The word shaman has been used so much, but what does it really mean?
Did you know, the original place the word came from was Siberia? And then appropriated from there and used as a label for medicine people and guides from many indigenous traditions.
And so it’s meaning is fluid.
For me, from my experience with many over the last 20 years, I’ve learned these are important things that shamans do for themselves and for others:
They are aware of what most people are unaware of. Within themselves, they know how to become aware of their own blindspots, their own biases, and many many patterns that live in the world of the unconscious mind.
They are the wisdom holders who see beyond what is presented to them. They have a wide perspective, from the past into the future. And from within a person, to everything they are connected to, and dance with, whether they know it or not.
They are deeply curious and thrilled to move towards the edges of their identity. And there, explore the contours of who they are, and see what’s growing, what’s changing, and in what new directions they can take their entire BEings.
Because they know and love the truth of their fluidity. It’s what keeps them from every being bored, and what keeps them safe when things change fast. Transformation, adaptation, and resilience are not a problem for them because they don’t get stuck in one way of being.
They know how to be with darkness. How to not be afraid of it. How to work with it. And how to find the gifts within it.
Which makes them experts at healing. As they courageously touch and heal deeper and deeper wounds, they become lighter and lighter in themselves.
They have gained knowledge and power through initiations and rites of passage. Whether in formal ritual settings, or dealing with the life-changing challenges of life, they lean into intensity and fire because they know that that is where they discover who they are, what they are capable of, and how to find their way bay through the darkness. This is how their community knows they can be trusted.
They are at ease with uncertainty as they walk between the world of facts and matter, and the dream world of the unconscious mind, collective fields of consciousness, and the mysteries that we are still learning about.
They do this by being able to sense and know at levels beneath thinking and purely cognitive understanding. In an experiential way, they’ve taught themselves how to perceive and become aware of that which most are unaware of.
They become so sensitive, they can feel a heart beat, the shift in the air in a room when someone enters it, and the moment something that used to be true for them, isn’t anymore.
They become warriors as they face the darkest parts of themselves, and the world, to discover what is true and bring healing there.
They can, no matter what, stay connected to the pure, bright, ever-present light and peace at the center of their soul.
YOU can become your own shaman.
And if you’re interested, even learn to be that for others.
Life on it’s own is already an intense adventure. Add to that, the world is in such pain and crisis right now. Clear, deep vision and understanding is so needed along with the ability to be with conflict, and shadows. And even more … knowing how to bring healing and love there.
It starts with you!
