Shamanic healing is one of the oldest healing practices, stretching back thousands of years and linking to indigenous cultures across the globe. Shamanism is based upon our inherent connection with life and is rooted in the belief that everything has an energy or life force.

Traditionally, a shaman was an important part of tribal life. A medicine person, said to be able to communicate with spirits and journey to other realms with the help of their spirit allies. Modern-day or contemporary shamanism follows a similar pattern with properly trained practitioners working with the natural world, power animals and spirit helpers to seek advice and healing for the client.

Contemporary shamanic practitioners hold their healing sessions in a sacred and safe manner, creating a space for the client to understand themselves at a deeper level, see their true potential and release any blockages holding them back. Contemporary shamanic healing is akin to an ancient form of psychology, but rather than focusing upon the mind and numerous sessions on the couch talking things through, the shamanic process can often go deeper resulting in a fuller, more profound healing, even with only one session.

Distance is not a barrier to energetic healing and the powerful transformational effect it can have when a mutual intention is being worked upon. Quantum entanglement is beginning to explain this scientifically, with Einstein calling it, “Spooky action at a distance”. In my experience, it is not spooky but very real, and great changes can take place, even if the practitioner and client are in separate locations.

Great emotional shifts are common, as sometimes years (or even lifetimes) of baggage are surrendered and transmuted, allowing the client to grow and move forward, feeling more in balance, more authentic and with a clearer soul path.  This rebalancing can also have a positive effect on the physical body, as emotional well-being is a cornerstone of physical health.

The Medicine Wheel

The medicine wheel is a series of teachings that offer the student a roadmap and path to understand themselves, their interaction and place within life on this planet, and provides them with the tools necessary to work shamanically.

There are a variety of medicine wheels across the globe, with each indigenous people practicing their own form of medicine wheel, based on their geography and the specific traditions passed down from generation to generation. The medicine wheel I studied was based upon healing practices handed down by the Q’ero shaman from the highlands of Peru, interwoven with teachings from other shamanic traditions, and has afforded me the privilege and honour of becoming a mesa (or medicine bundle) carrier.

I give great thanks to those that have gone before, those that are now following in their footsteps and to my teacher Skie Hummingbird and her husband Red, for all their support, guidance and humour over the many years, as I walk this challenging but wonderfully fulfilling shamanic path.

Shamanic tools offered include:
Illumination Healing – Shed light on a specific or recurring issue from a different perspective and remove any blocks to resolving it.

Soul Retrieval – Often parts of our soul get stuck, trapped or lost due to a trauma or a significant event in our lives (or even past lives), and this can lead to a feeling of incompleteness, sometimes many years after the event. The retrieval process brings back this lost part and reintegrates it into the whole.

Power Retrieval – Due to a variety of reasons we can sometimes go through stages in our life when we feel disheartened, weakened and even helpless. This state can be changed with a contemporary shamanic session where you will be helped to have your power restored.

Past Life and Ancestral Healing – We have inherited DNA, characteristics and behaviours from our parents but our inheritance can go back much further. What else has been passed down along with the genes from our ancestors? Often there can be emotions, feelings or traits hidden deeply away that are seemingly nothing to do with the lives we have led. Karmic and geographic influences can come through. These can be uncovered, recognised and, if necessary, healed.

Cutting the Ties – Often when a relationship has ended there remains a tie to the other person, especially if the split is not completely mutually agreed upon. This can trigger repeated emotions and feelings long after the relationship is over. Cutting the Ties is a process to finalise the split and allow both parties to move on freely.

Contract Breaking – Sometimes, unbeknownst to us, our soul may have contracts with other souls that manifest as issues with people we meet and have relationships with in this life. Breaking these contracts can help move us on and free us from cyclical and repeated negative behaviour patterns.

Entity Extraction – Negative emotions and pains sometimes manifest if we are in difficult situations for too long, in a low mood or poor state of mind. It is at such times that we may also take on or pick up negative energy from the ether or from other people, who may themselves be feeling downbeat. These unwanted energies can be thought of shamanically as entities, as they are seemingly not a part of us and make us feel uneasy and not ourselves. Such entities are often perceived as black masses or fogs within the personal energy field and can be removed through one or two sessions with a trained shamanic practitioner.

Despacho Ceremonies – These can be used for different purposes from honouring Mother Earth, our ancestors, the elements or, in an individual healing context, to bring harmony, balance and positive action into our life (White Despacho) or release negativity and those things that no longer serve us (Black Despacho).

Emotional and Physical Healing – There are strong connections between emotional well-being and physical health. The healing of one can often lead to an improvement in the other. The shamanic process can help with both but please be aware that this is a complementary therapy and does not replace professional medical treatment. You should always follow the advice of your doctor and your professional healthcare providers.

Group Work:

Ceremonies can be tailored to fit the group’s requirements but can include; Fire ceremony, Full or New Moon ceremony, New Venture ceremony, New Home clearing/ceremony, Coming of age ceremony, Men’s groups, Women’s groups, Funeral and Psychopomp work (providing a sacred space for relatives and friends to say goodbye to loved ones in a non-religious setting).

On a lighter note:

Below is a light-hearted take on shamanism from the internet (author unknown) which highlights the misconceptions about this ancient healing modality. As serious as life can be at times, there is always a place for some humour 🙂