If you want to get into a heated discussion about what a shaman is, what a shaman does all you need to do is form an opinion about it all. For a spiritual practice that has been around for thousands of years, and with as many traditions, some can have some pretty rigid beliefs about shamans and shamanism in general. The shortest and most concise answer that can be given to distinguish a shaman and a shamanic practitioner is that the former must do it or die. The practitioner has a little bit of wriggle room…but not that much. Both are incredibly useful in spiritual practices around the world and many practice shamanism without even knowing it.
Shamanism itself is a practice that is wild by nature. It doesn’t, on the whole, adhere to strict rules or dogma shared between cultures. If one takes the anthropologic approach, they will find strict traditions and ceremonies in certain cultures, but we’re dealing with spirits and non-physical entities here. Whatever is appropriate to one shaman and their spiritual methods may not resonate with another shaman or practitioner. And this is by divine design.
It is not the job of this website to dictate how others are practicing Shamanism in any other culture. We focus on Concrete Shamanism here. We attempt to sidestep pointless ego battles and use specific personal contact and training. Lived experience matters in this regard. As was discussed in this article, becoming a shaman is fraught with peril and the process will utterly gut the false self and anything attached to it. And as previously stated, there is no automatic role for a shaman in this culture. So either the role must be created on an individual basis, or the shaman-to-be must use their gifts in some other way be it a career in the creative arts or more of a therapist or counselor.
It must be said repeatedly that everyone is entitled to their opinion as to their own practices and beliefs. No one culture owns the word “shaman” or “Shamanism” and it is loosely used to describe vaguely similar methods of spiritual practice involving initiation, crisis and working with unseen or non-physical entities. Cases can be made against those statements but do a little digging and you find that this particular spiritual practice sprung up around the world around the same time. The shamans were understood to be “the first to see the light of God” and whatever that means to the experiencer.
As a personal aside, when I discovered what was happening with me, a pretty severe case of shamanic crisis/insanity, I initially rejected it. It was ludicrous to me. There is no real acclaim to be won by awakening to the fact that one might be becoming a shaman. Especially in Western culture. But after a few years of experiences and trials and training, eventually I answered the call. In my experience, no one ever would choose this for themselves. And explaining it to others who did not experience it as I did, is virtually impossible. But my particular awakening experience ticked off all the boxes and the tools I was given by the spirits, helped me to heal. I wrote about this in the book ALL THINGS GO and I’ve spoken about it at length on our YouTube channel. And we’re just now making public some of those tools that were bestowed to me.
I was able to get into contact with those who had gone through something similar. And through the magic of the internet, we were able to learn from each other and help contribute to the overall body of knowledge about shamanism at large. Today, I do not refer to myself as a shaman or really even as a shamanic practitioner outside of biography or to refer to it in written or recorded introductions. It can be a huge ego trap to get hung up on identifying yourself as a shaman or Shamanic Practitioner and it’s one most initiates and shamans-to-be must grapple with.
The terms “shaman” and “shamanic practitioner” are often used interchangeably, but they can have distinct meanings depending on the cultural and spiritual context. Here’s a general differentiation between the two:
Shaman:
- A shaman is traditionally seen as a healer, spiritual leader, or guide within indigenous or tribal societies. The title of a shaman is often associated with specific cultures, particularly those of Siberian, Native American, South American, African, and some Asian societies.
- The role of a shaman is usually inherited or comes as a calling, often involving a profound personal spiritual experience, such as a vision quest or a significant life challenge. It’s a deeply ingrained part of the community’s cultural and spiritual heritage.
- Shamans are believed to have the ability to communicate with spirits, ancestors, or otherworldly entities, often entering altered states of consciousness to perform healings, guide souls, or gain insight into problems affecting their community.
- Their practices are deeply rooted in the traditions, rituals, and beliefs of their community and are often seen as sacred.
Shamanic Practitioner:
- A shamanic practitioner, on the other hand, may not necessarily belong to an indigenous culture but has learned and practices shamanic techniques. This term is often used in a more contemporary, Western context.
- They may have learned their skills through formal training programs, workshops, or from studying under a shaman or other practitioners. Their practice is more about applying shamanic techniques and not necessarily about inheriting a cultural role.
- Shamanic practitioners may use methods like journeying, drumming, and other techniques to induce altered states of consciousness for healing or spiritual exploration, but they might not have the same level of community-oriented role or spiritual authority as traditional shamans.
- They often work within the context of modern society and might integrate other holistic healing practices or psychological approaches into their work.
It’s important to note that the use of these terms can vary, and there might be overlaps. The distinction largely lies in the cultural background, training, and the societal role of the individual. In some communities, the term “shaman” is reserved for those with a specific cultural lineage or heritage, while “shamanic practitioner” is used more broadly for those trained in similar techniques but outside of that specific cultural lineage. Respect for the origins and cultural significance of shamanic practices is crucial in these distinctions.
It is with reverence that we draw the distinction between what others might call “traditional Shamanism” and what we call “Concrete Shamanism” because here in America there is no native from of Shamanism.
For us, the shaman and the shamanism emerge from the culture. While certain practices are the same in other cultures worldwide, Concrete Shamanism specifically draws upon Western Culture and ways to help people grapple with modern life. It is the form of Shamanism that we use here. It’s the form of Shamanism that I use to help those who desire it. It is the form of Shamanism that was brought to my awareness and then I’ve made others aware of it. it’s YOUR Shamanism if it resonates with you.
While these days I am not so opinionated about other forms of Shamanism nor do I care what people call me, I do understand that for many this is a very touchy topic with lots of objections, opinions and sometimes hurt feelings. It’s up to the individual to decide what’s best for them.
