Finding a Shamanic PractitionerWe are shamanic practitioners. Shaman is a term conferred by one’s community, not on one’s self. More to Work With
If you wish to find a shamanic practitionerWe are shamanic practitioners. Shaman is a term conferred by one’s community, not on one’s self. More to work with, you might find the following list of competencies a useful guide, in terms of what to look for. They are the things we would expect anyone offering Therapeutic Shamanism in a professional capacity to be able to demonstrate.
Training to Become a Shamanic PractitionerWe are shamanic practitioners. Shaman is a term conferred by one’s community, not on one’s self. More
The competencies list should be useful too if you are considering becoming a shamanic practitionerWe are shamanic practitioners. Shaman is a term conferred by one’s community, not on one’s self. More yourself, in giving you a sense of what this involves.
- Be highly experienced and at ease journeying in all 3 shamanic realmsThe realms behind this ordinary, surface reality. Also known as NOR (Non-Ordinary Reality), the Nagual, or the Implicate Order, etc. More, know clearly which realm they are in at any given time, and know what to expect and do in each realm.
- Have a practice that is strongly based in the Lower and Upper Worlds.
- Understand the difference between middle-worldThis physical world, and the energies ‘behind’ it. Everyday reality, both seen and unseen. individuals and Lower-WorldThe shamanic realm that is the origin of nature. Characterised by an abundance of animals, plants, geology, and people living close to nature. The realm of Mother Earth. A realm of safety and healing. and Upper-WorldThe ‘spiritual’ world. Home of ‘aware’ human or human-like beings – spiritual teachers, angels, etc. Also, the home of upper-world Gods and Goddesses, and the realm of Father Sky. Oversouls.
- Have a strong connection with at least one Power Animal.
- Have experience of working with a variety of other Animal Oversouls.
- Have a strong and established connection with at least one truly Lower-WorldThe shamanic realm that is the origin of nature. Characterised by an abundance of animals, plants, geology, and people living close to nature. The realm of Mother Earth. A realm of safety and healing. Human Guide.
- Have a strong and established connection with at least one Upper-WorldThe ‘spiritual’ world. Home of ‘aware’ human or human-like beings – spiritual teachers, angels, etc. Also, the home of upper-world Gods and Goddesses, and the realm of Father Sky. Guide.
- Understand the safety, protection and ethical issues when undertaking middle-worldThis physical world, and the energies ‘behind’ it. Everyday reality, both seen and unseen. journeys, and act accordingly and appropriately.
- Know how to work with middle-worldThis physical world, and the energies ‘behind’ it. Everyday reality, both seen and unseen. beings including middle-worldThis physical world, and the energies ‘behind’ it. Everyday reality, both seen and unseen. spirits, and with thought forms and other human constructs.
- Know how to cleans and heal middle-worldThis physical world, and the energies ‘behind’ it. Everyday reality, both seen and unseen. objects and places (including doing terrapomping).
- Understand the difference between ego, body, SoulSoul is of the lower-world and the unique individual that Mother Earth wants us to be, the template for our life. Spirit is of the upper-world and a part of Father Sky. More and SpiritSoul is of the lower-world and the unique individual that Mother Earth wants us to be, the template for our life. Spirit is of the upper-world and a part of Father Sky. More, and the different needs of each of these four parts and how to honour them.
- Be experienced in shamanic extractionThe removal of a non-living entity. and de-possessionThe removal of a living entity. practices including:
- Understand the difference between extractionThe removal of a non-living entity. and depossession, and the possible indications of posession.
- Understanding the different types of intrusions, including thought-forms, and spirits (including parasites, elementalsThis includes nature spirits (fairies, elves etc.), archetypal beings (angels, dragons etc.), etc., malevolent spirits and wetiko).
- Knowing different extractionThe removal of a non-living entity. methods and the extractionThe removal of a non-living entity. and depossession protocols.
- Ethics, and respect for entitiesSomething inside someone or attached to them, but which does not belong to them. Can be various things, including an introject, a thought form, an entity, and so on. May be an ‘inanimate’ thing (i.e. ‘a knife in one’s back’, ‘a thorn in one’s sid… More.
- When to extract and when to dialogue.
- The need to not leave holes when doing extractions and deposessions (and what to put in).
- Know how to work with the Upper and Lower convergence point energies including:
- How to draw on these energies for shamanic healing (i.e., after extractionThe removal of a non-living entity. work).
- How to journey to these points for healing. How to draw on the convergence pointsAt the very top of the upper-world, and at the very bottom of the lower-world, points where everything merges back into oneness (into Father Sky at the upper point, and into Mother Earth at the lower point). as sources of power.
- Know the difference between soulSoul is of the lower-world and the unique individual that Mother Earth wants us to be, the template for our life. Spirit is of the upper-world and a part of Father Sky. More loss, loss of personal power, and Power loss.
- Know how to address Power Loss, including:
- Assisting clients in them doing their own Power Animal retrieval, and how to help them build a relationship with their Power Animal.
- Be experienced in soul retrievalThe act of bringing back a lost soul or soul part. More methods including:
- Traditional soul retrievalThe act of bringing back a lost soul or soul part. More (and understand its limitations)
- Knowing how to heal soulSoul is of the lower-world and the unique individual that Mother Earth wants us to be, the template for our life. Spirit is of the upper-world and a part of Father Sky. More parts before returning them
- “Singing the souls back home”
- Preventing the soulSoul is of the lower-world and the unique individual that Mother Earth wants us to be, the template for our life. Spirit is of the upper-world and a part of Father Sky. More loss having occurred (persuading the soulSoul is of the lower-world and the unique individual that Mother Earth wants us to be, the template for our life. Spirit is of the upper-world and a part of Father Sky. More to stay)
- Fort-holder respite journeys
- Awareness that soulSoul is of the lower-world and the unique individual that Mother Earth wants us to be, the template for our life. Spirit is of the upper-world and a part of Father Sky. More parts and fort-holder parts may have concerns and conditions, and how to facilitate any necessary negotiations
- Be able to facilitate clients’ integrating parts
- The need for an Adult self, and support from Champions (Guides)
- Be able to identify and skilfully work with any other complications in soul retrievalThe act of bringing back a lost soul or soul part. More including:
- body shock
- soulSoul is of the lower-world and the unique individual that Mother Earth wants us to be, the template for our life. Spirit is of the upper-world and a part of Father Sky. More theft and contracts
- co-dependence and soulSoul is of the lower-world and the unique individual that Mother Earth wants us to be, the template for our life. Spirit is of the upper-world and a part of Father Sky. More exchange
- the Land of the Dead (including the Cave of the Lost Children)
- Understand the nature of the Plant PeopleThen came … Oversouls and how to work with them.
- Have a strong and established working relationship with at least one Plant Oversoul.
- Have an established working relationship with at least some Stone Peoplethe living rocks, minerals, crystals and chemical elements. The first of the People. Next came the … More Oversouls.
- Have experience of transmutation practices including: dismemberment, burial, burning, dissolving, sky burial, and cocooning.
- Know about the Land of the Dead, and have a strong respect for it and knowledge of its dangers.
- Have a basic knowledge of what happens at death, and how to do a basic psychopompA shamanic practice to help lost or stuck souls of the dead move on and return to the light/Spirit. of the Unquiet DeadThe souls of the dead who have not passed over, but who still wander the middle-world. (this does not necessarily include the ability to enter into the Land of the Dead, but does include knowing when to seek help when needed).
- Know how to make and work with shamanic power objectsObjects used in shamanic journeying or healing for their properties: crystals, feathers, shields, etc. May be in this reality (corporeal), or not (non-corporeal)..
- Understand how to do expansion and just-being journeys.
- Understand the Adult initiation stages and processes.
- Understand what healthy (Lower-WorldThe shamanic realm that is the origin of nature. Characterised by an abundance of animals, plants, geology, and people living close to nature. The realm of Mother Earth. A realm of safety and healing.) tribeal structurs and relationships look like (The Patterns of Healthy Tribe).
- Understand the difference between fallen, hierarchical spirituality, and non-hierarchical animist spirituality.
- Understand the use of the shamanic drum and the rattle.
- Know the ethics of asking for blessings and help with other middle-worldThis physical world, and the energies ‘behind’ it. Everyday reality, both seen and unseen. issues.
- Have experience in journeying down ancestral time-lines, including healing time-lines and the release of ancestral burdens.
- Understand the principles of recapitulationThe process of letting go of the past and of gathering back energy that has been left in past events and interactions, and the reclaiming of one’s wholeness and personal power., and how to work with detaching the past.
- Understand the shamanic understanding of the multiverse and its relevance to working with the future. How to work with future Guides.
- Know when shamanic work is appropriate, and when it is not.
- Know the limits of their own competence and experience, and when to refer a client to another practitioner when appropriate.
- Understand the Medicine WheelA sacred space to do shamanic work in. Usually aligned to the four directions (north, south, east, and west), and made with an understanding of their significance, affinities, and power. More and the (indigenous) 5 elements of ether, air, fire, water and earth.
- Be able to identify elemental imbalances in clients, and know how to work with them.
- Have a basic understanding of human energy anatomy (The Inner Totem Pole) including:
- the basics of the energy bodies (auras)
- Seek to be guided by SpiritSoul is of the lower-world and the unique individual that Mother Earth wants us to be, the template for our life. Spirit is of the upper-world and a part of Father Sky. More, not ego.
- When working with a (currently living) human, always seek to work only with actual and explicit consent and permission.
- Treat all things with respect and compassion, whether corporeal or non-corporeal.
- Respect client confidentiality.
- Respect client’s boundaries.
- Respect their own boundaries as a practitioner.
- Be aware of the practitioner-client power relationship, and always seek to empower clients.
- Be extremely aware of what thought they plant in clients minds; show care and discretion in how they report journeys to clients, and what they say to clients.
- Avoid any exploitation or misconduct with clients.
- Be honest and truthful in public relations and advertising, and not act in a way that brings shamanism into disrepute.
- To be upfront with clients about fees.
- To be upfront and honest with clients about what to expect from sessions.
- Never knowingly use shamanism for harm.
- Know when they are not in the right state to work with clients.
- Know when to seek supervision for ethical issues.
- Offer clients a safe environment to do the sessions in.
- Practice good energy hygiene
- Only work with people when there are no inappropriate boundary issues. Know when to refer people on when appropriate.
- Strive to practice what they preach (seek to embody to shamanic practices, principles and ethics in their own lives, including maintain regular contact with their own Power Animal and other Guides.
- How to look out for mental health issues that may contraindicate doing shamaninc work.
- How to show clients the core conditions:
- Grounding
- Empathy
- Congruence
- Unconditional positive regard
- Presence.
- Demonstrating active listening and reflecting back.
- How to facilitate rather than interpret (the locus-of-evaluation being with the client).
- The difference between content and process (and how to invite people to move from content to process).
- How to work with strong emotions in clients.
- Have an understanding of the workings of the human psyche and of psychological processes including:
- Archetypes, such as Mother, Father, Lover (and the Anima and Animus), the Shadow/Adversary, the Child, the Mother, Adult, Elder and ShamanWe are shamanic practitioners. Shaman is a term conferred by one’s community, not on one’s self. More, and the trans-human Archetypes.
- The importance of childhood conditioning.
- Understanding parts-of self, including: fort-holders, orphans, and their sub-parts (the Inner Critic, Pusher, Perfectionist, Pleaser etc); Adult; Body; SoulSoul is of the lower-world and the unique individual that Mother Earth wants us to be, the template for our life. Spirit is of the upper-world and a part of Father Sky. More; SpiritSoul is of the lower-world and the unique individual that Mother Earth wants us to be, the template for our life. Spirit is of the upper-world and a part of Father Sky. More.
- Introjects.
- The difference between transference, countertransference and projections.
- The difference between good boundaries and wonky boundaries.
- Some understanding of common barriers to contact.
- Know any legal restrictions and requirements that are applicable to their work.
- Keep adequate and confidential records.
- Have suitable insurance cover, as appropriate.
- Engage in regular and continuing professional development
- Know the limits of their competence, and know when they are out of their depth, or need to seek supervision, or need to refer clients on.
Practitioner Recommendations
We do not run a professional register of Therapeutic Shamanism practitioners. However, the practitioners we usually recommend are below. If you would like any further suggestions, please contact us.
Our Practitioner Training
If you are interested in exploring becoming a professional practitioner in Therapeutic Shamanism, you can find the details of what we offer here.
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