Roll Call

[Simply Puzzled]

I know a lot of you have talked about this already, but in case we have some new people looking for a chance to speak up, here it is!

[Shanti]

Your poll doesnt include, 'It was tossed in my lap and I've been stuck with it ever since'. LOL
Seriously, your missing the 'bestowed upon me' option.
I didn't want nor seek nor know of the ability.
It was tossed in my lap after I physically died and was revived.

Then, after almost 20 yrs, I found out what this ability was typically called and I found a friend, a NA medicine man, that helped guide me to understanding and control of this ability.

So I guess I am an unexpecting WBR (Walker between the realms)? :hahugh:

[Isabella SilverRain]

I've read only a little on Shamanisn, but I would like to learn more about it. I am new to the Craft and I want to study all the different paths that I can chose one that I really understand and like. But Shamanism sounds very interesting to me, so I'll be poking around here for a bit, if you don't mind.

[Simply Puzzled]

Your poll doesnt include, 'It was tossed in my lap and I've been stuck with it ever since'. LOL
Seriously, your missing the 'bestowed upon me' option.
I didn't want nor seek nor know of the ability.
It was tossed in my lap after I physically died and was revived.


You're absolutely right. I tried to play around, but I couldn't find a way to add that in. Sorry.

[Juniper138]

I also require the "bestowed upon me" option, along with the "trained by my totems and ancestoral guides, and kicked in the butt by the gods now and then" option.

[Shawn Blackwolf]

I also require the "bestowed upon me" option, along with the "trained by my totems and ancestoral guides, and kicked in the butt by the gods now and then" option.

I agree with this , and would add Spirit Helpers / Faery , for myself...

[Coinin]

How about a "I am leaning" option, of course everyone is learning, but some want to call themeselvs learners and seekers of some kind of shamanism, and instead of using the name of a full-worthy shaman.

[MonSno_LeeDra]

This is actually sort of a close subject for me. I was speaking to an aunt one day and told her about what happens and how I feel. Well my aunt (a Dianic Wiccan I found out) told me it all came from my granfather who got it from his grandfather.

Well my grandfather died before I ever met him so I definatley can't say I'm in a trained lineage but someone is definetely hanging their foot in my backside.

[Whitewolf]

I don't consider myself a shaman. I am a polytheist pagan that has leanings in shamanism. I also have a belief in animism. I have always felt a call towards that path.

[Hamelyn]

I worship Dionysus. He's the god of lots of stuff, including transcendent states of consciousness. And so, ecstatic techniques- or shamanism- are a big part of my practices.

[Lupabitch]

I'm in the process of creating a formal (neo)shamanic path. It's a combination of being trained (and prodded, and pushed, and otherwise guided by very insistent spirits), reading everything I can get my hands on (not just shamanic texts, and generally avoiding more New Agey things), trading notes with other shamanic practitioners, both traditional and neo-, and a lot of learning through experience. I'm nowhere near the actual shamanizing part; I'm still in the process of creating/discovering my cosmology, and I'll be spending a good bit of time once that's done improving my relationships with my various spirit helpers (not just a power animal, either).

Right now it's a purely personal path. The modern U.S. (mainstream, anyway) doesn't have a formal shamanism built in. And I don't feel comfortable trying to shoehorn the cosmology and other culture-specific traits of other cultures into my cultural understanding. So I've been trying to find ways to create a shamanic path for my worldview--modern mainstream (mostly, anyway) American with a neopagan bent. I don't like core shamanism; it's only a partial view of shamanic practices, and it treats shamanism like it's completely safe and nice and you could never go crazy or get hurt from this stuff--phooey.

[Amanda Mitchell]

I am interested in learning about Shamanism. :)

[wolf]

Bestowed, and I was trained by a lineaged shaman.

I have prayed with her circle, but I do not follow The Obique's personal path.

[Teresa]

I also require the "bestowed upon me" option, along with the "trained by my totems and ancestoral guides, and kicked in the butt by the gods now and then" option.
I would agree with this but I do not call myself a "shaman" although this is a part of my path.

[WolfWhoSings]

Er, my teacher was taught by a lineaged shaman?

But I was already heading that way before I encountered him. Just seemed like the natural thing to do, ever since I was a kid.

I don't call myself a "shaman" per se, since I consider that title an honorific and I don't think I'm worthy of it, but my leanings and practices primarily run that direction.

[Simply Puzzled]

Er, my teacher was taught by a lineaged shaman?

But I was already heading that way before I encountered him. Just seemed like the natural thing to do, ever since I was a kid.

I don't call myself a "shaman" per se, since I consider that title an honorific and I don't think I'm worthy of it, but my leanings and practices primarily run that direction.

Good to see someone hanging out here. I'd be interested to hear more about your path and your story if you'd like to create a new thread.

[WolfWhoSings]

Good to see someone hanging out here. I'd be interested to hear more about your path and your story if you'd like to create a new thread.

Thank you.

I will do so, I'm just not in a good place for that today, at the moment. I look forward to the interaction.

[kumiho]

i am very drawn to this path, and right now i'm trying to learn as much as i can. i picked up Penczak's Temple of Shamanic Witchcraft a bit ago (which is pretty informative as far as i can tell) and it sparked enough interest in me to research the subject online. so i am "interested in learning" ^__^

[Simply Puzzled]

i am very drawn to this path, and right now i'm trying to learn as much as i can. i picked up Penczak's Temple of Shamanic Witchcraft a bit ago (which is pretty informative as far as i can tell) and it sparked enough interest in me to research the subject online. so i am "interested in learning" ^__^

I'm not incredibly fond of the book, but others seem to be. You can find a thread about it somewhere around here. So what draws you to shamanism?

[Shosha]

I voted that I was Trained by a lineaged Shaman in traditional context... I'd like to be a little more specific:

I began my studies with a Native American Shaman 1983 (I was 17) however my lessons did not last more than a year as my teacher passed away and this successor didn't feel that I was native american enough (his words) to continuse on that path. (my father's grandmother was Seminole)
He did suggest, however, that I seek out a pathway relevent to my heritage. Since I have more Irish blood than any other, I chose to look into paths that were based in Irish and Celtic.
Wicca was one of my first. My sister, who moved to Texas before all this, had discovered Wicca and talked to me about it. She'd mentioned the flexability of Wicca as she knew of Celtic Wicca, Fairie Wicca and many others.
After giving it the "year and a day" recommended I realised that I was not Wiccan. Nothing wrong with it... but I just didn't fit that path.
I also dabbled in Druidry, hedge and green witchcrafts, and was then (about 10 years ago) introduced to Celtic Shamanism by a friend who gave me a copy of the book "By Oak, Ash, and Thorn: Modern Celtic Shamanism" by DJ Conway. I also own Conway's book Advanced Celtic Shamanism.

So there I am.

[Simply Puzzled]

I would love it if you started a thread explaining better your experiences in Celtic Shamanism and how you interpret it.

[Meisopomenos]

Well, I put that I incorporate Shamanic teachings and practices into another path. That was the best choice since "It just came to me and stuck to me, thanks to my Animal Ally."

For me, there has been hints by God (which I sometimes use to refer to the Great Spirit) that has made me think twice. I came from a Pentecostal-Holiness background, in which I believe gave me the gateway to understanding the "ecstatic" part of spirituality. Then I began following Wicca and Non-Wicca Witchcraft (at separate times over a period of several years) and learned a lot in regards to magic, seasonal changes, ritual workings, etc. So, I believe I have been trained over the year in small steps.

I did have Bacterial Meningitis, which has only left me deaf in one ear and partially deaf in the other with a hearing aid, and believe that that was my life/death experience. It seems that from then on, I have always been more mature in spiritual matters for my age and able to see with a "sixth sense".

[Æon Flux]

Being drawn, poked and prodded by various... spirits. Resisting it so far. Don't have the stamina, the resources or opportunity to delve into it further. Who knows what the future may bring, but it has always been there, lurking.

[Meisopomenos]

Being drawn, poked and prodded by various... spirits. Resisting it so far. Don't have the stamina, the resources or opportunity to delve into it further. Who knows what the future may bring, but it has always been there, lurking.

Having been there, it will just become harder it's to resist.

Just go with the flow and as it draws you, just accept it and I'm sure we here on the Shamanism forum can help you find the materials (books, suppliers, etc.) if necessary.