Increasing numbers of people are turning to ancient healing traditions in 2020. Some reject the assumptions and symptom-focused treatments of Western medicine. Others have discovered the power of yoga, acupuncture, ayurvedic treatments, or traditional Chinese medicine and become intrigued by the ability of holistic systems to build health and well-being. As we rediscover traditional treatment modalities, more patients are exploring the shamanic cultures, remedies, and traditions of cultures around the world, and opening their eyes to a new perspective on health.
What Is Shamanism?
Shamanism is a broad term that isn’t tied to any specific culture or society. The word originates with the Tungus tribe of Siberia, and can be translated into English as “one who knows.” As holistic health researchers at the University of Minnesota define it, shamanism is a “group of activities and experiences shared by shamans in cultures around the world. These practices are adaptable and coexist with different cultures, systems of government and organized religious practices.” In other words, shamanism is incorporated into a variety of cultures and religious systems but it’s more of a spiritual practice than a specific set of beliefs.
One foundational belief is that there are energies, spirits, or other invisible forces which underlie our physical reality. As Dr. Alberto Villoldo, founder of Chile’s Four Winds Society, explains it, “Shamans understand that the material world is an expression of a subtler energetic realm, and are able to interact with both realms at all times.” Christina Pratt, author of ‘An Encyclopedia Of Shamanism’ defines three main roles for the shaman: mastering altered states of consciousness, acting as an intermediary between the physical and spiritual realms for their community’s benefit, and meeting the mental, spiritual, and physical health needs of their community.
While practices vary dramatically across cultures, the shaman is almost always viewed as a wise figure who can see more deeply into nature, reality, and the souls of others than the average person. As the website Shaman Links defines it, “For the shaman, everything is alive and carries information. You can call this spirit, energy, or consciousness. In order to communicate with the spirit or consciousness of these things, the shaman will shift his or her own state of awareness.” Shamans use different means to gain this insight, including “meditation, repetitive sounds such as that of the drum or rattle, or through the help of hallucinogenic plants. The shaman will then ‘see’ through a new set of eyes, they will see what is going on with you on a spiritual level.”
The Reasons Behind Shamanism’s Comeback
Dr. Villoldo and the Four Winds center have mentored more than 10,000 students looking to gain a deeper understanding of the principles underlying the spiritual practice. He views the appeal of shamanism as a response to shortcomings inherent in mainstream medical treatment. In his view, Western medicine is a disease-care system which fails to build health or identify what he perceives as the only source of both illness and cures: alienation and connection. As he puts it: “The ailment is alienation — from our emotions, from our bodies, from the earth and from Spirit. The symptoms of this ailment are physical and emotional disease. The cure is the experience of Oneness, which restores inner harmony and facilitates recovery.”
The modern growth of shamanism probably began with the famed anthropologists Claude Levi-Strauss and Franz Boas, whose explorations of shamanistic practice and belief brought the attention of new-age and countercultural elements in the 1960s. One of their most fascinating findings was the biography, in his native Kwakiutl tongue, of a shaman named Quesalid living on Canada’s Vancouver Island. He began his training skeptically seeking to expose the fraud perpetuated by “sorcerors.” As he learned the techniques and practices of his culture’s shamanic tradition, he gradually became convinced that through a strange alchemy of collective belief and individual skill, “real shamans do exist.”
Over the past 50 years, practices such as the sweat lodge, the burning of sage, ayahuasca rituals, ibogaine therapy, kambo, and sun dances have exploded in popularity, whether from those pursuing spiritual growth, healing, or seeking novelty and excitement. But while many in Europe and North America have been converted to these ancient practices, the growth of shamanism hasn’t been without controversy. New adherents have been accused of cultural appropriation, and of adopting rituals in ignorance of their true meaning, context, and significance. In spite of this, many practitioners welcome the new converts with open arms.
Meanwhile, many traditional practitioners have continued to maintain their beliefs and traditions despite the encroachments of the modern world. In the Amazon, shamanic culture remains strong, and indiginous cultures remain firmly convinced of their wisdom and value. The region also attracts thousands of tourists each year who come for the ayahuasca ceremony and a host of other treatments. In Japan, Korea, and China, traditional beliefs surrounding shamanism have held strong for centuries. In some cases they’ve been altered and adopted by the state or modern belief systems, as in the official Shinto religion of Japan, or the incorporation of shamanistic rituals in Christian churches in Korea.
As modern society and medical systems struggle to deal with mental illness, addiction, and chronic pain, shamanism can offer answers and treatments that we have long overlooked. There are striking similarities between the statements of Dr. Villoldo, and the theories which recognize the effects of trauma, stress, and alienation on addiction and mental health issues put forth by Dr. Gabor Mate, Johann Hari, and others.
Shamanism and Tabula Rasa Retreat
At Tabula Rasa Retreat, many of our treatments are derived from shamanism, including ibogaine and kambo therapy. We strive to be respectful and grateful to the cultures whose wisdom we are borrowing, and we are committed to exploring and utilizing treatments based on ancient “plant teachers” and the holistic foundation underpinning shamanic traditions. If you’re interested in utilizing these treatments to heal addiction, treat mental illness, or facilitate spiritual and emotional growth, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
For further information visit www.tabularasaretreat.com or call PT +351 965 751 649 UK +44 7961 355 530
