| A Pagan's Path (part 3) |
| Most anthropologists and religious scholars agree that shamanism was the first spiritual practice. Shamanism is the practice of journeying into the spirit world through altered states of consciousness, usually some kind of trance. It is closely linked with, though not the same as, animism, which is the belief that all of nature is inhabited by spiritual entities. Shamans go into a trance-like state with the use of drums, psychedelic plants, rattles, sweat lodges, acts of physical exhaustion, ecstatic dancing or meditation. In this state, they interact directly with spirits. There are many cultural themes based on this practice, but the basic method is the same.
Shamanism pre-dates Christianity by thousands of years. Even though some shamanic practices are incorporated into Bhuddism, Shinto, and other Eastern religions, shamanism has been used by people since the beginning of recorded history and perhaps before that. Many of our ideas about spirits, souls and the afterlife have been adopted from previous shamanic cultures. I thought this was the perfect place to begin my search for the First Religion. In the Spring of 2002 I signed up for a Basic Workshop given by the Foundation for Shamanic Studies. This group was founded by the respected anthropologist, Michael Harner, who brought together many of the �core principles� of shamanism used by tribes and cultures around the globe. I bought a drum and showed up full of curiosity and a slight hope that this would not be just a disappointing, New Agey exercise with a bunch of hokey people pretending to talk to spirits. It was not. When the leader of the workshop rattled and called in the spirits, I felt a shiver run up my spine. I passed it off as my reaction to the theatrics. Later, during a healing ritual, we all drummed in unison and began to chant and sing as we felt led. Suddenly, I was surrounded by the presence I had learned to recognize as a child. I felt the power of God enter the room and I wept. The tears were brought on not only by the overwhelming power and presence of the Spirit, but by my relief that I had finally found what I had been searching for all the time�a belief system that recognized my individuality and also allowed me to experience the divine. Over three years have passed since that day. I practice journeying when I can. I meditate. My desire for alcohol has slowly waned and someday I may quit drinking altogether. I still smoke, but maybe I will journey on that issue when I feel I am ready to quit. I have found more satisfaction with my new path than I would have ever thought possible. My interaction with nature spirits has deepened my love for this planet and my commitment to environmental issues. I now see all people as divine and try to treat them accordingly. My friends have noticed the change in me. They know that I will pay the vet bill instead of putting the dog to sleep; they know I recycle; they know I will listen and try to help them if they have a spiritual need their pastor cannot help with. My life has not become perfect just because I journey. I still have not told my parents that I am pagan. They probably have suspicions but are content to remain ignorant. Eventually we will have to face the truth as a family and I will journey on that as well. I am not as peaceful as I would like to be and I am not as great a healer as I feel I could be. I have found this tradition to be much, much deeper than I ever suspected so I come away from every journey with one answer and more questions. In spite of all that I am happy. And some day I hope to have the wisdom and the confidence in myself to say, �I am a shaman.� |