Shamanism is an umbrella term that encompasses a variety of spiritual practices, methods, and beliefs that are commonly seen across traditional cultures throughout the globe and throughout the span of human history. It is considered the oldest spiritual path and healing practice in human history, with historians and anthropologists estimating its origins taking place tens of thousands of years ago. The word “Shaman” originated from the Tungus tribe of Siberia, and translates to “one who knows”. Michael Harner, anthropologist and founder of The Foundation for Shamanic Studies defines a shaman as, “a person who enters an altered state of consciousness at will to contact and utilize an ordinarily hidden reality to acquire knowledge, power, and to help other persons”. Shamans and shamanic practitioners serve a number of roles and responsibilities, including working with helping spirits for the purpose of providing healing to those in their community and to the land itself. Shamans are viewed as “gardeners of energy” and work to restore balance where there is imbalance. In restoring balance in the realms of spirit, health and wellness is restored in the physical realm. Below are a few examples of shamanic healing that provides restoration of balance:
Power Animal/Helping Spirit Retrieval
Shamans believe that at birth, every human soul receives one or more spiritual ally/helping spirit/power animal that works with the individual as a protector and guide. Children are typically born with their “eyes open” to the realm of spirit and to their spiritual connection. It is through the social conditioning of growing up in a culture that has devalued direct revelation and direct relationship with Spirit that children begin to close their eyes. Retrieving these spiritual allies can be an enlivening and spiritually awakening moment for people with symptoms such as low self-esteem, fear, loss of vitality/vigor, loss of/inactive imagination, and absence of creativity and enthusiasm. Reconnection with these helpers can restore a vital part of our essence and connection to Life.
Extraction
Shamanic beliefs recognize that external thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, emotions, and intentions can become intrusions in peoples’ energy and physical bodies. Intrusions themselves are simply misplaced energy. Where there is a void or loss of power in a person’s energy body, space is created for these intrusions to fill that void. Shamans and practitioners are able to work with their helping spirits/allies to remove these energetic intrusions, and are then able to restore balance and power to the person’s subtle energy body through a variety of techniques, like that of Reiki or Soul/Vitality Retrieval
Soul/Vitality Loss and Soul/Vitality Retrieval
Being in the world of matter, lifeforms- like us humans- inevitably experience some form of trauma or traumatic experience. This can be traumatic accidents/incidents, the death of a loved one, the ending of a close relationship, forms of abuse, etc. During these events, the soul of that lifeform holds within it the innate wisdom to protect its life force or essence from experiencing said trauma in order to remain unharmed. This wisdom is the soul’s conscious decision to send away part of the lifeform’s core vitality from the physical body in order to remain unaffected. A challenge of this defense mechanism is that the essence sent away typically cannot return without the assistance of someone trained in retrieving these pieces of essence. In the Western culture there is additional challenge: Our egos do not often realize what powerful actions our souls have taken to care for us in times of hardship, due to our lack of understanding this mechanism. People may spend their whole lives without realizing that loss of vitality has taken place. Symptoms of soul loss/loss of vitality include feelings of dissociation, chronic depression, loss of will power, lack of passion, PTSD, etc. A shamanic practitioner trained in soul retrieval works with their helping spirits to enter the unseen realms, locate, and bring back these pieces of vitality to the individual who endured the loss of vitality. It should be noted that our souls are whole and unable to be harmed. “Soul loss” is the original term used, but a more accurate description would be “loss of vitality” or something similar.
At this time, Kalina is providing donation-based services, though this is subject to change based on circumstances. For in-person work, a minimum donation amount will be required to cover the cost of utilizing rental space at a local healing center. If you are interested in working with Kalina regarding shamanic healing, please message her through the contact form!