Resources
Of course it would be an injustice to take credit for everything produced on this website. I would not be here doing what I’m doing today if it were not for my teachers, and communities that I have learned from. Here is a list of support, materials, and mixture of local Shamanic community as well as on a broader spectrum through books and webcasts.
Global Shamanic Communities
Resources to connect with a larger community, and one that makes you feel like you are apart of something bigger. Learn from as many teachers as you can. Make sure to listen to your truth chord/Internal guidance system to see what path is right for YOU if you are interested in learning more!
Foundation of Shamanic Studies
Whenever someone talks about Shamanism, they begin talking about “Core Shamanism”. The Foundation of Shamanic Studies was founded by Dr. Michael Harner who is a cultural anthropologist. What he did, as well as a conglomeration from a few other people – was study with indigenous tribes from all over the world. They studied these tribes and found many similarities between all of them. With that, they have laid the groundwork for a new, contemporary form of Shamanism that works for our time, and for our contemporary people. Michael Harner is known as the “Grandfather” of contemporary Shamanism.
The Foundation hosts many classes and workshops, and they even have training programs in different areas across the United States. The local connection is Dana Robinson and you can feel free to email him for more information about classes going on in the Northern VA, MD, and DC area.
Why Shamanism Now
Why Shamanism Now is a listener supported podcast that has over 400 hours of recordings available for access for free. Topics range anywhere from energetic health/hygiene, to gratitude, shamanic journeying, shamanic healing, ancestral healing, plant medicine, and so many more things. Christina Pratt began the podcasts back in 2009, and since then has begun her teachings with the Cycle of Transformation. Today she maintain a shamanic healing practice in Portland, Oregon, offering “in person” and “long distance” shamanic healing of all kinds at Last Mask Center. She teaches teleseminar classes, short classes at Whole Being Health, and a four-year, retreat-based, training in Shamanism for the New World called The Cycle of Transformation. This training focuses on a full shamanic life, from action to belief and how to use that to bring your unique genius fully into the world. For more information and a full calendar of classes, free talks, and monthly open journey circle go to www.lastmaskcenter.org.
Shaman Portal
The Shaman Portal was founded by Itzhak Beery, and is dedicated to creating a vibrant global community of people striving to teach and learn about the rich heritage of Earth and Spirit honoring practiced by all shamanic traditions. They believe that the wisdom of these traditions are essential to maintaining spiritual, mental and physical balance in our modern world. ShamanPortal welcomes visitors to post upcoming activities; find opportunities to interact with members of our community; join discussions on various shamanic topics through the Talking Stick Forum; browse through our comprehensive multimedia Shamanic Library and send suggestions for additions; and offer their shamanic services in our Resources section. We are happy to be listen on the Shaman Portal, and are blessed to be given the opportunity to do so!
Sounds True
The Sounds True network has a beautiful array of courses offered. They range from many different types of holistic perspectives, and have many courses in regards to Shamanism. They rotate, so feel free to sign up for their newsletter for more up to date information. The two constant courses are the Shamanic Journeying Course, and The Power of Focused Intent offered by Sandra Ingerman. Two online classes up now are 21st Century Shamanism by Sandra Ingerman and The Shamans Path by Hank Wesselman. Both of those online classes are only $19 and are prerecorded teachings that you can have access to.
The biggest thing that Sounds True offers which gives us access to a global community of shamanic practitioners is the Year of Ceremony. The Year of Ceremony is a series of 13 ceremonies that are lead by big names in the shamanic community. These ceremonies are done on the evening of the full moon, and will lead us to personal, as well as global transformation. Shamanic practitioners from different traditions and locations will come together online to share ceremonies and sacred teachings. Each month, you’ll be able to join us on a live broadcast of a ceremony presented by a different shamanic teacher for each lunar cycles—infusing your entire year with shared intention and sacred energy.
Over the course of the year, you’ll have the opportunity to learn powerful new techniques and deepen your own practice.
Shift Network
The Shift Network is an organization with a big mission: To help humanity evolve and create a sustainable, healthy, peaceful and prosperous world.
They are a transformative education company that partners with the top teachers, experts, and healers on the planet, across many diverse fields, to offer powerful experiences that support your growth and transformation — and the evolution of the collective. Through their events, courses, and media, they’re committed to helping you create a conscious, meaningful life where you bring your greatest gifts forth in inspired action.
One of the things they do yearly is the Global Shamanism Summit, lead by Michael Stone (who also has his own podcast called Conversations). This is hosted once yearly, and it’s three days that are slam packed with speakers from all over the globe, talking about different aspects of Shamanism. Besides the Summit, they also offer many courses such as Shamanic Journeying with Sandra Ingerman and many others, Magic, Medicine, and Mysticism by don Oscar Miro-Quesada, The Shamanic Path of Re-enchantment by Hank Wesselman, Shapeshifting Your Reality by John Perkins, and so much more.
Society For Shamanic Practice
The Society For Shamanic Practice is a group dedicated to living and traveling the shamanic path. The Society is deeply interested in understanding how shamanism is evolving in the modern world and in knowing how shamanism can be applied in the 21st century. Together, they gather and share extensive knowledge and resources for the practice in all its forms. With membership across many countries, the Society for Shamanic Practice embraces all forms of shamanism and encourages the dynamic exchange of information so that we may all learn from one another. By uniting here to educate ourselves and build community, we can best empower ourselves to walk this path with integrity, respect and practicality. SSP also has a listing of Shamanic Practitioners, an online library, and many other things available on their website.
SSP is also the host of Shamanism Without Borders. This program is a distance healing, which Eagle Therapies is apart of. When global events happen and there needs to be some shamanic tending, small groups will gather together via telephone or small satellite sites in order to help tend the stewardship of our Earth. The Ancestral Healing Circles are apart of this bigger vision/goal.
Local communities:
Takoma Park Community
In Takoma Park, there are a wide variety of people that host wonderful happenings. There is almost always something going on either music related or spiritually related. The best headliners in the area are Katy Gaughan with her drum circles, the Shamanic happenings with Peggy Brennan and Mary Tyrtle Rooker.
Katy Gaughan works with the drum as her medicine, working with it for the past 10 years – healing and transforming communities, bringing joy to the community through these events. Visit her website or join the drumming community on Facebook.
There are once monthly Journey groups by both Peggy and Tyrtle. For Peggy, she does a lot of community building through her music. Visit her webpage for the events and journey group. For Tyrtle, she has a wonderful one year sovereignty school, shamanic healers program and teaches a wide variety of workshops – including food education for those curious to transitioning to a more vegan diet. Her Journey Group is on the Fourth Saturday of every month, followed by a shamanic movie night.
Shamanic Healing Institute
There is a school that is up near Annapolis, MD that is based out of a South American Tradition. The Shamanic Healing Institute was founded by Paul M. Sivert, and the Institute leads many healing ceremonies as well as teachings. They offer several classes, drumming circles, retreats, and workshops. Feel free to look at their calendar for more information. If you are unable to make it to Annapolis, MD and are called to their teachings, they also offer distance healings.
Sticks and Stones Community
Sticks and Stones is a wonderful store that offers classes, readings, and drum circles. Feel free to check out the store for crystals, herbs, and many different magical tools.
Intuitive Wellness Center
A wonderful office space in Burke, VA that offers several events per week. They host weekly Reiki circles, BARs, dowsing, and so much more. Feel free to visit their meetup for their up to date events.
Helpful Books to get you started on your path
Awakening to the Spirit World: The Shamanic Path of Direct Revelation
Authors: Sandra Ingerman and Hank Wesselman
“Today, practicing shamanism doesn’t mean you have to live in a rain forest or a desert. Thanks to a modern renaissance of shamanic spirituality, practitioners from all walks of life now use powerful indigenous techniques for healing, insight, and spiritual growth. With Awakening to the Spirit World, teachers Sandra Ingerman and Hank Wesselman bring together a circle of renowned Western shamanic elders to present a comprehensive manual for making these practices accessible and available in our daily lives.”
One of the reasons why I love this book is because it offers many different perspectives on Shamanism and how it plays a role in todays society. Yes, we need to be able to learn from the past, but how do we apply these age old techniques to our contemporary life so they work? There are many topics covered in this book, and for an overall generalization, this book is highly recommended.
Shamanic Journeying: A Beginners Guide
Author: Sandra Ingerman
This is a really good guide book to navigating the aspects of altered states of consciousness. Sandra Ingerman allows the individual to develop their own sensitivities, and offers common mistakes, pitfalls, as well as helpful tips/techniques for perfecting this skill. This is a really good introductory book that allows one to dive deeper into their relationship with Spirit, so they may begin to truly transform themselves.
Spirit Walking: A Course In Shamanic Power
Author: Evelyn Rysdyk
Evelyn is a wonderful author that poses her books very similar to workbooks. She has a step by step guide within these pages to allow the individual to discover a deeper relationship with power animals, learning about prayers and rituals, discovering the creative energy of emotions, imagination and manifestation, learning to shape shift, basics of divination, as well as an introduction to shamanic healing and how it can be beneficial.
Animal-Speak: The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great and Small
Author: Ted Andrews
This is one of the most commonly referenced books in many different shamanic circles. This is one of the core books that has given many people their start into animal medicine. There is an alphabetical listing of many animals, reptiles, and insects that the reader can explore. It also gives insight on how best to discover for yourself how to work with these medicinal helpers.
Walking in Light: The Everyday Empowerment of a Shamanic Life
Author: Sandra Ingerman
A shaman can serve as a healer, storyteller, and a keeper of wisdom—but most of all, teaches Sandra Ingerman, “Shamans radiate a light that uplifts everybody. In our culture, we tend to focus on methods and forget that the greatest way we can offer healing to the world is to become a vessel of love.” With Walking in Light, this renowned teacher offers a complete guide for living in a shamanic way—empowered by purpose, focus, and a deep connection to the spiritual dimensions.