9 Tips On How to Find a Good Shaman

Shamans are viewed by many as reverent with many forgetting that they are humans too and are not perfect. But not every shaman is disciplined and dedicated to his or her calling.

In fact, unknown to many, there is a dark scene in the ayahuasca world- there are various stories from participants who claimed that they were sexually abused by the healers who administered the use of ayahuasca during the ritual or ceremony in the Peruvian Amazon. This concern has already reached the media and sparked a huge concern especially from those who wanted to try the plant medicine and those who experienced the abuse.

“It’s disgusting,” a woman named Rebekah told BBC⁽¹⁾https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-51053580. “Because he was a shaman, I thought he had moral superiority in a sense and I trusted him.

“Disgust, repulsion, betrayal – confusion, as well as to why a guide would do this, why a teacher would do this and why they would exploit their power like that,” she added about the painful experience.

Thus, it is very important to choose a trusted and reliable shaman if you are planning to join an ayahuasca ceremony.

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For those who are looking for a shaman to work with for their ayahuasca ceremony, it’s best to be safe than sorry. So, it is highly suggested that you do your research and gather as much information as possible.

To help you with that, feel free to use the following checklist to be guided accordingly.

1. Learn About The Shaman’s Background

Anyone who has the will, patience and discipline can train to be a shaman, but it used to be something that is passed down through family lines. Shamans began to train others because many outside Amazon showed interest in it while their kids weren’t as enthusiastic.

It would be a huge advantage if someone grew up in the indigenous community because that would mean that they are more familiar with shamanism, shamanic healing, the ceremonies, cultures, and processes.

So, ask the shamans where they come from and where they train and with whom. You may also ask about their lineage and what traditions they follow.

Do their family members pracfftice shamanism? How long have they been doing the ceremony?

You may also ask the plants used in the brew, how and who prepares it. Take the time to familiarize the plants used in the brew too to ensure your safety that there’s no side effects in taking ayahuasca.

You need to know the shamans’ background to ensure that you can trust them because they work with energy and that would reflect on how effective they are at what they do. Make sure to only work with a sober shaman with a sharp mind and memory. Someone who is attentive and is giving you all of his or her attention.

Also, understanding the shaman’s life story will give you a good overview of the healer’s In that way, you will be aware if he has gone through some serious physical challenges, personal sacrifices or near-death experiences that may have contributed to their wisdom as a shaman because the shamanic path is not easy and it comes with some challenges and suffering as a kind of passage.

2. Ask About Their Training

A shaman can learn directly from the spirit world by themselves or from their cultures or community especially if they grow up in a family of shamans. They usually have a history of training that explains how they end up with their profession. If healers could not explain how they come to work or how they gain their knowledge, then they probably have not been trained.

Be wary of them because they might not be knowledgeable enough to lead the ceremony and might not be experienced enough to address an emergency. Remember this, drinking aya is like entering the unknown, so it’s best to have someone who is well-trained and knowledgeable with the brew to ensure your safety.

Many look for shamans from indigenous communities, but even non-Amazonians are already equipped to carry out ayahuasca ceremonies. A number of Amazonian practitioners have found out that their traditional knowledge has value to the world.

“White people are using ayahuasca and are going to use ayahuasca in the future; therefore we should at least teach them to use it properly,” says Hilario Chiriap, a Shuar shaman from Ecuador.

According to him, the ideal training includes diet, sexual segregation and periods of intense training preferably done in isolation. Each shaman may have different training and that would affect the way they carry the ceremony. So, don’t expect to have the same experience as the others even if you attend the same treatment center.

3. Familiarize Their Methods

Shamans have different methods and those who are trained are upfront with their approach. For example, a shamanic healer offers group therapy, follow up sessions. Some use art, stones and crystals to bring healing benefits.

Shamanic healers are creative and they tend to use various materials to encourage the participants to their spiritual side. Steve Hupp of Kentucky Ayahuasca uses the hypnotic mirror technique to promote self-love and acceptance. He was also seen using a hammock to make one participant feel like she’s back to her mom’s embryo, safe and protected.

Don’t be surprised if shamans would make you do certain activities, those things aim to make the plant medicine work smoothly. Also, those are great ways for you to connect to your spiritual side or express yourself.

Although spiritual shamans have different techniques, singing the icaros is usually part of the procedure no matter where the ceremony is or who the shaman is. If you have time, research the shaman’s method and decide what appeals to you the most.

4. Research About Their Experience In Shamanic Healing

Finding an experienced healer isn’t really difficult, simply go to shamans who have been doing the job for years. So, always make sure to ask them how long they have been doing shamanism and how their experience was.

Although healers are beginners at first, they do not usually start seeing clients until they are getting good results. Also, they usually start from somewhere, and most practice with their family, friends, and volunteers. For instance,

Peter heals his son’s injuries and strains from physical training. He also healed his mom’s arthritis and it never returned for 20 long years.

Asking them about their experience is like asking for their portfolio. It would help you gauge their knowledge and experience, and decide whether you should work with the shaman or not.

5. Know If They Can Empower Their Participants

Plant medicines are generally accelerators. They can enhance what you are already feeling. That’s why some people suffering from depression or anxiety notice that things get worse after the ceremony.

Also, shamans usually add plants to blend in their aya brew to intensify the effects, but there are plants that are poisonous which only enhances one’s negative trip.

That’s why it is critical that you work with a well-trained or experienced shaman to facilitate the ceremony who understands where you are at, works with you for months or weeks prior to the ceremony to prepare you and your energetic container.
Also, expert shamans doses you correctly, facilitates proper integration post ceremony in the weeks and months to follow. They can empower you by working with you to clear the things coming up for healing.

“A good shaman isn’t trying to control you. They’re not judging you or being tied up in your dramas; they’re honoring your choices and giving you space to honor your experiences,” said Jill Blakeway, a Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor, acupuncturist, energy healer, and co-founder of New York City’s YinOva Center⁽²⁾https://www.yinovacenter.com/..

“You should feel more free in all areas: physically, mentally, spiritually. It should be a liberating experience and not something where you’re questioning where the boundaries are. That question shouldn’t even come up in your mind.”

A good and effective shaman knows how to empower the participant. The healer will respect the participant’s decisions, connect him with what he needs, and direct him to his healing. If a participant doesn’t feel any empowerment from the shaman, it’s best to look for another one.

6. Learn About Their Specialties

Speaking of experienced shamans, they usually know what their specialties. So, better ask whether they focus on addressing addiction, healing childhood trauma, or treating illnesses.

Shamans’ professional skills include healing and magic. They usually resolve love, money problems and constant bad luck. Shaman Peter told Yes and Yes (https://www.yesandyes.org/2015/08/interview-with-a-shaman.html) that he specializes in physical and emotional problems. But he also helps people going through crises including collapsing business deals, preventing major split and helping sell properties.

It’s best if you choose the shaman that specializes in what you need. Also, most shamans will mention their specialty on their website. If you don’t find one you feel is expert for your condition that doesn’t mean that the shamans near you are not fit to help you. They are usually versatile.

However, if you are planning to only get a soul retrieval or de-possession, it’s best if you only get it from someone who considers it one of their specialties. You can mention it in your inquiries. Ask them how they do it and why they consider themselves a pro in that area.

7. Ask for their healing story

The way the healer explains the healing process is very significant. Usually, the shamanic practitioners have to translate what they saw and encountered during their trance to people or groups present in the ceremony. The way the shaman interprets the visions he sees is important because it’s how the spirit of the ayahuasca is conveying the solution to the problem.

For Shaman Peter, his profession has helped him learn that people can create their own reality including their bodies and achieve anything they believe in themselves. He also shared a simple self-healing exercise that anyone can do to remove things that blocks their success or manifest their desires.

For this, Shaman Peter encourages one to sit still, welcome and embrace all the feelings that come with one’s desire. The various emotions may include anger, stress, and frustrations. According to Peter, once you feel and release the pent-up emotions anything can change for the better.

To manifest dreams, whether it’s acquiring a new home, relationship, or career, one should welcome any feelings that stand in the way, including doubts and memories of past failures. After you embrace the emotions, they will pass and leave you with a quiet confidence in achieving your dreams and you will see them start to manifest.

8. Research About Their Ethics

A reliable shaman practices ethical behavior. There are various stories about shamans allegedly sexually abusing their clients and those terrible stories have occurred in various retreat centers around the world. Shamans with good ethics know the boundaries and they behave respectfully and professionally.

Also, they would not encourage their clients to stop their current medical treatments. They will refer you to a different healer if they think one would better match your needs. I highly recommend checking the background of the shaman and how they work with their previous clients.

There are many horror stories about shamans abusing their clients and the last thing you want to be with is going through an ayahuasca ceremony with someone you cannot trust. You will be surprised that even popular shamans like Guillermo Arévalo have some scandalous stories.

A woman named Anna shared with BBC⁽³⁾https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-51053580 the sexual abuse he encountered with a respectable shaman. She admitted that she was flabbergasted by the shaman’s presence and power and ability to lead the ceremony. She found the encounter “quite profound.” She also praised the shaman for being a good healer, but she didn’t have a great experience with Arevalo.

“He started to chant to me and put his hands on my stomach over my clothing which is normal. And then he put his hands down my pants. And there’s this sense of feeling frozen. I lay there in fear and then he put his hands up my shirt and felt around my breasts,” she shared.

“‘What the heck was that all about?’ Just a sense of disbelief and confusion.”

It took six years for Anna to be able to open up about the experience because she had an abusive relationship with men and used to tolerate it. Also, she had a history of addiction and sexual abuse, so there was a sense of familiarity and normalcy in the incident. So, make sure to only work with someone you can trust.

9. Observe The Attitude

A good shaman doesn’t act like a rock star. Whenever you see one, you will immediately sense his humility. A shaman is someone who is free of ego and allows the space for the spirit to do its work.

Also, healers are well-connected to the environment and to their spiritual side. They know that there is someone far great and more powerful than them and that keeps them grounded.

In addition, be mindful of their attitude toward money. Shamanism is both a profession and a calling. Yes, a shaman makes money from it, that’s why ayahuasca shamanism booms as a business. But a shaman who is dedicated to the craft would make the participant or client feel like he could do it for free.

A good shaman doesn’t have to send invitations or put up billboards to have new clients because satisfied customers will likely make recommendations.

“Word of mouth is the best way to find a trustworthy shaman,” Blakeway said.

When it comes to shamans charging, Sarah Eve Cardell is supportive of a good shaman accepting payment. He believed that they earn it as long as it’s not their motivation.

“There has to be some sort of energy exchange,” she said. “People need to live and be paid for what they do, but an authentic shaman feels led to the practice.”

Conclusion

Finding a good shaman can be challenging, especially that ayahuasca has become so popular that you can almost find it in various parts of the world. So, make sure to take the time to only work with a reliable and trustworthy healer for your shamanic healing.

It’s best if you work with someone who has years of experience and knowledge in the medicine plant. So, look for someone who has already done a lot of shamanic ceremonies. A good and knowledgeable shaman will not only ensure your safety but also make the entire Ayahuasca experience easy and smooth for you.

If you wish to learn more about ayahuasca, please feel free to check our home page.

References

• reddit.com/r/Ayahuasca/comments/c6lhyv/ama_i_am_trained_as_a_shaman_and_have_guided_more/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
• entheonation.com/blog/choose-ideal-ayahuasca-facilitator-retreat-center/
• pinkpangea.com/2014/09/ayahuasca-peru-tips-experiencing-sacred-medicine/
• yesandyes.org/2015/08/interview-with-a-shaman.html
• wellandgood.com/how-to-find-a-real-shaman/
• bbc.com/news/stories-51053580
• personaltao.com/shamanism/
• jadegrigori.com/shamanic-empowerment/
• shamanlinks.net/shaman-info/finding-your-shaman/shamans-tips-choosing-healer/
• amuse.vice.com/en_us/article/59abzx/indigenous-cultures-or-11-ways-to-know-a-good-shaman-when-you-meet-one