Shamanic Rituals: Exploring Altered States of Consciousness

Thanks to their ability to initiate personal transformations, shamanic practices play an important role in the postmodern era.
What if we could see through the illusion of individuality and remember that we are all connected in a vast cosmic web?
What if we could all participate in life-affirming encounters that stimulate our innate wisdom and inspire us to do good in the world?
What if we had access to the wisdom of ancient civilizations without temporal and spatial limitations?

Shamanism can be considered the first organized religion in human history. However, it is not a religion in the traditional sense of the word, but rather a philosophy based on harmony with nature spirits. Shamans have strong psychic bonds, and their practices are not based on external resources such as books, laboratories, or theoretical dogmas. Shamanic practices are a dazzling and intuitive collection of tools that enable us to explore the deepest recesses of our inner cosmos. Mystical experiences allow us to connect with our origins, come closer to spiritual balance, and understand our place in the universe.

Ancient shamanic traditions are reaching the West with new solutions.

In the past century, growing interest has helped many people in the West embark on a shamanic spiritual journey. Since the 1950s, many magazines have capitalized on the widespread interest in spirituality and metaphysics. For example, Aldous Huxley, after consuming mescaline, a hallucinogenic alkaloid found in cacti, takes readers on a journey through deep philosophical corridors in his book “The Doors of Perception” from 1954. Maria Sabina, a humble shaman from Oaxaca, Mexico, became known worldwide after appearing in “Life” magazine in 1957. She used hallucinogenic mushrooms in her therapeutic work.

By the late 1960s, seekers of enlightenment found new ways of perceiving the world in Carlos Castaneda‘s books. His experiences with the Mexican shaman Yaqui Don Juan, who sought to free Castaneda from Western perceptions of reality to discover the illusory nature of the material world, became the subject of bestselling books translated into dozens of languages. Although it was unclear whether Castaneda’s experiences were true, his works sparked global interest in shamanism and achieved cult status.

Through ecstatic singing, dancing, and drumming, the shaman’s spirit embarks on a journey to the realms beyond.

It is important to distinguish between traditional shamanism and “neo-shamanism,” which has emerged in recent decades thanks to individuals not tied to shamanic heritage. Due to the sensitive nature of the topic, discussions about traditional shamanism should be approached with caution, considering that shamanic traditions have often been marginalized or repressed.

There are many different shamanic practices around the world, but they share certain common characteristics. Margaret Stutley, a researcher of global religions, identified three characteristic elements of traditional shamans. Firstly, they believe in the existence of otherworlds inhabited by spirits in the form of animals that can communicate with humans. The shaman’s role is to appease both good and evil spirits for the benefit of their society. The shaman leaves their body and moves to the supernatural world in a state of trance, induced by passionate singing, dancing, and drumming. Finally, the shaman serves as a healer who helps members of the community overcome obstacles and illnesses, especially of a psychosomatic nature.

Shamanic rituals enable individual and communal healing in times of ecological, psychological, and social crisis.

Unlike recording their knowledge, traditional shamanic cultures pass it down through songs and practices. That’s why rituals play a crucial role in unlocking this ancient wisdom.

These rituals are beneficial and effective as long as they are performed with integrity. They allow us to find our authentic “self,” discover connections with our communities, and understand our place in the universe. In times of emotional, environmental, and social unrest, shamanic rituals offer hope for positive changes at both individual and community levels.

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