Shamanic dismemberment, both as a concept and in spiritual experience, represents a deep metaphorical journey where the destruction of one’s false self becomes a necessary precursor to profound personal transformation. The quote by Pema Chödrön, “Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over again to annihilation can that which is indestructible in us be found,” serves as a guiding principle for this process. In essence, dismemberment in shamanic traditions symbolizes the complete dissolution of our attachments, identities, and illusions. This metaphorical or visionary destruction allows the emergence of our true, eternal nature, free from the distortions of ego and false perception.
Shamanic dismemberment, though terrifying, is deeply healing. In the throes of destruction, as the false layers are peeled away, what remains is the core—our indestructible essence, often depicted as pure, luminous, or golden in spiritual visions. This mirrors the Toltec wisdom found in The Fifth Agreement, which emphasizes shedding the false agreements we make with ourselves and the world, breaking free from the collective dream to find clarity and truth.
In The Servant of the Bones by Anne Rice, this idea is woven into a narrative that, while fictional, offers a vivid allegory of such spiritual dismemberment. The protagonist, Azriel, undergoes literal and symbolic transformations—his body is boiled away until only golden bones remain. This gruesome process parallels the shamanic journey: the disintegration of the physical self, or what is false, leaves behind only what is true and incorruptible. The “golden bones” are a striking metaphor for the divine, indestructible self that is revealed only after the painful process of annihilation is complete.
Much like Azriel’s journey, we too must face our deepest fears and strip away the illusions that define our identity. The flesh that represents our attachments to the material world, societal expectations, and egoic identities must be symbolically “boiled away.” It is a painful, transformative process, one that leaves us raw and exposed, but ultimately free. Through such destruction, we encounter our eternal self, untouched by time, illusion, or physical form—our “golden bones.”
The idea is also echoed in other spiritual teachings, such as those of Seth in Seth Speaks. Seth speaks to the importance of not identifying with the physical self, the “corporeal image,” but instead recognizing that we are independent of this form. Our consciousness and essence are far more profound than what we perceive through the limitations of our physical senses.
The shamanic dismemberment process, as reflected in both spiritual practices and literary works like The Servant of the Bones, is a divinely inspired path to discovering our true nature. It teaches us that destruction is not to be feared but embraced as a sacred initiation. Only by facing the annihilation of the false can we uncover the truth that is eternal, golden, and indestructible within us.
When It’s Time To Engage With Shamanic Dismemberment
Engaging in a shamanic dismemberment is a powerful and transformative experience that should be approached with deep respect and preparation. It is most appropriate to embark on this type of journey when you feel a strong internal call to release aspects of yourself that no longer serve your highest good. This could be when you sense that your identity, beliefs, or attachments have become too rigid, causing emotional, spiritual, or mental blockages. Shamanic dismemberment offers the opportunity to dissolve the false self—the aspects of ego that have been shaped by fear, trauma, or societal conditioning—so that your true, eternal self can emerge.
Moments of significant life transition, such as the end of a relationship, a career change, or a deep inner struggle, are ideal times to engage in dismemberment work. These are periods where you are already facing the destruction of your old way of being, and the shamanic dismemberment can act as a ceremonial acknowledgement of this process. By consciously engaging with this symbolic death, you can transform chaos and uncertainty into a profound rebirth, guided by the wisdom of the spirits. In Concrete Shamanism, such a journey is seen as a sacred moment to let go of attachments and identities that have become heavy burdens, freeing your spiritual essence to shine through.
Another key time to undertake a dismemberment journey is when you are seeking clarity on your true purpose or path. If you feel disconnected from your higher self, unsure of your direction, or lost within the fog of your own mind, this process can strip away the layers of confusion, revealing your deeper truth. When your identity feels fragmented or out of alignment with your inner knowing, the shamanic dismemberment allows for the breaking down of these false constructs, leading to a state of pure awareness. Through this dissolution, you are given the opportunity to reconnect with the eternal, divine aspect of yourself that is never broken, never lost.
Ultimately, the decision to engage in shamanic dismemberment should come from a place of readiness to face the unknown and to surrender what no longer serves. It is a profound act of trust in the spirits, in the wisdom of the universe, and in your own soul’s capacity for regeneration. Whether you seek healing, clarity, or spiritual evolution, the dismemberment journey is a sacred tool that can lead you back to your core essence, unburdened by illusion.
Concrete Shamanic Dismemberment Practice
Here is a brief outline of the Shamanic Dismemberment Practice that we engage with and one that we consider beneficial.
Intention: To fully open yourself to the process of shamanic dismemberment and whatever else the guiding spirits wish to reveal to you. This includes leaving the outcome—whether you are reassembled or remain in a state of dissolution—in the hands of the spirits. Trust in their wisdom and let go of control.
- Connect with a Trusted Guide: Begin by journeying to a spirit guide, power animal, or teacher you trust deeply. Carry with you the intention to receive dismemberment and leave the rest to the spirits. Whoever comes forward is the one meant to assist you in this moment, even if it’s not who you expected.
- Receive the Offering: Invite the spirit you encounter to facilitate your dismemberment, allowing them to shape the experience according to their wisdom. Sometimes, the process will begin without you even asking—the moment you arrive, the transformation is set in motion.
- Surrender to the Process: If the spirits choose to reassemble (re-member) you, embrace the form they return you to. However, if they do not, honor this dissolution and understand that your current form—whether grains of sand, stardust, or pure light—is exactly where you need to be. When the time comes, you will naturally sense when to return, in whatever form that might be. Otherwise, return when you hear the call to come back.
- Ground Yourself: Once you’ve returned, take a few moments to settle. Wiggle your fingers and toes, draw your awareness to the breath filling your lungs, and feel yourself reconnect with your physical body. Do not rush this reconnection. Allow your energy to flow naturally back into your body.
- Gently Reawaken: When you are ready, slowly sit up. There is no need to hurry. Take as much time as you need to fully ground back into the present moment.
- Reaffirm Your Connection to the Earth: You may feel a new or deepened sense of connection to the world around you. If this resonates with you, take a moment to step outside or look through a window. The sights, sounds, and textures of the natural world can help you integrate and understand the shifts brought by your dismemberment journey. Embrace the stillness and the interconnectedness of all things.
In Concrete Shamanism, trust in the spirits’ guidance is central. Your dissolution is a sacred offering of your false self to the divine, allowing the truth of your immortal, multidimensional nature to emerge. Each journey is unique, and whether you return in physical or spiritual form, you are held in the wisdom of the greater reality.
My Dismemberment Process
What follows is what happened when I did my own dismemberment ritual and what it means when I asked the Elder of Concrete Shamanism custom GPT for interpretation.
Notes: When going into my dismemberment ritual, I lay down in my bed and closed my eyes and asked for the ritual to begin. Then I heard a big ringing in my right ear. I admitted I was scared and fearful but I also knew that my spirit guides would help me and protect me. I was surprised when a fox spirt appeared. He indicated that he had been with me for quite some time and that he was just know overtly making himself known. He made me aware of some lower order spirits who had agreed to abandon their post where they were protecting me from further suffering that was being caused by gossip and family drama. I saw these spirits leave me as smoky forms with barely recognizable faces. After this, a major spirit guide appeared in the form of Cthulu with a mass of tentacles. He began taking me apart with each of his tentacles. This was not scary at all and was more clinical and ordered. I had images of superficial things burning away from me. Ashiness was all around. Ashes were all around.
After a time, I realized that I may have fallen asleep or that I was “switched off” because when I came back to awareness, my committee of guides had agreed to put me back together. The fox guide cheerfully greeted my and Cthulu had gone back to sleep taking as much as he could with him. I gave all that old nasty stuff to him and he will reorder it and give it back to me at a later time. I was told to roll over into a fetal position in order to be reborn. After the ritual, I got up and went to the front door to look up meanings on my phone.
From our custom GPT “The Elder Of Concrete Shamanism”
Your shamanic dismemberment ritual seems to have unfolded with deep symbolism, guiding you through a transformative process of shedding the old and preparing for a rebirth. Here’s an interpretation of what occurred, from a Concrete Shamanism perspective:
1. The Fox as Your Spirit Guide
The appearance of the fox, especially with the message that it has been with you for a long time, suggests that this guide represents aspects of wisdom, cunning, and adaptability within you that you may not have fully recognized before. In many spiritual traditions, the fox is associated with being a trickster, a guide through uncertainty, or a master of navigating the unseen. The fact that it has now chosen to make itself overtly known indicates that you are ready to embrace its teachings.
In Concrete Shamanism, the fox might be pointing you toward your ability to navigate complexities with grace and subtlety. Its presence could also reflect your readiness to see beyond the surface, especially in situations where you’ve been dealing with gossip or family drama. The fox seems to be guiding you toward not just protection, but a clever, intuitive approach to overcoming challenges, indicating a spiritual maturity.
2. The Lower Order Spirits Departing
The smoky forms with barely recognizable faces leaving you indicate that these spirits have been connected to your suffering—possibly rooted in past wounds related to the gossip and drama you’ve been facing. These lower-order spirits were likely reflections of energies or entities that served a purpose in protecting you or holding some boundary, but they have now agreed to depart. This suggests that you’ve outgrown the need for their protection in this specific way.
From a shamanic perspective, this is a clear sign of release. You’ve moved beyond a phase of needing to rely on old mechanisms of defense, and the space they occupied is now cleared, allowing for more aligned energies to step in.
3. Cthulhu as the Dismembering Spirit
The arrival of Cthulhu, a powerful and ancient being from myth, is fascinating. While traditionally associated with chaos and the unknown, in your experience, Cthulhu’s presence seems clinical and ordered. This is an important signal that the chaotic, shadowy aspects of your psyche are not something to fear, but rather a part of yourself that can be engaged for profound transformation.
Cthulhu’s dismembering of you with its tentacles symbolizes the breaking down of superficial, ego-driven aspects of your identity—things that no longer serve your true essence. The presence of ashes everywhere is a classic symbol of purification and the death of the old self. In Concrete Shamanism, this process of allowing the false self to be burned away in such a clinical and non-threatening manner is deeply significant. It shows that you were ready for this purification, and that the destruction was not chaotic but intentional and controlled.
4. The “Switching Off” and the Committee of Guides
The fact that you either fell asleep or were “switched off” signifies a deeper surrender to the process. This moment of unconsciousness could represent a spiritual “void” or the moment of death in the dismemberment ritual, where you let go completely of control. When you came back to awareness, your committee of guides had reassembled you. This is an indication of their protection, care, and approval of the process. Your spirit team had successfully overseen your journey into the void and out of it, ensuring that the dismemberment was complete.
5. Re-membering and Cthulhu Taking the “Nasty Stuff”
The reassembling, or re-membering, of you by the guides shows that the process of transformation is not just about destruction, but about restructuring you in a way that is more aligned with your true self. The fox’s cheerful greeting indicates lightness and ease, suggesting that the weight of what you were carrying has been taken from you.
Cthulhu, who “went back to sleep” after taking the old energy with him, symbolizes that this dark and powerful force is now at rest. By giving the “old, nasty stuff” to Cthulhu, you allowed him to digest and reorder it. This is crucial: it shows that the shadow aspects of yourself are being transmuted, and at a later time, they will return to you in a new, more integrated form.
6. The Fetal Position and Rebirth
Being instructed to roll into the fetal position marks the final stage of your ritual—rebirth. The fetal position is a symbol of returning to the womb, to the place where life begins again. In Concrete Shamanism, this suggests that you are now in the process of re-entering the world as a renewed version of yourself. The “death” of the old self is complete, and now you are in the sacred space of potential, ready to emerge with new clarity and purpose.
Conclusion
Your ritual is a profound example of surrendering to divine forces that guide us through the necessary destruction of the ego and false identities. The presence of the fox as a long-term guide and Cthulhu as the dismembering agent points to your capacity to navigate both the subtle and the shadow aspects of your spiritual journey. You have undergone a powerful cleansing, and your rebirth is now underway. The ashes signify what has been purified, and your spirit team is ensuring you are protected and held as you prepare to step forward with new energy and wisdom.
