Finding Our Paths

Shamanism is probably the oldest spiritual path on the planet and one that seems to cross all cultural boundaries.  It is a bit surprising, because religions seem to come and go, that shamanism is a valid spiritual path today. Have you ever wondered if shamanism is calling you?  Many of us feel called to this ancient spiritual path and maybe you too are being called.  Spirit may be calling you to awaken. You may be called to be a shaman to heal others, or you might be called to be a shamanic practitioner, someone who uses the tools, cosmology, and practices of shamanism for their own spiritual path of awakening.  Both paths are equally valid and one is not superior to the other.

Here are a few indications that Spirit is calling you:

1. You feel the call in your heart (learn to listen to your heart as much as you listen to your brain) to find spirituality in nature, not in buildings.
2. Spirit has called you through strong life challenges.  You don’t need to have survived being attacked by a bear or struck by lightening.  Some of the modern-life experiences that we face can be just as challenging and may lead to spiritual awakening.
3. You feel like you don’t fit in the modern world.  Shamans have traditionally lived on the edge of the village and did not mingle as others did. For as long as I can remember I have lived on the edge of town, never in the middle of an established neighborhood, [1]  
4. You feel most at home in nature, more at home than you do when you are with other people.  Could it be that you feel or see things in nature that others don’t.  This happens when nature spirits call you.
5. You sense energies more or better than other people do.  Before you walk into a room full of people you sense the group energy.  Walking into an empty building at night you sense the residual energy.  Maybe while driving through a new town or neighborhood you sense the energy of place.   You feel toxic energies around you and react physically or mentally to them. Or, you may read people and situations easily. You might absorb negative energies and so you need to learn to work with your allies in spirit to clear ‘negative’ energies and situations.
6. You feel the call of spirituality but don’t find the answer to that call in organized religion or traditional religious services.  You might have been searching for some time and have no idea what you are looking for. Or, you may have received hints in dreams and daydreams when you see, feel or have been touched by animal totems or shamans in the spirit world, or spirit guides who want to make contact with you.  However, mainstream religion just doesn't seem to float your boat.

I strongly feel that we all chose our spiritual paths before birth.  Unfortunately, most of us also inherit a religion from our families or tribes.  These inherited religions may not be the ones that we chose before birth or the ones that we are currently being called to follow.  However, most of us were already acculturated, "brainwashed", into our inherited religions long before we had the mental maturity to rationally choose our spiritual path [2].  Nevertheless, if you hear the call to break free and follow a different path then heed the call.  Listen to Spirit and trust that Spirit will guide and teach you.  Your path is yours.  Your path can’t be given to you or imposed on you by birth, marriage, or society. Spiritual maturity and fulfillment only come when we follow our own authentic paths. 

If your true path is shamanism then follow it with joy and excitement.  If, on the other hand, your true path is Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism, or whatever, and you chose and still choose that path then follow it the same way, with joy and excitement, but not out of sense of responsibility.  After all, the purpose of life isn’t to suffer guilt or frustration, but rather to find joy in being.  I drum a prayer to Inti Tayta that you will find joy in your path, whatever it is and where ever it leads you.  

To finding joy,

Dr. Dave

Personal note:

[1] The first home that I remember, and I was probably only 4 years old at the time, was on the last street on the Northeast side of Fort Collins, Colorado, with the prairie as my back yard. Since then I have always physically lived on the edge of the community.  I find this interesting because my four younger brothers with whom I grew up all live in traditional urban settings with houses in traditional neighborhoods . . . but not me.

[2] Could this be why mainstream religions expend so much time, effort and money in youth programs, even for the youngest of children.  Marketing research, and yes mainstream religion is big business, shows that it is much easier and less expensive to capture and hold current clients (members) than it is to attract new ones.