Shamanic journeying

I'm sure our will be along to give you a full reply soon.... 😉

Hi, Veronica,

While I’d always advise learning journeying on a workshop, Sandra Ingerman’s book is good and I’ve known a few people who have learned from it. (It’s just that it’s much easier to learn on a workshop.)

I’d suggest you don’t “hunt for a drum”. You don’t actually need one – certainly to begin with – and just relaxing and seeing what happens will allow the right drum to find you. Once you’ve met your drum it will become a close friend, so it’s worth waiting for.

What I really would suggest you do is, once you have learned to journey, you join a group (have a look – there are a couple in North Carolina). That will really improve your skills.

About charging … well, I charge for shamanic work – healing, counselling, house clearing etc. And I charge for teaching. But much shamanic journeying is for personal spiritual growth, of course.

I hope you enjoy your journeys and your Journey, All the best with it!:)

Jane

I'm sure our will be along to give you a full reply soon.... 😉

Oh dear! I'm very predictable, aren't I?:D

When you need a teacher "Cowan" a teacher will appear
If that's predictable, then the universe is predictable

When you need a teacher "Cowan" a teacher will appear
If that's predictable, then the universe is predictable

I take it this is intended to mean something?

Thanks for the links. Can I use something else other than a drum such as a rattle?
I have a rattle and like using it.

Thanks for the links. Can I use something else other than a drum such as a rattle?
I have a rattle and like using it.

Yes, use a rattle - I use my rattle probably more than I use my drum. I'm lucky in that my partner will drum for me if I am journeying, but often I use a CD.
Have you met the spirit of your rattle yet?

Yes - he's a very energetic and bright soul.
I have a rattle that has shells hanging off of it.
I had another one but it broke while moving to another physical location so I'm looking to get another one.
I don't have space for a drum where I live.
Does it matter what type of drum that's used in journeying?

Does it matter what type of drum that's used in journeying?

Not really. The method used to go on the journey is less important than the communication with the spirits. There are many ways to enter the journey (for example, psychotropic plants – which I don’t recommend). If you can journey to a drum, then you can learn to journey to any monotonous beat – a rattle, or the pounding of a staff on a wooden floor.
Drums are more usual. Most people use a single sided frame drum, although some (Nepalese shamans, for example) use double sided frame drums. Although most are made of animal skins, some modern shamanic practitioners prefer a “Remo” drum – with a plasticised head. This is particularly used by vegetarians, of course, but also by those who live in the damper parts of the world (like Wales!), since they don’t go flat as easily as skin drums do.
And, on a practical note, unless we have someone who can drum for us, we mostly use recorded drumming on a CD.

Hi Crowen,
I have a friend who's sending me a single framed drum she's not using. So it'll be given to me.
She is also sending me a mallet. I was hoping I could play the drum and journey at the same time. Does somebody have to drum for me?
If so a friend of mine or my boyfriend could. If not I could use a drumming CD.
Blessings,
Veronica

If you have someone to drum, it is better. It is possible to drum for yourself, but you’ll get deeper into the journey if you can relax and have someone else do it – as long as they can maintain a steady beat for long enough (15 minutes is good), followed by a call-back. Drumming is a skill that needs to be learned in itself.

In some cultures, the shaman starts off drumming and then, as s/he goes into the trance state, s/he drops the drum and falls to the floor and the assistant catches the drum and carries on drumming. (I’ve always quite liked the idea of trying this – except I’ve never wanted to risk dropping my drum!)

I’m lucky in that I have someone to drum for me mostly. Otherwise I’m quite happy to use a CD.

Hi Crowan,
Thanks for the reply. Yes I wouldn't want to drop my drum either.
You can journey on behalf of someone else right? Say if someone would want me to journey for them is that at all possible?
I'm curious as to how shamans can do all the things I've seen them do (extraction work, soul retrieval etc). Does the abuv work require one to know how to journey?
I've had some shamanic work done before, it's powerful!
Blessings,
Veronica

You can journey on behalf of someone else right? Say if someone would want me to journey for them is that at all possible?

Yes, that is straight forward. Simply word your intention carefully and go for it. (As long as the other person has asked you.)

I'm curious as to how shamans can do all the things I've seen them do (extraction work, soul retrieval etc). Does the abuv work require one to know how to journey?

Shamanic healing does require journeying. I expect students to have at least a year of shamanic practice, a deep personal relationship with his/her spirits and some “follow-on from the introductory course” study.

Extraction and Soul Retrieval, along with other healing techniques and shamanic counselling are advanced work which take a further two to three years of study.

There are many ways to enter into a shamanic state of consciousness...through dance or repetitive movements, listening to repetitive sounds , becoming inwardly still....it just takes time and practice...i would only journey on someone elses behalf if they had made this request...have fun going within.

There are many ways to enter into a shamanic state of consciousness...through dance or repetitive movements, listening to repetitive sounds , becoming inwardly still....it just takes time and practice...i would only journey on someone elses behalf if they had made this request...have fun going within.

Some of these - for example becoming inwardly still - do not have the boundaries of other methods. What are your safety measures? I take it you would only do this with a carefully worded intention?