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Shamanism, Rewilding, Spirituality juniper stokes Shamanism, Rewilding, Spirituality juniper stokes

Listening to the Land: A Path to Healing, Guidance, and Soul-Level Wholeness

Discover how deepening your relationship with nature can transform your life, heal ancestral patterns, and open pathways to profound spiritual connection.

My Journey to the Wild

I've been a nature lover since childhood—the kind who would run away from home just to be among the trees. As I traveled through different landscapes in my adult years, I began to notice something profound: each place held a different energy, almost a different karma to be lived depending on where I landed.

Some places became what I call "soul places"—locations where true, deep miracles and healing happened for me. The Oregon coast has been one such sanctuary. But it's the Rocky Mountains, especially in Colorado, that have been my most important spiritual teachers.

The relationship developed gradually. I visited in every season, spent countless hours alone in retreat, and over years and miles, I learned where certain plants grew and when, noticed shifts in ecosystems, observed mountain goats in their element. I studied these nature beings I encountered—learning about the land's history, the uses of plants for food and medicine, and the animals who made their homes there.

Eventually, this relationship transcended the personal. Walking through those mountains became like moving through a pharmacy or grocery store. New insights would appear precisely when I needed them most. Animal sightings delighted me constantly. And the insights came as a constant conversation with Spirit.

I walked those trails through heartbreak, confusion, and grief. I held ceremonies when I felt lost on my path. I celebrated in gratitude simply for being there. So much unfolded through this relationship with the land that by the time I left, the mountains had become my grandparents, the trees my siblings, and the flowers my kin.

Over that decade, I was taught a process that I can now lead others through to have this same kind of relationship—a process of rewilding the spirit.

The Gifts of Deep Earth Connection

Healing

Time and again, this deep relationship with Earth has been the source of tremendous healing in my life. The land takes what isn't mine to carry—my pain—and transmutes it. In return, it offers gifts, blessings, and energetic attunements to wellness and new opportunities.

Note: I know some well-known teachers say, "The Earth isn't a dumpster for all our junk"—suggesting we shouldn't be unconscious and expect Earth to heal us. But I prefer a different metaphor: that of mother and child.

Imagine having a teenager—they leave dishes out, pile up laundry, get into a fender bender creating huge bills, and their hormones are causing emotional chaos. It drives you crazy, but you love them. You know it's a phase; they're learning. And of course, you want to do what you can to keep them well.

If that teenager becomes more conscious—helping out, being kind, taking responsibility—you can do your job as a parent even better, and you genuinely feel gratitude. Earth is similar in her relationship with us.

Guidance

Through connecting with the land, we receive insights and wisdom from a much broader perspective. We come into partnership with something far larger than ourselves—the web of life itself.

Manifesting

The land not only helps us heal and offers guidance, but it also opens opportunities for creation. As we receive healing and offer healing in return, we attune to the land, deepen into reciprocity, and something magical happens.

The energetic imprints that cause stagnation and obstacles in our lives begin to clear, allowing energy to flow more freely. The spirits of the land and nature bring a bigger view and different kind of influence to our manifestation work.

I experienced this firsthand when tending my garden in Denver. The plants and soil taught me about patience, timing, and the subtle art of nurturing life—lessons that extended far beyond gardening into every creative project I undertook.

This manifesting partnership brings:

  • Protection

  • Synchronistic meetings

  • Gifts of food, medicine, and beauty

  • Guidance through insights and omens

  • Partnership in the changes we wish to see

  • Projects that flow more smoothly

Soul-Level Wholeness

The safer you feel on Earth, the more you feel you belong to the land, the more of your soul essence can come home to your body and this life. There's a direct correlation between our connection to place and our capacity to be fully present and alive.

Changing Your Karma

Think of karma as energy patterns—the divots and grooves you're born into through ancestry and past lives. These patterns create the easiest pathway for energy to move, but they can also keep us trapped in limiting cycles.

This can all be changed in partnership with the spirits of nature. They teach our light to interact with their light in new ways—this is true magic, quantum shifting. It's like digging a new channel for light and water to flow through, creating new grooves more powerfully with nature's remediation.

Trying to change thought patterns through willpower alone is hard. Even meditation can take a long time to shift deep patterns. But the masters who have been doing this work on this planet forever—stones, plants, elements—know how to facilitate transformation efficiently.

When we create right relationship with these beings, they teach us how to change our field of light—our karma and patterns—remarkably effectively.

Obstacles to Connection

This probably sounds wonderful—so what stops us from going deeper? There are several barriers to earth connection that many of us face:

1. Modern Lifestyles

We've become disconnected from reality. Our relationships with phones and AI take us further from nature. The pace of life feels unnatural, and many lack regular access to wild places.

That said, cities have spirits that can feel amazing too—there's important spiritual work being done in urban environments. The land beneath the concrete still speaks.

2. Lack of Ecoconsciousness

We've become obsessed with thought, symbols, and mind. We're enculturated to be individually focused rather than relationally conscious. We must work deliberately to connect our thoughts with something larger than ourselves.

The effects of this disconnection are clear: we become burdened by responsibilities and forget we're part of something bigger. We lose sight of co-creation and the two-way influence between ourselves and the natural world.

3. Missing Communication Skills

Many of us simply don't know how to work with the master healers and teachers that live in nature and spirit realms. We lack:

4. Isolation from Community

What we do as individuals matters, but our impact becomes exponential in community. Community keeps us going when we feel isolated or lose touch with our practices. New insights arise, and we receive confirmation and encouragement.

This community aspect is both ancestral—very few humans ever lived alone historically—and Aquarian, written into the cosmic blueprint of this time.

Rewilding the Spirit: The Journey Home

In my 12-week course, "Rewilding the Spirit," we practice a nourishing, resonant way of attuning to nature and finding solace amidst the challenges of modern life.

We'll rewild our minds and drop into deeper ecoconsciousness through:

  • Strengthening intuition

  • Learning earth healing skills

  • Practicing ancestral skills and embodiment

  • Developing a sense of belonging to the land through actual rewilding skills that build confidence

  • Getting to know the place where you are

  • Meeting and learning from the master healers and teachers of the natural world

  • Connecting with the spiritual beings of nature—fae, gnomes, elemental beings

  • Working with the elements—foundational to all shamanic and magical practices

  • Learning the language of nature

And all this happens in supportive community.

This is the most important practice and play there is. No amount of meditation, spiritual study, herbalism classes, reiki, or even shamanism will be as impactful as you want it to be unless you are grounded and in relationship with the wild world and your wild self.

The whole purpose of this work is soul-level healing. The entire course is designed to facilitate profound transformation through reconnection with the natural world.

Join the Journey

If you're ready to transform your relationship with the natural world and, in the process, with yourself, I invite you to join us. The course begins May 21, 2025.

Remember, the land is always speaking. The question is: are we listening?

Enjoyed this article? The absolute most wonderful way to say thank you is by sharing it!

 

ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

about me

Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

A FREE 45-page guide to awaken your inner magic!

Read More
Spirituality, Shamanism, Rewilding juniper stokes Spirituality, Shamanism, Rewilding juniper stokes

the animals among us

wild allies for wild times, my komodo encounter, and our upcoming community workshop on April 5

Times are legitimately wild. And I love wild! If you’ve been here awhile, you know this ;) 

But let’s be clear — there are a few different types of wild, and I like some a lot better than others.

Fun aside — a woman recently unsubscribed with a note telling me that she thought my love of the wild was dangerous and misguided…ah the joys of self-employment! What do you think? I’m partial to the idea that everything you read is a Rorschack test for your own psyche ;) 

I actually don’t love the wild times we’re in. I would much prefer a world filled with love, peace, and happiness. But this division? The power grabs, lies, violence, and environmental destruction facing us? This wild is rough.

Here’s the wild I do love: the untamed nature of your divine soul. When I say wild, I’m speaking to that part of you that has never been domesticated. That still believes in magic. That knows you are worthy and wonderful beyond belief. 

This internal wild is what’s needed to meet the external chaotic wild that seeks to divide and destroy. This wild knows how to love freely, feel fully, and live with the joy of possibility. 

How do we access this wild within? 

We turn to the wild world around us — the wild spirit of undomesticated nature. 

And here’s one of my absolute favorite ways to connect with this wild essence: animals.

The hawk sighted on your morning commute. The whale that appeared in your dreams. Your beloved animal allies, with you all the time. 

The spiritual nature of animals teaches us how to reclaim our own wild spirits.

When you learn to read the wisdom in your animal encounters — whether in your own backyard or the spirit world — you tap into a way of being that aligns with your soul. You discover new hidden talents. You experiment with more authentic and healthy ways of living. You listen to whispers of what’s to come and how to respond. 

What birds awaken you in the morning? Who lives in the forests around you? Which wild ones fill your dreams? What favorite creatures have been lifelong loves? 

Take time to learn about the wild beasts that call to you, and trust the wisdom that arises. 

Who are the spirit animals in your life? Do you know who your most trusted animal allies are? 

A Story
A “Dragon”
A Heartbreak
A Love

Once I was visiting a zoo in Singapore. I don’t like zoos or visit them now, but at the time I was traveling and that particular experience came highly recommended.

At one point, a komodo dragon was being teased by some kids. “Gross!” “So ugly!” They shouted. 

This behavior breaks my heart on so many levels. 

Because I know the animals understand more than we think. 

And, what has happened to these kids’ hearts to make them behave like this towards a living creature? That so many young ones are being raised without reverence for the great diversity of the natural world is a tragedy, and one we see the consequences of all around us. 

As I stood there, gazing a beautiful being trapped in a cage being taunted by children, by broken heart reached out towards the giant lizard. 

I love you. My heart whispered. You are so beautiful, and I’m honored to be in your presence. Your sacrifice, living this life in this way, matters. I’m grateful for you and this life you are living. 

The komodo dragon turned its head as I spoke these words silently through my heart, making deep and long eye contact with me. 

Thank you. I felt. 

Calling the wild ones to your own heart.

For those on any sort of spiritual path, there have likely been at least a few key animal encounters in your history.

Ones that shifted how you thought, felt, or experienced the wisdom of the animal world. Ones that guided your path forward in some key way. Ones that let you know you aren’t alone, and you are loved.

I’ve been speaking with animals since I was born (I assume, lol — my earliest memories are from age three, but I was definitely communing with animals by then). And I’ve had a lot of really wild animal experiences….

  • A seal swam right up to my face, looked me in the eyes, and dove away.

  • A baby crocodile, only 6 feet away from where I stood, seemed to wink at me. 

  • A magpie landed on my partner’s shoulder before hopping onto mine.

  • A great horned owl flew from tree to tree in broad daylight with me on a hike.

  • A mountain goat, usually my friend, tried to run me off the side of a cliff when I told it I was leaving Colorado (probably should’ve paid more attention to that one…).

  • A cave of glow worms told me that they were just as creepy as they were magical.

  • Two eagles circled over my yard when I felt I had nothing left to live for. 

I’ve heard just as many stories from my clients and friends. When you are sensitive, and when you love the natural world, animals appear. 

Interpreting the presence of these animals, however, is another story. 

It’s a practice that takes discernment, trust, skill, and heart.

Thank goodness understanding the presence of animals, even communicating with animals, is something that anyone can learn to do. 

On April 5th, I’m sharing a LIVE 2-hour workshop that will teach you how to interpret animal omens, begin communicating with animals, identify and meet your own animal allies, and more. 

This will be a super interactive workshop, filled with guided practices, sharing, and time for Q&A. 

Plus, you get a bunch of goodies when you register ;) 

We’ll meet Saturday, April 5th at 9:30am PT — and yes, there will be a replay for those who can’t come live :)

Oh, and in case you’re wondering…this workshop is only $45! Seriously a bargain for a 2-hour live class, 60-page manual, recorded practices, lifetime access, and more.

Learn the art of animal magic 🐾

Why this workshop? Well…

I’ve been giving power animal readings to clients and teaching live workshops all about spirit animals for years now, and I’ve been asked a lot of questions on this topic:

How many power animals can I have? 
I saw a raccoon cross the road last night. Do you think it means anything?
What’s the difference between a spirit animal and a power animal?
Can I have a dinosaur as my power animal? 
I dreamed about a walrus—what does that mean?
A shaman said I have a bear as a power animal, now what?  

As I noticed the same questions coming up again and again, I decided to put my wealth of wisdom and experience all into one place ― an easy to understand workshop that will help absolutely anyone learn how to work with spirit animals.

When you sign up for the live class, you’ll immediately get 3 gifts included with your purchase:

  • The Spirit Animal Guidebook―The core teachings of this workshop come in a 60-page, beautifully designed PDF guidebook. (Hint: read this first so you can ask questions at the live class!)

  • A Guided Power Animal Journey―Discover one of your power animals with a 20 minute guided shamanic journey.

  • A Drumming Track―Enjoy a 10 minute drumming track to use for your own journeys, so you can explore without narration.

Plus, you’ll have lifetime access to everything, including the recording of the live workshop!

I know it’s a bit of a risk offering this workshop right in the middle of eclipse - rx everything season…but I also think this workshop is the perfect medicine for the wild times upon us.

Let’s gather in community, with each other and the spirit world, and connect with the love and wild power that will carry us through the chaos.

Enjoyed this article? The absolute most wonderful way to say thank you is by sharing it! Use the image below for Pinterest or add to all your socials :)

 

ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

about me

Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

A FREE 45-page guide to awaken your inner magic!

Read More
Spirituality, Rewilding, Shamanism juniper stokes Spirituality, Rewilding, Shamanism juniper stokes

Who are the spirits of nature? A comprehensive Guide to Nature Spirits

Who are the spirits of nature?

You've probably heard of elves and fairies, sensed spirits in trees, heard rumors of bigfoot, seen faces in stones, or even glimpsed sparks of light in the corner of your eye while walking through the woods.

The truth is, the spirits of nature are all around us—and they are a very diverse group of beings!

This article will introduce you to the basic categories of nature spirits. Let's dive in!

The Big Picture: Animism, Alternate Dimensions, Spirit Friends, and Lost Souls

I find it helpful to look at three main categories of nature spirits — plus a related group you'll encounter as you dive deeper into working with the spirits of nature.

But first…a bit of a disclaimer… Placing spiritual wisdom into strict categorical systems is a bit silly — spirit doesn't play by any rules, and you can probably at times feel truths that your mind has trouble articulating.

However, I love taking convoluted spiritual knowledge and organizing it into systems that help our human brains comprehend the incomprehensible. ;) This is part of my medicine in this lifetime. So, enjoy the attempted organization of the unorganizable!

Physical Nature Spirits

The first category are the nature beings we can see with our regular eyes: flowers, trees, animals, stones, bodies of water, mountains, the sun and planets — anything in nature and the cosmos that exists right alongside us in our 3D reality.

Through an animist perspective, we view all of these nature beings as enlivened by spirit, just as we are.

Magical Nature Spirits

The second category are those nature beings who also exist right alongside us, but in a slightly different frequency — in this way, they often seem quite magical. These beings include the fae, elves, devas, ancestors, various land spirits, and more. We'll dive deeper into this category below!

Though we don't usually see these beings on a regular basis (though it can happen), we can learn to connect with them using our intuitive senses.

Spiritual Nature Spirits

The third category is a bit different — these are high vibrational spirit beings who have an affinity for the earth and the natural world. This category includes our power animals, some ancestors and fae, and some deities.

These beings are often referred to as "spirit guides" — benevolent beings who serve as our teachers, protectors, and healers in the spirit worlds.

Not all spirit guides are nature spirits, and not all nature spirits in this category are spirit guides, so this category can get a little messy (such is the way of spirit!).

What's important to remember is that the first two categories — beings we can see and those in a different frequency — both reside on earth, just like we do.

This third category is for purely spiritual beings who exist beyond time and space — even life — as we know it.

So, while a living hawk has a spirit and would fall into the first category, a spirit hawk that serves as your power animal, for example, is a purely spiritual being that falls into this third category.

If you want to really understand the different types of spirit animals we might work with, I’ve created a fantastic resource for you here.

Lost Souls

We need to address one more type of being you might encounter as you explore connecting with nature spirits: lost souls.

Sometimes, after a physical body comes to its death point, the spirit inside stays on Earth instead of moving into the light and its next stage of spiritual evolution. This is true for humans and nature spirits—anyone who lives on our earth can experience this phenomenon.

Beings who remain on Earth after their death can become what we call lost souls—it's as if they're stuck. And yes, you could call them ghosts.

It's important to practice discernment when connecting with nature spirits, so you know whether you're connecting with a fellow living being or a lost soul. Lost souls aren't necessarily dangerous, but they can be misleading or draining—especially if you don't know who you're dealing with.

If you’re drawn to helping these spirits, training the art of psychopomp would be a good path for you.

A Deeper Look at Nature Spirits

As mentioned above, all beings in nature are inspirited. You can learn to connect with the spirit of a tree, a rock, a river, a river, a flower, and the Earth herself. I also think of celestial beings as inspirited nature beings, as we can connect with our sun, moon, stars, planets and other beings of the cosmos. 

Since we can all see and know who these physical spirits are, let’s explore the magical and spiritual beings who co-exist with us as the spirits of nature…

Spirits of the Land and Place

While "nature spirits" and "spirits of the land" are often used interchangeably, there's a subtle distinction. Nature spirits can be any of the beings we've discussed, whether they're tied to a particular location or not. Spirits of the land are specifically place-based nature spirits.

In addition to the many spirits of the land that reside in each place, every place has its own spirit, too. This might be the spirit of a city, your home or property, a neighborhood, a park, a mountain, wilderness area…

The more you work with nature spirits, the more you’ll be able to feel into what area is contained within each spirit of place. (And yes, they can overlap!)

The Fairy Realm

Perhaps one of the most beloved and well-known types of nature spirits are the fairies. Some people use the term “fairy” to refer to almost any magical being in nature—including elves, sylphs, gnomes, and more. Others have more intentional uses of the world, with different cultures making their own distinctions about who counts as a fairy. 

The truth is, there are so many different kinds of fairies, and so many different names for them throughout the world, that this could be an entire book! (And is, many times over.)

As you read more about the fairy worlds, you’ll find that many cultures refer to “dark” and “light” versions—in other words, some are benevolent and some are malevolent. 

For now, let’s look a few common types of fairies that you might hear about:

The Fae: This is an umbrella term primarily used for English and Germanic fairies, though it can encompass many magical beings. They're often divided into two courts:

  • The Seelie Court (Trooping Fairies): Generally more benevolent, including the Tuatha de Danann and various noble fae

  • The Unseelie Court (Wild Fairies): Often considered more dangerous or mischievous

Other common fairy types include:

  • Brownies and Pixies: Usually household helpers

  • Dryads: Tree spirits

  • Elemental Beings: such as sylphs for air, salamanders for fire, gnomes for earth, and undines for water

  • Will O'Wisps: Mysterious lights that appear in nature

  • Kelpies: Water spirits

  • Flower Fairies: The overlighting spirits of flowers

  • Changlings: A supernatural being that is left in place of a human child

There are of course so many more! And while this list primarily comes from European folklore, every culture has it’s own language for and communities of fairy beings! If you want a more comprehensive list, I recommend looking into the work of Judika Iles :)

Magical and Mythical Beings

Beyond the fae, so many of the beings we often say are “mythical” are actually nature spirits, existing in parallel realms — often able to cross into the physical for the rare appearance.

Tales of merfolk, satyrs, unicorns, yeti, dragons, selki…are these beings truly only in myth, or do they perhaps exist as spirits of the land?

Here in the Northwest United States, sightings and stories of bigfoot are common — and not just among modern day hikers. The native tribes of the coastal West have legends of bigfoot as a protector and guardian of the forest, appearing to those who are worthy.

What mythological nature spirits reside in your location?

Earth Deities and Guardian Spirits

At the highest level of nature spirits are the great earth deities and guardian spirits found across cultures:

  • Gaia/Mother Earth/Pacha Mama: The spirit of Earth herself

  • Artemis, Dionysus, Geb, Danu, Nerthus, and more: Deities associated with wild nature

  • Various indigenous guardian spirits who protect specific landscapes

These beings often work through other nature spirits to maintain balance and harmony in the natural world, and they are powerful allies to contact directly with your own earth tending.

How to work with the Magical Spirits of Nature

When engaging with nature spirits, especially the fae, it's important to remember a few key principles:

1. Respect and Reciprocity: Unlike purely divine spirits, such as angels or benevolent ancestors, many magical nature spirits operate on a system of exchange. They can see perfectly well if you are a friend or foe…and they will respond accordingly!

2. Boundaries: Be careful about accepting gifts from nature spirits, especially in dreams or journeys. Such exchanges can create energetic bonds that might become challenging to manage. There’s a reason so many myths and fairy tales caution against imbibing the drink of the fae!

3. Cultural Context: While these beings appear in traditions worldwide, their specific characteristics and how to interact with them can vary significantly by culture. What's considered appropriate interaction in one tradition might not be in another.

4. Elements and Alignment: Many nature spirits tend to align with specific elements and prefer to work within their domain. For example, a tree spirit might have "one foot in our world and one in another," making it a bridge between realms.

Download a free 45-page ritual guide filled with elemental practices here:

 
 

The realm of nature spirits is vast and complex, filled with beings that range from the physical to the purely spiritual. As you explore these relationships, remember to approach with respect, discernment, and an open heart. While we can create categories and systems to understand these beings better, the reality is often more fluid and mysterious than our human minds can fully grasp.

The key to working with nature spirits isn't just about understanding who they are—it's about developing relationships based on mutual respect and understanding. Whether you're connecting with the spirit of a tree in your backyard or exploring the mysterious realm of the fae, each interaction is an opportunity to deepen your connection with the living world around us.

 

ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

about me

Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

A FREE 45-page guide to awaken your inner magic!

Read More
Spirituality, Rewilding, Shamanism juniper stokes Spirituality, Rewilding, Shamanism juniper stokes

The Sacred Art of Earth Connection: Transforming Grief into Hope

 
 
 

Those of us who deeply love our Earth often carry a complex array of emotions in our hearts. We feel the grief of witnessing environmental destruction, the rage at preventable crises, and even guilt for being part of a species that has inflicted so much trauma on our planet. As natural empaths, many of us don't know how to separate the Earth's pain from our own (nor would we fully want to).

But what if these strong emotions could become catalysts for transformation?

All energy is usable energy. The question then becomes:

How do we transmute our grief into hope? How do we alchemize our rage into healing?

The transformational Power of Spiritual Rewilding

One of the most profound paths forward is through spiritual rewilding — the art and practice of returning to our true spiritual state.

When we rewild our spirits, we peel back layers of conditioning that prevent us from imagining and creating more magnificent lives. We awaken to our endless divinity and remember our true power.

The natural world serves as our perfect mirror in this process. Just as ecological rewilding restores ecosystems to their natural, wild states, spiritual rewilding helps us restore our connection to our essential nature. 

When we encounter truly wild places, we feel a different kind of energy — the energy of life living itself fully. Even death feels alive in these spaces.

Meeting the Soul of the Earth

One of the most healing practices we can engage in is connecting directly with the soul of the Earth herself. Not just the surface level where we encounter the echoes of trauma, but the deeper, eternal, compassionate spirit that holds a far more expansive vision than our human minds are accustomed to.

When we approach the Earth from an animist perspective — recognizing the inherent consciousness in all beings – we open ourselves to profound healing and guidance. The Earth is a great spiritual being who can see through our human layers to our true spirit. When we connect essence to essence, soul to soul, we remember who we really are.

Practice:

If you have a shamanic journey or meditation practice, set the intention to meet the spirit of the Earth. Learn about your relationship, and receive her reflections of your true nature.

Three Pathways to Deeper Connection

1. Co-regulation with Nature: Just as we co-regulate with other humans, we can attune our nervous systems to the steady, grounding presence of the Earth. This practice helps us tend to those challenging feelings of guilt, shame, frustration, and anger that arise in response to environmental trauma.

2. Sacred Reciprocity: True healing happens when we both give and receive with grateful hearts. The Earth doesn't want us to carry guilt — she wants us to engage in meaningful partnership. When we approach our relationship with the Earth from this perspective, we create space for miracles.

3. Being Witnessed by the Earth: In our daily lives, we often get trapped in patterns that make us feel smaller and less powerful than we truly are. When we allow ourselves to be witnessed by the Earth's loving gaze, we receive a reflection of our true potential.

A Call to Remember

Our ecological crises require a cosmological solution. 

The Earth knew you were coming — you're here at this time for a reason. She wants you to live the life you came here to live, to offer your unique gifts in service to the greater web of life.

You don't have to carry the weight of environmental trauma alone. The Earth and the spirits of nature are ready to partner with us in the work of healing and transformation. When we remember this truth, we tap into an infinite wellspring of hope and resilience.

The path forward isn't about forcing ourselves to stay positive in the face of real challenges. Instead, it's about expanding our perspective to include both the reality of what is and the possibility of what could be. It's about remembering that we are not separate from nature — we are nature, remembering itself back to wholeness.

A Ritual Guide for Earth Healing

You can make a difference, find healing, and become an even more effective Earth ally. And I want you to have the tools that I’ve personally found most impactful and transformative in this work. 

This is why I’m sharing my entire 45-page Wild Alchemy Ritual Guide for free. 

Inside, you’ll find 5 elemental rituals, reflection questions, recipes, and more to help you claim your role as a spiritual keeper of the Earth. 

Get yours here:

What wild dreams might emerge when you allow yourself to partner with the soul of the Earth? What healing might unfold when you give yourself permission to be witnessed by her loving gaze?

The Earth is waiting to show you.

 
 

ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

about me

Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

A FREE 45-page guide to awaken your inner magic!

Read More
Spirituality, Wellness, Shamanism juniper stokes Spirituality, Wellness, Shamanism juniper stokes

Transfiguration: The Ancient Art of Spiritual Transformation

 
 
 

Throughout human history, mystics, healers, and spiritual seekers have practiced a profound method of healing that transcends ordinary understanding. From the sacred temples of ancient Egypt to the cutting-edge research of modern quantum physicists, there's been a persistent thread of a deeper reality — one where consciousness itself can transform matter. This is the essence of transfiguration, an ancient art that invites us to access and embody the divine light within.

What is Transfiguration?

At its core, transfiguration is a complete shift of form or consciousness. It’s more than meditation or visualization — this is true alchemy. A a radical state of being where you become one with divine light, dissolving the boundaries between self and universal energy. 

This state not only transforms the practitioner but also ripples outward, affecting the environment and others in profound ways.

Throughout history, many traditions and individuals have glimpsed or practiced this phenomenon:

  • Egyptian Mystery Schools: These ancient teachings described transfiguration as a process of divine light transformation. Initiates underwent rigorous spiritual practices to align with cosmic energies, often in temple rites designed to dissolve the ego and reveal the eternal soul.

  • Christian Esotericism: The New Testament recounts moments of miraculous healing and transfiguration, such as the Mount of Transfiguration where Jesus radiated divine light. These acts demonstrated the power of spiritual alignment to transcend physical limitations.

  • Quantum Researchers: Modern scientists like Joe Dispenza are beginning to explore the ways consciousness can influence matter. His research into meditation and brain-heart coherence reveals how focused intention and elevated emotions can create measurable shifts in physical reality.

  • Shamanic Traditions: Across cultures, shamans have entered altered states of consciousness to access the divine. Through journeying, they connect with universal energies, facilitating healing and transformation for their communities.

  • Global Alchemists: Both Western and Eastern Alchemical traditions hold one thing to be true — alchemy isn’t just about what happens in the laboratory. It is the complete transformation of the alchemist themselves.

The Science and Spirit of Transformation

Modern quantum physics is beginning to validate what ancient wisdom traditions have always known: consciousness is not confined to our physical bodies. At the quantum level, everything — from the cells in our bodies to the stars in the sky — is interconnected fields of energy. This understanding opens the door to profound healing and transformation.

Key principles from science and spirit converge:

  1. Energetic Interconnectedness: Quantum entanglement suggests that particles remain connected across vast distances, mirroring the idea of a unified consciousness.

  2. Observer Effect: At the quantum level, the act of observation influences outcomes, echoing the power of focused intention in spiritual practices.

  3. Frequency and Vibration: Ancient traditions often emphasize raising one’s vibration, a concept now mirrored in the idea that higher frequencies are associated with healing and coherence.

The Seven Keys of Profound Healing

Achieving a true transfigurative state requires:

  1. Powerful, Clear Intention: Intent directs energy. Without it, transformation lacks direction.

  2. Unconditional Love: Love is a high-frequency state that dissolves separation and aligns with universal energy.

  3. Complete Energetic Alignment: The body, mind, and spirit must harmonize to access higher states of consciousness.

  4. Divine Union: A deep connection with the sacred—however one defines it—is essential.

  5. Focused Concentration: Sustained attention creates a fertile ground for transformation.

  6. Expansive Imagination: Visualization bridges the seen and unseen worlds, allowing new realities to emerge.

  7. Sustained Energetic Coherence: Maintaining alignment over time amplifies the effects of transfiguration.

Practical Approaches to Transfiguration

While mastering transfiguration takes time, anyone can begin to explore this transformative practice with the following techniques:

  • Meditation: Engage in meditative practices that dissolve the boundaries of the ego and connect you with universal consciousness. Start with guided meditations focused on light and energy.

  • Energy Sensing: Practice noticing subtle shifts in energy around you. Focus on the sensations in your body and the space between your thoughts.

  • Breathwork: Use breath to expand awareness. Techniques such as rhythmic or circular breathing can deepen your connection to the divine.

  • Mindfulness: Observe the world with heightened awareness, paying attention to the space between particles, sounds, and moments. This can reveal the interconnected nature of existence.

Why This Matters Now

We’re living in a time of massive global transformation. Environmental challenges, social upheaval, and personal crises are calling us to evolve. Personal and planetary healing requires us to expand our understanding of what’s possible. Transfiguration offers a way forward—a means of accessing deeper states of consciousness to become agents of healing not only for ourselves but for the collective.

This isn’t about magical thinking — It’s about remembering our fundamental connection to a living, responsive universe. By tapping into the art of transfiguration, we can align with the light within and radiate it outward, creating ripples of transformation in a world that desperately needs it.

Free Guide: Your Invitation to Explore

To support your journey, I’ve created a free "Wild Alchemy Ritual Guide." Inside, you’ll find:

  • Introductory meditations to access expanded states of consciousness

  • Elemental connection practices to harmonize with nature’s rhythms

  • Rituals and recipes to help you shift into a state of consciousness that supports quantum healing

This guidebook is 45 pages full of my most valuable content — folks have told me I should charge for it, but I think it’s too important not to share!

Every moment is an invitation to transformation. With a single breath, a moment of stillness, and the intention to see beyond the visible, you can begin your journey into the ancient art of transfiguration. The light within you is waiting to shine.

 
 

ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

about me

Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

A FREE 45-page guide to awaken your inner magic!

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don’t sacrifice magic at the altar of the mind: an exploration of shamanic soul retrieval

 
mountain crater sunset

Nothing on this site has been written by AI.

 
 

Soul Retrieval is the shamanic art of becoming whole. It is a spiritual practice that restores all of the parts that make you you. 

It’s beautiful…and it can be a little confusing.

Isn’t the soul eternal? Aren’t we all truly divine and whole in our essence, no matter what happens to us in life? Why would part of our own spiritual essence not be present with us? 

These are very good questions, and how we answer them depends a bit on which perspectives we approach this work from…

Because shamanism is a spiritual practice. We’re dealing with spiritual healing. 

And our modern minds are psychologically oriented. We put everything through the lens of mental filters.

Depending on which worldview you’re biased towards, just what exactly is happening during a soul retrieval session might shift significantly.

Which brings me to one of my personal questions: Can the two approaches co-exist when it comes to the tradition and practice of soul retrieval? 

Want to learn the art of soul retrieval for yourself?

Join me for a rare, in-person 5-day training this September. Learn more.

Modern Mind, Timeless Spirit

The idea that illness and hardship could be the result of soul loss dates back thousands of years and is found throughout the world. 

Now, something happens in our modern minds when we hear this…

Mostly likely, you’re thinking — it’s not the soul that was lost…

  • Perhaps part of the personality or an archetypal influence was lost.

  • This is what we call dissociation. 

  • It sounds like soul loss is actually PTSD. 

  • This seems what IFS refers to as an Exile.

  • It’s not soul loss — it’s an unhealthy attachment style.

  • Maybe this is a metaphor for feeling depleted and out of touch with your personal power or life force energy. 

With the exception of the final statement, notice that all of these interpretations are psychological ones. 

I believe that there is great value in working with our modern-day minds. Humanity and consciousness are simply different than they were thousands of years ago. We have different needs when it comes to feeling whole, embodied, and empowered in our lives today. 

And…we are still the same animals we have always been. Our DNA remembers the power of ancestral healing techniques. Our spirits respond to ancient practices that our minds do not understand. 

As we explore the world of shamanic healing in general and soul retrieval in particular…

We must not sacrifice magic at the altar of mind. 

Spirit & Soul

The foundational idea behind soul retrieval can be found in a wee linguistic nuance: 

The Spirit is eternal. It is the part of you that is always whole, complete, and divine. It is always one with all of spirit and can never be lost. 

The Soul is that part of your spiritual nature that grows and evolves. The Soul experiences separation from the oneness of truth in order to play in the variety of life. 

Although I often use these words interchangeably, which I’m sure instigates much confusion in my readers and students (sorry), this distinction helps us understand the seeming contradiction inherent in soul retrieval…and spiritual healing in general.

You are always whole. You always, always, always have access to your true nature, which is one with all and completely divine. And the more you remember and consciously embody this nature, the more you bring this truth into our current reality. And this changes our current reality in miraculous ways. 

(Psst — this can be done through the art of transfiguration, which we’ll learn at the Soul Retrieval training in September.)

Even though you are whole, the universe is expansive and dynamic. In order to participate in this dynamism, part of your spirit experiences separation — not just in physical form, but in what we refer to as spiritual dimensions as well. This part of you is your Soul. 

Each time you incarnate, your Soul carries a blueprint for your life — your gifts, lessons, joys, loves, dreams, and role in the web of life. This is the spiritual part of you, a compliment to the energetic, mental, emotional, and physical parts of you. 

Since the Soul chooses to experience separation, it can experience illness.

(Confusingly, I call this spirit sickness, even though in this framework “Spirit” is eternal.)

Alas, the limitations of language…these definitions of Soul and Spirit make sense to me. And I’ve spent a lifetime not using these exact distinctions, so…💁 I tend to use the term divine to refer to the oneness realms, spirit to refer to the spiritual dimensions of reality, and soul to refer to our individual experiences. Let me know your thoughts on all this in the comments!

So, within this model, while your divine Spirit can never be anything but whole, your Soul can have a wide range of experiences.

Note: You may have picked up that I also make a distinction between the Soul and the energy body. Your energy body — or subtle body/aura/meridian/chakra/all the things that aren’t physical body — exists in the energetic realms of reality that underlie our physical reality. Our Souls enliven both our energetic and physical bodies, so we can look at spirit sickness, energetic sickness, and physical sickness as both distinct and interconnected.

Being Ensouled

When you are fully ensouled, you more naturally live in a state of coherence: Your thoughts and actions are in harmony, and you feel more at home in your body. You have inspiring visions for your life and the world, and you feel capable of doing what you are here to do. Your entire self is aligned, and self-sabotaging patterns fade away. 

Yes, you encounter challenges, pain, loss, failure, grief, and all the parts of being human…but somehow you don’t take them so personally. You feel them fully as a natural part of life, and then you are more able to transmute difficulty into loving energy that carries you forward. 

You’re heart stays equally open in the face of pain and joy.

This is our natural state, and it is your birthright to be full of your own soul.

Unfortunately, just as our physical bodies can become injured and sick, our mental processes and beliefs can get wacky, our emotions can feel painful, and our energy bodies can have blockages and leaks…our spiritual souls can suffer, too.

Before moving on, I want to make one thing very, very clear: This is normal.

Do you have digestion issues and still live a full life? Get depressed sometimes but maintain healthy friendships? Show up to work even with a sprained ankle? 

Well, you can live a perfectly satisfying life with a bit of soul loss, too. 

But there are techniques and strategies that can help you fix your digestion, feel a little happier, and heal that ankle…just as there are ways to restore soul loss. And we feel better when we take care of ourselves. 

Symptoms & Causes of Soul Loss

When we feel fragmented, as if part of ourselves is missing, we end up constantly leaking energy as we search for lost parts of ourselves. This happens unconsciously — but our daydreams and fantasies often point to the places where our searches originate.

There’s a sense that we’re just not living as fully as we could be. We’re missing the intimacy with self and spirit and other that is meant to enliven us. We long to come home to ourselves but don’t know how.

This is the low grade, chronic condition of soul loss. Of knowing that there is more vibrancy and meaning that you are meant to experience. Of searching for something outside of yourself to fill in what’s missing.

We all do this. 

Traditionally, soul loss was seen to occur in response to trauma: Part of the soul essence separates from the whole as a self-protective measure. This can happen in response to all kinds of ongoing or acute traumas — abuse, war, accidents, loss of loved ones, miscarriage, illness, divorce, surgery, addiction…

In my experience, modern society doesn’t support us being fully ensouled.

Children are reprimanded for being their authentic selves and taught to conform. Teenagers are initiated into adulthood with shame. We’re sold stories about what a good life consists of, and we sacrifice our truths in order to achieve this false vision. Loneliness, disconnection from the Earth, witnessing the traumas of others via media…the list goes on.

All of this leads to soul loss, too.

The effects of soul loss might be subtle and chronic — much like Sandra describes in the quote above. Or, they can have more noticeable consequences: addiction, fatigue, chronic illness, dissociative tendencies, lost memories, strings of bad luck, self-sabotaging patterns, ongoing depression, and even, in extreme cases, coma. 

Our language describes what soul loss feels like: something is missing, not feeling like yourself, sleepwalking through life, feeling dead inside, nobody’s home…

When the soul is restored, these effects may melt away on their own. More often, however, the other healing work we’re engaged in becomes more effective. Our bodies seem to have more energy to heal with, we feel more motivated to stick with the changes we want to implement, and the psychological inquiry we engage in yields faster and more impactful results. 

Where does the soul go?

The feeling that something is missing, or the idea that “you’ll be happy when…” are common human experiences. We keep searching for something outside ourselves to make us satisfied. 

While timeless spiritual wisdom tells us that everything we need is already within, shamanic perspectives actually acknowledge that yes, something is missing. You’re just not going to find it in the places you’re currently looking in.

But is the soul really missing? 

From shamanic perspectives, the part of the soul that leaves is somewhere in the otherworlds, non-ordinary reality, or the dreamtime depending on the language you use. It is the role of the shaman to traverse these realms, find that soul part, and bring it home. 

Yet, in Tibetan shamanism and even many Western Mystery traditions, we are microcosms of the macrocosm. The entire universe is within us, including the realms of non-ordinary reality. So, while we may feel disconnected from a soul part, it is still within us, hiding beyond our awareness. 

This has some similarities to modern psychotherapeutic theory — the idea that parts of ourselves dissociate and get buried in our subconscious. These parts aren’t gone, but they aren’t accessible either.

Which brings me back to our modern minds…

As consciousness has evolved, it’s become more important to integrate intellectual and psychological awareness into our healing work. 

And, we are still born from our ancestors. Both our DNA and our souls respond to the mythic and magic medicine rooted in thousands of years of shamanic practice. 

There’s a danger in putting all shamanic and spiritual healing through the lens of modern psychotherapy.

The miraculous healings I’ve witnessed when a shaman or shamanic practitioner retrieves a soul on behalf of a client are just that — miraculous. The healing is a gift, and it didn’t require years of therapy or internal struggle to receive that blessing. A spiritual healing creates the conditions for psychological wellness to be cultivated.

But I’ve also seen how impactful it can be for someone to retrieve their own soul essence through guided journeys, unburdening exiles (in IFS language), and inner excavation. This work can create a psychological healing that welcomes the exiled spirit home.

I have a lot more to say on IFS, parts work, and soul retrieval…but that’s for another article. And for the upcoming Soul Retrieval workshop I’ll be sharing in September ;) 

Beyond the Individual Soul

There’s another benefit to celebrating the magical side of soul retrieval — we can heal beyond our individual lives. 

From animist perspectives, communities have souls. Homes have souls. Lands have souls.

The shamanic practice of soul retrieval can be used to heal the collective spaces and places we live within with far reaching impacts for all of us. 

(Yup — we’re definitely doing some soul retrieval for the land at the September workshop!)

Learning this practice empowers you to be a true Earth ally, to support humanity’s evolution, and foundational levels. 

Coming into Cosmic Balance

When we are fully ensouled, we are kind. I like the 8Cs that IFS theory uses to describe our true self: compassion, curiosity, clarity, creativity, calm, confidence, courage, and connectedness.

If everyone were connected to their full souls and spiritual nature, if everyone could embody these qualities more consistently, imagine how the world would change. 

The art and practice of Soul Retrieval is an essential skill for these times. I truly believe that the more people learn this, the more collective healing we’ll see.

If you are at all drawn to explore this powerful spiritual healing methodology, please consider joining me this September in Sisters, OR for a five-day training.

  • If you are a healer, therapist, coach, body worker, or spiritual practitioner of any kind, I highly encourage you to join us. 

  • Or, if you simply want to learn new ways to heal the Earth and our animal kin in the midst of such challenging ecological changes, then join us. 

  • Or, if you just love to learn about spirit stuff and consciousness, then definitely join us!

Psst: If you’re reading this and wish to receive a soul retrieval, you can sign up for a shamanic healing session with me here:

Shamanic Healing Sessions

ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

about me

Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

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Imagination as throne for the gods

 
throne for the gods

Nothing on this site has been written by AI.

 
 

Imagination is the language of the soul.

I think Einstein originally said that. Smart guy ;)

It’s true. Our souls speak to us through our imaginations. The dreams we let dance through our consciousness are arrows to our soul’s deeper callings.

The spirit world also communicates through the imagination. Have you ever fantasized about a better world? Created stories about the fairies who must live in that mossy grove you hiked past? These thoughts aren’t just mind inventions…they are divinely inspired insights into additional potentialities and dimensions of our reality.

The imagination is a favorite language of the Muses, too. I like to think of the Muses as angels of creativity, whispering inspiration into the vessels capable of bringing it to life.

And the imagination is an invitation to the gods.

This happens through the intentional act of visualization.

When you use your imagination to visualize a deity, with as much focus and detail as possible, you create what one of my teachers (Jason Miller) calls an “astral throne”.

I love this idea. By bringing together intention, focus, and imagination, you have created a resting place for a spirit to meet with you.

In many traditions, including the Ancient Egyptian magical practices I engage in, statues are seen as physical resting places for the gods. In the opening of the mouth ritual, a representation of a deity is anointed, creating space for the god to join our prayers and rituals here on Earth.

The astral throne serves the same purpose.

Now, the astral throne may very well be an image of the deity you wish to connect with, but quite often some sort of seal or symbol is used — Tibetan or Hindu mandalas, or Metatron’s cube, for example.

The next time you sit down to connect with a spirit guide, imagine a symbol for them with your mind’s eye.

As you place your focus on this symbol, tune into your body. Can you feel this divine being arrive? Has the potency of your experience changed in some way?

Psst: If you are among the 1-4% of the population who cannot visualize, you can still do this! Look at a physical version of the symbol you’d like to work with, and then use your intention and focus to know that the image is appearing as an astral invitation.

ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

about me

Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

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Why We Gather

 

Nothing on this site has been written by AI.

 
 

It wasn’t until my thirties that I finally admitted to myself an important truth:

I despise attending festivals. 🙃

And group fitness classes. And camping within 50ft of other people. And even meditation seminars where we’re packed in a room like sardines. Burning Man. 😵‍💫

All the things that are supposed to be fun and good for me…end up feeling overwhelming and exhausting.

As an introvert and empath, crowds can be rough. So when Covid brought us all online, I celebrated the ability to teach from anywhere and reach students from around the world.

I still love the gifts of technology, and have a few online workshops coming up soon, but…

The most recent in-person shamanic workshop I taught here in Bend, OR blew my mind.

While it did take me a good amount of time to energetically recover from facilitating three immersive, in-person days of magic — the experience was 1000% worth it.

The women who gathered together were amazing. Ages ranged from 30s to 70s. Experience ranged from complete beginners to already professionals. And everyone had been through some shit in the past few years.

We needed each other. In the flesh. Our collective energy unfolding and holding, connecting and reflecting. The safety and clarity of our strong, sacred container allowed true magic to awaken within every participant there.

It was incredibly touching to witness these powerful women activate and embrace their divine gifts. The healings and divinations they facilitated for each other were wild to watch. It was as if I was viewing a room of seasoned healers and psychics do their work (and they probably all were in many lifetimes).

During our third day together, I facilitated an anointing ceremony. As I channeled the great goddess Isis, divine energy flowed from my heart, through my hands, and into the oil, where aromatic plant allies activated and attuned the power of this energy further before each participant received her blessing.

My dear friend and assistant for the workshop, Heather Porter, then guided everyone through a Celtic-style ceremony for receiving a reflection of their heart’s medicine.

Throughout our time together, we danced and sang. Meditated and channeled. Unraveled old narratives and their disempowering hangovers. And began to embody the divinity we are each here to hold.

As a facilitator, I loved witnessing all of this in person. I loved feeling the healing energy our group created. And I loved witnessing myself in this role, my decades of training coalescing into the exact workshop I wish I could have attended earlier in my journey.

What struck me most, though, was how every woman told me that this was exactly what she’d been looking for.

I’m now more motivated than ever to continue offering in-person experiences in addition to my online offerings. And the next one will be in September…

Soul Retrieval: The Shamanic Art of Becoming Whole

Soul Retrieval is my most requested class, and I’m delighted to be able to offer it at the most beautifully magical location in Sisters, OR this September.

Together, we will meet for five days of ritual, healing, learning, and connecting with each other and spirit.

Soul Retrieval is the art of integration. Of restoring those parts that have become fragmented. Of becoming who you truly are, eternally whole and loved.

And, Soul Retrieval is a gift we can share with our world. We can restore wholeness to our communities. We can release the energetic trappings of inherited trauma. And we can tend the Earth with our spiritual gifts.

​Applications for Soul Retrieval are now open, and I hope you’ll consider joining me IN PERSON ;) Please reach out with any questions.

May we all find the communities that light up our souls, even if small doses for introverts like me ;)

ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

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Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

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Your complete guide to shamanism

 
shamanic tower

Did you know I have a “Learn Shamanism Resource Page” with TONS of free resources and classes for you? CHECK IT OUT HERE<<<

 
 

What Is Shamanism?

Oh, shamanism. You are such a complex word, with so many people defining you in such diverse and interesting ways. Where is a seeker to begin?

Norse shamanism, Celtic shamanism, core shamanism, Mayan shamanism…is everything shamanism?

Kind of ;) 

When I use the term “shamanism” I’m referring to something that is a spiritual practice, a healing art form, and a way of being in the world. I’m not referring to any specific practices from specific cultures. 

Every culture on the planet was, at some point, shamanic.

The approach of every shamanic society, even each shamanic practitioner, takes on a unique form, yet all share a few things in common—including the ability to enter alternate states of consciousness in order to communicate with the unseen world, forming strong relationships with helping spirits, cultivating right relationship with our Earth, and being of service to our communities.

I believe it is vital that we reclaim the practices and wisdom of shamanic paths in order to survive the challenging times we live in.

“Although shamanism is an ancient practice, it is relevant to all of us today who are seeking ways to live a life filled with harmony, good health, and returning balance and peace back to our lives and to our planet.”
— Sandra Ingerman

Shamanism is a spiritual practice and healing pathway that recognizes the inspirited essence of all beings, from humans and animals to mountains and the cosmos. It is the path of direct revelation, of cultivating your own innate and unfiltered connection to the divine.

The larger field of shamanism is complex enough that we’ll probably never have total consensus on what this word means. Still, as a teacher of shamanism, I know that it’s worthwhile to have a basic understanding of this loaded word. 

So let’s do it. Let’s look at what shamanism is, the core practices of shamanism, the tools, perspectives, healings, beliefs, and more. Here we go…

The Origins of the Word “Shamanism”

The word shamanism originates from the Tungus language spoken by certain indigenous people of Siberia. In that language, the term "šamán" refers to a man who can access altered states of consciousness in order to interact with the spirit world — and in many ways this is still what shamanism refers to today. 

But this history is worth taking another look at…

In the early 19th century, Western anthropologists were studying these Siberian people — the Evenki people — and they used that word, “shaman”, as a descriptor for all their spiritual practices. 

Then, the field of anthropology started applying this word to pretty much any indigenous culture’s healing and spiritual practices — and its use just grew from there. 

As an aside, while the Tungus word shaman was used for men, the word udagan referred to women who could travel the spirit world. Even though these women healers were just as respected as the men, and there’s evidence that many of their practices might have even predated the male ones, the anthropologists brought their patriarchal biases with them and everyone became a shaman. So, even today, we’re still using the term shaman instead of udagan. 

And, while we’re on the topic of language and shamanism — there are a few more important notes I want to make…

First, it's really important to recognize that not all indigenous cultures today identify with the term “shamanism”. 

Every culture has its own linguistic and spiritual traditions, and these do not conform to anthropological terminology.

Second, it’s generally thought that calling yourself a shaman is a bit gauche at best or offensive at worst. 

This is in part because the idea is that spirit and your community decides you’re a shaman — you don’t make this call yourself. 

And it’s in part to distinguish the depth of trials, experiences, connections, and service that true shamans have from those who simply live a shamanic lifestyle or work with shamanic practices. This is why you’ll find most healers in the shamanic arts identify with the term “shamanic practitioner” rather than the term “shaman”.

Now, whether you like these linguistic origins or not, the term “shamanism” has become the most quickly recognizable word for a certain set of spiritual practices that nearly all cultures have shared at some point in their history. 

I’ve actually coined a new word for these practices in order to move away from some of the inaccurate uses of the word shamanism, but since no one else has heard of my made up word, I still use “shamanism” too. If you’re curious, the word I like to use is mythoanimism, which you can read about here.

The Elements of Shamanism

Even though shamanism refers to a very diverse set of beliefs and practices, there are a few elements that remain consistent markers…

First, and most foundational, is the recognition that there is more to reality than our physical existence. 

In a way, this ancient understanding is not unlike our modern quantum one. We know that there are energetic and spiritual dimensions of reality that influence us just as much as the physical reality we live in. 

We can see some of these energetic dimensions by looking at our own energy body: the meridians, chakras, and auras that layer upon each other to make us who we are. We can see more of the spiritual dimensions by tuning into our souls, that part of us that remains whole, loving, and eternally connected to the divine. 

All these layers of reality influence each other. So taking care of your physical body will impact your energetic health, and taking care of your energy body will impact your physical wellbeing. 

Likewise, partnering with the spirit world, perhaps through ritual, magical practices, or even visualization and prayer, can enhance your ability to manifest your intentions and open new opportunities in this dimension. 

Everything is connected. 

everything connected fibonacci shell

The second element all shamanic cultures have in common is an animist worldview. 

Animism is the belief that all beings and things are inspirited, or animated. This includes those beings we can see — such as animals and plants, as well as rivers, mountains, stones, microbes, and stars. And it includes those beings we can’t see — at least in this dimension — such as angels, fairies, deities, and ancestors. 

But animism goes even further than this. Places are also viewed as inspirited — so you could connect with the spirit of your home or even your city. And human-made objects are inspirited — if you’ve ever talked to your car or computer, you have an innate sense of this truth. 

Even ideas and concepts are seen as having a spirit in animist traditions. So money, for example, has a unique spirit that you can connect with. As would the concept of democracy, or the emotion of hope. 

I refer to the animated energy of concepts as a field. Remember when I mentioned that the field of shamanism is complex? That’s because even shamanism itself has a living, animated spirit!

The third element is being in active relationship with spirit guides. 

Spirit guides, helping spirits, spiritual beings…whatever you call them, you are in relationship with them. These might include ancestors, power animals, deities, angels, starbeings, nature spirits, and many more benevolent beings (some we might not even have names for!).

This element is directly connected to the animist world view: We are not alone in our inspirited nature, and we don’t pretend to be. 

The word relationship is key here. This isn’t the type of situation where you contact spirit beings just when it’s convenient or when you need something. Instead, you relate to them as kin. You get to know the spirit beings in your life, check in, and practice reciprocity — giving and receiving in an active relationship with them.

These helping spirits provide us with immense guidance, healing, insights, and so much love. 

aurora

The fourth element is living in harmony with the natural world.

In all ancient cultures, the Earth was seen as alive and as an essential part of our more-than-human family. She was our great mother (and our fertile father in some ancient traditions), who ensured the survival and well-being of all her children. We were born of the Earth, nourished by the Earth, sheltered by the Earth, and loved by the Earth. And we remained in reverent relationship with her throughout our lives. 

This reverence extends to all of the inhabitants of the Earth — plants, stones, animals, the elements, the spirits of nature…even other humans. (gasp!)

What’s more, it’s not just that we love the natural world — we partner with the natural world. The spirits of nature are seen as just as conscious as we are, with just as much agency. 

We all share this Earth together, so humans don’t make decisions alone — we commune with the spirits of nature, listen to their guidance, and act in the best interest of all.

This piece is one element that can really distinguish shamanism from other new thought spiritual traditions. You can talk to spirits all day long, but if you’re not actively partnering with the natural world as a regular part of your practice, I’m not sure that I would call that shamanic.

The fifth element is being of service.

In shamanic cultures, the shaman always served the community, which as I’ve just mentioned, includes our more-than-human kin. Shamanism was never just about personal development and self healing. And this is true today. 

Yes, you will find profound personal healing on this path, but if you really commit to the shamanic arts, you will be asked to serve something greater than yourself. 

This will of course look different for everyone, as we all come here with unique gifts and potential opportunities in our lives. You might be drawn to see clients and offer shamanic services. Or you might work quietly and alone in service of the Earth. Maybe you’re simply a healing presence for those closest to you. Or perhaps you channel spiritual wisdom into creations that support our collective. How you serve matters much less than the fact that you do serve. 

The sixth and final element is that of using altered states of consciousness to navigate the spirit realms. 

This is another key piece that really sets shamanism apart from other types of spiritual practice. With shamanism, you’re not just meditating, and you’re not just talking to spirits and trees and such throughout your daily life.

Learn more about the difference between shamanic journeying and meditation — and why I feel both are important.

You are literally entering into alternate dimensions of reality and traveling throughout them.

This is called — you guessed it — the shamanic journey.

amanita

Direct Revelation

The central theme of all shamanic practice, no matter what cosmology you’re drawn to, is the art of direct revelation.

Direct revelation means that you contact the spirit world directly — no intermediaries in the form of gurus, priests, or even other shamans are needed. And the shamanic journey is the practice most commonly used to communicate directly with the spirit world.

The Shamanic Journey

The central practice at the heart of shamanism is the shamanic journey.

Shamanic journeying is a practice that involves entering an altered state of consciousness to connect with spiritual realms for guidance and healing. 

In many ways, we can think of shamanic journeying as a type of meditation — but there are some aspects that set it apart: 

First is the intention — you’ll generally enter into a shamanic journey with the purpose of transcending ordinary reality and communicating directly with the spirit world. 

And second is the idea that your consciousness is actually traveling through alternate realms. In Western core shamanism, these realms are often referred to as “non-ordinary reality”, and our regular, daily lives as “ordinary reality". In Celtic traditions, we might say “the otherworld”. The language matters less than the distinction.

While some shamanic journeys are embodied, where you do stay in your body and meet with spirits or receive healing in the here and now, this ability to send your awareness into different dimensions and realms of the spirit world is an essential part of the journey practice.

If you want to learn how to take a shamanic journey, you’re in luck! This is a short audio course that will teach you everything you need to know :)

A Shamanic State of Consciousness

A key piece of the shamanic journey is altering your consciousness.

There are many ways you can alter your consciousness for your journeys — drumming, meditation, breathwork, psychedelics… 

Some shamanic cultures rely heavily on mind-altering substances (such as the Evenki of Siberia or many South American groups), some rely more on sound (such as völvas of Nordic traditions), and still others rely on extreme conditions (such as a sweat lodge). 

Each approach has its own benefits and drawbacks, and it’s worth exploring what feels right for you. With so many ways to shift your brainwaves and prepare for journeying, there is absolutely no need to use any special ceremonies or materials from other cultures that you do not have permission to use. 

Benefits of the Shamanic Journey

So, now that you have a better idea of what shamanic journeying is, let’s talk about some of its benefits — in other words, why is this such an important practice? 

Shamanic journeying brings us into direct contact with spiritual healing, guidance, and wisdom. It helps us access more than the physical dimensions of reality, which builds personal power that transcends all levels of reality. It’s also a great way to cultivate intuition and self trust.

I believe it is vital that we reclaim the practices and wisdom of many shamanic pathways and practices in order to survive the challenging times we live in — and the shamanic journey is the perfect entry point.

Shamanism helps us cultivate a strong relationship with helping spirits and the Earth, access our own inner wisdom, and commune directly with spirit…For anyone who values spiritual sovereignty, shamanism is a true gift. 

Here are the top benefits of having a shamanic journey practice.

cosmos

Shamanic Cosmology 

You should now have an idea of what shamanism is, what a journey is, and why you might take one. 

Now it’s time to go deeper into the structure of the spirit realms from shamanic perspectives — in other words, what is shamanic cosmology?

The most foundational concept to understand is that there is more to reality than our physical, 3D world.

While every shamanic culture and cosmology is different, most seem to have a basic framework that looks something like this:

  • We live in a physical world — you know what this is ;)

  • There are many energetic dimensions that we don’t usually experience with our physical senses — these dimensions include everything from the energetic foundations that include our chakras and meridians, to alternate realms where fairies and bigfoot might live.

  • There are purely divine realms — these are where only love exists, we tap into oneness, and meet pure benevolent beings.

Even though this basic framework has three parts, it’s not to be confused with the “three world model” of shamanism. This model primarily comes from the core shamanic work of the Foundation for Shamanic Studies and organizes non-ordinary reality into upper, middle, and lower worlds:

  • The Lower World usually appears a lot like our regular world does — but with even more beauty and awe-inspiring landscapes or features. It’s a divine realm filled with only benevolent beings and healing energy — there is nothing to worry about or protect yourself from in the lower world.

  • The Upper World is a lot like the lower world, though it often appears more etheric, angelic, or celestial. Like the lower world, the Upper World is only home to helpful beings and energies.

  • The Middle World is the realm of our everyday reality — it’s where we live here and now. But, by traveling the Middle World with an altered consciousness, we can explore more of its dimensions. 

One of the reasons the three-world model became so popular in Western core shamanism is that it’s said to reflect the similarities of shamanic and indigenous cultures throughout the world…but this isn’t really accurate. My guess is that many of the early anthropologists who popularized the three world model were actually being subconsciously influenced by their own Christian cultures here. You can learn more about this framework and some alternatives in this article.

Shamanic Spirit Guides

One of the main reasons you would take a shamanic journey is to communicate with the spirit world and all the myriad beings who reside there.

Some of these spirit beings are neutral, some are malefic, and some are helpful. Just like there are all types of people in the world, there are all types of spirits in the otherworlds. 

Spirit beings who are close to you, who you have a relationship with, are considered to be part of your spirit team. These types of spirits go by many different names — some of the more common ones you’ll hear are helping spirits and spirit guides.

There are infinite types of spirits who will be your helpers or who you might meet in the spirit realms — entire encyclopedias have been written on this! For now though, here are a few broad categories to get you started:

  • Power animals and spirit animals

  • Angels — including our own guardian angels

  • Deities — gods, goddesses, and ascended masters

  • Planetary gods — including the Sun, Moon, and Earth

  • Spirits of nature — including those we can see, like trees and rivers, and those we can’t, like spirits of the land and fae

  • “Mythical” beings who actually live in other realms — dragons, unicorns, and more

  • Starbeings from other planetary systems

  • Ancestors — our own and collective wisdom keepers

  • Spirits of place — our homes, the land, cities, and more

  • The elements

  • Your own higher self

  • Deceased loved ones

  • And so many more!

Initiations

If you’re called not just to the shamanic path, but to serve as a shaman (even if you don’t call yourself one publicly), you will encounter initiatory experiences along your journey.

The most well-known are near death experiences (NDEs). You will encounter this type of story in the history of the most authentic medicine people and shamans throughout the world. One of my teachers, Sandra Ingerman, has been struck by lightning and experienced more than one NDE. Another good friend who quietly slips shamanic healing into her Internal Family Systems practice had a profound NDE from a rock climbing fall. 

In modern times, I’ve found that experiencing multiple dark nights of the soul is often part of a shaman’s formation. Facing the dark, experiencing the death of faith, again and again teaches you how to navigate the shadows and return to the light. (This has certainly been my path.)

Other initiations can be more intentional. Vision quests, challenges, and intensive ceremonies are found throughout the world. 

What seems to be a constant thread throughout all initiations is the theme of dismemberment. What you believe to be true about yourself and who you are is knocked down. Then, through the work of re-membering your truth, the mantle of the shaman may be received.

Shamanic Healing

Shamanism is not purely a spiritual path — it’s a healing one. If you’re connecting with nature and talking to spirits that’s all well and good…but in order for your practice to be considered shamanic, it needs to have a healing focus.

So what does “healing” mean in this context?

When shamanic practices originated in early peoples throughout the world, the concepts of “healing” and “spirituality” weren’t really separated like they are today. With shamanism, we reweave these elements back into coherence.

Shamanic healing refers to cultivating wellness on every level of our beings — spiritually, energetically, mentally, and physically. As a holistic practice, it also sees these areas as intimately connected: When we heal spiritually, we find physical results. When we heal mentally, our energetic body responds.

Yet healing in this case does not refer only to what we would think of as “health”. Healing is restoring wellness, personal power, joy, and agency throughout our lives. Healing is the ability to tend all of your life circumstances in order to self actualize, to live the life your soul came here to live.

And healing can happen on the level of the personal, or interpersonal if you are serving as a healer. It can happen on community and collective levels. And it can happen in service of the Earth, future generations, and even the cosmos as a whole.

The important part is that moving ever closer towards true wellness, towards seeing the spiritual light in all things, is part of your shamanic practice.

What causes illness from shamanic perspectives?

If healing is such an integral part of shamanic practice, what causes illness in the first place?

In line with shamanism’s broad definition of healing, illness also has a more expansive meaning. Illness can be thought of as any sort of imbalance — so everything from being literally sick or injured, to experiencing a series of unfulfilling relationships, to not feeling connected with a sense of purpose can be considered shamanic illness.

On a fundamental level, illness comes down to two things: either something is present that shouldn’t be there, or something is missing that should be there.

What could be missing? In shamanic thought, this would be your personal power or soul essence. I also believe that missing our natural, intimate relationship with the natural world is a part of this.

What could be there? Foreign energies or entities, thoughtforms, curses, entanglements, and cords to name a few things. I would also put twists or obtrusions in your energy body into this category.

Here’s a helpful guide to five main types of shamanic illness…and how we heal them.

Techniques for Healing

I’m sorry to disappoint…there is no way I could cover the range of healing methods offered by different shamanic cultures throughout the world here. Spirit is endlessly creative, and given that shamanic healing happens in partnership with spirit, there are literally infinite healing methods that can be used for healing. 

In my own healing sessions with clients, I’m constantly given new techniques I’ve never used before, so that each person receives the perfect healing for their unique needs.

But…there are a few practices that have become pretty popular among practitioners in the modern Western world, including:

  • Power Retrieval

  • Soul Retrieval

  • Extraction

  • Cord Cutting

  • Curse Unraveling

  • Psychopomp

  • Depossession

  • Transfiguration

Read more about these shamanic healing techniques in detail.

In addition to these techniques, I’ll perform various kinds of energy healing, work with sacred aromatics, and offer guided journeys and visualizations during my shamanic healing sessions. For my longer term wild alchemy coaching clients, I’ll even bring in magical spells, ceremonies, and rituals.

Tools of the Trade

The tools of shamanism are as diverse as the cultures who use them. (You’re probably sensing a theme here…)

That said, there are a few general types of “tools” that are worth mentioning.

Altars

Altars are intentionally created vignettes that hold a particular energy and serve a particular purpose. You might create an ancestral altar, a healing altar, an altar for an event, or an altar to a deity. 

Depending on the tradition you practice in, your altar might have representations of the elements, statues of deities and helping spirits, pictures of ancestors, crystals, fresh water, shells, plants, and more. 

Crystals & Stones

Most shamanic cultures recognize the healing properties of crystals and stones. These might be placed on altars, used in energetic grids, or given to people to anchor a particular medicine in their field. They might also be allies in physical form, ones that you can hold and communicate with through the shamanic journey.

Animal Parts

From feathers and wings to fur and bones, most shamanic cultures work with parts of animals for various purposes. Feathers might be used to disperse smoke or cleanse your energy field. Bones and shells could be thrown for divination. Furs would be worn to bring some of the spirit of that animal into your own being. 

This is because animals are such integral allies on the shamanic path. As mentioned before, they are our kin and sources of great power for the shaman.

What’s important to remember is being in right relationship with our animal kin. Objects made from animals have no good power — and might even bring curses — if they are not obtained in ethical ways, which usually means they were gifted by the animal itself.

I have many gifts from animals in my shamanic studio — snake skins and shells, dozens of large and beautiful feathers, bowls of bones and skulls. And I found every single one on my hikes and walks. 

When you show up as ally for the animals, they will respond by giving you exactly what you need.

feather from nature

The Drum

The drum has become almost emblematic of shamanism — and for good reason. It’s the rhythmic beat of the drum that can so effectively and safely shift our consciousness and call in the spirits. 

The most common type of drum used in shamanism is the hoop drum, a handheld framed drum beaten with a mallet. 

The drum itself is seen as alive and animated. When I teach shamanic workshops, I see the spirit of my drum guiding my students into the otherworlds for their journeys.

For this reason, many practitioners like to have drums made from particular animal hides, as the medicine of that animal can be imbued into the drum.

I actually prefer synthetic Remo Buffalo drums. These are cruelty free and more durable — you don’t need to worry as much about moisture or temperature changes affecting the sound of your drum. Plus, I know my Remo still has a beautiful spirit!

shaman drum

The Rattle

Like the drum, a rattle is a core tool in shamanism. The sound of the rattle can be used to clear spirits and shake up stagnant energy, and it can be used to call in spirits for healing work.

The materials your rattle is made with can also impact the way you use it. I made one of my rattles myself, with buffalo hide and a juniper wood stick. It’s filled with small crystals and dried seeds, and calls in abundance and blessings whenever I use it.

I purchased another rattle from an Alaskan native who was apprenticing with a master rattle maker. It’s filled with obsidian and is incredibly powerful for clearing foreign energies.

Aromatic Smoke

Sacred smoke is central to my personal shamanic practice. The spiritual use of smoke is common to every culture on Earth…so there must be something to this magic, right?

Smoke contains both the chemical constituents and spiritual imprints of our plant allies. Like sound, it can call in benevolent spirits and disperse more negative energies. Plus, the aroma of smoke itself can help shift our consciousness into altered states.

Smudge sticks, smoke bundles, and woods, are common types of burnables — and there’s more to these than white sage and palo santo!

The white sage bundles and palo santo sticks traditionally used by many native tribes have both become so popular that they are now considered to be threatened species. Fortunately, just about any aromatic plant can be burned for fragrant smoke. Cedar, juniper, and other evergreens are wonderful, as are the many herbs found in our gardens. Great Western Sagebrush, artemisia tridentata, is an abundant and effective wild alternative to white sage.

From the temples of ancient Sumeria to modern day Japan, incense is burned as offerings to spirit. Some types of incense are more complex, made with finely ground woods, resins, and aromatic plants and oils. Others are more straightforward — simple resins burned on charcoal briquettes. Either way, the smoke from incense fulfills the same roles as the smoke from smudging.

In my personal practice, most of my burnables come from my own wild travels. I hike through alpine mountains sustainable gathering wild plants for smoke bundles, often supplementing with my own garden grown herbs. I collect resins fallen from local trees to make my own incense blends. 

Every morning, I offer smoke blessings to all the spirits who fill my life. Every time I meditate, I use sacred aromatics.

sacred aromatics

Other Plant Allies

The plant kingdom holds a central place in most shamanic cultures. 

Medicinal teas provide physical and soulful healing. 

The energetic benefits of plant allies are shared through vibrational remedies.

Plant brushings clear our energy field.

Ingesting plants, both psychedelic ones and not, can shift our state of consciousness.

Aromatic oils alter our bodies, affect our minds, and call in the spirits.

Dried plants, such as corn and tobacco in the Americas, make offerings to spirit.

Trees are wisdom keepers we can journey to for guidance.

Wild foods attune us to our own wild natures.

Even houseplants help keep the energy of our homes fresh and high vibe.

Every part of life is made better with plants, and shamanism is no exception.

red flowers

Shamanism in Daily Life

A spiritual practice, a healing method, and a way of life — shamanism is all of these things. So what does it mean to life a shamanic lifestyle?

First and foremost, a shamanic life is lived in partnership with spirit. You don’t just meet with your spirit guides when you need something, and you don’t wait for special ceremonies to pay attention to them. Everyday is lived with knowledge and recognition of the myriad beings that coexist with you.

These relationships are founded on reciprocity, and offerings are a beautiful way of acknowledging your connection with the more than human world — whether you begin your day by greeting the sun, or offering smoke and prayers to your kin, or leaving sweets outside for the fae. 

Regular ritual and ceremony are also elements of a shamanic lifestyle. While the daily rituals that make life more magical are important — blessing your food, sitting in meditation — it’s important to have larger and more momentous ceremonies on a regular basis.

Rituals and ceremonies can be held to mark significant occasions, for healing, for manifestation, and many other intentions. Clean yourself and your space, call in the support of spiritual beings and the elements, and know that your actions are elevated from the grind of everyday life.

Find 5 of my favorite rituals here.

Living with the rhythms of nature is another key part of a shamanic way of life. This isn’t always easy in a world that asks us to function more like machines than humans…but even little adjustments make a difference. 

Eating locally and seasonally, tending a garden or connecting with a sit spot, syncing with the cycles of the sun and moon, celebrating the seasonal markers of your ancestors, tracking the shifts in the stars and planets…and most of all, slowing down. These are essential practices for coming into coherence with the natural world.

Finally, living in devotion to something greater than yourself is at the heart of a shamanic way of life. Reverence for spirit, the expression of creativity and beauty all around, the tenacity of the human spirit, love for the Earth, in service of the generations to come…it doesn’t matter what expands your spirit, so long as something does.

What are you for? What is your life in service of? Keep this question close to your heart, and know that the answers will unfold in time.

Are you called to the shamanic path? 

If you’d like to learn more about incorporating shamanic practices into your own life, here are a few resources to support you:

Here, you’ll find everything I wish I had when I started my own shamanic journeys.

You can cultivate your own shamanic skills by taking a self-paced course or live shamanic training.

I also offer a limited number of personal mentorships in the shamanic arts.

Sacred smoke bundles, teas and elixirs, anointing oils, flower remedies, and spiritual perfumes will support your practices.

What else would you like to know? Leave a comment and I’ll add it to the list! 

You might also like:

 
what is shamanism - complete guide
 

ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

about me

Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

free wild alchemy ritual guide

FREE GUIDEBOOK

FREE WORKSHOP

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Shamanism, Spirituality juniper stokes Shamanism, Spirituality juniper stokes

Shamanic Techniques for Healing

 
shamanic tower
 

Spirit is endlessly creative, and given that shamanic healing happens in partnership with spirit, there are literally infinite healing methods that can be used for shamanic healing. And of course, different shamanic cultures have their own traditions here, as well. 

But…there are a few practices that have become pretty popular among practitioners in the modern Western world. If you’re going to see any sort of practitioner trained the core shamanic practices of the Foundation for Shamanic Studies or other well-known practitioners — Sandra Ingerman, Bestsy Bergstrom, Hank Wesselman, and more — there are at least a few types of shamanic healings you can expect to be exposed to. 

Psst, shamanic healing tends shamanic illness, so you might want to check this article out, too!

And of course, I’m writing from my own bias here, as well! I use all of these techniques in my own shamanic practice :) Here we go….

Power Retrieval

In shamanism, power refers to your ability to affect change. This is spiritual power that allows you to take action on your dreams, experience physical vitality, and cultivate emotional resilience.

One of the most common techniques for restoring power is through a power animal retrieval. Your power animals carry gifts, medicine, and power that they can share with you. 

Yet of course, this isn’t the only way to restore power. Plant and stone allies may also be restored, carrying more unique gifts. Power leaks may be stopped. You might even be given rituals or lifestyle shifts to make in ordinary reality in order to cultivate more personal power.

It is your birthright to embody and express your personal power.

Soul Retrieval

When we experience trauma — whether an instant affront or an ongoing circumstance — it’s possible that part of our soul essence may leave as a protective measure. Restoring this essence is an essential part of shamanic healing, and this is done through the art of Soul Retrieval. 

From what I can tell, most cultures have some sort of practice for restoring soul essence. In Taoist alchemy, a combination of acupuncture and anointing can be used to call back soul parts. In modern Internal Family Systems, dialogue can be used to integrate exiles.

In modern core shamanism, practitioners travel the otherworlds in order to find the soul essence that has left. Then, in partnership with helping spirits, they restore this essence by blowing it into your heart. 

Obviously, this is just a simple overview of a very complex practice. If you’re interested in learning more, see my classes on the topic.

Extraction

This is another common practice in shamanic healing sessions. Extraction refers to removing foreign energy that doesn’t belong to you. 

Traditional shamans would often perform extraction with the breath, sucking in and blowing out the foreign energy. This can be quite dangerous for the practitioner unless they are completely filled with power and very experienced…so don’t try this at home ;)

The hands can also be used to obtain and remove foreign energy, and certain tools can assist the process. I’ll often use a large crystal as a magnet to call out foreign energy from the body.

Whatever is removed is then transmuted by the elements. You really don’t want to leave random energies flying around to attach onto someone else!

Cord Cutting

Most of you have probably heard of cord cutting — it’s certainly not unique to shamanism. It is incredibly useful for working on entanglements, though. Whether you’re bound up with another person, a habit, a place, a substance, a belief…cutting the energetic cords that keep you entangled is essential.

Psychopomp

Psychopomp is the art of helping souls cross into the light when they leave their earthly bodies. From the Greek, we use this word as both a verb for the work we do and a noun for those who do this work.

Shamans will bless babies as they are born, and bless and guide the dead as they depart this plane of reality. This is serving as a psychopomp.

Occasionally, souls will get lost or stuck in a realm they don’t belong in, rather than transcending to the next phase of their evolution. When this happens, the shaman serves as a psychopomp, guiding lost souls back home to the light.

Depossession

Sometimes a disembodied spirit being attaches to an embodied living being, like a human (though they can also attach to places and things!). In this case, depossession is called for. Depossession involves separating the attachment from the human and helping it move on.

There are many ways shamanic practitioners engage with the work of depossession. Some do the entire process in the spirit world, almost like performing psychotherapy with ghosts :) 

Betsy Bergstrom has popularized compassionate depossession, which involves having the affected person “give voice” to the attached spirit as part of the separation process.

In Toaist alchemy, I’ll anoint sacred trinities of acupoints with essential oils in order to expel a foreign spirit from the energy body.

Depossession has always been a big focus of mine, and I have a series of articles that go into much more depth with this topic.

Curse Unraveling

Like it or not, curses are real. When intention is somehow funded — usually with a combination of strong emotion and physical materials — that intention can affect ordinary reality, becoming a curse.

Just like all cultures were shamanic at some point, all cultures were cursing at some point. So, most of us experience the effects of curses that have taken root somewhere in our ancestry. And most people continue to give and receive curses without even knowing it in daily life today!

There are many approaches to curse unraveling, and it tends to be one of the more complex shamanic arts — you’ll need to use extraction skills to remove funding, psychopomp skills to free up beings that might be involved, disentangling skills for the energetic webs of the curse…

It’s a lot, but it’s powerful.

Transfiguration

Transfiguration is the art of healing with spiritual light. This word and practice were given to Sandra Ingerman from guides more ancient yet related to the Egyptian Neteru. And yet, it is similar to what we find in modern quantum healing. 

In short, transfiguration is the art of dropping form and becoming one with the light that is the truth of all things. You see the light all around you, and you are the light. 

Of every technique mentioned here, transfiguration is probably the most foundational, impactful practice. Though seemingly simple, if you do nothing else, transfiguration will make a difference. 

Other Techniques

As I mentioned, there is no end to the creativity of shamanic healing. During my sessions I’ll perform various kinds of energy work, bring in crystal grids, work with sacred aromatics, use sound healing, offer divinations, provide energetic attunements, and offer guided journeys and visualizations. Magical spells, ceremonies, and rituals are all part of shamanic healing techniques.


Do you feel drawn to receiving a shamanic healing? Learn more about working with me.

Resources

Want to learn more about shamanism and shamanic healing?

Dive into how shamanic illness works with this free class.

Learn how to take a journey in this mini course.

Find your power animal in this jam-packed workshop.

Deepen your practice with 144 journey prompts.

Join me in person this June! I’m offering a 3-day immersive workshop all about spiritual rewilding, shamanic practice, intuitive development, ritual, ceremony, nature communication…all the good stuff.

You might also like:

 
what happens during a shamanic session
 

ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

about me

Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

free wild alchemy ritual guide

FREE GUIDEBOOK

FREE WORKSHOP

Read More
Shamanism, Spirituality juniper stokes Shamanism, Spirituality juniper stokes

Entering a Shamanic State of Consciousness

 
stone pile
 

I get some funny responses when I tell people that I’m a shamanic healer — and probably the most common one is, “Oh! Like ayahuasca?”

I am all for the psychedelic revival, but let’s get something clear:

Just because someone is using psychedelics, it does not mean that they are practicing shamanism. And just because some practices shamanism, it does not mean that they are using psychedelics.

But of course, psychotropic plant allies have played an important, spiritual role in many shamanic cultures throughout the world — from the ayahuasca popular with psychonauts today, to the amanita used by Tungus shamans (which is where the word even comes from!), to the Dionysian elixirs and fermented wines of old.

I love that plants can play such a supportive role in shifting our consciousness so we may more easily travel the other worlds…and, they are by no means the only way to shift your brain state.

In this article, we’ll look at different ways to enter the altered states of consciousness that are so central to shamanism. 

This topic could be a book in and of itself, but I’ll do my best to share just enough of an overview that you can start to really explore what will work best for you.

Understanding Shamanic Brainwaves

Let’s start by looking at our actual brainwaves. 

Brainwave states are different patterns of electrical activity in the brain, and they are associated with various levels of consciousness. They’re classified based on their frequency, which is measured in Hertz (Hz) — which is why you’ll often see the hertz listed after different types of meditation music tracks. 

Each state is linked to different cognitive functions, behaviors, and experiences. Here are the main brainwave states and what they generally represent:

1. Beta (13-30 Hz): This is the state of normal waking consciousness. Beta waves are associated with active thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, and external focus. Some of the higher beta frequencies can be linked to stress, anxiety, and overthinking.

2. Alpha (8-12 Hz): The alpha state is when you are relaxed but alert. It's often experienced during activities like meditation, daydreaming, and light relaxation. Alpha waves are associated with a calm and creative mental state. You’re present and alert, but not working so hard at thinking — flow states can come in here.

3. Theta (4-7 Hz): Theta waves are present during deep relaxation, meditation, and light sleep, including the dream state (REM sleep). This state is linked to creativity, intuition, imagery, and accessing the subconscious mind. And this is generally what we hope to enter into for shamanic journeying. 

4. Delta (0.5-3 Hz): Delta waves are associated with deep sleep and the unconscious mind. They play a crucial role in physical healing, restoration, and rejuvenation. Accessing the delta state while awake is challenging but can result in profound experiences of unity and oneness. As an aside, I find that combining yoga nidra with shamanic journeying can support entering Delta states.

5. Gamma (above 30 Hz): Gamma waves are associated with high-level cognitive processing, including perception, problem-solving, and conscious awareness. They are often seen during states of heightened focus, meditation, and moments of insight. Gamma waves are still an area of ongoing research, and their exact functions are not fully understood.

The brain is complex and we’re still learning about how these states of consciousness work and overlap. 

In general, I find that people can have helpful shamanic journeys in the alpha state, but their conscious mind might still be quite active. If you can get into the theta state, shamanic journeys often seem deeper and more impactful.

How to Alter Your Consciousness for a Shamanic Journey

So how do we get into these altered states as we prepare to journey? There are many, many ways — and here are just a few. 

man meditation

Meditation

The first and most basic is simply meditation. 

With practice, meditation alone can absolutely bring you into altered states. As you withdraw your attention from day-to-day life and external stimuli, you naturally quiet beta waves and enter into an alpha state. Over time, experienced meditators are able to quiet their minds and enter into theta states, and sometimes very experienced and committed practitioners can enter into theta-delta states.

Certain meditative practices, especially lovingkindness meditation, have even been shown to help people enter into Gamma states. I teach a powerful lovingkindness meditation in this class.

In addition to supporting your ability to enter altered states of consciousness, meditation greatly increases our ability to focus — this is why I recommend that any shamanic journey practice is supplemented with a meditation practice. We’re losing our ability to focus more and more — yet focus is the key to being able to stay in altered states and commit to shifting reality with more advanced practices. 

If you don’t already have a meditation practice, start now! 

floating lotus

Breathwork

Breathwork is another foundational, accessible way to shift your consciousness. By breathwork, I mean any practice that involves conscious control of your breathing patterns to achieve specific physical, mental, or spiritual effects. 

Breathwork can significantly impact your consciousness by influencing your actual physiology as well as your mental states. It can help regulate your nervous system which brings you into calm, relaxed states. And It can influence the levels of oxygen in your bloodstream, which can potentially impact your mental clarity, energy levels, and overall sense of well-being. 

Different breathwork techniques can have different effects on your consciousness and body, and some of them can be quite intense, even overwhelming your system if you’re not adequately prepared for them. In general, simple box breathing or alternate nostril breathing are safe places to start. 

My personal breathwork practice is rooted in traditional pranayama, which I love so much that I’ve completed a teacher training in it. I teach a few of my favorite breathwork practices in this class.

yoga cushions

Yoga Nidra

Yoga nidra (sometimes called “non-sleep deep rest”, or NSDR) could be considered a type of meditation — but like journeywork, it’s so unique and powerful that I want to call it out as a specific and effective way to alter your consciousness. 

Some of my most profound spiritual experiences have come from combining yoga nidra with shamanic journeying — and I’ll share a recorded practice that bridges the two in a future class. 

Yoga nidra is often referred to as "yogic sleep" because it guides you into a state that hovers between wakefulness and sleep. During a practice, you go through a structured meditation that systematically relaxes your body and mind by taking you through the five koshas, or different layers of your being. The idea is that you move your awareness from the outermost layer of the physical body to the innermost layer, which is pure consciousness.

There are tons of yoga nidra practices online these days…and some are much better than others at guiding you to this deep spiritual state. When you have the right intention and guidance, however, this practice is nothing less than magical.

sound healing

Sound

Different sound frequencies, rhythms, and patterns can influence brainwave activity and therefore induce shifts in consciousness. This works in part because of brainwave entrainment — where your brainwaves naturally adjust to an external frequency. 

The drum is one of the most commonly thought of tools for this, and has been used in cultures throughout the world for entering ecstatic or trance states. Most core shamanic workshops in the West use a traditional drumbeat to entrain your brain and body to altered states.

But, in this day and age, we have access to many musical frequencies that can also support entering trance states through entrainment — some people find they have deeper journeys by listening to binaural beats or frequency specific music.

Crystal singing bowls and gongs are often used in sound healing practices, and I find that using these to clear the energy of a room, and attune your energy as well, can be a beautiful addition to a journey practice. 

And finally, there’s your own voice. Your own vocal cords have the power to alter your state of consciousness. Chanting seems to be a nearly universal practice for this — whether you’re using Sanskrit mantras, Tibetan sutras, or Monastic prayers. 

Even simply humming or toning — opening your mouth and letting intuition guide the frequencies you produce — can enhance your ability to enter into and then sustain altered states. 

I love the Norse tradition of Seidr for this. In this oracular shamanic practice, the community sings the shaman — or what would more accurately be called a völva — into the other realms. They continue to sing to hold this container, and then sing the völva back out again. It’s a beautiful practice that’s being revived today, and you might be able to find a circle near you. 

winter sauna

Heroic Efforts

Another traditional way to induce altered states is through extreme, often purgative in some sense, experiences. I call these “heroic” efforts, taken from the language of heroic psychedelic doses.

Here, we can look at anything that puts your body into an extremely stressed state and therefore can induce consciousness shifts — think fasting, ecstatic dance, vision quests, fire walks, and sweat lodges or saunas, for example. 

While some of these individual practices are culturally-specific and not something for just anyone to adopt, like the Sun Dance of Native American plains cultures, it seems that all cultures have some sort of tradition that involves undergoing extreme physical stress to induce altered consciousness. 

While powerful, these heroic type practices clearly have inherent risks and are best done in partnership with an experienced and ethical guide. 

Psychedelics

These heroic practices bring us to the final category, and one that I’m sure draws many people to shamanism — psychedelic substances. 

There is a whole psychedelic revival happening now because of the unique ability of these substances to activate and open our consciousness — ayahuasca, san pedro, and psilocybin being just a few of the more well-known ones. 

And, while many people in the West will immediately think of South American ceremonies when it comes to plant-induced altered states, we can actually trace this practice back through many cultures. It’s likely the Oracle of Delphi used psychedelic substances to enhance prophecy, and many scholars feel that Eleusinian Mysteries centered around mind-altering substances, as well.

Psychedelics can be amazingly effective for enhancing the shamanic journey, but there are a few things to know if you’re drawn to working in this way:

First, I believe that it’s important to form right-relationship with the plant spirit before ingesting or using it. 

This is a bigger topic, but in general, you’ll feel a calling or knowing that a plant ally is wanting to work with you first. 

Then, you’ll want to make sure that you're working with ethical practitioners, and that the material itself is attained in sustainable, kind, and reverent ways. 

Part of being in right relationship with these plant spirits is avoiding abusing them. Many people enjoy using psilocybin or other substances recreationally, which is fine — but not shamanic. 

Your intention matters when you're on this path, as does your relationship with the spiritual allies who support your journeys. With shamanism, you enter into relationship with psychedlic substances with reverence and respect, not just for entertainment. 

Second, the type of journey you might experience with these substances is quite different from the ones you enter into through meditation or sound. 

In general, you’ll have much less agency within psychedelic assisted journeys, and it can feel more like you’re just along for a wild ride, even at lower doses. There’s a time and place for both types of journeys for sure — this is just something to consider. 

 

A note on non-plant psychedelics

You might notice that I only mentioned plant allies here. I know that many people are interested in kombo, which is obtained from frogs, and other manufactured substances like MDMA. 

Personally, I’m drawn to the spirit of a substance in addition to its chemical properties, so my interest is much more on the allies we find in the natural world. I really can’t speak much to lab created substances for shamanic practice, but I know they’ve helped many people in other ways. 

As for kombo, again — it’s important for us to be in right relationship with all allies, and I feel there’s even more care needed when it comes to our animal kin. The cultures who traditionally work with kombo have been doing so for thousands of years, and there is an established karmic agreement between the people and the frogs that supports both parties. When colonialism  and capitalism enter into this equation, things can shift. 

If your “medicine” is obtained from the suffering of another living being — and this goes for plants and animals — it will not serve your soul healing. Be very careful if you explore this area.

 

Honorable Mentions

I know I said that psychedelics were the last category, but I do have a few honorable mentions ... .our non-psychedelic plant allies, as well as the crystal kingdom. 

Plants and stones are invaluable allies in many ways, and helping us subtly and safely shift our consciousness is one of their greatest gifts. 

Plants have been ingested — through teas, foods, and smoke — for various healing purposes for as long as humans have been around. Sipping a tea that calms your nervous system or burning fragrant resins that clear the mind can absolutely support your shamanic journey practice. 

Aroma has been used in spiritual ceremonies for millenia because of its ability to bypass the conscious mind. Flower and crystal essences work at vibrational levels and shift your energy field to allow for deeper spiritual communion. Placing crystals on the body or in intentional grid formations can also open you to greater connection with the spirit world. 

Final Thoughts

So there you have it — the many, many ways to alter your consciousness and deepen your shamanic journeys: meditation, breathwork, sound, heroic experiences, psychedelics, and plant or crystal allies. 

And of course, you can layer these practices on one another for even greater effects. Beginning with some breathwork or a yoga nidra practice, anointing yourself with sacred oils and aromas, and then listening to the beat of a drum can lead to truly magical journeys.

Which of these have you tried? And which are you drawn to experimenting with in your own practice? 

Resources

If you’re just getting started with shamanic journeying, I go into more depth with all of this my mini course, The Art of the Shamanic Journey.

This course is included with paid subscriptions to my Substack, The Mythoanimist Path. Subscriptions are only $5 per month, and you can totally binge the entire 7-lesson course in one month if you want :)

The absolute best way to go deeper with these teachings and more is to join me in person this June! I’m offering a 3-day immersive workshop all about spiritual rewilding, shamanic practice, intuitive development, ritual, ceremony, nature communication…all the good stuff.

Early bird registration ends April 19th and there are a few spots left! 

You might also like:

 
How to alter your consciousness for shamanic journeys and healing
 

ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

about me

Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

free wild alchemy ritual guide

FREE GUIDEBOOK

FREE WORKSHOP

Read More
Shamanism, Spirituality juniper stokes Shamanism, Spirituality juniper stokes

Um…maybe it’s not your intuition (How to tell true guidance from mind chatter)

 
river
 
 

Have you ever sat down to do a bit of meditation, journeywork, or intuitive practice…and as soon as you close your eyes, your mind is flooded with images? 

Images that go by so fast you don’t know how to interpret them. Images that seem frightening or stressful. Images that are just plain confusing…

While assisting Sandra Ingerman during one of her workshops on intuitive development, I facilitated a breakout room for folks to explore their journey experiences.

One woman shared that when she entered the journey, dozens of images flashed through her mind, and t she didn’t know what to make of them. She wondered if she could trust what came through since it was so immediate.

First thought, best thought, right?

This was the consensus of the group. Everyone piped in with “Yes! Trust yourself, trust what you see. Maybe you work fast. You can do this!”

I expected this reaction. In nearly every shamanic or intuitive development course I’ve attended, the refrain is the same: Trust your intuition. No, you aren’t making it up. This is how spirit communicates with you!

And this messaging makes sense…to an extent.

Probably the number one hurdle when it comes to cultivating your intuition is doubt. Our society values evidence-based results, the scientific method, and logical explorations of our challenges. 

Most of us live in our left brains and have been enculturated to doubt anything beyond our ordinary 3D reality. It truly is an ongoing process to rewild ourselves back into right relationship with our inner knowing.

But…. (you knew this but was coming, right?)

This approach ignores the fact that our minds constantly create millions of thoughts all the time that have absolutely nothing to do with our intuition. 

We do our students and ourselves a disservice when we ignore the very real possibility that it’s actually not your intuition this time.

Of course, this makes intuitive development tricky. How do you know the difference? 

There’s no simple answer to this question. Like I said, it’s a process. Fortunately, understanding just a bit about what might be happening instead of your intuition is a good first step. 

Is it intuition, or a purge?

Let’s go back to the woman in Sandra’s workshop. Maybe her intuition really was coming in quickly. Or maybe, she was experiencing a “purge”.

Our minds are so full and capable that they have a hard time shutting off. And we live in a world where we are constantly bombarded by information.

If you don’t create space for all this input to flow, it’s almost as if it gets dammed off and stuck in your mind. Then, when you finally do sit down for some sort of meditative practice, it bursts through the floodgates all at once.

The result? You’re immediately flooded with quickfire images and thoughts — even if you’ve set the intention for spiritual communion. Generally, once this influx if mental activity has a chance to move through your awareness, your mind can calm down enough for true insights to come through.

This phenomena is really easy to take care of by — you guessed it — meditating. 

The more often you create space for thoughts to flow through your awareness, and the more you cultivate the ability to focus and quiet your mind at will, the easier it will be for you to more quickly and intentionally access your intuitive guidance.

Related to the purge above is a different kind of purge — a purge of psychic material. 

Just as we all pick up on physical gunk as we go throughout our days, we pick up on energetic gunk, too.

A lot of this is your run of the mill dense energy, negative thought forms, and collective psychic activity that gets lodged in your own energy field. 

When this happens, the first images you receive are often the result of psychic processing. Just as information needs to move through your mind, foreign energies need to move through your psyche.

This is totally normal, and as before, simply allowing it to happen usually creates space for you to receive true information. 

Just as meditation helps keep our minds ready for spiritual practice, a good energy hygiene routine can help keep your psyche ready for intuitive insights.

Remember your negativity bias.

Humans were gifted with a lovely little mental trick called the negativity bias. And thank goodness! The mind’s natural tendency to focus on and remember negative experiences has played a major part in the survival of our species.

I’m pretty sure that my personal negativity bias is on steroids.

Every time a loved one simply goes to the grocery store, my mind creates a story that they’ll get in a horrible crash, or there will be an active shooter, or the apocalypse will suddenly happen and they’ll have to trek back to me (without groceries!) while I wonder if they’re alive…

Seriously — that’s just a taste of the amazingly awful stories my mind creates for me. 

(As my partner once said, in response to another one of my disproportionate fears about daily life, “If that were true, every other person would be an ambulance driver.” He’s good for me.)

Learning how to discern a fear that’s been programmed into your mind from a real intuitive warning comes down to understanding your nervous system. This takes time, practice, and a lot of self-knowledge.  

When it comes to spiritual practice, however, you have an advantage: Effective spiritual practices usually have nervous system regulation built in.

Take time for a body scan, breathwork, or visualizations that help you come into a state of calm. Practice bringing your brain into a meditation state with binaural beats, a drumming track, or even sacred fragrances. 

When you combine this somatic work with clear intentions and prayers, you are much more likely to receive true guidance rather than fear-based stories.

Does this mean you’ll never receive scary guidance? Not at all. But when it comes through, you will feel your own power to respond in a healthy way, rather than the panicked kind of response you’ll get from the negativity bias.

To really trust your intuition, you must know yourself.

Everyone has different intuitive strengths and weaknesses. Different ways of caring for their nervous systems. Different ways of receiving and discerning information. 

The more you get to know your own uniqueness, the more you’ll naturally know when to trust what arises intuitively.

Whenever I teach on this topic, I share a few keys for unlocking your intuitive gifts:

  1. Know your clairs. The “clairs” are different sensory ways we can receive intuition. You need to learn not only which ones are strongest for you, but the unique ways they work together for you to really understand your intuitive guidance.

  2. Know your symbolic language. Sometimes we’ll get lucky and intuitive insights come through like a how-to guide for your life. Quite often, however, insights come through symbols and metaphors. The more you know how to interpret your personal dictionary of symbols, the easier it will be for you to receive intuitive messages.

  3. Know that you actually are imagining everything. And this is a good thing! Imagination is absolutely one of the languages of spirit and our own subconscious. When you’ve done the prep work to tend your nervous system, clear your mind and psyche, and set your intentions, you may very well “imagine” the intuitive guidance you need.

Resources

If you’re just getting started with shamanic journeying, I go into more depth with all of this my mini course, The Art of the Shamanic Journey.

This course is included with paid subscriptions to my Substack, The Mythoanimist Path. Subscriptions are only $5 per month, and you can totally binge the entire 7-lesson course in one month if you want :)

The absolute best way to go deeper with these teachings and more is to join me in person this June! I’m offering a 3-day immersive workshop all about spiritual rewilding, shamanic practice, intuitive development, ritual, ceremony, nature communication…all the good stuff.

Early bird registration ends April 19th and there are a few spots left! 

You might also like:

 
Um...Maybe It's Not Your Intuition (how to tell true guidance from mind chatter)
 

ASTROLOGY | RECIPES | REWILDING | SACRED AROMATICS | SHAMANISM | SPIRITUALITY | WELLNESS

about me

Juniper Stokes is a certified coach, mythoanimist guide, alchemist & artist.

free wild alchemy ritual guide

FREE GUIDEBOOK

FREE WORKSHOP

Read More
Spirituality, Shamanism juniper stokes Spirituality, Shamanism juniper stokes

Am I making this up? (And other common shamanic journey mistakes)

Have questions about your shamanic journey practice? Facing some obstacles? Wondering if you’re doing it right? These are the top 7 mistakes I see people make when it comes to taking a shamanic journey.

 
 
sacred geometry
 

Shamanic journeying is a practice that brings us into direct contact with spirit. It allows you to travel to different dimensions of our reality and various spiritual realms, communicate with spirit helpers who love you, and clearly access the wisdom of your own higher self.

Sounds amazing, right?

It definitely can be. But most people encounter some stumbling blocks along the way.

When you’re just getting started, you might feel a little confused…wondering if you made everything up, or did it right, or can trust what came through.

At other times you might feel really frustrated or disappointed, like nothing happened and you just can’t do it. 

This is normal. All of these experiences are normal. And none of them mean that you’re special or more of a natural, or that you're not good enough, or that you can’t do it. 

The truth is that a million things can affect our shamanic journey experiences. 

Even experienced journeyers encounter obstacles sometimes. It could be as simple as the time of day was off, or you were feeling too distracted. Or, maybe something that seems totally unrelated was getting in the way, and the next time you try it will go so much easier (or vice versa!). 

Ebbing and flowing with the intensity and clarity of your journeys is normal, especially at the beginning. 

Give yourself grace and know that spirit has your back, even if things feel challenging at times. 

Over the years, I’ve taught hundreds of students and clients how to journey successfully, and I’ve seen the same questions arise again and again. Let’s look at some of the most common obstacles that arise when you’re exploring the world of shamanic journeying.

7 mistakes people make when taking a shamanic journey

 
 

1. You think that you’re making everything up

One of the most common questions I receive around journeying is...How do I know if I’m imagining it or if it’s real?

Here’s the thing—it’s always both. Imagination is the language of spirit. So yes you’re imagining it, and yes it’s real. 

Of course, this can be hard to believe because our very creative minds imagine horrible things all the time. We have that lovely negativity bias to ensure our survival, so not everything our brain comes up with is real, clearly.

The key with your journeys is your intention and your state of consciousness. This combination—setting the intention for spiritual guidance and shifting into a calmer brainwave state that supports spiritual insight—ensures that you can trust whatever comes through. 

But this doesn’t mean that what comes through will make sense right away, which leads us to the next important point around our journeys—spirit also communicates through symbols. 

2. You take your journey too literally

One of the biggest mistakes beginning journeyers make is trying to take what happens in their journeys literally. 

For example, you might see yourself writing a book. Does this mean you’re supposed to write a book? Maybe. Or maybe it means your guides want you to look at your life story like a book, focus in on a particular chapter, or change the story you tell about your past. 

Wondering how to learn your own symbolic language? Here’s the thing—shamanism is a results-based practice. 

If you’re worried you're making things up, or you don’t know what something means yet, wait and see what happens! Do you feel better afterwards? What happens if you follow the guidance you receive? 

open book dark background

3. You haven’t found the best way to alter your consciousness yet 

Another common obstacle people encounter has to do with your unique style of journeying and getting into a shamanic state of consciousness. 

Maybe you listened to a drumming track, but you actually need breathwork to help shift your awareness. Maybe you laid down, but moving and dancing would work better. Some people have a much easier time staying in their bodies rather than sending their awareness out, as well, so this is another style to explore. Just keep experimenting, and eventually you will find what works for you.

4. You haven’t found the right length of time for your journeys.

Related to finding the journey style that works for you is finding the length of journey that works for you. 

Some people simply need more time to move through the arc of the journey, and they continue to go deeper and deeper. Others might find that they lose concentration if the journey goes on too long, getting their best insights right away. Again, there’s no right or wrong way here—just another element to experiment with.

5. You expect the journey to be like watching a movie

The next obstacle that might arise comes from expecting the journey to be like a movie rather than fully experiencing it through all your senses. This can take practice, as we’re all trained to passively consume information and entertainment in this way. 

But the more effort and intention you can bring to engaging all of your senses and feeling yourself experiencing vs watching the journey, the clearer and deeper your journeys will become.

projector in dark room

6. You need to learn how to work with your unique intuitive gifts.

At this point, I think it’s really important to mention that we all have different intuitive strengths related to our senses, as well. Some people have a really hard time visualizing but can feel energy shifts in their bodies. Others see perfectly clearly but struggle to hear anything. 

All of us have some intuitive senses that are stronger than others—and all of us can strengthen every intuitive sense. 

I call these the clairs. Here’s a quick breakdown:

  • Clairvoyance—seeing

  • Clairaudience—hearing

  • Clairsentience—feeling

  • Claircognizance—knowing

  • Clairolfaction—smelling and tasting

Obstacles in our journeys can arise when we expect to see things, but we’re actually much more clairsentient, or vice versa. And to be fair, it can seem a lot harder to interpret journeys that are mostly clairsentient or felt, rather than laid out in a visual and auditory story. (I have some tricks to help with this though, which I share in my intro classes!)

Look back at your own journey. Which senses felt strongest to you? If you thought that nothing happened, maybe there were actually feelings that came up for you to explore. Or maybe you had “thoughts” come out of nowhere that you assumed were distractions, but are actually your claircognizance! Give yourself time and freedom to explore here.

7. You’re taking things too seriously.

There’s one last obstacle I want to touch on, and this one is really important: Taking your journeys too seriously!

Yes, this can be serious work. But it’s also lighthearted and joyful! True shamans, and great spiritual teachers from all paths, are always laughing! 

Laughter neutralizes our perfectionist tendencies and joy elevates our spirits. Can you bring more levity to your practice? Your helping spirits are already giggling with delight waiting for you to join them. 

 
snake icon
 

Resources

Which of these obstacles have you encountered in your own journeys? Know that you aren’t alone, that your experience is normal, and that you absolutely can cultivate strong, clear journey skills over time.

Want to develop your own journey practice? 

If you’re just getting started, take my intro course, The Art of the Shamanic Journey.

If you already have a journey practice and want to go deeper, you need 144 Shamanic Journey Prompts.

If you’ve met your spirit animal and want to go deeper, The Spirit Animal Workshop will help.

If you want personal support for your own shamanic practice, you might be a good fit to work with me.

A Shamanic Guide to Illness & Health

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Explore the five main causes of illness from a shamanic perspective―and how to heal them.

In this free workshop, you'll discover:
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  • The 5 types of spiritual illness we all encounter
  • How to know if you're experiencing spiritual illness
  • The surprising ways addressing spiritual illness can impact your life
  • A practice to strengthen your energy field right now

TAKE A POWERFUL STEP TOWARD THE LIFE YOU'RE HERE TO LIVE.

Enter your email to access this 65-minute workshop today!

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    How to take a shamanic journey

    Want to learn how to take a shamanic journey but aren’t sure where to start? This step-by-step guide will teach you how!

    Did you know that I have a whole “Learn Shamanism” resource page??? It has tons of amazing free resources for you :) Check it out here<<<

    What is a shamanic journey?

    Shamanic journeying is a powerful practice that involves entering an altered state of consciousness to connect with spirit realms for insight, healing, and guidance. 

    And, as you might suspect, shamanic journeying comes to us from shamanic traditions. When I use the term “shamanism” I’m referring to something that is a spiritual practice, a healing art form, and a way of simply being in the world. I’m not referring to any specific practices from specific cultures. 

    Every culture on this earth has shamanic roots, and while the mythologies and practices of each culture might look different, all share a few things in common—including the ability to enter altered states of consciousness in order to communicate with the unseen world, forming strong relationships with spirit beings, cultivating a reciprocal relationship with our Earth, and being of service to our communities. 

    As an aside, if you’re interested in diving deeper into shamanism specifically—including the right use of the term and what it really means—I go into much more detail with all of this in my intro to shamanism course. 

    In many ways, we can think of shamanic journeying as a type of meditation—but there are some aspects that set it apart. 

    First is the intention—you’ll generally enter into a shamanic journey with the purpose of transcending ordinary reality and communicating directly with the spirit world. 

    And second is the idea that your consciousness is actually traveling through alternate realms. We generally refer to these realms as “non-ordinary reality”, and our regular, daily lives as “ordinary reality". 

    There’s more to whether or not shamanic journeying is meditation, but these are the basics ;) 

    Note: While some shamanic journeys are embodied, where you do stay in your body and meet with spirits or receive healing in the here and now, the ability to send your awareness into different dimensions and realms of the spirit world is an essential part of this practice—and this is exactly what you’ll be learning how to in this article. 

    white heron

    The Stages of a Shamanic Journey

    Though the nuances and flavors of journeying will vary culture by culture and human by human, the basic process goes through a few stages: 

    First, is preparation—you want to prepare yourself and your space for the journey.

    Next, you alter your consciousness and allow it to cross some sort of a threshold to intentionally enter non-ordinary reality.

    Then comes the journey itself, which will always be a bit different depending on your intentions. 

    And finally is the return—when you once again intentionally cross a threshold back into ordinary reality. 

    After this, some additional integration of your experience could be considered the last stage. 

    So let’s go through each of these stages step-by-step. 

    Stage 1: Preparation

    How do you prepare yourself and your space for your journey? Like most things in shamanism, there isn’t a one-size fits all answer here, but there are a few general tips I’d like to share. 

    1. Create sacred space.

    The first is to make your space a sacred space. By this, I don’t mean throwing out your furniture and turning your living room into a temple. Sacred space comes as a result of our intentions, efforts, and partnership with spirit. 

    In my personal practice, if I’m doing a more intense ritual or larger ceremony, I will physically clean my space and myself as a first step. The physical cleaning and clearing absolutely supports the energetic cleansing of your space. 

    On the other hand, If I’m simply engaging in a daily journey to connect with my spirits, I’ll skip this step (unless things just don’t feel good—always trust your intuition). 

    You’ll also want to make sure that the space you choose is conducive to your practice — so choose somewhere quiet, where you won’t be disturbed, where you feel comfortable enough to really let go and safely alter your awareness.

    2. Enhance your space with sacred aromatics & tend your altar.

    I use fragrance to both clear the energy of my space and call in benevolent allies. 

    Spiritual fragrance is a huge part of my practice and I never skip this, even for my daily journeys. Sometimes I’ll light incense or burn a smudge bundle, sometimes I’ll diffuse essential oils or use a spray, and sometimes I’ll anoint myself with sacred oils. Whatever it is, I just about always use fragrance to shift the energy of myself, my space, and my consciousness before journeying. 

    At this point, if you keep an altar, it’s a good idea to tend and activate it. If you don’t work with an altar yet, no worries. This is something you can learn more about in my intro to shamanism classes. 

    incense

    3. Invocation

    The invocation is the official announcement of your sacred space and the calling in of your benevolent allies and guardians. 

    First, I say out loud “I give thanks that this space now becomes a sacred and protected space.” 

    Then I call in guardians for each direction—I most often work with archangels for protection. But of course, you can use whatever allies you personally feel connected with. Many people simply call in general guardians for each of the four directions and above and below.

    From there, I like to acknowledge the many benefic spiritual beings that I work with, and I invite you to do the same. These might be loving ancestors, spirit animals, spirits of the land, and other deities you feel a connection with. 

    If you don’t have allies to call in at this point—no worries at all! You’ll get to know your personal spirit team over time. The absolute best way to get started if you’re wanting to meet your spirit guides is with this spirit animal workshop.

    4. Set your intentions.

    Once your space is prepared, it’s time to connect with your intention for your journey—this is an absolute must. Your heartfelt intention will dictate everything that follows, even if it’s as simple as saying hello to spirit. 

    While your overall intention will vary from journey to journey, there are a few pieces to be sure to include:

    The first piece of your intention should be that it’s basically a “good, helpful journey”. 

    I always like to begin with a general statement, spoken out loud, that my journey is helpful, that I interpret it correctly, that it unfolds in a good way, and that my practice is in service to all. 

    The next part of your intention should be to cross a threshold into non-ordinary reality. 

    When you’re first getting started, I highly recommend setting the intention to clarify whether you want to enter into the upper, lower, or middle world specifically.

    If you’re just getting started, please start with the upper or lower worlds. These worlds are purely benevolent, and you don’t need to worry about who you might meet or what might happen there, and you can just relax and trust a bit more.

    So, the two pieces of your intention to include are that the journey happens in a good way, and that you cross a threshold into a benevolent realm of non-ordinary reality.

    Beyond that, your overall intentions for the journey can vary and are limitless. You can journey for guidance, healing, clarity…anything!

    man meditating sunset

    Stage 2: Alter Your Consciousness

    Once you’ve prepared your space and set your intention, then it’s time to fully prepare yourself by entering into an altered state of consciousness. 

    There are many ways to do this — from meditative techniques to breathwork to sound to psychedelics.

    The rhythmic beating of a drum is one of the most common ways, as it naturally entrains your brain into a slightly altered state that allows for deeper and easier spiritual explorations. This works whether you listen to a recording, drum yourself, or are able to have someone drumming for you live. 

    As for your posture during the journey, you can experiment with what works best for you. In most core shamanic classes and workshops, people tend to lay on the floor with a covering over their eyes, and this tends to work really well for most people. 

    I often will sit up in a meditative posture during my journeys. Since I meditate regularly and also tend to use my arms a lot when I channel divine beings, this feels natural for me. 

    Still other people like to move or dance during their journeys—or maybe dance to get into an altered state and then lay on the floor. 

    Keep experimenting to see what works best for you. If you're not sure where to start, go ahead and lay on the ground with a light covering or sleep mask over your eyes.

    beautiful river

    Stage 3: The Journey Begins

    Now you’re ready to enter the otherworlds.

    1. Cross a threshold

    You must cross a threshold to begin your journey. In core shamanism, the traditional way to enter into non-ordinary is a two-part process: 

    First, you imagine yourself in a place in nature. This is often somewhere you’ve actually been before—somewhere that always had a special resonance with you or place in your heart. Or, this can be an imagined place—somewhere that has all your favorite parts of the natural world, whether a coastline, forest, high mountain top, vast desert, or country grove.

    Either way, your feelings of being drawn to this place are letting you know that there is a portal to the otherworlds available to you here.

    At this stage of the journey, this place represents a portal within your own consciousness. Imagining this place tells your consciousness that it’s time to travel. Once you can fully imagine yourself in this sacred place, look for something that represents an actual portal that will serve as your threshold into non-ordinary reality. 

    If you intend to go to the Lower World, you’ll look for a way to go down. This often looks like climbing down the roots of a tree, entering a cave or hole in the Earth (much like Alice in Wonderland), or swimming down through a body of water. Some people even like to picture taking an elevator or set of stairs down—you can trust whatever works for you. 

    To enter the upper world, you go up! This might look like climbing a tree and passing through a threshold of some sort–like a thick canopy or layer of clouds. It could be being carried by a bird, or ascending a rainbow. I’ve even had students fly up on a magic carpet! Again, anything goes here.

    You enter the middle world by going out—this might look like stepping through your door or a window, or even through a mist, into the alternate dimensions we live within. 

    No matter where you go, the important thing is that you cross a specific threshold that clearly marks your transition from ordinary to non-ordinary reality. 

    This might not seem like a huge deal, but it's incredibly important. Shamanic journeying is a discipline. Having the discipline to cross this threshold is a key part of cultivating spiritual sovereignty and responsibility. Loose boundaries in the spirit realms have real consequences in our ordinary reality.

    Common outcomes of not having a strong threshold boundary are either you don’t fully enter into non-ordinary reality, so you’re actually processing much more from your egoic consciousness than from spirit consciousness during your journey, or you don’t fully bring your awareness back from non-ordinary reality—which can lead to feelings of light-headedness, spaciness, or just feeling ungrounded.

    As your spiritual practices deepen, your intuitive abilities will naturally expand, as well. Setting strong boundaries at the beginning protects you from being overwhelmed by spirits and their many messages down the road. It’s your responsibility to decide how and when the spirit world communicates with you—and crossing the threshold is the first step to showing that you are a serious student on this path. 

    2. Enjoy the Journey

    Once you’re in non-ordinary reality, the journey really begins. Again, every journey will be different, but there are two tips that will support you every time:

    First, engage all of your senses. There’s a tendency for people to expect to watch their journeys like we watch movies—we’re kind of programmed like this from years of television. It’s important that you are in your journey and experiencing it through all your senses. Feel the air on your skin, smell the fragrances around you, open your ears and enjoy your sight. This often takes practice, but do try to keep bringing yourself into this full sensory experience of the journey. 

    Second, allow space for attunements throughout the journey. An attunement is a simple ritual or ceremony that happens in the journey space that harmonizes your energy with your intentions and your journey experience. 

    For example, if you find yourself arriving in a field or at a temple, ask for an attunement to that place. If you meet a new ally, ask for an attunement to that ally. 

    These attunements can take many forms. If you’re being attuned to a place, you might simply sit on the ground and harmonize with that place's energy. Or, it may be more complex, with spirit beings coming to anoint you with sacred waters and sound healing. If you’re meeting an ally, you might simply gaze into each other’s eyes, or again, it might be a more complex ritual with movements and merging and dancing. Spirit is limitless and so are these attunements!

    3. Return from the journey

    Throughout your journey, the drum will continue to hold space and support your shamanic state of consciousness. When it’s time to return, you’ll hear what’s called a “call back” beat. 

    When you hear the callback, you’ll do two things:

    One, you thank any beings who have been with you during your journey. Finish whatever work is being done or conversations being had, and then say your thanks and goodbyes. 

    Two, you retrace your steps exactly back the way you came. This is part of the discipline of the thresholds. Find that same opening you came through, cross back through that same threshold, touch back at your place in nature, and then use your imagination and intention to bring yourself all the way back into your body. 

    Once you're back in your body, use all of your senses again in the here and now. Take deep breaths. Wiggle your fingers and toes. Look around your space. Listen for the sounds near and far. You might even find it helpful to drink a bit of water or have a small snack to really get totally embodied again. 

    Finally, it’s time to officially close your journey practice. I like to speak my thanks out loud to my all the beings who supported my work and kept me safe and protected. 

    Then I affirm: “I invite those beings who love and support me especially to say with me, and all those beings who were just present for this particular practice are free to go. For our work is done, our parts are done, and we may rest.”

    You can find your own language for this, but officially closing the container is good spiritual hygiene, and something to make a habit. 

    The Complete Arc of the Shamanic Journey

    Okay, that’s it! That’s the whole arc of the journey from beginning to end. This might sound like a lot to remember at first, but I promise, it becomes second nature. In short:

    1. Prepare for your journey by setting your space and your intentions

    2. Put on a drumming track, or play a drum yourself

    3. Imagine yourself in a place in nature

    4. Find a portal to enter and cross a threshold

    5. Engage your senses as you enter non-ordinary reality

    6. Receive attunements to the location your arrive and any helping spirits present

    7. Pursue your intentions and enjoy the journey

    8. When you hear the return beet, say your thanks and goodbyes and retrace your steps exactly

    9. Come back into your body

    10. Officially close the journey practice

    If you’d like support with your own journey practice, I have limited openings for one-on-one support. Learn more.

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    Is shamanic journeying the same as meditation?

    Is shamanic journeying the same as meditation? Yes and no…learn what sets this practice apart!

     
     
     

    Is shamanic journeying the same as meditation?

    This is a question that comes up a lot. And the answer depends on how you define meditation.

    Questions around what counts as meditation at all can be pretty big points of contention amongst seekers…

    Is jogging a type of meditation? Painting? Getting into a flow state? 

    Or is meditation only done in silence? Or by chanting mantras?

    Are guided meditations somehow less meditationy than more “serious” meditation? 

    Where do moving meditations fit into all this?

    I’m not going to answer any of those questions. Because honestly, I’m not that interested.

    I think it’s a lot more interesting to assess a spiritual practice by the results it produces. 

    Are you becoming a more loving, fulfilled, and happy person? Are you kinder, less self-centered, and more present for your life? Do you feel more in your wellness from your practices?

    Rather than trying to define exactly what is or isn’t meditation, let’s look at the differences and effects of our potentially meditative practices…then you’ll know where you want to place shamanic journeying.

    Does your meditation quiet your mind or Activate it?

    Setting aside the idea that flow states are a type of meditation for now…we’re left with two loosely distinguishable schools of meditation: the let’s quiet the mind camp and the let’s visualize camp. 

    The let’s quiet the mind meditation styles might include things like breathwork, mindfulness, focus or concentration practices, mantras and chanting, Zen practices, the golden flower, Vipassana, and transcendental meditation.

    The let’s visualize meditation styles will include mostly guided meditations in a variety of styles—picturing healing light, imagining yourself in a relaxing garden, focusing on what you wish to manifest, meeting with a goddess for insight and guidance, or doing a chakra clearing, for example.

    Note: Though I use the term “visualize” here, this includes all types of intentional perception. Some people simply aren’t visual and experience guided meditations in different ways. That still counts!

    (Are you now thinking, but what about somatic meditation? In my experience, some somatic meditations can have the result of quieting the mind—pranayama and certain body scans for example. While others utilize your visioning powers—chakra scans, yoga nidra to extent, and certain healing techniques.)

    If you want to maintain sovereignty over your own mind in this day and age, some sort of “quiet the mind” meditation is essential. 

    You must cultivate the ability to quiet your mind, focus your attention, and expand your awareness in order to create space for spiritual insight and connection with your authentic self to arise.

    If you go from reading articles and emails online, to scrolling through a few social media sites, to listening to a podcast, to watching a random tv show…to listening to a guided meditation…then your mind never has a chance to rest.

    This onslaught of words is like a drug for our consciousness. It’s a good way to keep numbing out to the spiritual wisdom that wants to come through. 

    And it means that when you do try to actively listen to your intuition, you’re more likely to get distracted or confused by what is a thought and what is guidance.

    Once the foundational ability to create space in your awareness has been cultivated, guided meditations, visualizations, and yes, shamanic journeys, become more impactful.

    These more active types of meditations are usually done with the intention of receiving healing or guidance.

    And let me be clear—visualizations aren’t simple fantasies in your head. When you enter into a meditative state and intentionally engage with visualization practices, you are affecting reality at foundational energetic and spiritual levels.

    Guided meditations and visualization are profound practices for engaging with the spirit world.

    Which is what we do through a shamanic journey.

    Which is why the shamanic journey is, in many ways, a type of mediation.

    So what makes a shamanic journey different from other kinds of guided meditation?

    I love all kinds of visualizations—but there are a few things that, all together, set a shamanic journey apart.

    1. An altered state of consciousness.

    Any good meditation session should alter your consciousness, so this alone isn’t the full definition of a shamanic journey—but it is a key component. For shamanic journeying specifically, the theta state is what we hope to access.

    Most people think of either using the beat of a drum or some sort of psychedelic to get into this brain state, and both can be great. But in reality, any practice that effectively alters your consciousness can be used for shamanic journeying—breathwork, yoga nidra, or even simple concentration practice once you’re skilled enough can all work beautifully.

    2. You journey.

    It’s in the name ;) The idea with shamanic journeying is that you actually go somewhere. In core shamanism, this is called “non-ordinary reality”. In Celtic traditions, it’s known as the otherworld. Quantum perspectives might call this visiting other dimensions of reality. 

    Whatever you call it…you aren’t staying in the here and now. Your consciousness is crossing a threshold into other realms where you have access to both spiritual worlds and more dimensions of existence.

    For what it’s worth, there are two ways you can cross this threshold. You can send your awareness out and travel, or you can bring the threshold into your physical body and “travel” right where you are.

    3. You communicate with spiritual beings, energies, and entities that are not the same as you.

    And I would call your higher self a spiritual being… 

    But I would not classify your parts or your own subconscious as spiritual beings.

    This is important for distinguishing shamanic journeying from other forms of intentional and active meditations…at least I think it is.

    I might change my mind on this one—let me know what you think!

    My general sense is that using shamanic techniques to enter altered states and explore your own subconscious realms is very effective and helpful. But is it journeying? I’m really not sure. It seems more like intentional meditation than otherworld exploration to me.

    Also, I totally get that we’re all really one divine blob…and we’ve incarnated into separate bodies and a little acknowledgement of this level of separation is worth dealing with from our human perspectives.

    Anyway, the jury might be out on this one, but this is the direction I’m leaning in. What are your thoughts?

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      Want to learn how to journey and explore even more nuances of this powerful practice? The Art of the Shamanic Journey is a seven-day audio course delivered via private podcast, so you can listen anywhere at any time :) 

      This course is totally FREE for my paid Substack subscribers. And you can check out the first lesson without a subscription (seriously, you don’t even need to put in an email!) right here. 

      If you already know how to journey, then you know that the questions you ask make all the difference.

      My new book, 144 Shamanic Journey Prompts, will help you explore the otherworlds and so much more. Get it here.

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      Is shamanic journeying a type of meditation? Can it replace a more traditional meditation practice? What makes it different? Explore all these questions and more!
       

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      7 Reasons You Should Take a Shamanic Journey

      So, now that you understand what shamanic journeying is, let’s talk about some of its benefits — in other words, why is this such an important practice? 

       
       
      shaman drum
       

      This article is excerpted from my mini workshop how to take a shamanic journey. If you want to dive into the full course, be sure to click here to learn more :)

      Shamanic journeying is a practice that involves entering an altered state of consciousness to connect with spiritual realms for guidance and healing.

      In many ways, we can think of shamanic journeying as a type of meditation — but there are some aspects that set it apart…

      First is the intention — you’ll generally enter into a shamanic journey with the purpose of transcending ordinary reality and communicating with the spirit world. 

      And second is the idea that your consciousness is actually traveling through alternate realms. We generally refer to these realms as “non-ordinary reality”, and our regular, daily lives as “ordinary reality". 

      While some shamanic journeys are embodied, where you do stay in your body and meet with spirits or receive healing in the here and now, the ability to send your awareness into different dimensions and realms of the spirit world is an essential part of this practice — and this is exactly what you’ll be learning how to do in this course.

      Seven Benefits of Learning How to Take a Shamanic Journey

      So, now that you understand what shamanic journeying is, let’s talk about some of its benefits — in other words, why is this such an important practice? 

      1. Shamanic journeying allows direct communication with the spirit world and your spiritual guides.

      This is called “direct revelation”, which means that you don’t need an intermediary such as a guru or priest to connect you with spirit. You get to meet with spirit directly and form your own personal relationship with spirituality. 

      Shamanic journeying also provides a direct line of communication with your spiritual guides, which might include power animals, ancestors, angels, and other benevolent beings. These guides can offer guidance, wisdom, and insights that can help us navigate life's challenges, make important decisions, and gain a broader perspective on our purpose and life journey.

      And, one of the biggest benefits of being able to communicate directly with your spirit guides is that you realize you aren’t alone. You are loved and supported in every moment, and anytime you begin to forget how divinely important you really are, a journey can help reconnect you with this truth.

      In this way, shamanic journeying is an invaluable step towards claiming your full spiritual sovereignty!

      2. Shamanic journeying helps us work with all levels of reality. 

      Shamanism is rooted in the understanding that there are more dimensions to reality than just our physical one. We also exist in spiritual, energetic, mental, and emotional dimensions — and all of these dimensions influence and impact each other.  

      This is especially helpful for healing: Addressing issues at the spiritual and energetic levels often unlocks the healing energy we need to see physical improvements in our lives. 

      But this goes beyond physical healing to impact your life as a whole. For example, you could perform a ceremony in a journey for blessings and protection on an upcoming trip in this reality. Or you could receive a healing around ending a relationship in your journey, and find that you feel lighter and can more easily move on in your daily life.

      Remember, whatever happens in non-ordinary reality will impact what happens in ordinary reality (and vice versa!). 

      3. Shamanic journeying allows us to bypass our conscious filters to explore our subconscious realms and inner selves. 

      This might help you uncover hidden aspects of your personality; gain a deeper understanding of your thoughts, feelings, and motivations; explore the archetypal energies at play in your life; and find greater healing and liberation through shadow work. 

      This type of journeying can also help us identify and rewire patterns that no longer support us and move through challenging emotions, such as shame or deep grief. But it’s not all shadows in your psyche — your hidden treasures are waiting to be uncovered, too.

      Shamanic journeying is wonderful for helping us see ourselves and our gifts with fresh eyes, which can empower us to make better decisions and embody our true worth.

      4. Shamanic journeying gives you an extra layer of protection. 

      We can influence the world around us, and the world can influence us.

      Sensitive souls are often susceptible to all sorts of foreign energy that doesn’t support our highest good — such as other people’s negative emotions or thought forms, curses and energetic cords, inherited patterns, and beings who are not benevolent.

      Shamanic journeying helps us see what’s been hidden, so we can identify either where we might be leaking energy and giving away our power, or where outside influences might be affecting us in ways that aren’t helpful. 

      If you want to learn more about this, I have a free class on this topic which you can check out here.

      5. A strong journey practice will open and expand your intuition. 

      Even though shamanic journeying helped me realize how naturally intuitive I already was, it also helped me access even stronger intuitive abilities.

      Part of the beauty of journeying is that the more you do it, the more you will see results in your ordinary life — and this helps build confidence. Plus, you can actually receive personal guidance and healings to strengthen your intuition.

      This might include lifestyle changes, supportive tools, or energetic healings — the important thing is that they will be beneficial for you. For example, some people receive clearer guidance if they cut out something like chocolate or caffeine, and others find it makes no difference at all! (Why deprive yourself if you don’t have to?)

      In my own journeys, I’ve been given plant allies to work with that have helped open my third eye. I’ve received etheric acupuncture to allow my psychic abilities to grow stronger. And I’ve been assigned rituals to release fear around embracing my intuitive gifts. Spirit is endlessly creative!

      6. Having a strong foundational practice in shamanic journeying is essential if you want to go on to more advanced shamanic practices.

      This might include things like soul retrieval, extraction or removing foreign energy, curse unraveling, and psychopomp. These practices are powerful — and they are so important to learn if you’re drawn to healing others, your community, and our earth.

      But in order to do them safely and effectively, you must  have strong relationships with your spirit guides and clear intuition that you know you can trust. Journeying is the foundation of preparing yourself for this deeper work. 

      7. Our Earth needs your gifts now.

      We are clearly at a transformative time in history. Things are changing rapidly, and many people feel insecure about their future personally, our future as a collective, and the future of our planet. 

      Yet here you are. Alive and embodied. At this time. For a reason.

      Shamanic journeying allows you to more deeply connect with the spirits of the Earth, so that you can partner with them to co-create a more magnificent future.

      It brings you in touch more deeply and clearly with your own true nature, so that you can access and share your unique gifts, which are so needed at this time.

      And it lets you know that you aren't alone in your efforts. You will encounter countless spiritual allies who are working right alongside us to bring more beauty and love into the physical realms.

      As you deepen your own shamanic journey practice, you will continue to receive healing, insights, and guidance that help you navigate the often challenging times we live in so that you can fully express your medicine in the world.

      This path is one of joy, and I hope that you'll continue to join me upon it.

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      Shamanic Resources

      • Learn more about the how to take a shamanic journey mini class here.

      • Find resources for your practice here.

      • Discover your power animal here.

      • Get on the wait list for live workshops here.

      • Take a free workshop here.

      • Find shamanic healing sessions here.

       
      Shamanic journeying can be a life-changing practice. Here are 7 important benefits of learning how to journey!
       

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      An exploration of the three-world model in shamanism…is it true?

      The "Three World Model" of the spirit realms primarily comes from the core shamanic work of the Foundation for Shamanic Studies and organizes non-ordinary reality into Upper, Middle, and Lower Worlds. But is this accurate? Here’s why this model isn’t as universal as you might have been told.

       
       
       

      This article is excerpted from my mini workshop how to take a shamanic journey. If you want to dive into the full course, be sure to click here to learn more :)

      The Three-World Model of Shamanism

      If you've taken any classes in the core shamanic traditions that we find so often in the West, chances are that you've been taught the “Three World Model” of shamanism. This model primarily comes from the shamanic work of the Foundation for Shamanic Studies, and it organizes non-ordinary reality into Upper, Middle, and Lower Worlds. 

      In this system, the Lower World usually appears a lot like our regular world does—but with even more beauty and awe-inspiring landscapes or features. It’s a divine, earthy realm filled with only benevolent beings and healing energy.

      The Upper World is a lot like the lower world, though it often appears more etheric, angelic, or celestial. Like the Lower World, the Upper World is only home to helpful, divine beings and energies.

      When you travel to the Upper and Lower Worlds, there is nothing to worry about or protect yourself from. These are purely spiritual and divine realms.

      The Middle World is a bit different. It’s the realm of our everyday reality—where we live here and now. By traveling the Middle World with an altered consciousness, we can explore more of the dimensions that exist right alongside us. 

      The Middle World is a little different from the Upper and Lower Worlds in that you’ll encounter both helpful, benevolent spirits…and not so helpful ones. Just like we meet all types of people in the ordinary reality Middle World, we meet all types of spirits in the non-ordinary reality Middle World. 

      This is why discernment—the ability to know whether or not a spirit is benevolent, or a trickster, or occasionally something more malefic—is key when traveling the Middle World realms. 

      When you take a shamanic journey in the core shamanism style, you enter into one of these worlds through a portal or entry point of some sort—and the direction you go matches the world you intend to travel to. You go down to go to the Lower World, up to the Upper World, and out to the Middle World.

      That’s the basic overview of the three world model—but there are a common few points of confusion that I want to look at before we move on. 

      First, it’s important to remember that each of these worlds is home to infinite realms—it’s not like the Lower World is just one place you head on down to—it contains a multitude of layers to explore. 

      Second, once you enter into non-ordinary reality, you can absolutely travel between realms. You’re never just stuck where you land. You can go from the Upper to the Lower to the Middle Worlds and back around again.

      Third, you can meet the same benevolent allies and spirit helpers in all the realms. For some reason, there are a lot of misconceptions in this area—I keep hearing people say that “you meet power animals in the Lower World” and “teachers or guides” in the Upper World. 

      This is silly when you think about it—our spirit helpers are never confined to one place. You can meet power animals, ancestors, angels, tree spirits, elements, deities, healers, teachers, and everyone in every realm, including the Middle Realm. So keep an open mind on your otherworld explorations

      A Wee Critique of the Three-World Model

      One of the reasons the three-world model became so popular in Western core shamanism is that it’s said to reflect the similarities of shamanic and indigenous cultures throughout the world…but this isn’t really accurate.

      When I first started teaching shamanic journeying many, many years ago, I used to follow the lead of my first teachers and use only the three-world model in my workshops. And, being the good and globally minded student I was, I tried to dultifully fit other systems into this model. 

      It was a stretch.

      Yes, the Celtic traditions have earth, sea, and sky realms…but those aren’t the full picture. Yes, the Norse tree of life has roots, a trunk, and branches…but there are nine worlds on the tree and it gets more complex from there. Yes, indigenous tribes throughout the world often have some sort of ancestor realm, earth realm, and celestial realm…but that is never even close to representing the actual complexitities of the wildly diverse cosmologies humankind has created.

      And over time, as I stepped more fully into my own spiritual knowing, I realized that the models we use for non-ordinary reality—what I also call the otherworlds or spirit realms—don’t actually matter. 

      The human mind likes a system. The realm of spirit is far more vast than our human minds can comprehend. So we make up systems that help us understand the ineffable. 

      All systems are facets of truth. No system is full Truth.

      My guess is that many of the early anthropologists who popularized the three-world model were overly, and probably subconsciously, influenced by their own Christian cultures.

      Think about it. The Earth and Heaven connections are pretty obvious right? We live here, on Earth and in the Middle World. Heaven above brings us to the Upper World and all the divine spiritual goodness found there.

      Hell, which clearly correlates with the Lower World, is where I think things get interesting—because in shamanic traditions, the Lower World is a place of immense power. In pre-Christian mythologies we hear tales of gods and goddesses descending into the underworld and emerging with more power than before (look at the legend of the Sumerian Goddess Inanna for a great example of this). 

      What better way to keep people separated from their true power than to keep them scared of the realm where so much power resides?

      I have to at least give kudos to these early anthropologists for recognizing that traveling into the Earth could be a portal to benevolent realms rather than hellscapes. Perhaps this is something you can explore in your own journeys ;) 

      Anyway, the point of all this is that if the three world model that you’ll commonly hear about in core shamanism doesn't quite resonate with you—no worries! 

      One of the things I love most is that shamanism is focused on your personal relationship with spirit. You get to do your own explorations and decide for yourself what resonates and what doesn’t. 

      For now though, take a moment to reflect for yourself: Are there certain models, cosmologies, and traditions you’re especially drawn to? What intuitively just makes sense for you?

      Our personal cosmologies are like divine poems. 

      We could never grasp the fullness and mystery of the otherworlds and spirit realms with our human minds.

      Your cosmology is a poetic reflection of a greater truth. A metaphorical and symbolic expression distilled from cosmic consciousness into a form your human mind can at least somewhat understand.

      There is no right or wrong here. Whatever arises on your journey is the perfect pathway for you. 

      And…this includes the three-world model.

      While I think it’s important to clarify that this model isn’t the universal shamanic cosmology it’s often said to be, I do think it offers a beautiful framework for beginning to explore the otherworlds…and we’ll be exploring the many benefits of this framework in the next classes.

      Your own spiritual landscapes will unfold over time, and exploring these realms is lifelong practice.

      This next bit isn’t from the course, but since I’ll be your guide, I thought it might be nice to know a bit more about where I’m coming from with regards to my personal cosmology:

      1. I think it’s helpful to distinguish our mundane, physical, ordinary reality from other spirit realms.

        I also like the term “consensus” reality, which I use to refer to what the general population experiences as “reality”.

      2. I look at the subtle, energetic layers of our existence as part of ordinary reality.

        The energies that underlie all of existence aren’t supernatural or special—they just are. Your meridians are as much a part of you as your bones. The aura of a tree is as present in our daily lives as its bark. Your consciousness is as impactful as your hands. We’re seeing more evidence of this all the time, so while I think it’s helpful to talk about physical and energetic dimensions separately, I view them both as part of ordinary life in my personal cosmology. 

      3. I see the otherworld as endlessly complex…

        Filled with heavenly realms that are purely divine, shadow realms with mysteries and hidden forces, realms where gods and goddesses or fae or even bigfoot might reside, elemental realms, mythical realms, star being realms…it’s endless. And I have no idea how they’re structured…because I doubt structure even exists in the spirit realms they way it does for us humans.

      4. I think the general idea behind the distinction between the Middle World versus the Upper and Lower Worlds is actually essential.

        Not locationally, but in that we must differentiate between places that are purely divine and benevolent from places that are more complex. We need to know if we’re entering into territory where we might encounter egos, tricksters, or darker energies.

      5. I believe that our relationship with the natural world is the key to unlocking access to all the myriad realms available to us.

        Once you start talking with trees, reading the stars, and meeting the nature spirits who cohabitate with you, a new world of spiritual exploration opens up.

      6. And I believe that my beliefs will keep changing.

        The Great Mystery is all I know for sure.

      What about you? Have you worked with the three-world model before? What are the core components of your personal cosmology? I’d love to hear in the comments.

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        6 Ways to Celebrate the Autumn Equinox

        Today marks one of my favorite turns on the wheel of the year — not in the least because of my triple Libra energy ;) I’m guessing that many of you can relate to our collective craving of autumnal air, cozy traditions, and the beckoning cocoon of the darker half of the year. Here are 6 magical and seasonal ways to celebrate the autumn equinox.

         
         
         

        Joyous blessings for the beautiful Autumn Equinox!

        Today marks one of my favorite turns on the wheel of the year — not in the least because of my triple Libra energy ;)

        I’m guessing that many of you can relate to our collective craving of autumnal air, cozy traditions, and the beckoning cocoon of the darker half of the year.

        And of course, the harvest. Throughout the world, the Autumn Equinox is a time for harvest celebrations — various versions of festivities and music, communal feasts, rituals of gratitude, and offerings to the deities of the land are performed throughout the world as our night dances equally with the day.

        The equinox is also a liminal time — neither summer nor fall, it’s a day in between. A gift of stillness in the fleeting balance of light and dark. 

        And liminal spaces are made for magic. 

        The natural world and the “otherwolds” extend an invitation to deepen our connection with Earth and spirit. Today, we may make magic together. 

        How will you mark this turn of the seasons?

        Here are 6 magical and seasonal ideas for celebrating the Autumn Equinox:

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          6 Magical and Seasonal Ways to Celebrate the Autumn Equinox

          1. Create an autumn altar. 

          Altars are portals that invite specific energy into our spaces. Your autumn altar can welcome the energy and abundance of the season into your home. Traditional additions include squash and grain, especially if they’re from your own garden or a local farmer’s market, as well as wine, fall leaves, and other cornucopia-like decor.

          2. Reflect on the themes of the season. 

          This day of equal light and dark is a beautiful time to reflect on balance in your own life and to practice gratitude for your harvests. Grab a warm beverage, light a candle, find a quiet spot, and journal on the following questions:

          • How can I cultivate a greater sense of internal peace and balance in my life?

          • What would I like to let go of as I move into a new turn of the wheel?

          • What lessons and joys am I harvesting? 

          • What am I most grateful for from this past season? 

          • What are my intentions for the season to come? 

          journal
          fall foods

          3. Bake!

          Celebrate the grains and fruits with a sweet plum bread, embrace the cultural obsession with pumpkin spice, and perhaps make an apple pie…or four ;)

          4. Gather roots. 

          Once the wheel turns to fall, it’s the perfect time to harvest roots (and if possible, aim for the new moon when they have a bit more potency). Whether carrots and beets from a garden or dandelion and chicory from a field, the grounding energy of the roots is exactly what we need right now.

          5. Make a harvest feast. 

          Gather seasonal produce from your gardens and local markets and make a meal you love. This doesn’t need to be anything over the top (unless you want to go all out, which I often do…). 

          Simple roasted vegetables or a cozy soup and rustic bread are more than enough. See if you can go slow here—what happens if you allow yourself just to be with the harvest, rather than push yourself to get a dinner made? Play music, relax, chop, and sing. Get into your body and smell and taste and feel your way to a beautiful meal.

          6. Get grounded. 

          Take a moment to sink your energetic roots into the earth today. Allow our mother to welcome you into her abundant care before the ground freezes and hardens for the winter. See a full grounding ritual here.

          How will you be spending your equinox? Let me know in the comments — I love to hear from you!

           
           

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          Gnome Plant & Meeting the Queen of the Underworld

          On finding an exquisitely rare plant and meeting the gnome queen deep in the earth.

           
           
           

          On a beautiful, sunny July morning in the mountains of Oregon, I made a discovery that would expand my understanding of reality. 

          I had quit my full time job of six years just the month before. Tortured by a pompous prick of a manager and tired of suffering physically as well as emotionally, I finally leapt off the ledge of so-called security and into the void of the unknown. 

          I gave myself the summer to heal (which turned into a year). As much as my mind told me that I would lose everything if I didn’t start making money again right away, my body was forcing me to slow down. 

          And so, on a random Tuesday, free from the responsibilities I was used to, I took myself on a solo hike through a most beautiful forest, hoping that the spirits of nature could help heal my weary soul.

          The hike began in the usual way — a crowded parking lot gave way to quiet trails as I traveled deeper into the woods. 

          I allowed the trees to bathe me in healing terpenes, brushing my hands on lush ferns as I passed. I waded into icy river shores, praying for the healing waters to cleanse away my pain. I greeted every plant and stone and animal and bird, as is my way in the world. 

          And then, I looked down and saw a being I’ve never seen before — a gnome plant. 

          The Rare and Wonderful Gnome Plant

          This beautiful and strange plant is extremely rare, and any encounter with her is a true gift. I believe she remains hidden by choice, revealing her beauty only to those who have demonstrated their heartfelt appreciation and love for the earth. 

          So rare is the gnome plant, hemitomes congestum, that very little is even known about her.

          "The Gnome Plant is so secretive and illusive one is as likely to encounter a forest gnome as see one of these deep forest dwellers." — Reny Parker in Wildflowers of California's North Coast Range (originally cited by Jeanne Jackson)

          She is the only member in her entire plant family, hemitomes, and she exists only on the West Coast of the United States, from California to British Columbia.

          Little is known about the life cycle of this mysterious plant, but we do know that it doesn’t contain chlorophyll, likely feeds on parasitic fungi, and is probably pollinated by a moth of some sort.

          When I encountered this marvelous and mysterious plant, her petals were closed, giving her a distinctly succulent look. Delighted and awed, I snapped a few pictures, offered gratitude, and continued on my way.

          I had thought that this was the end of my gnome plant encounter. It turns out it was only the beginning. 

          The Invitation Deepens

          A few nights later, I found myself wide awake in the middle of the night. Sleep eluded me, so I decided to use the time to journey and take a shamanic trip into the otherworlds. 

          As someone who has been practicing shamanic arts for over two decades, I have usual protocols for my journeywork — set an intention, go through a portal, meet my guides, explore… 

          For some reason though, this time I abandoned my usual process and simply set the intention to travel wherever spirit took me. 

          As soon as my request was sent, a mole appeared. 

          Now, I have dozens of spirit animals I work with, but I had never met mole spirit before! All felt divine and safe, so went with the flow and followed the mole deep into the earth.

          Deeper and deeper. Darker and darker. We were traveling somewhere entirely new for me. 

          Finally, the pressure of the earth around me shifted, and I dropped into a vast underground cavern. As my eyes adjusted, I saw that the walls around me were sparkling—precious minerals and crystals of all sorts glimmered from some source of unseen light.

          Then I saw her. The Queen of the Underworld. The Queen of the Gnomes.

          Meeting the Gnome Queen

          Now, I should clarify that this is the language she gave me to describe herself. I’m well aware that many deities bear the title of Queen of the Underworld. And, while the term “gnome” is often used for adorable garden figures with pointed hats—that is not the kind of gnome I encountered.

          The queen sat upon a crystalline throne, her pale skin luminescent and shimmering with an ethereal splendor.

          Honored to be in her presence, I was told that encountering the gnome plant had been an invitation to her realm, an invitation to work with the magic and medicine of the earth kingdom in a new way. The plant was a portal. 

          I was shown that this particular realm of gnomes (I believe there are actually many kinds of beings who bear this name) operated much like a bee hive: The queen was the only female, hidden from most in our world, protected and served by the male gnomes.

          A World within Our World

          The realm of the gnomes exists deep within our earth in a slightly different reality than we’re familiar with — perhaps another dimension, perhaps a different frequency. 

          Though most are unaware of its existence, this realm is of vital importance to our own world. 

          The gnomes tend the harmonic balance of the earth’s minerals. They build, move, and attune Gaia’s crystalline structure — and heal her from the extraction that happens in our dimension. The queen is a channel for the life force of the mineral-beings within the earth, infusing them with power and source energy.

          The queen told me that those who are called to work with this realm have the ability to channel and harmonize earth grids for Gaia. And, by working directly with the gnomes, they just might receive Gaia’s abundance in surprising ways. 

          I was being invited to apprentice with the gnome realm.

          The queen then shared that I could return to the forest to make a flower essence of the gnome plant — a gift to support my apprenticeship energetically.

          Creating a Most Rare Essence

          Though encountering even one gnome plant seemed like a miracle the first time, I decided to respond to the queen’s generous invitation and see if I could find this plant once more. 

          Unsure of whether the gnome plant would still be blooming or whether I could even find it again, I decided to make a date out of my next attempt. I invited my partner, Mike, on an after work hike and dinner picnic to the mountains. 

          After nearly an hour and a half of driving, we arrived at the trailhead and set out. About five minutes into our hike, Mike said, “Whoa—is this one?”

          It was. The queen, true to her promise, had recognized an earth ally in Mike, too (which doesn’t surprise me at all…there’s a reason I’m with this man!).

          This time, the gnome flower had opened up into beautiful little blossoms — the divine timing of our encounters perfectly orchestrated. I gratefully and reverently gathered just a few blossoms, placed them in a glass jar, and we continued. Soon, we encountered a second gnome flower…and then a third! 

          Such a gift to have met so many of these magical and strange beings. Such confirmation for deepening our relationship.

          I brought the blossoms home and infused them into local spring water to create a flower essence under the moonlight—a moon infusion seemed appropriate for the queen of the gnomes, somehow. 

          When I asked if I could share this flower essence and my discoveries with others — the gnome plant, the world of the gnomes, the portal to abundance they offered — I was told to wait. Integration was needed first.  

          And so, for nearly a year now, I’ve been sitting with this essence, meeting with the queen of the gnomes, waiting for further instruction.

          Psst — Want to learn more about flower essences? I’ve created a free starter guide that you will love :)

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            A Sacred Circle of 13

            Now, I’ve finally been granted permission to share this precious essence. But only with 13 people. I trust that the exact people who are meant to work with the queen will feel called to purchase their essences at the perfect time. 

            It seems possible that I’ll be able to release more later, but for now, I’m following instructions. There may even be a special circle offered, live and online, once all the 13 spots have been claimed. We’ll see. 

            Are you one of the queen’s apprentices? Find your magical gnome flower essence here:

             
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            Lessons from Squirrels

            Squirrels can show us how to adapt to city life…but also how to be more in tune with our wild natures.

             
             
             

            When I lived in Denver, I considered three special squirrels to be my “outdoor pets”. These were city squirrels that lived in our urban backyard. 

            Brown, sleek and wily, I watched as they darted around our yard as if it were their own. And, of course, it was. 

            The squirrels in Denver made a nest in our roof—with cotton pilfered from our patio chair cushions. They ate our tomatoes, stole our corn, and took big bites out of every single squash we grew. 

            Once, a squirrel hopped in the lettuce bed as I was weeding, looked me straight in the eye, wrapped its little arms around a giant leaf, took a single bite out the middle, and I swear it smiled as it stood there, waiting for my reaction.

            They were so naughty and so cute. I loved them completely.

            Over the years, I was able to build a relationship with these squirrels (despite needing to kick them out of their nest in the roof…). I could identify each one, and we came to a truce with the garden. It took two years, but they finally focused on eating 2-3 squash total and leaving the rest untouched. 

            I suppose I got used to squirrels that had adapted to the city, as I had. They would often leave slices of half eaten bread in our yard. They stole all sorts of cottons and fabrics for their nests. I rarely saw them gather anything that hadn’t been made or grown by a human.

            The squirrels here are different. 

            Big and gray, with tails that rival those of a winter fox, these are not the ones I knew in the city. The squirrels I live with in Central Oregon are a bit more wild.

            They keep their distance when I’m outside—hopefully trust will build over time—but I often watch them through our windows. 

            If city squirrels had a bit of tough, no-nonsense, street-smart vibe, these wild squirrels are brave yet cautious. I once saw one skillfully somersault just out of reach from a hunting hawk. 

            After years of living with city squirrels, I feel somewhat awed when I see a squirrel storing a pine cone for food, or gathering bunches of grass to prepare its winter nest.

            This makes me ridiculously happy. Perhaps because it just seems so healthy. 

            No more cotton or white bread. Just the natural foods and materials that squirrels in the wild enjoy.

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            Like the squirrels, we humans adapt to our environments. 

            We use what’s around us to survive—for better or worse. 

            Yet, there’s deep inner sense of alignment I feel when I see a squirrel carrying a pine cone versus a tortilla (yes, it’s happened). And I wonder if getting a bit more back to our own wild roots would feel more in alignment for us humans, too. 

            Living with the seasons, sourcing local and wild foods, knowing your land. Every bit of rewilding we do on earth, rewilds our spirit as well.

            As a spirit animal, squirrel is often said to carry the gift of preparation—gathering and storing sustenance throughout the summer and fall for the long winter ahead. 

            Perhaps in this way, the squirrels all around ask us to look at what it is we’re storing. Yes, preparation is good medicine. Filling our pantries can fill our souls. (And I think most of us are a bit more hyper aware of the need for preparation after the pandemic.) 

            Yet, let’s ask ourselves—what are we gathering? Is it food, materials, and even ideas that nourish us? Or have we been programmed to fill up on that which does not truly align with our souls? 

            We are currently in a potent time for releasing the old to make way for the new, with our seasonal winter fast approaching. How are you preparing for the season ahead? 

            If inspired, hold a small ritual or meditate on what is truly needed in your preparations this Samhain. What old programming can you let go of, and what resources will truly support you in the season ahead? Allow spirit and your own intuition to speak these answers to you.

            What are squirrels like where you live? Let me know in the comments :)

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