Shamanism is about being connected to the spirits in all things.

In ancient times we were ‘connected’, our very survival depended upon it. We understood the earth’s heartbeat, the messages of the stars, and the patterns and energies that surrounded us. We had respect for all the beings (seen and unseen). We were connected to all that shared the universe with us, especially our own spirit guides.

In today’s world we have forgotten how to connect, yet we carry the ancient wisdoms still in our hearts. The study of shamanism provides us with the tools to reconnect – with ourselves, with our spirit guides and with the wisdom of the animal spirits so that we may work in harmony, power and peace.
Though the term 'Shaman' originated with the Tungus people of Siberia, it has come to be used in modern society to include similar experiences and practices in cultures all over the world. In ancient times all people in the tribe would have had some knowledge of the spiritual realms, but it was the medicine man or shaman who had the greatest experience in walking between the worlds of spirit and ordinary reality. Thus it was he who was tasked with the healing and spiritual leadership of the tribe. He would naturally have found his way to this place of contact with the spirits through a spontaneous near-death experience or vision quest.
In today’s world we can learn gentler techniques to access the same realms. Thanks greatly to the methods devised in North America by Michael Harner, there has been a revival of interest in this ancient tribal spiritual practice. In modern shamanism we learn to ‘journey’ into the sacred world and access these same helpers for ourselves, for others and for the planet.
Using rhythmic drumming, dance, and song the shaman, in an altered state of consciousness, makes a soul journey to the spirit realm. Here the shaman may connect with their personal power animals and spirit guides, the wisdom of the ancestors and universal healing knowledge. This extraordinary journey through time and space to another dimension accesses information beyond cultural and religious boundaries.
The shamanic journey is a voyage of the soul, not the mind, in fact the more the head gets ‘out of the way’ the more wisdom is received from the spirits. When first learning to journey the technique requires a little practice, but you will generally be pleasantly surprised by the images and messages you discover. In more advanced shamanism the doorway is opened to boundless wisdom and understanding.

Knowledge of other realms of being and consciousness and the cosmology of those regions is the basis of the shamanic perspective and power.