SHAMANIC JOURNEYS
A shamanic journey is a spiritual practice rooted in ancient shamanic traditions. It involves entering an altered state of consciousness—often through rhythmic drumming, chanting, or breathwork—to connect with the spirit world for guidance, healing, or insight. While it originates from indigenous cultures around the world (e.g., Siberian, Native American, Andean, and Mongolian traditions), modern practitioners— including those in neo-shamanic or therapeutic contexts— have adapted it as a spiritual or healing tool, often outside a specific religious framework.
Before starting your Shamanic Journey have one question that you would like advice, answers or healing on, this question will indicate which world you will journey to and focus on when the drum beat begins.
Key Features of a Shamanic Journey
Intentional Travel
Each journey usually has a specific purpose, such as:
Seeking answers to a personal problem
Finding a spirit guide
Healing emotional or spiritual wounds
Gaining creative inspiration
Altered State of Consciousness
The journeyer (client) shifts into a trance-like state, with the help of the healer who will use one of these methods:
Rhythmic drumming (often 4–7 beats per second)
Chanting or toning
Dancing or breathwork
This helps the journeyer to bypass ordinary thinking and access non-ordinary reality.
Spirit World Exploration
The spirit world is typically seen as having three realms:
Lower World: A place of animal spirits, ancestral wisdom, and personal healing
Middle World: A reflection of the physical world, used for soul retrieval and practical insight
Upper World: Home to spirit guides, teachers, and higher wisdom
Power Animals and Spirit Guides
Journeyers often meet power animals, ancestors, or other guiding spirits during their journey. These beings offer protection, insight, or healing.
Return and Integration
The healer will double the drum beat and increase the tempo so that journeyer knows it is time to return from their journey. When the journeryer returns to ordinary reality they reflect on the experience —often through journaling, drawing, or discussion— to integrate the lessons or messages received.
