Shamanic healing

Shamanism is one of the oldest and most widespread religious and healing practices in the world. For millennia, shamans have acted as bridges between the visible world and the invisible, spiritual worlds, performing healing and offering guidance in dimensions other than the physical one. This article explores how the shaman often performs healing in worlds other than this one, and how this practice has been crucial to both individual and collective health processes.

Shamanism has roots in indigenous peoples and tribes all over the world, but common to all traditions is that the shaman has the ability to move between worlds – between the physical and the spiritual dimension. Healing often takes place not only in this world, but also in so-called «non-ordinary realities» or «spiritual worlds» where the shaman can communicate with spirits, retrieve lost parts of the soul, remove negative energies and give advice on both physical and mental health.

The shaman's role and journey

The shaman acts as an intermediary between people and the spirits. He or she has often gone through a long training and an initiation process, in which illness, crisis or dreams have marked that the shaman has been called to the task. The shaman usually has «helping spirits» or «power animals» who provide support and guidance on the journeys to the other worlds.

The central practice is the shamanic journey, in which the shaman deliberately enters an altered state of consciousness – for example through drumming, song, dance or the use of plants with healing or psychoactive properties. In this state, the shaman can leave the body and travel to other worlds to retrieve knowledge, power or healing.

Healing in other worlds

Healing in shamanism is not just about treating symptoms, but about restoring balance and harmony at the level of the soul. Many healing processes take place in worlds other than this one, because the cause of illness or suffering often lies in the sphere of the soul or the spirit.

The three worlds in shamanism

In many shamanic traditions, people speak of three main worlds to which the shaman can travel:

The lower world

Here the shaman often meets power animals and nature spirits. The lower world is a place of healing, strength and knowledge about the forces of the earth and of nature.

The middle world

This is the worldview we know, but in its spiritual dimension. Here the shaman may encounter both helpful and less helpful spirits, and it is important to use discernment when moving here.

The upper world

Here the ancestors, exalted masters, angels and other spiritual guides often dwell. The upper world is a place of wisdom, spiritual insight and contact with the universe.

Shamanic healing rituals in other worlds

The shaman performs a range of rituals and healing techniques in the other worlds. Some of the best known are

Soul retrieval

If a person has lost a part of their soul, for example due to trauma, the shaman can travel to the other worlds to retrieve the soul part and reunite it with the person.

Power animal retrieval

The shaman can also retrieve a power animal – a spiritual protector and guide – for the person who needs it.

Extraction

The shaman can remove negative energies or entities from a person's energy field, often by traveling to the other worlds to identify and remove them.

Psychopomp work

The shaman helps the souls of the dead to pass over into the afterlife, ensuring that they find peace and the way to the other side.

How the healing happens

Healing in the other worlds often takes place through a collaboration between the shaman, the helping spirits and the person who needs healing. The shaman travels to the world in question, meets spirits or forces, and receives advice, power or treatment that is then brought back to the physical world.

The shaman may also receive tasks from the spirits, for example to carry back wisdom, gifts or rituals to be performed in the physical world in order to complete the healing. The healing is often tailored to the individual, and each shamanic journey is unique.

Psychological and therapeutic aspects

Shamanic healing also has strong psychological and therapeutic effects. Traveling to other worlds and meeting spirits, forces or ancestors can provide insight, release from trauma and renewed vitality. Many modern psychologists and therapists regard shamanism as a valuable complementary method to traditional psychotherapy, especially when it comes to treating trauma, anxiety and depression.

Altered states of consciousness are central to shamanism. These states can give access to deep-seated psychological material and help resolve unconscious conflicts and traumas. Shamanic rituals can lead to emotional release, personal insight and spiritual integration.

Shamanism and science

Although shamanism has been regarded as superstition or magic in Western culture, modern science has begun to understand and recognize the psychological and neurological mechanisms behind shamanic healing. Drumming, song and rhythm can, for example, induce altered states of consciousness that bring relaxation, synchronization of the brain and access to deeper layers of consciousness.

It has also been demonstrated that shamanic rituals can have positive effects on mental health, especially when it comes to anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Shamanic healing can offer a holistic approach that combines physical, mental and spiritual health.

Examples of shamanic healing in practice

To illustrate how shamanic healing works in other worlds, we can look at some examples from various cultures:

Siberia: Here the shaman uses the drum to induce trance and travel to the spiritual worlds. The shaman can retrieve lost parts of the soul or remove negative forces in order to restore health.

North America: Shamans often use power animals and ancestors as helpers on the journeys to the other worlds. The healing is about restoring balance and harmony between the human being and nature.

Shamanism in modern times

Shamanism is experiencing a renaissance in modern times, and more and more people are turning to shamanic practices to find meaning, health and a connection to something greater than themselves. Shamanic techniques such as drumming, song, dance and meditation are today also used in modern therapy and self-development.

Shamanism offers a unique approach to health and healing, in which the healing takes place not only in the body, but also in the sphere of the soul and the spirit. By traveling to other worlds, the shaman can retrieve knowledge, power and healing that is brought back to the physical world to help the individual and the community.

This article provides general information about shamanic healing, but it is not health care or medical advice. Shamanic treatment is considered alternative treatment in Norway and does not confer patient rights or compensation for harm. In the event of health problems, always contact a doctor or authorized health personnel.

Sources

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamanism

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What Is Shamanic Healing?

https://drstevenfarmer.com/faq/what-is-shamanic-healing/

What We Can Learn From Shamanic Healing: Brief Psychotherapy...

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Cross-Culturally Exploring the Concept of Shamanism