FSS Polestar: What is a shaman?
What is a shaman? How does one become one? The re-emergence of shamanism in the West has been largely driven by the pioneering work of the late anthropologist Dr. Michael Harner, founder of the Foundation for Shamanic Studies. His lifetime of research,...
FSS Polestar: Shamanism at the Inflection Point
Humanity has reached an inflection point—an unprecedented situation where one species can determine whether the Earth itself fades or flourishes. The confluence of a pandemic, racism as graphically and inescapably laid bare by the homicide of George Floyd, vast...
FSS Polestar: Shamanism as a Profession?
Shamanism as a Profession? Practicing Shamanic Healing Using Core Shamanism We find ourselves these days at a significant crossroad in the growth of shamanism in contemporary society. In the 1980s, when the Foundation’s training programs were relatively new, people...
FSS Polestar: Shamanism & Shamanic Practice, Information & Support During the Coronavirus Pandemic
CLICK HERE FOR FSS ONLINE OFFERINGS & WORKSHOPS Shamanism at the Inflection Point, message from Susan Mokelke, president Information & Support During the Coronavirus Pandemic In the coronavirus pandemic, humanity is facing a test unprecedented in the modern...
FSS Polestar: Shamanism for Local and Global Healing and Assistance
Faced with catastrophes of an epic scale -- such as the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, and social injustice -- how can I ethically bring the power of the compassionate spirits to help? Faced with catastrophes of epic scale, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, climate...
FSS Polestar: Visual and Non-Visual Shamanic Journeys
I’m concerned because my journeys are not very visual. Other people report a lot of vivid details from their journeys, almost as if they’re watching a movie. My journeys aren’t like that at all. I often just get vague, disconnected images. Am I doing something wrong?...
FSS Polestar: Shamanism in natural or human-caused disasters
How can I provide shamanic help in cases of natural or human-caused disasters? Shamanic healing is powerful and can produce miracles of healing. It also operates outside of ordinary reality time and space, so distance healing can be just as powerful as in person work....
FSS Polestar: Imagination and reality in shamanic journeying
How do I know I’m not just imagining all this, or making it up? This is a common question among beginning journeyers. Ultimately it is a question that we each must answer for ourselves. We live in a culture that exalts rational mind, intellect, and consensual reality....
FSS Polestar: Core Shamanism, FAQ
When Michael Harner first introduced The Way of the Shaman in 1980, shamanism was little known outside of academia. The renaissance of contemporary experiential shamanism is largely due to his pioneering work over the last several decades researching, developing, and...
FSS Polestar: Can you learn shamanism and shamanic healing online?
As interest in shamanism grows, online training offerings are emerging. There are pros and cons to this trend. On the one hand, never before has it been so easy to connect with shamanic practitioners and shamanic resources from all over the world. This is an exciting...