How traditional knowledge helps modern people.
What is shamanism?
Since the beginning of mankind, there have been people who walk 'between the worlds'. They have and maintain a connection to the spirit world, and work in their traditional societies as healers, storytellers, knowledgeable people, advisors and judges. These people communicate with ancestors, power animals, gods or local spirits. They learned how to solve health or social problems, or when and where the next herd of prey would pass by, thus ensuring the survival of the tribe. People with such tasks are referred to by us Westerners as shamans, medicine men and healers.
Such terms are usually associated with indigenous peoples, as many people think they no longer exist in our modern society. However, despite all the modernization, the services of fortune tellers, palmists, prayer healers and herbalists are still used even in Switzerland. “As natural as possible” is the trend and offers such as forest bathing and rites of passage show that the need to reconnect with nature is widespread and that many people are also concerned with spiritual issues in their search for meaning.
An imported product from distant countries?
In recent decades, many Europeans have not found what they were looking for and have turned to traditional cultures from other continents. In addition to physical and energetic exercises such as Yoga and Qi Gong, sweat lodge rituals, the plant potion Ayahuasca, the forgiveness work Ho'oponopono, the energy work Reiki and the incense wood Palo Santo, among others, came to Europe. Firewalking, cacao ceremonies and vision quests are also becoming increasingly popular. Shamanism is a common term and many European energy practitioners and spiritual healers now also call themselves shamans.
Traditional or reinterpreted?
In traditional societies, the corresponding disposition of children with strong access to the subtle was recognized early on and fostered accordingly over decades. Many of the indigenous cultures that still exist are modernizing and young people with potential are choosing other paths, so that many older shamans are unable to find successors to train them. Some traditions of the South American Andes, the North American steppe peoples and the Pacific Islands of Hawaii are therefore opening up to the outside world and passing on their knowledge to Westerners. This is partly to preserve it and partly to be of service to humanity: They are aware that in today's age of globality we are all connected, we are shaping the future of the earth together and many 'modern' people suffer from the consequences of energetic distance from Mother Earth due to their artificial urban habitat.
Interested Westerners devote themselves persistently to the intensive study of these techniques on site, as well as their application and dissemination possibilities in this country. However, they must be aware that not all traditional knowledge can be used here, as much is linked to local conditions and beliefs: certain techniques only work when certain local spirits are invoked and the right herbs and other utensils are used. Anyone who wants to learn and apply such techniques in this country must therefore ask themselves to what extent this is compatible with the local possibilities on the one hand and their own - often Christian - spiritual attitude and that of their clients on the other. Consequently, some techniques have been changed or removed from their original religious context in order to make them accessible to a wider audience. Other traditions have been modified to be practicable in today's competitive society: Month-long retreats, for example, are difficult to implement when you have a steady job, and because of time constraints, short meditations are more popular than hour-long 'conversations' with nature. Furthermore, providers no longer take on the same roles they would in a traditional society. All of this prompts us to consider whether the largely culturally and religiously independent offers available here today can really still be called shamanism and whether the term shaman is really appropriate for western ritual leaders, coaches and energy healers. The term contemporary shamanism seems more appropriate, as does the term modern shamanism introduced by anthropologist Michael Harner in the 1960s.
As effective as ever!
The former elements of traditional cultures have long since become part of more modern disciplines such as psychology and coaching, and energetic methods for activating self-healing powers are now even used in hospitals to support medical therapies. Many people experience healing in this way that could not have been achieved by conventional medicine alone, make great progress in their development or with emotional processes through ritual work, feel more connected to themselves and nature through elemental work or enjoy becoming aware of the magic of their lives again and living them mindfully.
A return to our own roots
Shamanism used to be practiced in Switzerland, too. However, much traditional knowledge was lost during the Roman conquests and the spread of Christianity, as it was no longer officially allowed to be practiced.
In recent years, the stronger sense of connection with natural energies experienced through imported knowledge has led to a greater interest in working with medicines in this country in the form of our local flora, fauna and cultural history: In addition to the celebration of the Rauhnächte, the Celtic-Alemannic annual cycle festivals and thus the conscious living through of the annual cycle are now becoming more popular again. In the search for a way of celebrating the year that suits us personally, we are even coming across treasures of knowledge from our ancestors that were previously thought to be lost.
Nowadays, we not only find much healing by returning to our cultural heritage as a whole, but also specifically to the knowledge and traditions of our local ancestors. After all, they are our ancestors and by revisiting their knowledge, adapted to our needs today, we honor our energetic connection with them, which allows us to feel their power and strengthen our own roots.
Would you like to experience powerful shamanic work live?
The shamanic path to healing and spiritual development: www.soulfreedom.ch/einzelsitzungen
Learn shamanic work yourself: www.soulfreedom.ch/ausbildungen-schamanismus
I would be happy to advise you!