Some Shamanic Concepts Defined
Core Shamanism: the fundamental defining elements of shamanistic belief and practice as they occur almost universally across cultures, a term created by anthropologist Michael Harner.
Ecstasy: The experience of being outside one's self, often joyously. Found in shamanic journeying, skiing, and sex.
Lower World: One of the shamanic realities. To enter it involves an experience of going down, often through a tunnel. It has many levels. In it reside Power Animals and other healing and instructive forces. It is not a negative place like Hell.
Middle World: Ordinary reality experienced shamanically and therefore perceived in the spiritual sense. Divination, extraction and other forms of healing are done as Middle World journeys.
Upper World: To enter the upper world one journeys up from the Middle World. It can be a positive place but is not synonymous with Heaven.
Non Ordinary Reality: the reality that the shaman journeys into. It does not follow the rules of Aristotelian logic.
Ordinary reality: Reality as we experience it in our usual state of awareness. It adheres to the rules of logic.
Power: Fullness of life and immunity against negative spiritual influences. It is gained by right relationship with the other realms.
Power Animal: A guardian spirit or familiar manifesting itself as an animal who has compassion for a person and agrees to act as a guide, advisor, and healer.
Shaman: (the word is derived from the Siberian Tungus tribe): A person who contacts other realities for healing and wisdom in the service of his or her community. "Shaman" is a title conferred by the community, not a self-proclaimed one.
Shamanic Drum: The sound of the shamanic drum is the “horse” on which the shaman rides to the other realms. It is typically a one-headed hand drum, beaten in a monotonous rhythm with a soft mallet. The drum contains much power and symbolism. Any painting on the drums is typically a “map of the universe” or some representation of spiritual power.
Shamanic Rattle: Rattles are used for communicating with spirits and for healing work.
Shamanic State of Consciousness: An altered state of consciousness, not well understood neurologically, which provides the ecstatic experience of journeying to other realities which have a consistency and coherence of their own. It is attained most commonly through the use of a Sonic Driver (q.v.) or in some cultures through the use of mind-altering herbs.
Shamanism: The belief system and practices of those who use an altered state of consciousness (the Shamanic State of Consciousness) in contacting other realities. It is a method of gaining knowledge and is not in itself a religion, though the two tend to merge in tribal cultures.
Sonic Driver: Use of repetitive sound to alter consciousness, most typically with drums and rattles, but also through other repetitious sounds.
World Tree: The axis mundi, the interconnection between the worlds, used by some as a route in journeying to gain access to the other worlds.
