Shamans

What is Shamanism?

Shamanism (term originated in tribal Siberia), derivates from the word "shaman" (pronounced SHAH-mahn) and meaning "Healer".

Ancient tribal healers

Shamanism is viewed by many, as an ancient system of natural healing, intended to treat and cure both mind, body and spirit.
And although shamans are best known as tribal healers or medicine man/woman, many possess a wide knowledge of herbs and medicinal plants.
Others have developed extra sensorial abilities to reach other realms and engage in soul journeys to hidden spiritual worlds.

Legends and myths

Shamans, are also "wise" people known to us through tribal legends and myths. They were viewed in the old days, as people performing witchcraft and interested in exploiting trance, near-death experiences, by recurring to powerful herbs and substances to enter certain states of meditative consciousness.
These hallucinogenic trips often resulted in trance states, aided by intense sounds of drums, dance or singing.
These also used to be understood as gateways to express mystical information brought from other realms or the world of the spirits.

American Indian Shamans

American Indian shamans, were often perceived by their tribes as "incarnated animals", leading lives either as humans or wolves, eagles, beers, tigers etc.
It was also common belief among many tribes, that shamans had also the ability to communicate with animals and the dead.

Recommended books

The teachings of the Yaqui Shaman Don Juan Matus, mentioned by Carlos Castaneda and his books (one of the best and most eloquent writers of shamanism), can shed more light into this practice.

Therefore, for those people interested in shamanism, we would recommend the reading of the following books:

"The Teachings of Don Juan: a Yaqui way of knowledge" (Carlos Castaneda);
"A Separate Reality" (Carlos Castaneda);
"Journey to Ixtlan" (Carlos Castaneda);
"Tales of Power" (Carlos Castaneda).

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