Deep look into Shamanism and the path

Shamanism  is a term used in a variety of anthropological, historical and popular contexts to refer to certain practices that involve a practitioner reaching altered states of consciousness in order to encounter and interact with the spirit world A shaman is a person regarded as having access to, and influence in, the world of benevolent and malevolent spirits, who typically enters a trance state during a ritual, and practices divination and healing.

Initiation and learning

Shamans are normally "called" by dreams or signs which require lengthy training, however, shamanic powers may be inherited.

A phenomenon called shamanistic initiatory crisis. A rite of passage for shamans-to-be, commonly involving physical illness and/or psychological crisis. The significant role of initiatory illnesses in the calling of a shaman.

The wounded healer is an archetype for a shamanizing journey. This process is important to the young shaman. as he undergoes a type of sickness that pushes her or him to the brink of death. This happens for two reasons:

    The shaman crosses over to the under world. This happens so the shaman can venture to its depths to bring back vital information for the sick, and the tribe.
    The shaman must become sick to understand sickness. When the shaman overcomes her or his own sickness he will hold the cure to heal all that suffer.