Feb 11, 2024 | FSS Polestar
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.
Nov 2, 2023 | FSS Polestar
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.
Oct 3, 2023 | Workshop Announcements
REQUEST REGISTRATION MATERIALS FOR 2024 RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS
THREE YEAR PROGRAM OF ADVANCED INITIATIONS IN SHAMANISM
“I love my life now. Since I’ve been doing this work, I have a deep sense of my purpose on this planet. That is not something I thought I would ever have. My life is deep, purposeful, profound and fun!”
Originated by Michael Harner and based upon his decades of research and experimentation, this course is the most advanced training in shamanism and shamanic healing offered by the Foundation. It is widely considered as unparalleled in the world. It involves intensive extended training in progressively higher levels of very advanced shamanism, including initiations into rare and little-known practices and principles.
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TWO WEEK SHAMANIC HEALING INTENSIVE
“The course is brilliantly designed. Each tool was taught in a step-by-step way so I gained experience and confidence to undertake the healing work.”
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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HARNER SHAMANIC COUNSELING TRAINING
“The HSC work is among the most powerful I have encountered, not only for myself at the training, but in use with clients afterwards.” —Susan Rossi
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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Oct 3, 2023 | Core Shamanism Chronicles
This client had heard of shamanic healing from my god-daughter, who had some very positive results from a healing session that included extraction healing, power animal retrieval and soul retrieval.
I met the client thru a phone call, and she told me of some issues that were causing difficulties in her life, and we set a time to have a healing session. I mentioned about an exchange of energies for payment, and when she offered a ceramic bowl she had made in exchange for my working with her, I agreed.
She came with my god-daughter as witness on a Sunday morning. She gave the bowl to me, and it was beautiful. She carved on the bottom of it her artist symbol, which was a simple little house, a square with an inverted “V” as a roof.
When it was time, I began the session by rattling and singing an icaro (spirit song) my spirits have given me, and when I was in a shamanic state of consciousness, I journeyed to find out what would be most beneficial for my client at this time. I was instructed to do an extraction, and then a soul retrieval.
I used a recording of shamanic drumming, and I connected with my power animal. My power animal takes on a human form like an old Indian shaman when we do extractions. I merge with my power animal then return to my client and begin finding and extracting intrusions that do not belong in her body. When we are finished with the extraction, my guardian spirit returns to animal form, and I am guided to two soul portions that are ready to come home to her. I bring them back safely and blow them into my client’s heart and crown, then finish off using my rattle.
I welcome home my client and tell her the story of what happened, then share some information I received. Everything resonated with her at a deep level. It was emotional and beautiful.
When our ceremony was finished, I was looking on the ground where we worked, and saw a small object and picked it up. It was a small square little house that was exactly like the symbol she drew on her ceramic works! Now, I had never seen this little house before, and my client didn’t bring it, and my god-daughter didn’t either. This amazing “micromiracle,” the manifestation from the spirit world of my the little house, my client’s symbol, blew our minds! What I realized was the spirits materialized it to show my client that the hidden world of spirit does exist, and to trust that mysteries and miracles are real. There was a lot of gratitude in the room that day.
When I spoke to the client later, I received a very positive report on her life after the extraction and soul retrieval, and that she honors the soul portions and the little miracle house that was returned to her. I am amazed and grateful.
Don Ensslin, CSC, FSS Three Year graduate
Core Shamanism Chronicles logo ©2019 Foundation for Shamanic Studies
FSS Core Shamanism Chronicles features brief personal shamanic healing accounts and practical applications of shamanism in daily life. By sharing our inspiring stories with each other, we hope to reveal the power, effectiveness, and beauty of shamanic practice.
If you have a core shamanic practice story to share, please send as an email attachment to INFO@SHAMANISM.ORG and put “Chronicles” in the subject line. Submission guidelines: No more than one page is recommended. Accounts should offer a specific personal example of healing or applying core shamanism methods in everyday life. As always, keep in mind ethical standards of confidentiality and permission: Ask your clients for permission before sharing and do not reveal their names. If your submission is selected for inclusion in the Chronicles, you may use your name or choose to be listed as anonymous.
Feb 17, 2023 | Workshop Announcements
West Coast Two Week Shamanic Healing Intensive, June 11 – 22, 2023, Portland area, Oregon. This life-changing course will be taught by Robbie Staufer.
Originated by Michael Harner, this intensive training in advanced core shamanism is described by former participants as “amazing,” “transformative,” “life-changing,” and “the most important experience of my life.” A variety of advanced methods are practiced in this residential 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.
The West and East Coast Two Week Intensives are the centerpiece annual programs of the Foundation and the best preparation for the Three Year Programs. Enrollment is limited and early application is recommended. To assure a place in the program, please return your application promptly; acceptance will be according to priority received.
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