FSS Polestar: Core Shamanism – Respecting Indigenous Cultures

Core Shamanism, by definition, is based on universal principles of shamanic methodology, and does not borrow ceremony and practices from indigenous cultures.

“Core Shamanism consists of the universal, near-universal, and common features of shamanism, together with journeys to other worlds, a distinguishing feature of shamanism. As originated, researched, and developed by Michael Harner, the principles of Core Shamanism are not bound to any specific cultural group or perspective. See Core Shamanism, as distinct from indigenous cultural shamanism and neoshamanism.

For more context and background, see Dr. Harner’s book Cave & Cosmos, pages 45-46, and appendix D. In his discussion of Core Shamanism in Cave & Cosmos, Dr. Harner elaborates on why Core Shamanism does not borrow practices and ceremony from indigenous people (see p. 46). There are also related statements from Dr. Harner in The Way of the Shaman documentary.

In some FSS advanced trainings, occasionally specific practices are offered that were freely given to Dr. Harner by the indigenous people he worked with, along with permission for him to teach these practices to his students. When these practices are taught, the FSS credits the source and provides the context in which they were given to the Foundation.

For a deeper dive into these issues, see Bill Brunton’s article The Reawakening of Shamanism in the West.

These are complex issues. As interest in shamanism continues to grow in contemporary societies, the FSS remains committed to teaching authentic methodologies that are powerful and effective, without resorting to cultural appropriation.

Narrye Caldwell
FSS Faculty


Polestar logo design by Carolyn Fee ©2010 Foundation for Shamanic Studies
FSS Polestar highlights some of the questions we are frequently asked about contemporary shamanic practice. “Polestar” is defined as “something that serves as a guiding principle.” It reflects our commitment to helping practitioners stay oriented to authentic shamanic methods and ethics, while maintaining their own independent spirituality, which comes from learning directly from the compassionate spirits. Send us your practice-related questions for consideration for Polestar. Email info@shamanism.org with “Polestar” in the subject line.

FSS Polestar: Shamanism, Spirits, and Transformation

In My Path in Shamanism, the interviewer asks Michael Harner: In addition to the compassionate spirits, are there malevolent spirits?

“Yes. Here in the Middle World the spirits have the whole range of personalities that also occur in ordinary reality. What is ‘malevolent’ is an interesting thing. Other species may view us as malevolent, such as when we kill and enslave them. But we don’t view ourselves as malevolent, and we don’t see our whole species as malevolent. So a lot of the so-called ‘evil spirits’ are often basically just trying to make a living and exist in their own way just as we are. More often than not, they don’t even know they’re dead. They’re just doing the same old thing, but they’re doing it in a Middle World of nonordinary reality.”

—Michael Harner, My Path in Shamanism

If we can label something as malevolent or evil, some people think that that gives us the right to do evil back. From a spiritual standpoint, many spirits in the Middle World are, as Michael notes: “Simply trying to make a living.” Similar to a spider in your bed, for example. Out of respect for the principle that “everything is alive and has spirit,” from a shamanic perspective, it is preferable to remove it to a place where it can do no harm—no need to label it or hate it. “Evil” might be considered as the intentional doing of harm. In Core Shamanism, we call using spiritual means to do harm “sorcery.” We work with fully compassionate spirits to help and heal and do not use the spirits’ power to do harm. Does that mean that we do nothing help and to address pain and suffering? Absolutely not!

If we have a client who is receiving some kind of spiritual influence or attack, we work to fully protect the client (with their permission obtained in advance) by empowering them, as with extraction and soul retrieval, and importantly, reconnecting them with a power animal. This creates a kind of spiritual immune system, where such attacks can no longer reach the client spiritually. We do not respond to attacks with further attacks of our own. If people are doing harm to others or the environment, we can ask the spirits what we can do in ORDINARY REALITY to help resolve the problem. Then, we can take spirit-inspired action in ordinary reality. This is practical hands-on work in everyday life, not magical thinking.

One thing I have learned from practicing shamanism for decades, is that shamanism in the larger sense is really about evolving as humans—moving beyond hate and fear to “compassionate neutrality.” We come to understand that we ARE the Earth and that when we advance spiritually, the whole world transforms.

Susan Mokelke, JD
FSS President & Faculty

More on this topic:
Ethical Considerations in Shamanic Healing
Shamanism and Personal Transformation
Shamanism & Personal Transformation online workshop
Shamanism for Inspired Local and Global Change: ONLINE or IN PERSON


Polestar logo design by Carolyn Fee ©2010 Foundation for Shamanic Studies
FSS Polestar highlights some of the questions we are frequently asked about contemporary shamanic practice. “Polestar” is defined as “something that serves as a guiding principle.” It reflects our commitment to helping practitioners stay oriented to authentic shamanic methods and ethics, while maintaining their own independent spirituality, which comes from learning directly from the compassionate spirits. Send us your practice-related questions for consideration for Polestar. Email info@shamanism.org with “Polestar” in the subject line.

FSS Polestar: Plant Spirits as Spirit Helpers

Interesting questions often arise during discussions of Animal Spirits, such as Power Animals, and other types of Animal Spirit helpers. People are curious to know whether it’s possible to have plant spirits as spirit helpers too.

Power Animals and other Animal Spirits upon whom shamanic practitioners rely for power and protection in their work, are not nature spirits per se, but transcended spirits of the upper or lower worlds. As such they are unconditionally wise, compassionate and powerful. They are able to do healing and divination, and to bring power to clients in partnership with the shamanic practitioner.

Plant spirits, as people generally use the term, are nature spirits of the middle world. They are conditional, and may be benevolent or harmful, or may simply have agendas of their own. Shamans in many cultures work with the spirits of certain plants, both for healing and to cause harm. They also use entheogenic plants to alter their state of consciousness, as is well known.* Additionally, shamans in many cultures famously have strong relationships with particular trees. They connect with the spirits of those trees for knowledge, and to assist in their journeys to the upper world. These various kinds of plant spirits would not be helping spirits in the same way that Animal Spirits are.

If someone wants to work with a plant spirit of the middle world, they should do so with the understanding that it is not an unconditional spirit. It would be wise to prioritize learning about that spirit first from their Upper or Lower World helping spirits. Bear in mind that in cultures where shamans work with plant spirits as a matter of course, they have thousands of years of culturally specific shamanic knowledge and traditions upon which to draw in their work. They are able to know exactly what they are doing in ways that are not possible outside of that cultural context.

All that said, it’s not impossible that a person who knows how to journey could encounter a plant spirit in the Upper or Lower World, which would be an unconditional spirit in the core shamanic view, and which could be seen as a helping spirit.

Robbie Staufer, MA, MS
FSS Faculty

* Harner, Michael. The Jívaro: People of the Sacred Waterfalls. University of California Press, 1972. Hallucinogens and Shamanism. Michael Harner, ed. Oxford University Press, 1973.

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Polestar logo design by Carolyn Fee ©2010 Foundation for Shamanic Studies
FSS Polestar highlights some of the questions we are frequently asked about contemporary shamanic practice. “Polestar” is defined as “something that serves as a guiding principle.” It reflects our commitment to helping practitioners stay oriented to authentic shamanic methods and ethics, while maintaining their own independent spirituality, which comes from learning directly from the compassionate spirits. Send us your practice-related questions for consideration for Polestar. Email info@shamanism.org with “Polestar” in the subject line.

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A variety of advanced methods are practiced in this program, including extraction healing, power soul retrieval training, psychopomp work, divination, and work with the spirits of nature. There will also be work that is not included in FSS weekend workshops, such as selected advanced healing methods, the dream dance, explorations, and initiatory experiences.

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This five-day course provides intensive preparation in a highly effective system of personal problem-solving and guidance for those who wish to use the methods for themselves or professionally for others. Harner Shamanic Counseling (HSC) was originated in the early 1980s by Michael Harner based on his earlier devised core shamanism.

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Harner Shamanic Counseling Training, July 31-Aug 4, 2023, Boston, MA, with April Tuck

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“The HSC work is among the most powerful I have encountered, not only for myself at the training, but in use with clients afterwards. With regard to the training itself, I really loved it.” –Susan Rossi

Harner Shamanic Counseling Training
July 31 – August 4, 2023
Boston, Massachusetts
Taught by April Tuck, CSC

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This five-day course provides intensive preparation in a highly effective system of personal problem-solving and guidance for those who wish to use the methods for themselves or professionally for others. Harner Shamanic Counseling (HSC) was originated in the early 1980s by Michael Harner based on his earlier devised core shamanism.