Shamanism is one of humanity’s oldest spiritual practices, rooted in a universal tradition of connecting with the unseen realms to seek guidance, healing, and transformation. Across cultures and millennia, shamans have acted as intermediaries between the physical and spiritual worlds, helping their communities heal, grow, and thrive. In this course, we explore the core practice of shamanism: journeying into the Lower, Middle, and Upper Worlds.
This sacred journey is an invitation to rediscover ancient wisdom, connect with your inner healer, and deepen your relationship with the spiritual realms. It is both a personal and universal practice, offering profound insights that resonate with the soul’s timeless quest for wholeness and connection.
Shamanic journeying is a meditative, trance-like state achieved through rhythmic tools like drumming, rattling, or chanting. These sounds alter your state of consciousness, enabling you to travel to spiritual realms that exist beyond the physical world. Guided by intention and protected by spiritual allies, you access realms filled with teachers, guides, and wisdom.
Each of the shamanic worlds has its unique energy and purpose:
• The Lower World: The realm of grounding, healing, and ancient wisdom.
• The Middle World: The realm of connection with nature and the energetic essence of our reality.
• The Upper World: The celestial realm of divine guidance, inspiration, and universal truths.
Through journeying, you become a conscious traveller, bringing back gifts of insight, healing, and empowerment to your waking life.
The practice of journeying serves as a powerful tool for transformation. It allows you to:
• Heal Emotional Wounds: Connect with compassionate spirits to release traumas and unresolved emotions.
• Gain Spiritual Guidance: Receive insights into your life purpose and challenges.
• Foster Personal Growth: Align with your higher self and access wisdom for spiritual evolution.
• Reconnect with Nature: Deepen your bond with the earth and its natural energies.
• Build Relationships with Spirit Allies: Cultivate ongoing connections with power animals, ancestors, and other spiritual helpers.
In today’s fast-paced, disconnected world, shamanic journeying offers a pathway back to the sacred – a reminder that you are an integral part of a vast, interconnected web of life.
The Three Worlds: Gateways to Transformation
1. The Lower World
The Lower World is accessed through imagery of descent – into the roots of a tree, the depths of a cave, or the heart of the earth. It is a realm of primal energy, where the wisdom of the earth and the guidance of power animals await. Here, you find grounding, safety, and clarity, reconnecting with the nurturing energy of Mother Earth.
This realm is particularly helpful for:
• Discovering your power animal or spiritual ally.
• Healing ancestral patterns.
• Gaining strength and courage for life’s challenges.
2. The Middle World
The Middle World is a reflection of our physical reality, infused with spiritual energy. It is the realm of nature spirits, elemental beings, and the energetic blueprints of the present moment. Journeying to this realm helps you navigate your daily life with spiritual awareness and harmony.
In the Middle World, you can:
• Work with nature spirits to heal environmental imbalances.
• Resolve current issues or conflicts with spiritual clarity.
• Strengthen your connection to the elements and cycles of nature.
3. The Upper World
The Upper World is a celestial plane of divine light and infinite wisdom. It is often reached by visualizing ascent – through a tree, a ladder of light, or the wings of a bird. Here, you connect with spirit guides, angelic beings, and ascended masters who provide profound insights into your soul’s purpose.
This realm is ideal for:
• Accessing higher truths and universal guidance.
• Exploring your soul’s blueprint and life mission.
• Deepening your connection with divine consciousness.
This course is designed to gently guide you into the practice of shamanic journeying while ensuring a safe and supportive environment. Over the course, you will:
• Learn the foundational techniques for entering altered states of consciousness.
• Explore the symbolic landscapes of the Lower, Middle, and Upper Worlds.
• Develop relationships with spirit allies and gain confidence in working with them.
• Apply the wisdom of your journeys to your personal and spiritual life.
Each session combines practical exercises, guided meditations, and reflective journaling to help you integrate your experiences.
Preparing for the Journey
Before beginning your journeying practice, it’s important to create a sacred and intentional space. This can include:
• Setting Your Intention: Clearly state your purpose for each journey, as intention guides your experience.
• Establishing a Sacred Space: Light candles, burn incense, or use objects that hold spiritual significance for you.
• Grounding Yourself: Take a few moments to center your energy through deep breathing or meditation.
• Calling in Protection: Invite your spirit guides, ancestors, or angels to hold space and provide guidance.
These preparatory steps ensure that you journey safely and with focus, allowing the spiritual realms to reveal their gifts to you.
The Role of the Drum and Rattle
In shamanic journeying, the drum and rattle are more than tools – they are sacred instruments that bridge the gap between worlds. The steady beat of the drum mimics the heartbeat of the earth, helping you attune to the rhythm of life itself. These sounds facilitate an altered state of consciousness, opening the door to the shamanic realms.
If you don’t have access to a drum or rattle, recorded drumming tracks can be equally effective. The key is to surrender to the rhythm and let it guide you.
Walking the Path of the Shamanic Journeyer
As you step onto this path, remember that shamanic journeying is a deeply personal and intuitive practice. While this course provides structure and guidance, your experiences will be unique to your soul’s needs and intentions. Trust your instincts, honour your journey, and embrace the wisdom that arises.
By learning to navigate the Lower, Middle, and Upper Worlds, you align with ancient spiritual traditions while discovering the boundless potential of your own soul. You are not alone on this path – your spirit allies, guides, and the energies of the earth and cosmos walk alongside you, lighting your way.