How Do Shamans Heal?

Shamanic healing is a traditional spiritual practice found in cultures around the world, in which a healer, known as a shaman, enters into a altered state of consciousness in order to communicate with the spirit world and facilitate healing for their clients. The practice has been controversial and misunderstood by many in the Western world, but it has also gained a resurgence of interest in recent years as people seek out alternative approaches to healing and personal growth.

From a Jungian perspective, shamanic healing is important because it allows individuals to access and work with the unconscious aspects of their psyche in order to bring about psychological and spiritual growth. In Jungian psychology, the unconscious is seen as a vast storehouse of the individual's past experiences, as well as the collective unconscious, which is a shared repository of the experiences of humanity as a whole.

According to Jung, the unconscious is the source of creativity and personal growth, but it is also the source of our shadow sides, or the parts of ourselves that we tend to repress or deny. These shadow aspects can manifest as negative emotions, patterns of behavior, and even physical symptoms, and they can hold us back from living our full potential.

The shamanic journey, or the altered state of consciousness entered into by the shaman, allows for a direct experience of the unconscious and an opportunity to work with the shadow aspects of the psyche. The shaman enters into this state through various means, such as drumming, chanting, or the use of psychoactive plants, and then travels to the spirit world to seek guidance and help from the spirits.

During the journey, the shaman may encounter their own personal spirits, or power animals, which represent different aspects of their own unconscious. They may also encounter archetypal figures, such as the Great Mother or the Wise Old Man, which represent universal symbols and themes found in the collective unconscious.

Through this direct experience of the unconscious, the shaman is able to bring back important messages and insights that can help their clients on their own journey of personal growth and healing. For example, if a client is struggling with feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy, the shaman may encounter a power animal or archetypal figure that represents self-worth and confidence, and bring back that message to the client as a way of helping them to work through those issues.

In this way, shamanic healing can be seen as a form of active imagination, a process developed by Jung in which the individual engages with the unconscious through the use of their imagination. Active imagination allows for a deeper understanding of the unconscious and can facilitate personal growth and healing by helping the individual to integrate their shadow aspects and tap into their full potential.

In addition to its benefits for personal growth and healing, shamanic practice also has a strong communal aspect, as it is often performed within the context of a community or tribe. This communal aspect is in line with Jung's belief that the individual psyche is interconnected with the collective psyche, and that personal growth and healing cannot be fully achieved without a connection to the collective.

Through the shamanic journey and the communication with the spirit world, the shaman is able to bring back not only personal insights and guidance, but also collective wisdom and guidance for the community as a whole. This can be especially important in times of crisis or transition, when the collective may need guidance and support in order to navigate challenges and find a new sense of balance and purpose.

Overall, shamanic healing is a powerful and transformative practice that can facilitate personal growth and healing by allowing individuals to access and work with the unconscious aspects of their psyche and tap into the collective wisdom of the spirit world. While it may be unfamiliar or controversial to some in the Western world, it offers a valuable and holistic approach.