The other day, I got sucked into an internet “rabbit hole”. You know, one of those times when you click on a link and then another until you’ve followed it into Wonderland and you never know what’s going to pop up …
Well, this journey yielded a great article on choosing your shaman. It’s called 11 Ways to Know a Good Shaman When You Meet One written by Jessica Brinton. So, I thought it was worth sharing. My own comments are in red.
It might have come to your attention that these days a lot of people are interested in shamanism. A powerful healing system, with roots in the world’s most ancient indigenous cultures, that can balance out the craziness of our lives and teach us about our true selves? Yes to that.But how to know a bona fide shaman–one who acts as an intermediary between this world and the spirit world, using energy and the elements to heal at the deepest level–when one appears in front of you? Sad to say, with popularity comes market forces, and a whole spectrum of people calling themselves shamans who aren’t necessarily real shamans. But how to spot the difference? Hopefully this guide can help.
1. First off, keep an open mind about how a shaman should look. – A shaman generally prefers the outside world to not know that they are a shaman and therefore, will not have long hair, or be wearing the robes and headdress you were expecting. They’re more likely to be a regular person, like the guy in the corner shop, or the middle-aged woman you walked past when you were looking for a shaman. (This is kind of funny as we always tease about the people who say “But you don’t look like a shaman” )
2. Find the shaman, not the other way around. – This may seem obvious but when someone approaches you in Peru or Stoke Newington, and says, “give me 50 dollars and I’ll do you a brew” it isn’t hard to be persuaded (FYI an ayahuasquero—someone who brews and works with the hallucinogenic plant sacrament, Ayahuasca—is not a shaman anyway). Tip: let your intuition guide you towards them. The best kind of shaman will let you find them.
3. You can tell a lot from a shaman’s attitude to money. – Shamanism is a profession as well as a calling. Traditionally, the village shaman is the doctor of the community, rather like a GP – and a shaman has to make a living like everyone else. You will find that some charge a fee on a sliding scale, depending what you can afford. A decent shaman will often give you the feeling that if they could, they’d do it for free. (It would be nice if we could share this gift at no charge, but like Jessica says, we have to make a living. The mortgage company has refused to barter 🙁 )
4. A good shaman is a humble guy, not a rock star. – A shaman’s role is to be what they call in shaman circles, “a hollow reed.” This is someone free of ego, who allows space for the spirit to do its work. For this reason, you will never find a famous shaman – or one giving special treatment to Kim, Kylie or Kendal if they get in touch one day. This also works in a therapeutic setting: they are there to help you tap into your own intuition, and they should only support you with that, instead of overriding you.
5. Ask the shaman for his life story. – Not the whole thing, obviously. But you’re looking for signs that they have endured some kind of serious physical challenges or personal sacrifices, possibly including a near death experience, or a physical disability, or a painful loss. Of course you don’t wish anything bad on the shaman, but the shamanic path is supposed to be hard (many don’t make it) and suffering is a kind of rite of passage. Plus, within the shamanic view of medicine, it makes sense that a doctor would know how to heal himself before he can heal others.
6. A clean, sober shaman is the only kind of shaman to work with. – Shamans work with energy; ergo if a shaman is a f***-up, that would be reflected in the energy they are holding. A clean appearance and clear boundaries are therefore essential. The same for drugs and alcohol: straight edge is common amongst the best shamans. Who doesn’t deserve a shaman with a sharp mind and memory, giving you their full attention?
7. The shaman’s teacher really matters. – An authentic shaman will have an on-going relationship with their teacher, who is like a line manager, always checking up on him or her. This teacher will be from a good lineage, and the shaman will have studied with them, one on one, for an extended period of time. Some shamans claim to have spent longer with well-known teachers than they actually have. Naughty. (The shaman should be an ongoing relationship with their spiritual teachers.)
8. Don’t mistake innocence for naivety. – If a shaman is sweet and likes being playful, it isn’t because they’re clueless, it’s because in their tradition, they believe that there is no such thing as good and evil – only harmony and disharmony. They also know that compassion, empathy and gratitude are extremely healthy for the human body, so they tend to have these in limitless quantities. For the same reasons, a real shaman is often quite funny and you will feel like you can be a goofball in front of them.
9. On the other hand, get ready to not always hear what you want to hear. – A good shaman is not there to “cure” you or dish out remedies like Western doctors. They are there to hold up a mirror and lead you towards the real story of you, a place from which you will be better able to heal yourself. Be wary of anyone who promises miracles. A great shaman is always realistic about the help they will be able to give you. (This is important. Shamanic healing isn’t about a quick fix. It’s about acquiring tools you need to heal yourself.)
10. A good shaman will be there for you afterwards. -Shamanism is powerful work and an authentic shaman will always make themselves available for after care, as and when. (Ultra important. The follow up is often more important as we can’t always see into the mirror or use the tools right away without a little guidance.)
11. Always go with your gut. – If someone is saying, “this guy is great,” but you’re thinking, “hmm, I’m not sure,” then obviously go with what your heart is telling you. Bottom line, shamanism is an intuitive healing art, so when you meet a shaman, you need to feel an instant sense of trust. This could manifest as great calm, or simply wanting to be near them. That’s when you know that you’re with a great shaman.
Thanks Jessica for such an important and enlightening article. You can also read our list for Choosing a Shaman at our website, shamanicconnection.com.
Until next time –
Pleasant Journeys,
Debbie