Shamanism Shamanism is an ancient world-wide tradition, dating back at least 15,000 years. It is sometimes referred to as animism, a spiritual belief system which believes that spirit is present in all matter, including trees, rocks, animals, stars, human-beings, etc. Shamanism is an earth-based system of spirituality which sees nature and the earth as our primary teachers. Shamanism, like Buddhism, is centered more on processes aimed at teaching and enlightening rather than morality. Shamanism is also a series of processes to facilitate each person connecting to and discovering their own unique path. Shamanism is compatible with maintaining one's own religious tradition, i.e. Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, or pagan traditions. Shamanistic practices are similar world-wide, always including the five elements of earth, air, fire, wather and spirit, and the three realms of underworld, middleworld, and overworld (stellar realm). World-wide, shamanism comes in a flavor appropriate to each land, and it's people. Shamanistic traditions include Tibetan Buddhism, Druidism, Suphi Tradition, Native American Traditions, African Traditions, etc. It is the purpose of Shamanism world wide and of the earth based traditions of indigenous peoples to help modern humans reconnect to nature, and the cycles of the year and the cosmos. It is the belief of Shamanistic philosophy that people are suffering major soul- loss due to their almost complete separation from nature. In Shamanistic traditions, it is believed necessary that we must connect with the land in order to understand and be in harmony with the balance of life on the earth where we are. Copyrighted by Rodney Karr, Ph.D This website owned and created by J.L. Hester aka Raven Windwalker. Copyright © 2006-2007 Shaman Pathways™