Choosing a shamanic teacher

Every shaman has their own distinct point of view. If you’ve ever taken psychedelics, then you know how unfathomable and undefined the landscape is. Shamans spend their lives mapping a near-infinite realm.

In essence, a shamanic teacher structures reality for you. You learn how to navigate the invisible world within the boundaries they have. The clearest example is the many cultural differences among shamanic societies.

For example, they all have different perspectives on where the dead go. For some, it’s back into the earth, a sacred mountain, the sky, or to a star. Some societies want their ancestors to stay here on earth and help the future generations, while others want them to journey to some place beyond. The shaman in those societies not only structures their life but also their death!

That fact underscores the importance of choosing your shamanic teacher wisely. It’s an even more pressing challenge in our modern Western society. Shamanism is disintegrated from our culture and operates on the fringes. Pre-modern societies had the same values as the shaman. Now, they couldn’t be further apart.

You need to find someone who shares your principles, has a deep technical knowledge, and is actually good at teaching what they do. You also need to find someone who is as committed to your success as you are. If you’re willing to put in the hard work, you need to know that they will be there to support you in the long run.

I studied under several different shamans in the same lineage. Each shared a similar worldview, but they had unique skills and perspectives. This was instrumental in my training and helped me eventually embrace my own perspective and forge my own path.

Many teachers sell courses on becoming a shaman, but few offer long-term support. Explore options, sample their content, read their books, and ultimately, when you commit, remember that initiation is only the beginning of a lifelong journey.