Shamanism is the oldest form of spiritual practice. It teaches that everything has spirit and is alive. All of life is seen as one, interconnected through a web of energy or spirit. The physical plane or ordinary reality is not the only reality there is.
There are other realms of existence we can journey to in order to receive guidance, healing, assistance, and support. One way to access the spirit world or “non-ordinary” reality is through shamanic journeying with a drum or rattle.
This is a wonderful way to step outside of our ordinary lives and gain wisdom and guidance from the spiritual plane. Although I often receive guidance in the midst of prayer, a meditation, while performing a healing, or just going about my day, I also do formal journeys to ask for specific guidance or assistance.
Sometime last year, I embarked on a journey that led to a very surprising outcome. I don’t recall what the specific purpose of that journey was. I’m sure I was seeking guidance, but I don’t remember my specific intention, only the outcome because it was so surprising.
When I do this type of shamanic journey, I typically journey using an audio recording of the steady beat of a drum, which allows for accessing an expanded state of consciousness that opens the way for connection to the spirit realms and the guidance that our allies and spirit helpers can provide.
I started this journey in my usual way of traveling with two animal spirit allies and journeying through a tunnel to reach a spirit realm. In past journeys, I have received guidance from spirit allies, journeyed to magical lands, experienced very unusual healing rituals, and gained helpful insights and ideas.
In this particularly surprising journey, I was told I needed to travel to the Stone Forest in Peru. The guidance appeared to come out of nowhere because it did not seem at all related to anything going on in my life at the time.
Plus, I really knew nothing about the Stone Forest, so I was rather perplexed. But I figured there must be some reason I was being guided to travel there even if the reason was not yet evident to me.
So, I began to explore the idea and learned that the Stone Forest is a mystical and powerful place. It’s a place full of ancient wisdom at a very high elevation. It’s a place where one can more easily connect to non-ordinary reality to receive wisdom and guidance.
Because of that shamanic drum journey I did over a year ago, I am now gearing up to travel to the Stone Forest in a couple of weeks. Truthfully, I’m quite nervous as it’s a trip that’s not for the faint of heart I’m told.
I’m still not quite sure why I’m going other than that I was instructed to do so in a journey. This is the power shamanic journeying has for me. Although my logical brain often questions my sanity and my decisions, I trust the guidance I receive from shamanic journeys and ceremonies.
Shamanic journeying has proven to be a very powerful way of navigating this sometimes confusing journey of life. If you would like to learn more about shamanic journeying and experience a drum journey yourself, please join me for this month’s Shamanism, Spirituality, and Energy Medicines class happening at 6pm Pacific Time on Monday May 6th.
If you can’t make the live session or are reading this after it has already happened, you can catch the recording of this and many other wonderful classes by signing up for the monthly class.
After I return from my trip to the Stone Forest, I’ll be teaching a class on June 3rd on Exploring Places of Power and sharing my experiences from the Stone Forest and Lake Titicaca (which I will also be visiting on this trip). Please join me for this and future classes by signing up for the monthly Shamanism, Spirituality, and Energy Medicines class.