Shamanism is one of humanity’s oldest practices, woven from myth, mystery, and the raw threads of nature itself. Long misunderstood and often dismissed, shamans are not just spiritual figures, they are guardians of the invisible, mediators between worlds, and bearers of deep healing.
In ancient Morocco, elders spoke of baraka, a sacred power that flows through those attuned to spirit. Across the globe, different names echo this essence: mudang in Korea, sangoma in South Africa, p’aqo in the Andes, or dukun in Indonesia. But the path remains the same, walking the bridge between this world and the unseen.
As more people awaken to the call of inner healing and cosmic connection, shamanism is making a quiet return. Not as a trend, but as a remembering. A reclamation.
What Is Shamanism in Simple Terms?
The word shaman comes from the Siberian Tungusic word šaman, meaning “one who knows.” And that’s precisely what a shaman is: someone who knows how to navigate both the physical world and the spirit realm to bring healing, balance, and wisdom.
Shamans are not just healers. They are storytellers, guides, and spiritual warriors.
Unlike priests or psychics, true shamans enter altered states of consciousness, often through trance or ceremony to communicate with spirits, recover lost soul fragments, and receive visions. It’s an ancient craft passed down not through books, but through initiations, dreams, and often great suffering.
Where Did Shamanism Begin?
Shamanism predates religion. It reaches back over 12,000 years, as far as prehistoric burials in Israel and bee-headed cave paintings in Algeria’s Tassili plateau.
From the San tribes of southern Africa to the Arctic reindeer shamans of Siberia, from Amazonian ayahuasqueros to Celtic druids, nearly every culture developed its own form of shamanism even if the name differed.
This global presence points to a shared truth: humans have always sought to connect with forces greater than themselves.
How Are Shamans Chosen?
No one applies to become a shaman. You don’t get a certificate.
In traditional cultures, a shaman is either:
- Born into it through lineage
- Called by spirits through illness or near-death
- Initiated by surviving extreme life events
Many report a powerful inner pull as if destiny itself whispered their name.
In Moroccan traditions, it’s not uncommon for someone who suffers deeply, especially from spiritual crises, to be seen as “marked” by divine forces. Elders might recognize in them a sacred gift, or karama.
Is Shamanism a Religion?
Not exactly.
Shamanism is more aligned with animism, the belief that everything has a spirit stones, rivers, winds, even your old childhood toy. It teaches that there are multiple layers of reality, most of which we can’t see with ordinary eyes.
Unlike structured religions that rely on worship of a central deity, shamanism focuses on direct experience. It’s about communion, not belief.
What Does a Shaman Do?
A shaman wears many cloaks:
- Healer of the body and soul
- Messenger between worlds
- Psychic visionary
- Ceremonial leader
- Protector of community energy
Their healing goes far beyond herbs or advice. They look for what has been lost, what energy is stuck, what spirit has gone missing. And they work to restore wholeness; not just health.
What Powers Do Shamans Use?
Shamans act as bridges to the spirit world, often aided by:
- Power animals (like panthers, snakes, or falcons)
- Nature spirits (rocks, trees, wind)
- Ancestors and spirit guides
- Plant medicines and ritual tools
- Sacred songs, drums, and chants
They don’t just believe in other worlds. They travel to them bringing back guidance, healing, or lost pieces of the soul.
What Is a Soul Retrieval?
Sometimes, when trauma hits grief, abuse, accidents a piece of your soul disconnects. You might feel numb, lost, or like part of you has never returned.
Shamans perform soul retrieval by journeying into non-ordinary reality to locate and bring back that lost fragment. In some cultures, it’s said a missing soul part leaves behind an energetic hole, one that illness or depression can fill if not addressed.
The Three Shamanic Worlds
Across traditions, shamans speak of three realms:
- Upper World: Home of gods, guides, celestial beings
- Middle World: Our physical realm, including natural spirits
- Lower World: Not evil, but primal where power animals and deep wisdom dwell
These realms are often connected by the World Tree (or Tree of Life), a cosmic axis present in myths from Norse Yggdrasil to the Amazigh belief in a sacred palm connecting earth to sky.
What Are Shamanic Ceremonies Like?
To enter the spirit realm, shamans shift their consciousness. They may use:
- Plant medicine like ayahuasca, peyote, or iboga
- Drumming or rattling to induce trance
- Chanting, dancing, or sweat lodges to purge blockages
- Costumes with feathers, bones, and masks to embody spirits
Ceremonies vary, but all are performed with intention, reverence, and spiritual protection.
In Morocco, gnawa musicians use rhythm and ritual to induce healing trance, another echo of shamanic practice.
Modern Shamanism and Spiritual Healing
Today, interest in shamanic healing is rising from therapists using drumming in trauma work to seekers attending ayahuasca retreats in Peru.
But be cautious. True shamanism is sacred, not spectacle. It demands humility, discipline, and guidance. The path is not easy. But it is powerful.
Ready to Begin Your Journey?
Shamanism is not a trend. It’s a return to nature, to self, to the source.
You don’t need to fly to the Amazon or the Sahara to start. Begin by listening. Trust your inner knowing. Learn from trusted elders and authentic teachers. Read, observe, and most importantly respect.
In the worlds of lore and gaming, we love unlocking hidden realms. Shamanism is that, but in real life. An ancient system of questing, only the map is inward, and the treasure is you.