanism in order to connect with and learn from other groups. It is helpful to remember that what we call shamanism is not a single, unified religion but a cross-cultural pattern of spiritual thinking and practice.*
There are two principles at the core of contemporary shamanic healing: first, there is the recognition that the Earth and all living beings have consciousness, and second, there is the recognition that there are non-ordinary realms that, like our ordinary reality, also are filled with conscious beings. Shamanic practitioners are trained both to communicate with these beings and to journey to the non-ordinary realms in order to support an individual’s soul healing.
In 2022, after recovering from breast cancer, I began training as a Shamanic Practitioner. Rooted in beliefs and practices that resonate in indigenous cultures throughout the world, shamanic healing and counseling supports individuals in their soul’s journey to wellness and wholeness. It is a powerful modality that energetically aligns mind, body, spirit. Beginning the process of formal training in these methods enabled me to see that I had been intuitively and quietly engaging in “shamanic” practices for a long time. Choosing a teacher and training program located in Inverness, Scotland has brought me into deeper connection with my Ancestors and their indigenous spiritual traditions. Looking ahead, I plan to continue my study and practice by completing a Shamanic Teacher Training program with my teacher, Twobirds Cunningham, so that I can offer more ways to share these meaningful tools for spiritual healing and self-growth.
At Mamie’s Way, I offer two forms of shamanic healing: Garden of Soul Counseling and Soul Healing sessions. If you’d like to learn more about these shamanic healing methods or to book a session, contact Carolyn through text or call at 225-892-0367 or by emailing Carolyn@MamiesWay.com
*Vitebsky, Piers. Shamanism. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2001.
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