Shamanism

I don't think anyone in their right mind, if they knew what all it entailed, would want to be a shaman. Or Medicine Man, or even just someone who pours at a sweat lodge.

That does not mean that it is strange to feel pulled to these ways, or that it is strange to want to help people in these ways. After all, anyone can spirit journey, and use these ways to help others. But there is a huge responsibility and a lot of sacrifice in actually being 'chosen' by spirit.

I don't think you would find a Native American who 'wants to be' a medicine man. They may be driven towards it, but it is not what they want. A lot of young natives who are chosen by spirit, no longer have the cultural reinforcement and the teachers to guide them----especially the urban Indians as opposed to those on the rez. A lot of them struggle with the emotional side and the visions (which Western science would call, hallucinations). They pick up heavily on people's feelings and what not----a lot of them turn to drink and then suicide. Even my friend, the great grandson of Black Elk struggled and almost committed suicide several times (he did not have a teacher to turn to).

Here is a small example of the responsibility. The Medicine Man who pours the sweat I normally attend, was having some bad luck. His daughters had some bad dreams about him, and I guess he was having dreams to (these are important things when you walk the Red Road). He went to his medicine man to find out why this was happening.

Nothing is free in this universe. So if you are healed, or spirit does something good for you that you requested---you must give back. How you give back can be between you and spirit, a giveaway is a common thing, or simply making dinner for the people that attend your wopila (wopila means a special or sacred thank you----it is in a wopila ceremony that you say thank you and give back to the community). Sometimes it is just a matter of doing the ceremony and tying tobacco ties for that is a sufficient enough thank you to the spirit.

Anyway, as it turns out, this medicine man had healed someone---correction, spirit healed someone through him----but that person had never followed it with a wopila. So a few years passed and now it was his responsibility. His medicine man told him he had to drag skulls at the next sundance----this meant he had to pierce (where pegs are inserted under his skin), and ropes tied to buffalo skulls which he then dragged around the sun dance arbor (during the sun dance) until the horns caught and they rip free. He did this, and the problems disappeared.

This is a Lakota tradition, and may not tie into shamanic traditions as what could happen, but the level of responsibility and sacrifice are the same.

There are different levels of commitment and sacrifice. Like I said anyone can spirit journey and help others. There is a whole branch of alternative psychology that seems to be doing this.

I carry a chanunpa--a sacred pipe, but that means that I have to be available to pray for someone if they ask, any time, day or night. It means that I shouldn't go out drinking and definitely stay away from drugs. Peyote is used in the Native community---but it is used for a purpose, and in a good way (in ceremony) so that would be ok----but most importantly, I cannot use recreational drugs in a recreational sense. But there is not too much sacrifice I must do----nonetheless, the pipe has taught me lessons---for example not to carry grudges. If I carry a pipe, I can respond in anger---I'm only human---but I cannot carry a grudge------but that is a whole 'nother story of how these ways teach you.

 

Would you have a day job, or are you thinking of doing shamanism full time? If the latter, you probably should work in a community where shamanism is taken seriously--like Santa Fe or some similar New Age enclave inclined to the occult. Unfortunately, those markets are scarce in First World countries, and the competition is stiff. Ordinarily, shamans are born that way or are apprenticed to those who are. Do you have ecstatic experiences? Paranormal powers? Trying to rely on drugs and mind altering substances to get there is a dangerous route.

 

Of course there is new age merchandising and products which makes the idea of shamanism attractive in the first place. It would seem to me that shamanism would be relevant to the shaman. You can have the shamanic benefit without the political baggage and still be helpful to those who ask which is what I suggest, so you don't have to be some kind of poser who thinks his weighty responsibility to whatever group requires personal sacrifice or that ritual might specially endow him.

A shamanic or medicine man type does have a different software operating system that is informed by OBSERVATION OF NATURE rather than one relying on the lessons or mechanisms of society. The major world study of the medicine man is
pharmacopoeia in the connection between plant animal mineral including spirit or mind.

 

That is right. There are numerous practicioners in Colorado who are not bona fide shamans, but claim to use shamanic healing techniques----they practice alternative medicine. I imagine they are largely using techniques taught by Harner. They are not accepted or respected by indigenous people, but then they are New Age, not indigenous.

I would suggest if someone wants to do this type of thing----which I am sure can help people----that they also look into the psychological healling work of Stanislav Grof. It deals with a similar type of problem that New Age shamans deal with---and one can get certified to do it, without too much cost or time.


Also I wanted to point out that the Sacred Hoop is a pretty good magazine dealing with Shamanism-----both indigenous and New Age.

 

I've been working with some shamanic exercises since I was young but I guess they are new agey. Life changing.