The purview of the shaman is the realm of soul. This is regarded as the spiritual essence of a human being or animal that is usually regarded as immortal. Different paradigms offer different explanations of “reality” that are underpinned by assumptions about what composes “reality.” Philosophers assert that reality can only be known through our faculty of reason via our intellect. The scientific method determines that reality can be known through a systematized study of the natural and physical world through observation and experiment. It is curious to me how some people are naturally drawn to any one of these orientations as a way to know reality. Perhaps it is a matter of temperament. Maybe it is the influence of karma or the influence of intergenerational family beliefs. However I try to understand this, in the end I suspect it really does not matter because in a sense, these different orientations are all competing with one another while at the same time crossing over and to some degree, complementing each other. The question they all seek answers to is “How can I “know reality?” or “What is truly real and ultimately meaningful?”
I am not a scientist or philosopher but I have had some experience as a shamanic practitioner. I will be the first to admit that shifting my consciousness as a way to enter into another dimension of reality where other sentient and compassionate beings reside is hard for my rational intellect to grasp. I ask why it is that so often beginning shamanic practitioners are told to suspend their disbelief before attempting to enter into “non-ordinary reality.” Just how wedded are we to this so-called “normal reality” that seems to predominate our lives? And an accompanying question is why do we spend so much of our time searching for interesting distractions (enjoyable or otherwise) that help us to spend our time living out our lives?
But the notion of consciousness is also challenging to talk about and attempt to gather consensus on. It’s slippery and somewhat amorphous. It might in-fact be the case that consciousness determines mostly what it is that we perceive at any time. (Consciousness?!) I suspect that philosophers and scientists don’t appreciate this subjective quality (that is consciousness) for determining what is real and true. While this may be problematic to them, it needn’t necessarily be for those of us not invested in those fields of inquiry. Every discipline has its jargon that attempts to tie together the threads of knowledge for all those who are its participants. Vocabulary found in core shamanic practices includes soul and animal retrievals, spirit releasement, the releasing of intrusions and other dark energy forms referred to as extraction, and then there is psychopomp work that involves helping the spirit of a deceased person pass over with support and guidance from the shaman.
The shamanic realm of non-ordinary reality is often thought of as thousands of years old that predates “modern” historical religious traditions. Through shamanic incursions into the “other world,” one may discover for others the source of illness and the way to alleviate what is causing the imbalance that is creating the person’s illness. This methodology might be called by some as the most direct route to providing access to one’s innermost sanctum. It does provide a glimpse into what is affecting one’s soul that is directly linked to the physical body and even how soul-related issues affect our emotional and mental experience. But this begs the question about the veracity of the soul—is that really what shamans are accessing and interacting with? How do they really know this? What else might this realm be? While reproducible, it is difficult to be absolute about this due to its subjective nature. Yet, when undeniable and seemingly miraculous healings happen as a consequence of a shaman’s work in non-ordinary reality, the shaman’s claims about the terrain of their work seems to be confirmed.
Shamanic healing requires not just many years of practice and dedication, but particular altered states of consciousness that are cultivated for a specific skill set. I don’t know about you, but I have come to realize that constructive states of consciousness are quite desirable. Examples include how I feel during and after vigorous exercise, hiking in a northwest forest, focused and intense interactions with clients and friends, during and after being in a sauna, during and after a good meal and of course, expanding my consciousness in a shamanic healing journey. Attentional absorption is what produces these altered states of consciousness. It may be physical, social, emotional or mental. I find myself drawn to these situations because they produce positive experiences for me that are often healing and frequently long-lasting. I look forward to eating (and often cooking) a good meal because if I am really conscious and do not overeat, I feel quite happy and satisfied. The end result of these constructive altered states is always a feel-good residue that often lingers for many hours afterward.
Shamanic healing provides the benefit of compassionate helping spirits sharing and imparting their power to me. It makes me feel more alive and activates my spiritual nature in ways that no other spiritual practice does. I might say its just another form of vigorous exercise but for another part of me. Additionally, it is frequently the case that others benefit from my requests to help them based on their need. It sounds so mythic to others when I relate my healing journeys to them. The actions taken by the compassionate spirits seem so fantastical compared to our experiences in everyday life but my experience confirms over and over that the non-ordinary reality of the realm of the compassionate spirits crosses over to impact our lives in this reality. Put simply, it just blows my mind. I must like getting my mind blown because I continue to pursue this strange and mysterious practice. I have to confess something to you. I really like this magic—it keeps my life so interesting and provides dimension in ways that nothing else does. Perhaps you will be encouraged to shift your consciousness and try this out for yourself. Just remember to suspend your disbelief and decide to loosen your grip on this everyday reality. Imagine the possibilities.
Posted by Howard Brockman
November 29, 2012
Howard Brockman
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