“Shamanism is not another religion or system of belief;
it is a way of perceiving and relating to the wondrous world around us.”

What is Shamanism
Today the archetype of the shaman is emerging out of the shadowy past and from the murky depths of the collective unconscious into the clear light of conscious awareness. Shamanism is the most earth-friendly system in existence and, therefore, it may be the most relevant path for our age. It is by far the most practical since it evolved out of the survival needs of our species from its earliest times. It may once again hold the keys to our survival as a species.

Shamanism is not another religion or system of belief; it is a way of perceiving and relating to the wondrous world around us. It is the original source out of which all the religions and systems of knowledge evolved. As a path of growth, however, it is complete in itself and can provide a powerful foundation for one’s life and spiritual practices. I do not believe that any one religion or system of knowledge is superior to another, nor do I think that shamanism is better than Christianity.


Mastery of the Forces of Nature and the Powers Within
One goal of the ancient shamans was mastery of the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water within one’s self. Each element provides certain powers. The element earth gives one the power to ground and manifest things in the physical world. It is the element of the practical. The element air is the element of freedom of movement and expansion, and rules the mental realm. Fire is the element of activity, transmutation and change. It rules our passions and inspiration. Water is the element of dreaming, memory and the past. It rules feelings and intuition.

It was recognized that there is a direct relationship between one’s ability to control the outer world and personal inner world. The degree of inner mastery was often measured by the ability to influence or control the physical counterparts of earth, air, fire and water. Tests were often set up to demonstrate control of the wind, the water spirits, fire spirits, or earth elementals. Although few achieved complete mastery over all four elements, there were many who were able to demonstrate prodigious feats of consciousness and power in some form of mastery of one or more elements.

A more pragmatic reason for controlling an elemental force also exists. Shamans were often called upon to restore balance, not only for the community or tribe, but also for the natural world and all of its non human representatives. A shaman was given the task of making sure there was rain or sunshine when it was needed, that crops would grow, medicinal herbs could be found, and that deer, elk or buffalo would be in the right place at the right time. The shaman would also need a mastery of the elements to know if a person experiencing an illness had a particular element was out of balance, so she could use her knowledge to help the person return to health.

Shamans never perceived the power of command over the elements as belonging to themselves. They recognized that they were simply mediators between the visible and invisible worlds. When invoking such powerful forces, one had to use great discretion and careful discernment. It is a cardinal rule that one does not arbitrarily invoke these elemental powers, lest one inadvertently unleash energies beyond one’s control. The practitioner must have a valid need. One’s motives must be pure and never rooted in self gain or self aggrandizement. The shaman herself must be in a state of balance. Otherwise such forces, like floodwaters, could run rampant, creating chaos not only for the practitioner, but for those around her as well.

Universality of Shamanic Principles
These timeless truths are applicable to all people of any culture or age. The knowledge of this ancient system can complement and enhance all paths, both ancient and contemporary.


Where to Go From Here
There are several ways you can learn more about how to apply modern shamanic practices to your life.

• Sign up for Peter's Shamanistic Traning on-line apprenticeship course
• Host a lecture or seminar by Peter in your area.
• Read Peter's autobiographical book Soul on Fire.
• Call (865) 414-2091 or e-mail us to find out about opportunities for private apprenticeship with Peter. In your message please include your name, phone number(s), and the best times to reach you.