In today’s fast-paced world, many of us are carrying emotional wounds—some we know, others buried deep within. Our inner struggles, whether it’s stress, anxiety, past trauma, or inexplicable feelings, often manifest in our bodies and lives. This can happen in subtle or not-so-subtle ways.
That’s where shamanic healing comes in—a practice rooted in ancient wisdom but becoming increasingly relevant in our modern times.
What is Shamanic Healing?
Shamanic healing is a spiritual and energetic practice. Indigenous cultures around the world have used it for thousands of years. A shaman is seen as a bridge between the physical world and the spirit realm. Their role? To help restore balance, remove energetic blocks, and guide others in healing their soul.
At its core, shamanic healing is based on the belief that trauma and emotional pain can fragment the soul. They can also create energy imbalances that manifest as physical, mental, or emotional distress.
A Brief History of Shamanic Healing
Shamanism is one of the oldest spiritual practices known to humanity. It dates back at least 30,000 years. Evidence is found in ancient cave paintings, burial sites, and artifacts from Indigenous cultures all over the world.
Though the word “shaman” comes from the Tungusic people of Siberia, the practice itself is universal. Nearly every culture has had some form of shamanic or medicine person—a spiritual figure who could:
- Communicate with the spirit world
- Heal emotional and physical illness
- Guide the tribe through crises
- Perform rituals and ceremonies for harmony and balance
Global Roots of Shamanism
Here’s how shamanic traditions show up across different cultures:
- Siberia: Where the term “shaman” originated. Shamans here use drumming, chanting, and trance states to journey and heal.
- South America: Ayahuasqueros and curanderos (healers) use plant medicine and song (icaros) for spiritual and emotional healing.
- Africa: Sangomas in South Africa connect with ancestral spirits and use divination, herbs, and ritual dances.
- North America: Native American medicine men and women perform sweat lodges, vision quests, and energy clearing ceremonies.
- Australia: Aboriginal elders use songlines and “dreamtime” to connect with spiritual realms and the land.
- Celtic Europe: Druids and seers practiced earth-based rituals and spirit communication to guide their communities.
Despite vast geographic distances, many of these traditions share core similarities:
- Reverence for nature
- Belief in spirit realms or unseen forces
- The importance of ceremony and ritual
- The use of sound, plant allies, and altered states of consciousness for healing
From Ancient Roots to Modern Revival
With colonization, industrialization, and the rise of modern religion, many shamanic traditions were suppressed, banned, or driven underground.
But in recent decades, there has been a global revival of interest in Indigenous wisdom, spiritual healing, and energy medicine. This revival is happening in part because:
- Many people feel disconnected from traditional religion or modern healthcare
- Trauma and mental health issues are on the rise
- There’s a growing desire for connection, ritual, and meaning
Today, traditional shamans are helping people reconnect to themselves, nature, and spirit. Modern practitioners, who may blend multiple healing systems, are also offering powerful assistance.
How Trauma Gets Stored in the Body
Modern science has finally caught up with what shamans have known for centuries. Trauma doesn’t just affect the mind; it lives in the body. We experience overwhelming situations. If we lack the tools or support to process them, our nervous system stores that energy.
Think:
- Chronic fatigue
- Anxiety or depression
- Trouble sleeping
- Feeling disconnected from yourself or others
- Physical pain with no clear cause
Shamanic healing aims to release that trapped energy, so your body and soul can start to feel whole again.
What Happens in a Shamanic Healing Session?
A shamanic healing session can look different depending on the practitioner and tradition, but here’s a general idea of what you might experience:
- Setting Sacred Space
The session usually begins with grounding, breathwork, or a simple ritual to create a calm, safe environment. - Journeying
The shaman may go into a meditative or trance-like state, often with the help of rhythmic drumming or chanting. This is called a “journey,” where they connect with spiritual guides, animal spirits, or higher wisdom. - Energy Work or Soul Retrieval
The shaman may work on removing stuck energy. They might also retrieve lost soul parts, known as “soul retrieval.” Additionally, they may cut energetic cords from past experiences or relationships. - Integration
After the session, you might receive messages, symbols, or simple advice for integrating the healing into your daily life.
Understanding Soul Loss and Soul Retrieval
One of the core concepts in shamanic healing is soul loss. This isn’t as spooky as it sounds. During traumatic experiences, such as abuse, grief, accidents, or even heartbreak, a part of your spirit might “leave.” It helps protect you from the pain. It’s a survival mechanism.
Soul loss can be helpful in the moment. However, it can lead to feelings of emptiness, depression, numbness, or feeling like “something is missing.”
Soul retrieval is the process of calling back those missing pieces of yourself. The shaman journeys to the spiritual realms. They are guided by compassion and intention. The shaman retrieves and reintegrates those parts. This helps you feel whole again.
People often describe soul retrieval as a coming home to themselves—like remembering who they truly are beneath all the layers.
The Role of Spirit Animals and Guides
In many shamanic traditions, spirit animals (also called power animals) are key allies in the healing process. These are spiritual archetypes or energies that show up during a journey or dream to guide, protect, or teach you.
You might meet:
- A wolf representing intuition and loyalty
- A hawk guiding you to see life from a higher perspective
- A deer showing you how to soften and move through pain gently
You don’t choose your spirit animal—they choose you. If one keeps appearing in dreams, visions, or in real life… pay attention. You may have a guide walking beside you.
Tip: Want to discover your spirit animal? Meditate with the intention to meet your guide. Ask for a symbol. Then listen.
Common Tools Used in Shamanic Healing
Here are some tools and techniques a shamanic practitioner may use during healing sessions:
- Drums & Rattles – Rhythmic sound helps induce trance states for journeying and energetic clearing.
- Feathers or Smudge Fans – Used to sweep energy from the body.
- Crystals – Used to absorb or balance energy.
- Sacred Plants (non-psychoactive) – Such as sage, palo santo, or cedar for clearing space.
- Voice (Chanting or Singing) – Vibrational sound can move stuck energy.
While each tool has symbolic and energetic meaning, the real “medicine” is in the intention behind its use.
Integration: The Most Important Step
Healing doesn’t end when the session is over.
Integration is the process of bringing what you’ve learned, released, or reclaimed into your daily life. This might include:
- Journaling your insights
- Taking quiet time for reflection
- Drinking more water and grounding in nature
- Making lifestyle changes based on your inner guidance
Sometimes, the changes are internal—shifts in your perception or emotional resilience. Other times, you may feel called to change jobs, release toxic relationships, or start a new creative path.
The key is to listen and honor what comes through.
Who Is It For?
Shamanic healing isn’t just for the spiritually curious—it’s for anyone who:
- Feels stuck emotionally or spiritually
- Has experienced trauma (recent or past)
- Is seeking deep emotional release or clarity
- Wants to reconnect with their inner power or intuition
You don’t need to follow a specific religion or belief system to benefit. It’s more about being open and willing to explore your inner world.
Modern Shamanism: Bridging Ancient Wisdom with Contemporary Life
Shamanism isn’t about escaping reality—it’s about embracing it more fully. In modern practice, people from all walks of life are integrating shamanic healing into their everyday routines:
- Therapists are blending talk therapy with shamanic tools
- Yoga instructors weave journeying or energy clearing into classes
- Corporate leaders use it for clarity, grounding, and stress release
- Parents and caregivers turn to it for emotional healing and balance
It’s no longer hidden in the jungle or mountains. It’s appearing in city apartments. It’s also found in healing circles and coaching sessions around the world.
Science Is Catching Up
What once sounded “woo” is now backed by neuroscience and somatic therapy research.
Studies have shown:
- Rhythmic drumming can shift brainwaves into theta states (deep relaxation and insight)
- Energy release practices can lower cortisol and ease anxiety
- Body-based healing helps resolve trauma that talk therapy can’t always reach
Shamanism isn’t the opposite of science. It’s the elder sibling who knew the truth long before we had the tools to measure it.
Is It Safe? And How to Find a Real Practitioner
Yes, shamanic healing can be safe and profoundly helpful—but it depends on the practitioner. Not everyone who calls themselves a shaman is trained or working with integrity.
Here’s what to look for:
- They’ve studied under a lineage or mentor (not just a weekend course)
- They prioritize your safety and boundaries
- They don’t promise magical cures or push beliefs on you
- They encourage integration and self-responsibility
Tip: Ask for a free consultation or read testimonials before booking a session. Your intuition will tell you if it feels right.
Integration Practices You Can Start Now (Even Without a Shaman)
Even if you’re not ready for a full session, you can begin your healing journey today with these simple, shamanic-inspired practices:
- Sit with Nature – Spend 15 minutes in quiet observation. Let the trees, sky, and earth speak to you.
- Write a Letter to Your Younger Self – Invite back the parts of you that had to hide or run.
- Smudging Ritual – Use sage or palo santo to clear your energy after a tough day.
- Drumbeat Meditation – Listen to a steady drumbeat (YouTube has many) and let your thoughts drift.
- Dream Journaling – Shamans often receive guidance through dreams. Start tracking yours—messages may begin to appear.
These tools are small, but powerful. You’re reminding your spirit: I am ready to come home.
Resources for Deeper Exploration
Want to go further? Here are a few beginner-friendly resources:
Books:
- “Soul Retrieval” by Sandra Ingerman
- “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz
- “The Book of Ceremony” by Sandra Ingerman
- “Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma” by Peter Levine
Podcasts:
- The Shaman’s Cave
- Medicine Stories
- Earth Speak
Websites & Courses:
- Sounds True (soundstrue.com)
- Foundation for Shamanic Studies (shamanism.org)
A Gentle Reminder
You don’t need to be “spiritual” or believe in spirits to benefit from this work. What matters most is your intention to heal and a willingness to explore.
Healing is not a linear journey—it’s a spiral. Sometimes you revisit old wounds, but with new strength. Sometimes you don’t even realize how much you’ve changed until you look back.
And shamanic healing? It’s just one beautiful path among many.
Closing Message to the Reader
If you’re reading this and something stirs inside you—a curiosity, a warmth, a tug at the soul—trust that.
Maybe you’re being called to heal. Maybe you’re being called to remember.
You don’t have to know the “how.” You just have to say yes to the journey. And let the next step reveal itself, one breath, one heartbeat, one moment at a time.
Final Blessing
If you’ve read this far, this message is for you:
You are not broken.
You are not too late.
You are not too far gone.
You are being called home to yourself.And your healing ripples out—into your family, your community, and the collective.
Keep walking. Keep listening. Keep trusting your soul.
References & Further Reading
- Authentic Shaman Healer
Shamanic healing can aid physical ailments, release emotional blockages, deepen spiritual connection, and foster personal growth. - Peaceful Soul Quest
Shamans journey to spiritual realms using drumming or chanting. They then help integrate those insights into daily life for holistic well‑being. - Carved Culture
Practices like soul retrieval and energy clearing support emotional healing, stress reduction, and spiritual growth. - DoveMed
Benefits include reduced anxiety, better sleep, more energy, improved focus, pain relief, stronger immunity, and enhanced spiritual growth. - SoulAdvisor
Shamanic practice promotes emotional healing, self-awareness, spiritual growth, stress relief, holistic balance, and stronger bonds with nature and community. - TheWonders.com
Healing involves energy cleansing, psychic integration, emotional release, spiritual insight, and reclaiming wholeness from trauma or imbalance. - Avra Global
Offers ten benefits ranging from holistic healing, emotional release, energy balancing, to trauma integration and heightened intuition. - Tierra Del Sol (Marysol Rezanov)
Enhances spiritual connection, intuitive insight, physical well-being, and encourages blending shamanic healing with conventional medicine. - Rachel Mann PhD
Promotes trauma recovery, clarity, growth, emotional equilibrium, relationship healing, ancestral healing, intuition, and energy renewal. - Tikkun Healing Center
Techniques like soul retrieval and journeying reduce anxiety, increase resilience, and restore spiritual balance—shown effective in studies. - Visiting‑Subconscious.com
Strengthens spiritual connection with nature, reduces stress and anxiety, fosters self-awareness, and aids trauma healing through nature-based practice. - Omega Hub
It covers healing of physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and relational wounds. It boosts peace, creativity, intuition, and access to higher consciousness. - Wikipedia – Shamanism
Shamans act as mediators between worlds. They use trance, spirit guides, soul retrieval, and energy cleansing. These practices are for healing and cultural continuity.
Final Thoughts: Ancient Medicine, Modern Lives
Shamanic healing isn’t about quick fixes or magic spells. It’s about reconnecting—with yourself, your body, your emotions, and the energy that moves through all living things.
In a world that often tells us to numb out or push through pain, shamanic healing encourages us to pause. It encourages us to feel and listen deeply. It’s a return to the wisdom of the soul.
You might be just curious. You may feel called to explore. This path could be the missing piece you’ve been looking for.
