The word "shaman" comes from the tungus (siberian russia) "saman" and means "to burn": in fact, the shaman (man or woman) works into a feverish condition of inspiration. Shamanism is the oldest spiritual practice of the world, and we can find i ts common traits all over the world: from the siberian people to the native americans the australian aborigines, for example. But shamanism was known in western europe, too, and expecially among celtic people. In fact, if we look deeply into celtic myths w e will find out many common shamanic features. I think that every culture in its early ages practiced shamanism, because it was strictly connected to the earth and to nature, that granted us(and still does) survival (food, water, fire, oxygen, medicines.. .).

During the last ten years we saw a new growing interest in shamanism after the re-discovery of Native Americans' spirituality (see Carlos Castaneda and Michael Harner). But i agree with John Matthews when he says that western people should choose to pr actice celtic shamanism, because it is connected to european tradition, mythology and culture.

"Awenydd"is the welsh word for shaman and it means "inspired one". They are also calledwalkers between the worlds", for their ability to go back and forth into the otherworlds.

Characteristics of Shamanism

Initiatory crisis: a traumatic experience, a long illness or an experience of apparent death. Accordin to the culture he/she belongs, the initiate has a vision of his/her "death" and "rebirth", in which he/she is killed, dismembered or boiled and then rebuilt (often the deities put "power objects" in his/her body, such as quartz crystals, animal bones etc.). In the Celtic culture the Goddess was the initiator: the one who drank from her cauldron would gain wisdom.

Non-ordinary state of consciousness: the shaman is able to enter a voluntary state of trance that allows him/her to penetrate into the Spirit worlds, to look for knowledge, wisdom, help. Through "shape shifting" (shape changing) the shaman is able to enter the spirit of an animal, a plant or an object and can share knowledge with it.

Otherworlds journeys: these are also inner journeys to find one's self and wisdom. the Immrama is a sort of vision quest j ourney in which the shaman can meet the gods and gain knowledge. Moreover, one of the functions of the shaman is that of being a psychopompos: he is able to lead the dead's soul to the Otherworld (Annwn).

Power animals: during his/her journeys to the otherworlds the shaman is escorted by one or more guides, usually in the form of animals. In all shamanic cultures each animal has its specific characteristics, and is able to help or lead the shaman during his/her journey.

Coming back from journeys with knowledge to help other people or the earth.

Never ending present: the shaman sees life (and time) as a spiral and not as a line. Past and future touch each other in an infinite present. The shaman is able to travel trough time.

The Tree of Life (The Shamanic Universe)

The shaman knows that besides the dimension or reality in which we live, there are other dimensions that common people cannot see. He is able to journey through those hidden realities to seek wisdom, knowledge, healing power, information from their inhabitants, and he can use those abilities to help people or even the earth. The Celts believed that the World Tree (or Tree of Life) was contained in an hazelnut. This tree represents the universe and its three levels:

Annwn (the underworld): the otherworld. The roots of the tree are on the border of the Well of Segais (the fountain of wisdom). Here sits Cernunnos, lord of the animals and guardian of the Cauldron of Knowledge. Here the shaman meets the the spirits of the earth: animals, ancestors, the "stars of the earth" (quartz crystals).

Abred (the middleworld): our reality, the earth. It is at the center of the tree and is surrounded by a rainbow. From here the shaman can start his journeys towards the otherworlds.

Gwynvyd (the upperworld): the heavens and the branches of the tree. This is the world of the gods and the realm of Arianrhod's Spiral Tower (a place of initiation).

Otherworlds Journeys

To journey into the otherworlds is not so simple. Un less you are a natural shaman, you will have to learn how to center yourself, how to meditate, how to enter a trance state. But, first of all, you will have to fight against yourself, your fears, laziness, negative habits etc.. Maybe it will take years be fore you can reach your task of becoming a shaman, or maybe you will give up because the path is too hard to follow.

The first thing you have to learn before starting your shamanic path, is to believe in what you are doing and in what you see and experiment . If you open yourself to the otherworlds, they will show themselves and their inhabitants to you. Otherwise, the guardians of the treshold won't let you in.

In this page we are going to see two techniques of relaxation and meditation. They have to be repeated until you feel comfortable in working with them. Then you will be able to start an elementary journey into the otherworlds. When you relax or meditate be sure that you won't be bothered by a ringing phone, a domestic animal or other people. You can use a headphone and a relaxaying music to limit noise. Don't try to do these exercises if you are too tired, if you don't feel like to or well.

Relaxation Technique

Maybe you will find it a little difficult to keep your focus: don't worry and keep on trying. You will succeed. One important thing is not to strove to see exactly what i describe. If your mind shows you a different image then follow it: your inner self knows what is good for you.

Before starting, burn some natural incense grains or some essential oil (eucalyptus, for example).

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The Crystal Pool

lie down on a mat (not on the bed, because you could fall asleep...) and start breathing very deeply for two or three minutes. Clear your mind of everyday thoughts and visualize yourself in front of a white door.

the door opens and you enter into a white marble room. In the middle of the room you see nine enormous quartz crystals standing in a circle...

walk towards the circle and step across two of the giant crystals. In the center of the circle you find a small pool. Its still waters are very inviting...

plunge into the pool... the water is warm and gives you a feeling of well-being... You can feel that your trouble, tiredness and fears leave your soul and fade out into the water...

stay into the pool until you feel completely purified and relaxed... You have no more worries...

when you are ready, emerge from water... Thank the guardians of the pool (the crystals) for their help and leave the marble room...

when you are outside, close your eyes and see yourself lying down on your mat...

start moving your feet... legs... arms... back... shoulders... neck... your mouth and eyebrows... stretch yourself and open your eyes.

When you are able to do this exercise and feel really relaxed, you will be ready for a meditation during which you will know how strong is your will of walking the shamanic path.

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Meditation

This meditation exercise is a challenge to yourself. In order to become a shaman you must put yourself to the test: do you really want to follow this path? Are you ready to fight against your negative attitudes? Will you accept your responsibilities? Are you afraid of what is waiting for you behind the veil of your common reality? If you are not so interested in the shamanic path, you will find it very hard to do this exercise... Maybe it is not the right moment. if you succeed... well... keep on working!!

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The Cave of Challenge

Before starting, you should fast for six to eight hours. Set up the same precautions you used for relaxation. You can also choose to build a physical cave: just sit on a chair with a blanket covering you completely. This meditation can last the time you want.

sit down and relax your body and mind. Close your eyes and breath deeply.

imagine you are in a cave. It is very large and dark and silent... but it is not completely dark... you can see thousands of small flashes of light all around you... they come from lots of quartz crystals growing everywhere into the cave...

with the help of this light you find a flat stone. sit down on it...

now, think about your doubts and fears and try to face them...

(if you think you cannot accept its/his/her advice, it's time to stop the meditation: you're not ready to start the shamanic path)

while you are sitting on the stone, a being enters the cave... it/he/she asks you who you are and why you are there... talk to the being and explain it/him/her why you want to become a shaman, and listen to its/his/her words...

when you finish talking, the being gives you a gift... it is your first shamanic tool (it will surely appear to you in your physical life, too)... accept it and thank the being for its/his/her visit...

it/he/she blesses you and leaves the cave...

close your eyes and feel your physical body. Start moving your feet... legs... arms... back... shoulders... neck... your mouth and eyebrows... Stretch yourself and open your eyes..

When you feel ok drink something warm..

Shamanic Journey

When you are able to relax and got through the cavern test, you will try to make your first journey into the otherworlds and, esxpecially, into Annwn.

There you will search for your power animal, which will become your guide into the spiritual worlds.

It is believed that to recognize our own totem animal, it has to appear to us at least three times during our journey. This is only one of the several theories. Instead, it often happens that an animal approaches the shaman and lets him/her know to follow it, or it speaks to the shaman.

Usually, when you find a totem animal, in a few time you will find traces of it in you everyday life. A small statue, a pendant, a nail, a feather... When you find one of these objects, keep it for it is a gift from your spirit guide.

"Chanting and dancing" your totem animal is a common practice in shamanic rituals. It makes the animal become part of yourself and you honour it with your words.

Once you find your guide and back to your reality, try to dance (no need to be coreographic) the attitude, the way of walking or flying of your animal, and sing a song to thank it for its help (it can be a repeated sentence or a poem...)

Remember: when you interact with your spirit guide, never treat it as your own puppy or order something to it. It is not here to serve you, but to guide you through your spiritual growth. If you try to order it, that won't be good for you.

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Searching the Totem animal

MORE TO COME!!!