Wendy Sheffield Shamanic Healer Extraordinaire

Shamanism is a religious practice that involves a practitioner, known as a shaman, who interacts with the spirit world through altered states of consciousness, such as trance. The primary goals of shamanism include directing spirits or spiritual energies into the physical world for purposes such as healing, divination, or providing assistance to human beings.

• Altered States of Consciousness: Shamans often enter trance states to connect with the spiritual realm, which may involve drumming, dancing, or the use of psychoactive substances.
• Healing: One of the main functions of a shaman is to heal individuals by addressing spiritual imbalances or ailments believed to be caused by spiritual entities.
• Divination: Shamans may perform rituals to gain insight into the future or to understand the causes of misfortune.
• Cultural Variations: Shamanism is not a monolithic practice; it varies widely across different cultures and regions, with unique beliefs, rituals, and practices.

Shamanism has attracted interest from various academic disciplines, including anthropology, archaeology, history, religious studies, philosophy, and psychology. Numerous books and scholarly articles have been published on the subject, and there are dedicated academic journals that focus on the study of shamanism.

Overall, shamanism represents a rich and diverse spiritual tradition that continues to be practiced and studied around the world.