What is a Shaman and Shamanism?

 

The word “Shaman” is thought to come from the Russian word шаман (šamán), coming from the Tungus root “sā” meaning “to know”. Shamanism itself is a religious practice that dates back hundreds of thousands of years. Much older than any known religion. A Shaman is one who enters the Spirit world through an altered state of consciousness to connect with spirits for healing and guidance. Often, a Shaman is also a community leader and teacher. 

Some of the differences between a Shaman and other healers including witch doctor, spiritual healer, and mediums, is a unique ability to work with spirits on a deep energetic level that includes enmeshments of energy channels, the continuous death and rebirth cycles in life the Shaman will go through on the path of alchemy of incredible pain to incredible Wisdom, and the shamanic connections to a very wide variety of spirits. To name a few.

Using tools such as a drum and/or a rattle, the Shamanic practitioner enters an altered state of consciousness called a trance or ecstasy, where they are the go-between to help translate Spirit meanings and guidance for the healing of people and the land. Sacred space can also be held for ceremonial rituals and helping people reconnect with the land for further, deep healing of all. The Shaman also provides guidance and support for those who wish to communicate with the Spirit world through journeying and counseling, oftentimes channeling various spirits to help a person venture through their own personal inner world. 

My own path was called into shamanic healing in 2019 through a powerful dream I had involving 3 foxes. The message I received from a different creature in the dream told me it was time to contact the teacher that I felt was in alignment with my energy. I messaged Deborah Murphy of Windhorse Shamanic Services out of Green Bay WI and began my first 6-month training program with her. At the first class, I immediately knew this shamanism practice was a path for me as many things synchronized internally in a “knowing”. I had already been working with clients for about a year offering reiki sessions and readings, and once I completed the first 6-month training, I added shamanic healing sessions to my professional offerings. After close to a year of this practice, I trained for paranormal cleansings and darker energy removal work and have since added that as well to my service offerings. 

It is an honor to serve those who need it most and offer the ancient wisdom that channels through in life, while walking this Shamanic path.

 

 

Shamanic Healing Terms & Meanings & What Happens During a Session

Extraction – This is part of a healing session that removes spiritual intrusions and displaced energy. This can manifest in the physical form in a localized pain or ailment. This can happen when we experience a trauma or illness that can cause a weak spot in our auric field. This is the energy field we have around us, it is a part of us. These intrusions can enter through these weak spots even causing the aura to tear. The Shaman will connect with her Spirit helper team and remove these intrusions, along with heal that spot in your aura so they cannot get through 
again.

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Dark Entity Removal/Exorcisms - This is part of Extraction work where the Shaman, with her team of Spirit friends and helpers, removes and seals off dark beings such as the demonic from a person’s energy field so they can no longer affect and harm the person. Symptoms of having a dark attachment (on a person or in a home) - nightmares, feeling uncomfortably watched, scratches, hearing whispers or voices that tell you to harm yourself or another, feeling heavy and depressed and just can't shake it, dark spots seen in the side of your vision, overwhelming and often misplaced anger, unable to feel your Spirit guides, hearing growls, hearing 3 knocks/bangs, abnormal amount of fighting among the house members, icy cold "drafts" that have an unidentified source, and more. 
*ALL clients must have a consultation prior to scheduling to assess the situation best. Many can be cleared but I do not accept all cases for exorcisms.

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Power Retrieval – We can get disconnected from our Personal Power throughout our lives in various ways. You might feel like something is missing, feel disempowered, afraid all the time, or a variety of similar feelings. Traumatic events, transitions, various life events, can disconnect us from our Personal Power. Oftentimes our parents hold our personal power, even far into adulthood. Partners are also a usual power holder, especially if one has experienced power loss to parents and childhood trauma. A symptom of this is feeling like you need permission/approval/validation for making decisions about your own life or succeeding in life. The Shaman will travel through the Shamanic universes to cut negative energy cords and retrieve these power pieces that were taken and held. This can include a reconnection with your Personal Power Animals. All of these Personal Power pieces are then brought back and put back inside of you for reintegration and inner healing. "Empowerment" is a result of this.

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Soul Retrieval – Fragments of our spirit will break off and get “stuck” when we experience life events, traumatic experiences including death, or other transitions in life that can leave us feeling broken. Some of the work done by the Shaman is in past lives, as they transcend time and space journeying with their Spirit helpers to collect these broken off pieces of your soul and bring them back home to you. An example of a missing soul piece is when one experiences the loss of another person in our life typically through passing, and it feels like a part of us is missing. This is soul loss where a piece of our spirit actually breaks away and stays with that passed loved one. Retrieving this soul piece and reintegrating it helps you feel whole again.

 

 

Final notes - A Shamanic healing session can help you feel more connected with yourself, feeling less broken, more in charge of your life. These sessions work wonderfully in conjunction with traditional therapy as well. Please email iamthe13thmystic@gmail.com with any questions.