Life after initiation
You’ve been initiated. Now what? Start as a generalist. Work with friends and family. Don’t charge them. Help as much as possible. Log as many sessions as you can with a wide variety of people.
If you’re considering a career in Shamanism, form an LLC, get energy medicine insurance, and launch a website. Put yourself out there, trusting that those who need you will find you. These steps will give you a taste of what your life could be.
But what about after that? You’ve helped some people and are beginning to wonder what’s next. Maybe you miss the community or feel you need to learn more. At this stage, your first impulse may be to attend another training program. The trouble is that most of them will just teach you more technique.
I have seen many shamans drowned by technique. They have more tools than they can use, and it only complicates their situation. Eventually, the shamanic path must grow beyond knowledge and personal healing.
The secret is that the second stage of shamanic practice is actually a contraction, not an expansion. At this point, two paths remain: specialization or quiet practice.
Specialization
Your time as a generalist will have given you insight into your strengths. You may excel at soul retrievals or confronting dark energies. You may work well with post-menopausal women or business professionals navigating life after psychedelics.
After my training, I seriously considered specializing in home clearings. I thought about offering real estate agents free energy clearings for homes they struggled to sell, only charging if the house sold within weeks. Life took me elsewhere, so I never pursued it, but I still believe it’s a great idea!
Specialization makes it easier to market yourself, but it’s about more than business. It will create boundaries so you only take on work that empowers you rather than drains you. Furthermore, it will help you express your personal vision of the shamanic path.
Quiet Practice
Just because you were trained doesn’t mean you need to see clients. It’s more than enough to quietly practice and occasionally help friends and family. You don’t need to start a local fire circle or build an online presence. A peaceful existence as an unknown shaman is a more successful life than a notable one as a cult leader.
I’ve talked to shamans who feel guilty about that choice. They have training and knowledge, and feel bad about not having a small private practice. A few have found their way through that and now bring their energy into their other work. One is a successful painter, and another works in corporate life. While no one may know they are shaman, I have no doubt everyone benefits from their big hearts and grounded presence.
Whatever you decide to do after initiation, remember that the answer lies beyond technique. Even with all the knowledge and power in the universe, at some point you must live something out; otherwise, you’ll linger in your potential without ever becoming who you are.