Jana and Her Singing Bowl
When I was 28, I had what spiritual teachers call an awakening. This was a profound experience. It not only was the catalyst of my spiritual journey, but it also redefined my concept of who I was.
It made me realize that I needed healing at a very deep level, and as grateful as I was to the medical professionals I knew, I could tell they weren’t hearing me when I explained what was happening. I yearned for a different kind of healing that was outside of their scope of practice, a healing for my soul. There simply wasn’t a medication out there that could fix my emotional, confusing experience.
This required an “inside job.” Though I knew it would be intense, I was ready to dig deeper into the chaos. And I knew I had to do it without traditional medical intervention.
During this time, I found a book called Soul Retrieval by Sandra Ingerman. It gave me a deep reverence, not only for Mother Earth, but the medicine men and medicine women, or shamans, who committed themselves to this soulful healing technique. In this particular technique, the shaman helps journeyers retrieve fragments of their soul and bring them back to wholeness.
Through the years, I’ve found there are many techniques, just as there are many types of shamanism. They vary based on the part of the world, the culture involved and belief systems. They also differ based on their medicines, or healing techniques, including ceremonial dances, shamanic journeys (meditations) and the use of teas, tinctures and balms.
Types of shamanism include Native American shamanism, Reiki shamanism, Hawaiian shamanism, core (or universal) shamanism – just to name a few. For example, Dr. Alberto Villoldo, Ph.D., of Shaman, Healer, Sage gives wonderful descriptions of his initiations with both mountain shamans in the Andes and shamans in the Amazon jungles of Peru.
Shamans are the caretakers, the guardians, the stewards of Mother Earth. They are aware of our symbiotic relationship with the planet, and they see humans as miniature versions of Her. So, they draw on the earth’s power to help them during healings, which cover all levels: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.
Jana Clearing a Home
This year I introduced three new classes specifically focused on Modern Shamanism. These areas of focus included Egyptian, Native American and Galactic. These are all variations based on my studies and understanding each providing their own individual process to the student. I look forward to expanding these even further in 2022.
As I continue my personal journey with shamanism, I learn more and more each day of the powerful effect this ancient practice brings. I am grateful that shamanism has made a recent resurgence. I’ve known about its power since my awakening, and to this day it is my constant companion, reminding me of my symbiotic relationship with Mother Earth. Her wind caresses my skin, her sun keeps me warm, her rivers and oceans keep me cool, while her solid ground calms me.
During these times of intense energy and unease, may we remember to let Mother Earth heal us, And through her, may our ancestors of shamanism walk beside us whispering through the wind guiding us with every step.
Interested in taking a Shamanic Journeying class with Jana? Take a look at our class calendar HERE.
Below we will take you on a short meditation of the modern Shaman and hope you enjoy!
