Welcome to the SHLA Shamanic Initiation course.

This course will offer a complete teaching on shamanism, starting with

• the cosmology & philosophy of the shamanic worldview;
• continuing with many shamanic techniques for divination, healing, and working with spirits;
• and concluding with an initiation ceremony.

The purpose of this course is to empower you to deepen your connection with nature, increase your self-awareness, and give you tools to navigate the spiritual path according to your own experiences rather than dogma & doctrine. 

Overview

In this first section, we’ll start with

• an introduction to shamanism and the goals of the course,
• continue with a brief history of the origins of shamanism,
• and conclude with the secret teachings of the Medicine Wheel,
• including a few exercises to begin our spiritual journey together. 

In each of the following sections, we’ll focus on one of the four directions as we study shamanic philosophy and practice techniques for developing our own spiritual connection.

What is a shaman? 

• Shamans are mystical practitioners who use trance states to influence natural forces, both seen and unseen, to affect healing for individuals, their communities, and nature as a whole.
• Shamanism is the art of using altered states of consciousness to access the spirit world and interact with spirits. A shaman is an individual who has a connection to the spirit world and/or particular spirits and uses this connection for the specific purpose of healing individuals, entire communities, and nature. A shaman, by definition, is a healer. 
• Becoming a shaman means becoming a healer, and to become a healer, you must start by healing yourself.  
• While most people associate shamanism with Native Americans, it’s a phenomenon that occurs in nearly all tribal, indigenous societies.  
• Research has shown a common thread running through many cultures—common ideas about the nature of the world, and common technologies for mediating natural forces and influencing real results.

But where does shamanism originate? For our first lesson, we’ll take a look at the history of shamanism.