The Shaman’s Path and Healing

(edited/modified from a Suite101 WPSHM series I wrote in 2000)

I have often been interested in the differences in methods employed by the shamanic healers. Perhaps the fascination stems from their strong ability to focus while “journeying”, or perhaps it’s the methods to achieve the altered state required for “journeying.” Whatever the reasons, my ears perk up, or my eyes wander during conversations where the topic is brought up.

In my younger years, I always assumed “shaman” was a Native American term for medicine man. Once I was introduced to a broader spectrum of natural healing, earth based religion books, I discovered that many cultures use the term shaman to describe men and women who heal through contact with the spirit world, or “journeying”. And although I am meaning this first article to be an introduction of sorts, I’d also like to comment on a few of the books which I have kept over the past while. Each one has added a little something to my research, be it good or not so good.
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