Shamanism is not bound to a specific cultural group or perspective, nor is one culture today the source of Shamanism. Found in nearly every culture on the planet, from ancient times to present day, Shamanism is one of the oldest traditions in our human heritage and native to each of us - we all have shamanic practice in our ancestral lines. As the West overwhelmingly lost its shamanic knowledge centuries ago, today the resurgence of Shamanism can be seen as a celebration of our spiritual heritage.

Quantitative anthropological studies have found that Shamanism is remarkably similar everywhere. An amazing array of continuities and parallel beliefs and practices exist between cultures, despite being separated by oceans, thousands of years of human history, oppression by colonial empires, and influences of the modern world. See 4 of the most common global features highlighted in tan.

The term Shaman means one who sees in the dark. Their role in the community is of spiritual leadership and guidance during times of crisis or difficulty. Shamans serve their communities by keeping them safe, healthy, happy, and connected to the natural world. Acting as intermediaries or messengers between the human world and spirit world, when our ancestors were unsure of where to hunt for game, or how to help the sick or injured, Shamans used specific tools and techniques to gather information for survival and healing that are still used on every continent.

Today we are remembering the work and wisdom of our elders, relearning these shared techniques and applying them to our modern life.

Shamanism works with the spiritual component of imbalances, and therefore can be ideal for chronic and/or unexplained conditions. It’s also a powerful complement to every other modality, (whether medication, talk therapy, physical therapy, chemotherapy, etc.), and is never contraindicated.

Just as the mind can affect and heal the body, and vice versa, the human spirit is also interconnected with these two. The practitioner facilitates healing by acting as a bridge between the human you and your spirit. Because we’re bypassing our human thoughts and emotions that can get in the way of our progress, in my personal and professional experiences, shifts often happen quickly relative to other methods.

This is a huge question. Here’s what I’ve gathered from working internationally with various individuals and groups of Shamans born into shamanic cultures:

Many cultures openly share and welcome others to spread their knowledge and participate in their practices when respected and appropriate. From my personal experiences, the Shamans I have worked with view their spiritual wisdom as belonging to all of humanity, regardless of one’s parents, ethnicity, or birth location.

If looking at the literal definition, as Shamanism does not belong to a single culture, the practice of Shamanism is not cultural appropriation. If appropriation is defined as when a person imitates, disrespects, or steals customs, practices, or ideas from another without understanding or reverence for the culture, (for example, the imitation of Native American rituals and the creation of toys and mascots can be stealing and cheapening), I have witnessed the vast majority of people practicing Shamanism as deeply honoring and respecting the practices and the lineage from which they’ve come. The main argument about cultural appropriation centers on reducing the value of cultural items. Shamanism is practiced with a sense of honor towards the sacred, done with knowledge, permission, and guidance.

Out of respect, I do personally choose to draw a linguistic distinction between myself and someone born into a shamanic culture, reserving the term Shaman for the latter, and the term Shamanic Practitioner for those such as myself.