Shamanic Journeying for Guidance, Information, Healing and Empowerment

I enter the Lower World with one intention – that the spirits teach me who I really am. Many animals greet me, but it is a horse that I bow to as it rears up beside me. I jump on the horse and ride it to the ocean. I see that I have a sword.  I am a warrior. I use my sword against the ocean that is rising above me as if animated and in battle. As the horse and I go into the ocean foam, the water calms. I see a white whale and I immediately begin to ride it. I ask the whale – why are you here? He responds - to show you the energy of water, weightlessness and control. We go to the beach where many small crabs greet us. I ask why they are here. They answer – to show you to go sideways when you need to and to climb up when you need to; straight isn’t always the way to go. There is a zebra, and I ask it what it wants to tell me. Zebra says - each zebra has unique stripes, like you. You are unique. I come across a bear that roars, swipes at me and eventually opens me up. I re-emerge and am like a bear and strong. I ask the bear – why did you transform me? It answers – to open you to who you are; it is time.[1]

~ Shamanic Journey to the Lower World, Krystal Jordan, October 2020

In the above recounting of a shamanic journey to the Lower World that I undertook as part of a virtual class with The Foundation for Shamanic Studies in the fall of 2020. As you can see, I undertook my journey with the intention that the spirits teach me who I am. They answered me in a myriad of ways, with the answer unfolding with each spirit animal that I encountered. The journey was wondrous and informative and though it was filled with metaphor, it was chock full of practical information that I could use in my daily life and that empowered me.

This is why the shamanic journey is one of the most common practices for shamans the world over. In a shamanic journey, a shaman “enters an altered state of consciousness – at will – to contact and utilize an ordinarily hidden reality in order to acquire knowledge, power, and to help other persons.”[2] In the invisible realm, the shaman works with helping spirits to retrieve information or to perform healing work.

But you do not need to be a shaman to embark upon a shamanic journey. We can all journey to non-ordinary reality to receive healing, guidance, and information from spirit guides, helpers, and teachers to help us in our everyday lives. Shamanic journeying can also help us see a different perspective on an issue that has been troubling us. The benefits of shamanic journeying are numerous. Importantly, shamanic journeying is an incredibly useful and practical tool that we can turn to in addressing both personal and even professional issues and conflicts to find solutions, healing, and new perspectives. It can also give us insight into our own power, making shamanic journeying an excellent tool for personal empowerment as well.

This blog post is meant to provide a high-level summary of shamanic journeying, along with helpful tips on preparing for and experiencing your shamanic journey. You will also find a sample shamanic journey to the Lower World as well as an Invocation for Opening Sacred Space at the end of this article. Stay tuned for more blog posts in the future where I’ll focus more in-depth on topics like power animals and the importance of opening sacred space.

The Three Worlds

We know that a shamanic journey takes us from ordinary reality to non-ordinary reality or the invisible realms. But what does this really mean? Where are the so-called invisible realms?

For shamans, the journey to the invisible realms generally involves three (3) worlds: the Upper World, Middle World, and Lower World.

• The Upper World is generally where we go to meet a spirit teacher in human form. The spirit teacher can be an ascended master, an angel, or even a god or goddess. We can also meet those who have transitioned, such as our ancestors. The Upper World usually appears ethereal, bright and permeable, with varied landscapes. To get to the Upper World, we envision something that will take us upward such as a tree, stairs, a ladder, a vine, the top of a mountain, a rainbow or a bird in flight.
• The Middle World is essentially the spiritual equivalent of our world and is where we connect to the spirits and consciousness of nature such as plants, the elements, rocks or crystals. To access the Middle World, you can simply imagine yourself walking out of where you are – your home or other space – and visit a place in nature to connect with a particular spirit or consciousness.
• The Lower World is where spirits such as power animals reside. Generally, the Lower World appears more like Earth, and we may encounter various landscapes like deserts, jungles, forests, or mountains. We access the Lower World through an opening in the Earth like a cave, a hole in the ground, a tree trunk, or a body of water like a river, a stream, or a waterfall. You might even have the experience of going through a tunnel as you transition to the Lower World.

Although the above descriptions provide a good outline of the 3 worlds, both spirit animals and spirit teachers may be found in both the Upper and Lower Worlds. You may also find that there are different levels in the Upper and Lower Worlds.

Traveling to Non-ordinary Reality

There are many effective ways to move us into an altered state of consciousness so that we may access non-ordinary reality. In some cultures, shamans use plant medicine to facilitate shamanic journeying. But generally, a percussion instrument such as a drum or a rattle is used to help us enter a light trance state. With the sound of the drum or rattle, we move from the beta brainwave state of ordinary consciousness to the theta brainwave state which happens when we fall asleep, are dreaming, or are in a very deeply relaxed state.[3] The theta brain state is where we access non-ordinary reality. “In shifting into an altered state of consciousness, the shaman undergoes a classic journey into non-ordinary worlds outside of the physical dimensions of space and time and ‘sees’ and experiences with the heart, the third eye, and all the senses of the energy body.” [4] When journeying for yourself, you can use a shamanic drumming recording. Sandra Ingerman has excellent shamanic journey drum recordings as does Michael Harner.

Preparing for a Shamanic Journey

1. Set an intention. One of the key elements to shamanic journeying is to journey with an intention that is clear and specific. Without a clear intention, you may not receive clear answers. In preparing questions to ask a spirit teacher or animal, steer away from yes or no questions and instead ask open-ended questions about who, what, where, why and how. It may also be helpful to ask the spirits to show you the answer to your question, what you will learn, or what your experience will be if you undertake a particular path. Try not to ask “when” questions because journeying takes us outside of time and spirit does not experience time in the same way that we do in linear time. Also, avoid or minimize compound questions so that you can get clear answers.
2. Be present. Undertake a shamanic journey when you have made space for it in your day, away from everyday activities or distractions. Turn off your devices and find a quiet place. Journey in a dimly lit room or have a bandana or scarf that you can put over your eyes once you begin the journey to lessen distractions. Shamanic journeys are usually 15-30 minutes. So, make sure you set aside enough time for your journey.
3. Create sacred space. Be sure to open sacred space before embarking upon your journey so that you have a safe container in which to receive your guidance. There are many ways to open sacred space. One way is to invoke or open sacred space by using a Medicine Wheel and calling upon the four cardinal directions and their associated archetypal energies as well as support from Earth and Spirit.[5] Another way is to call upon Spirit or the God of your understanding as well as Illumined Beings that you’re connected to such as angels or ascended masters and teachers. Ask them to hold you in sacred space and to only let that which is of the highest vibration and for your highest good enter the space.
4. Relax. When your body is more relaxed, it helps you get deeper into the shamanic journey. To aid with relaxation, try taking deep inhales and long exhales several times and letting your limbs get heavy on the floor or chair.
5. Be open and receptive. It is helpful to adopt an attitude of openness and receptivity to whatever the spirits may be relaying and to trust the spirits want to provide help. Allow yourself to let go of preconceived notions or expectations as to what the spirits may show or tell you.
6. Use your imagination. Imagination links us to non-ordinary reality. You may find that you’ll start with your imagination as you begin to visualize or otherwise sense aspects of your journey and then notice that as the journey progresses, the experience feels less like imagination and more like it has a life of its own.
7. Go easy on yourself. In a shamanic journey, we receive information in many ways. Many people receive the information visually, but don’t worry if you don’t. All our senses are with us when we journey so you may hear information rather than see it, feel sensations, or experience tasting something. You may also receive symbols, see colors, or receive telepathic messages. You might even be given a metaphor. Whatever it is you experience and how you experience it is valid. And sometimes you may only get darkness. Don’t be discouraged and don’t try to force yourself. Try again another time. Sometimes it’s all about timing.
8. Bring back your gifts! – Sometimes you may be given a gift during your journey. Receive it with gratitude and bring the gift back with you. See it as coming back with you and maybe even symbolically placing it in your heart. This will help you integrate the gift into your life.
9. Retrace your steps. As the drum calls you back, signaling the end of the journey, retrace your steps and go back the way you came.
10. Close Sacred Space. Once you’re back from your journey, close sacred space. Thank the spirits who supported you in creating a sacred container and release them from holding space for your journey.

Sample Journey to the Lower World

Journeying to the Lower World is generally the easiest journey to learn. Here, you can meet a spirit animal guide to help you with a particular issue or to give you a new perspective or healing.

1. Open Sacred Space. See the below sacred space invocation that you can use if you do not already have an invocation.
2. Begin your drumming recording.
3. Relax and deeply inhale and exhale. To further facilitate moving into an altered state of consciousness, you may consider breathing in to the count of 5 or 7 and out to the count of 5 or 7. Do so until the breathing pattern naturally falls away.
4. In your mind, picture an opening in the earth that you have been to or have seen. This could be a cave, a river or stream, a hole in a tree trunk or in the ground, or a waterfall. Try to create a detailed picture of this place, your entrance to the Lower World. Notice any sounds, smells, or colors that are there.
5. Go to the entrance and step inside. Notice the details around you. As you step inside, you’re going into the earth, into the Lower World. You may even find that you go through a tunnel.
6. As you enter the Lower World, notice the landscape. What’s around you? Trees, forests, mountains, green plains, water? Take it all in. Notice the colors, sounds, smells, what you feel and sense. Explore.
7. As you explore, look for a spirit animal, a guide that can help you with your question. You may see many animals but may sense that one animal in particular may be your spirit guide for this journey. Ask the spirit animal if they are willing to be your teacher. Your guide may also appear in another form, such as light or in human form. If so, ask them if they are willing to be your teacher. If they have taken a form that is uncomfortable for you, it’s okay to ask them to take another form. If the spirit animal or spirit guide says that they are not willing to be your teacher, ask them to take you to a spirit animal or guide who is willing to be your teacher.
8. Spend time getting to know your spirit guide.
9. Ask the spirit guide your question and then allow yourself to experience the journey. Notice any symbols, metaphors, colors, smells, other spirit animals, tastes, or sensations. If you receive a gift from your spirit guide, be gracious and thank the spirit guide for your gift.
10. As the drum calls you back (usually several drumbeats of 4 followed by rapid drumming), thank your spirit guide for assisting you with your question and thank them for any gift you may have been given. Your spirit guide may even accompany you to the entrance you took to enter the Lower World.
11. Retrace your steps and go back the way you came. This will help you remember and integrate your journey.
12. Make your way from wherever you are in your journey to the entrance you took to enter the Lower World. The return journey is usually much quicker than the journey to the Lower World landscape.
13. Come back to your body. Feel yourself completely entering your body. Begin to take deep breaths. Move your fingers and toes and feel your body solidly on the ground. Look around the room. Notice the sounds or smells around you. Open your eyes.
14. When you’re ready, write down your journey. Recording your journey helps make it real and helps you integrate it. You may want to later research the spiritual meaning of the spirit animal that served as your guide to get more insight on its relevance to your question. A great resource is Animal Speak by Ted Andrews.
15. Close Sacred Space. Thank each of archetypes in the 4 cardinal directions, the ancestors, Mother Earth and Great Spirit and the Illumined Beings who supported you in creating sacred space. Some traditions thank them in reverse order of opening sacred space; others do it in the same order as in opening sacred space. It’s up to you.
16. If you still feel ungrounded after the journey, go outside and let your feet touch the earth or eat some food to help ground you back into ordinary reality.

***********************

Opening Sacred Space Invocation:

Below is a shortened version of the Sacred Space Invocation that I use in my personal practice. There are many versions, so feel free to use another. A great Sacred Space Invocation to also refer to is Alberto Villoldo’s Invocation in his book Shaman, Healer, Sage.[6]

Invocation

To the winds of the South, Great Serpent

Please come and wrap your coils of light around us.

Teach us how to shed and let go of what no longer serves us just as you shed your skin.

So that we may heal and be open to the new.

Teach us transformation.

For this we are so grateful.

To the winds of the West, Mother/Sister Jaguar

Please come and pace this medicine space and make a sacred container so that only that of the highest vibration and for our highest good may enter.

Help us to find the hidden parts of ourselves and illuminate them so that we may move beyond fear to a place of integrity and impeccability.

For this we are so grateful.

To the winds of the North, we call upon the Ancient Ones, the ancestors, and Guardians and Keepers of this land.

We honor you and call upon you to protect this sacred space and to create a circle of light around us so that only that of the highest vibration may enter.

Whisper into the wind that which is for our highest good.

In this northern gateway, we also call upon Hummingbird.

We ask that you teach us how to source the nectar that nourishes our souls.

Teach us how to fly the great mythic journey to awaken the divine within us.

Teach us how to be open to synchronicities and to the Great Mystery.

For this we are so grateful.

To the winds of the East, we call upon Eagle and Condor.

We call upon the Great Winged Ones to help us fly wing to wing with Great Spirit.

And as we encounter difficulties, help us to spread our wings and spiral ever higher so that we may see with clarity and not get lost in the details.

For this we are so grateful.

To Mother Earth, we come to thank you for all that you give us.

Thank you for your generosity, nurturing spirit and your bounty.

We come to honor you and all that you have given to us.

Thank you for the stone, rock and crystal spirits.

Thank you for the plant spirits and the water spirits.

Thank you for the two-legged, the four-legged, the many-legged, the crawlers, the finned, the furred, and the flying.

Teach us how to be just as generous and nurturing as you.

For this we are so grateful.

To Great Spirit, Father Sun, Grandmother Moon, the Angels and Archangels and Illumined Beings.

We ask you to come and shine your light on this medicine space so that only that which is of the highest vibration may enter.

We ask for your light to bring healing and that you help us to see the divine within in ourselves and within others.

For this we are so grateful.