A MODERN SHAMAN
By E. Nora H. Amrani [Starlight Medicine Dreamer]
WHAT IS SHAMANISM?
Shamanism is a belief in or knowledge of unseen powers, knowledge that all things in the
universe are dependent on each other. Shamanism has slight variations depending on one's
culture, but all shamans share the same basic traits. A Shaman can be of any gender, any
color, most any age, any ethnic background, and in any country. Most communities and tribes
recognize individuals who are responsible for specialized and sometimes secret knowledge.
These individuals help pass on knowledge and sacred practices from generation to generation,
storing what they know in their memories. Persons who are responsible for specialized
knowledge are most often individuals who live to understand the sacred. Their life and
their vocation is devoted to learning about the mysteries of the world and knowing and
handling (working with, using) the relationships by which the world operates. These
individuals are born with or develop a special sensitivity to and interest in the elements
that make up the sacred. Often, these persons are exposed to greater hardships than most
people; personal injury, fright, anxiety, and loneliness. If they succeed in their journey
or quest for knowledge and in their work as sacred practitioners, they then have greater
responsibilities, than most people and are respected for this.
"WOMAN IS BY NATURE A SHAMAN"
These individuals are most often responsible for maintaining a balance relationship
between the people and the nature world of the sacred powers. They know and they teach
us that there are some questions that cannot be answered, some mysteries about the world
that are to be wondered at, with reverence, but never explained.
Shamans are individuals who, through some inborn sensitivity or need, take as their
vocation the quest for knowledge that uses a direct attempt at experiencing the Mysteries.
Usually the most powerful shamans are individuals who are forced by illness, a compelling
dream or vision, or some other need, to become shamans whether they want to or not. Shamans
to be receive training and develop areas of expertise. Often the knowledge they receive is
so specialized that it would be too dangerous for other individuals to practice. A shaman
learns how to interpret and understand dreams and visions. A shaman also learns basic
knowledge about the relationships and balances in the world of humans and the natural
world through song, dance, ceremony, stories. The shaman is adept in altered states of
consciousness and interdimensional experiences. A shaman is considered an artist of the sacred.
A Native American shaman can be summarized in this way - he/she is a composer of special
healing songs; can cause themselves to enter a trance or trance-like condition; travel
after souls or to seek other things; can diagnose and cure illness; and has spirit helpers
who help and communicate with them.
Shamans also use their knowledge in three main areas: they understand the laws of ecology;
the balance established at the time of Creation; and the guidelines given to human beings
by the creating deities; Holy People, or animals.
They know the order and structure of things - names of things.
They are servants to the people - they maintain their power and knowledge by using it to
help others.
Shamanism is a very personal or private profession and at the same time it affects a great
many people.
WHY I CALL MYSELF A SHAMAN
Throughout my youth and teenage years into my adulthood, I had many psychic experiences
and channeling experiences began. You can read about them here.
When I met medicine woman, author and teacher, Lynn Andrews in the mid-1980s,
(she became a friend) she looked me over, asked me questions, read my energy and said
that I already was a Shaman, there was nothing she needed to teach me, I had all that
I needed to teach and help others. At that time, I wasn't fully ready to accept it in
myself, so I had 15 more years of training with different teachers in different areas
of expertise. I didn't use the title Shaman in the past because it might have been
confusing for people (since I am a white woman and some people don't think whites can
be Shamans), or come across like I was just full of myself. I am a Shaman and have
no more issues about using that title. It isn't an ego trip by any means. It just
speaks about my abilities and right to call myself a Shaman. One thing though, I
never use drugs or alcohol as a Shaman. I don't like it or enjoy not being in control
of my faculties, and substances easily taint the work and messages from spirit.
The only substances I use is smoke and smudge, which cleanses and communicates that
which is not said out loud, and water. A LIFE-ALTERING EXPERIENCE FOR TWO PEOPLE
One experience in 1987 was a very powerful indicator of my abilities as a Shaman.
I had written a letter to a newspaper in response to a legal issue about Native
American legalities and rights. My letter spoke about the Native Americans and their
rights and the hardships they went through from the U.S. government, since the Europeans
came here, and how it relates to the present. A local Lakota medicine man and teacher
named Carl Bryant (who operated the American Indian Unity Church in Orange County) read
my article in the paper and we connected via two ways: one was in person through a
legal adoption forum on Native American babies, and because of my letter. He thanked me
for my letter and said it was the perfect healing for the whites and Indian people, he
loved it. I was interested in what he does as a medicine man and was put on his mailing
list and thought to visit his center, and planned for him to do a spiritual reading for me.
In the interim, (this was in the summer) before I had the reading with him, I was
floating on a raft in my pool. I looked up and saw a black crow circling above me
and I talked out loud to it, surprising myself that I knew who it was, "Aha, what
are you doing here, Carl Bryant? I see you!" I spoke with the crow and he told me
he was checking me out to see my abilities, spying on me. I laughed and told him
to go right ahead, but I knew what he was up to. I then wrote a letter to Carl and
told him of my vision and experience with the crow. He wrote me back a very touching
letter telling me that my vision of him as the black crow was the indicator he needed
to prove that white people could do what the Native medicine people could do. His
belief was (one that is shared by some others) that when the whites can do this,
then it's time to come together and be equals. He also said it was the sign he
needed to allow him to use his medicine name in public now, (little) Black Crow.
He validated my vision and thanked me for it. Since that day, he used his medicine
name Black Crow in everything he did. Imagine that a blond haired, blue-eyed
white chick told a Lakota Shaman what his name is and that it's okay for him to
come out now! It was funny, and it was sweet, and I respected him. I just found
out that he died a few years ago. He did a lot for the community in bringing
together all cultures.
COMING TOGETHER
I had many teachers in my Shamanic training: anatomy; learning about plants and
herbs; healing work (mind/body/spirit/emotions); channeling; interdimensional
travel; dreamwork; spiritual counseling; and I am a certified Transpersonal
Hypnotherapist. I have a B.A. Degree, was on the Dean's List; and did my M.A.
work in American Indian Studies, focusing on ritual theatre. I have many
credentials and titles,I don't think it's necessary to list them in this article.
As a Shaman, I focus on healing which is done through working with various elements, rebalancing energies
(again, mind/body/spirit/emotions) and changing patterns, resulting in integration
and Source consciousness. I do whatever is
necessary for a person to become rebalance and for them to continue to heal
themselves and discover their passions and talents and how to use them.
That often includes teaching them to meditate and connect with their own
intuition, higher self and guides. My Shaman name is Starlight Medicine Dreamer,
and I work with what I call Dream Medicine. That means that I get a lot of messages
in my dream state and work in the
dream state, I am adept in traveling and working in other dimensions not
only for human beings, but for spirit and other interdimensional beings.
I bring back the knowledge garnered from my dream state and put them into
use in the material world. Sometimes I do spiritual art for people, that
which gives them a special message from loved ones, guides, or about their
path in life. I am able to help others have better lives through my family's
charity. And I also write articles and books.
Yes, I am a Shaman by all definitions of the term and this is my personal
path. It is often a hard one because there is so much work to be done,
and it is mostly a solo path. I am lucky in that as a Shaman I also have
a family; in some societies having a marriage and children is considered
to be very important in order to be an effective Shaman. I accept who I am,
love who I am, and what I do. I'm always learning something new and love
learning, and then sharing what I've learned. So if you come across somebody
who is a Shaman, and who may not fit the old idea or picture of what a Shaman
is, don't judge them: Think again. Shamanism may not be 100% exactly what
it used to be because our world isn't what it used to be. (Change is the
only constant in the omniverse.) But it is still Shamanism.
*Czaplica, M. A. (1914) Aboriginal Siberia, a study in social anthropology.
Oxford: Clarendon Press, p 243
© Copyright, 2008 E. Nora H. Amrani, email shamannora[at]gmail.com TO SHAMAN.US.COM WRITINGS
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