� Ruiseart
Shamanism is a subject that is becoming increasingly popular these days, especially amongst people who seek an alternative to what they view as a more mainstream approach to spirituality/paganism (if indeed there is such a thing). Forms of shamanism occur throughout the world, in many pagan cultures, and whilst the Native American tradition is perhaps a little more known (maybe even a little "trendy"), Europe is certainly no stranger to the shamanic arts. Britain and Ireland in fact have a history of shamanic practices that span thousands of years (ancient sweat-lodges and totem-poles having been found in the north of Scotland and Ireland) so it should come as no surprise then to learn that shamanism is an integral part of the Druid Way.
Whilst the area of Druidry known as Bardism is concerned with the manifestation of the "Word" via story-telling, poetry, music, etc., it is the Ovates who are concerned with the development of the "Sight" and shamanism plays an extremely important part in this process.
The work of the Bard and the Ovate however often overlap, as do many areas of Druidry, and it is within the common area that we see hints of "Bardic shamanism". During the training of the Bard we begin to explore various aspects of shamanism, such as those associated with sounds produced from drums, pipes, chants etc. By developing an awareness and an appreciation of the rhythm in music and poetry, we begin to feel a connection to the rhythm of our own bodies. Having achieved that, we can then expand our awareness outwards, into nature and the universe.
Throughout the early phases of the Ovate's training, this subtle introduction to shamanism is continued by teaching the student to commune with nature via various meditations and exercises. It is not until much later however, at the deeper levels of Ovatism, that the world of the Celtic Shaman is truly explored. The work of the shaman often takes him or her into unknown areas and if the student is not ready to work at that level, then the results can be disastrous. It is for this reason that I advise seekers of any shamanic Path to be very wary of "teachers" that offer training, healing, etc., without thoroughly checking them out first (and please, avoid anyone claiming to have been trained by a descendent of the second cousin of Geronimo, or such like).
Due to the work of the shaman requiring an intimate and extremely personal relationship with the inner realms, nature, the universe, etc., shamanism often appeals to those who prefer to work "solo". This does not mean of course that the art cannot be learned in a group setting and regardless of whether it is or it isn't, I strongly recommend seeking a qualified teacher. If one is really serious about pursuing studies in shamanism, then proper guidance is a must as it can help the student to avoid many pitfalls.
Within Druidry, we view everything as being divided into three realms. Put into simple terms, these are the "Otherworld", the "Underworld" and the "world in which we currently exist" and are often referred to as the "Upper-world", the "Lower-world" and the "Middle-world". (Some writers have associated these realms with "Sky", "Sea" and "Land" which have unfortunately been confused by some people as being elemental in nature, thus leading to the common misconception that Druids only work with three elements).
One of the traditional roles of the Ovate, is to travel to other realms and bring back information that can benefit the clan/tribe/community. Whilst the Ovatic-shaman utilizes many methods of doing this, (often involving drumming, dancing, chanting, etc.,) a common approach is to make a connection to various animal spirits. This is due to the Celtic belief that animals have intimate connections to certain areas within the realms and by joining with them, the shaman can have access to their knowledge and wisdom. This can be done by either blending with the particular animal spirit, or evoking it from deep within the being of the practitioner. Sometimes the shaman will take the form of the animal (a process known as "shape-shifting") thus enabling him or her to travel through the animal's environment easily.
Another belief that is familiar to Druidry, although by no means unique to it, is the concept of "animism" (the belief that all things have a spirit, or soul). The student of Druidic-shamanism is taught various techniques by which he or she can connect to these "spirits" and therefore, ultimately make a connection to the entire universe.
I would like to conclude by saying that whilst there are many approaches to the multi-faceted Path of shamanism and each one is as valid as the next, I hope that I have in some way provided readers with a basic overview of the art from a Druidic viewpoint. Whatever approach the seeker prefers, shamanism can provide a wonderful vehicle for attuning ourselves to the vibration of the universe and achieving Oneness.