| In his classic work, Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of | | | | movement to a level above ordinary reality. Lower |
| Ecstasy, eminent religious scholar Mircea Eliade | | | | levels are denser, lower in frequency, and more |
| defined shamanism as a technique of ecstasy.(1) | | | | involved with the physical body, the earthly plane, |
| Shamanism is based on the principle that the spiritual | | | | and material reality. Higher levels are higher in |
| world may be contacted through the inner senses in | | | | frequency, less dense, and subtler. |
| ecstatic trance. It is a great emotional adventure | | | | The colors you perceive on journeys are important, |
| open to whoever wishes to transcend their normal, | | | | for they often indicate what level of awareness you |
| ordinary definition of reality. The shaman is able to | | | | are experiencing or which center of consciousness |
| contact and utilize an ordinarily hidden reality in order | | | | you are activating. The chromatic hues correspond to |
| to acquire knowledge and power and to help others. | | | | the seven chakra centers and are from bottom to |
| According to shamanic cosmology, there are three | | | | top: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. |
| inner planes of consciousness: the Upper, Middle, and | | | | For example, if you enter a world of violet |
| Lower Worlds. Humans did not invent these inner | | | | mountains, sky, or sun, you have most likely |
| realms; they discovered them. Far from being a | | | | achieved one of the highest levels of awareness. If |
| human contrivance, these archetypal worlds are | | | | you perceive more red, orange, or yellow, you are |
| inherent in the collective unconscious, the common | | | | probably activating lower centers of consciousness. |
| psychological inheritance of humanity. They are | | | | Understanding Your Journey |
| woven into the matrix of the psyche. They are a | | | | It would be advisable to record your journey in a |
| part of our psyche, a part of us whether we choose | | | | journal as soon as you have returned to ordinary |
| to become aware of it or not. | | | | reality. Journeys, like dreams, tend to fade quickly |
| The three realms are linked together by a vertical | | | | from conscious awareness. Keeping a journal provides |
| axis that is commonly referred to as the "World | | | | a record of your spiritual growth and allows you to |
| Tree." The roots of the World Tree touch the Lower | | | | reflect upon and better interpret journeys. In some |
| World. Its trunk is the Middle World and its branches | | | | cases, your journey experiences will be clear and |
| hold up the Upper World. This central axis exists | | | | easy to understand. At other times, your journey |
| within each of us. Through the sound of the drum, | | | | may be dreamlike and full of symbolism. Interpret |
| which is invariably made of wood from the World | | | | such journeys as you would any dream. Look for |
| Tree, the shaman is transported to the axis within | | | | possible associations related to each symbol or image. |
| and conveyed from plane to plane. As Tuvan | | | | Don't overanalyze the journey, for its meaning will |
| musicologist Valentina Suzukei explains, "There is a | | | | become clear at the appropriate time. |
| bridge on these sound waves so you can go from | | | | Not every journey you undertake will necessarily be |
| one world to another. In the sound world, a tunnel | | | | coherent, vivid, or powerful. Still, no matter how |
| opens through which we can pass-or the shaman's | | | | esoteric or random the experience may seem, it |
| spirits come to us. When you stop playing the drum, | | | | augments your shamanic skill and knowledge. |
| the bridge disappears."(2) | | | | Seemingly insignificant events in a journey or vision |
| The shaman traverses the inner planes in order to | | | | may manifest in a powerful way in your ordinary |
| create and change experience and to help others do | | | | state of awareness. Be on the lookout for |
| the same. It is an inward spiritual journey of rapture | | | | synchronicities, for they confirm that your shamanic |
| in which the shaman interacts with the inner world, | | | | work is producing effects beyond the bounds of |
| thereby influencing the outer world. In the shaman's | | | | probability or coincidence. |
| world, all human experience is self-generated. | | | | Like developing any skill, journeying takes practice. |
| Experience is shaped from within since the three | | | | Nothing may happen on your first journeys. You may |
| realms or resonant fields that define our experience | | | | only experience darkness. When this happens, simply |
| of reality exist within each of us. | | | | try again at a different time. Step-by-step |
| The Spirit Journey | | | | instructions for making shamanic journeys are |
| The spirit journey is a time-honored shamanic method | | | | explained in my book, The Shamanic Drum: A Guide |
| of inner consultation. It is a way of communicating | | | | to Sacred Drumming. |
| with your inner or spirit self and retrieving information. | | | | Journey Drumming Recordings |
| Your inner self is in constant communication with all | | | | A recent development in shamanic journeywork is |
| aspects of your environment, seen and unseen. You | | | | the use of compact disc recordings of shamanic |
| need only journey within to find answers to your | | | | drumming. When used with a high quality stereo with |
| questions. Be prepared, however, for whatever | | | | optimal bass response, a sympathetic resonance |
| insights you may receive, whether you like them or | | | | between the drums and the body-consciousness is |
| not. | | | | provided. The effects are similar to those of having a |
| The spirit journey is not always what people expect, | | | | real drum in the room. The healing vibrations of a |
| and sometimes there is uncertainty as to what one | | | | recording may lack the intensity of the actual drum, |
| should experience in altered states. The ecstatic | | | | yet it allows complete freedom to journey without |
| trance is an individual journey into nonordinary reality; | | | | the necessity of placing part of the conscious mind |
| therefore, experiences vary from person to person | | | | on the physical aspects of playing a drum. It takes |
| and from journey to journey. Once you enter a | | | | time and practice to relax and allow the intuitive mind |
| trance state, the rhythm or sound of the drum tends | | | | to flow, while at the same time maintaining an even |
| to change. The drumbeat may appear to speed up | | | | rhythmic pattern. Portable compact disc players with |
| or slow down, while the sound may grow louder, | | | | headphones allow you to alter your consciousness |
| softer, or disappear. You may experience a change in | | | | anywhere and anytime without disturbing others or |
| body temperature, feel energy flowing through your | | | | when using a drum may be impractical. However, one |
| body, or find yourself twitching, swaying, or rocking. | | | | should avoid listening to such recordings while driving |
| It is not uncommon to hear sounds or voices. You | | | | a vehicle or operating heavy machinery. There are |
| may even smell specific aromas. You may see | | | | times when entering altered states is inappropriate, |
| colorful patterns, symbolic images, or dreamlike | | | | so use discretion. |
| visions. Some people may find that they have a | | | | I recently recorded a CD to support the listener in |
| highly developed inner vision while others may rely | | | | making shamanic journeys. Shamanic Journey |
| more on instinct, intuition, or intent. | | | | Drumming is available at Amazon and iTunes. The |
| Prevalent among the descriptions given of shamanic | | | | harmonic overtones and undertones on this digital |
| journeys is that of a tunnel or tube to which the | | | | recording were produced by a 22-inch single-headed, |
| shaman is transported. The tunnel sometimes | | | | elk hide; cedar frame drum pulsed at a tempo of |
| appears ribbed and may bend or spiral around. This | | | | four-beats-per-second. When pulsed at |
| tunnel-like imagery is associated with the central axis | | | | four-beats-per-second, rhythmic drumming induces a |
| that unites the three inner planes of consciousness. | | | | theta wave cycle in the brain. Theta activity reflects |
| The shaman is conveyed up or down the tunnel to | | | | the dreamlike state between wakefulness and sleep. |
| an exit that opens out upon mystical worlds. In these | | | | Theta rhythms are associated with meditation, |
| worlds, the shaman experiences sensations and | | | | prayer, spiritual awareness, and the deepest states |
| communications that go beyond the usual senses. | | | | of shamanic consciousness. Theta increases |
| Conversing with plants, animals, and the guiding | | | | creativity, enhances learning, reduces stress, and |
| forces of nature becomes possible. The shaman | | | | awakens intuition. Researchers have found that if a |
| accesses knowledge, power, and healing. Upon | | | | drum beat frequency of around |
| finishing the explorations, he or she returns via the | | | | four-beats-per-second is sustained for at least fifteen |
| tunnel to ordinary reality. It is interesting to note that | | | | minutes, most people can journey successfully even |
| such tunnel imagery is prevalent among descriptions | | | | on their first attempt. To support your journey you |
| given of the near-death experience. | | | | can choose from three different drum tracks: |
| During the spirit journey, one's awareness transcends | | | | 1. 15 minute solo drumming with callback |
| ordinary reality. In journeys to the Lower World, one | | | | 2. 15 minute solo drumming with rattle and callback |
| may experience the sensation of falling, sliding, or | | | | 3. 30 minute solo drumming with callback |
| spiraling downward into or under the Earth. In Upper | | | | References |
| World journeys, one may experience the sensation | | | | 1. Mircea Eliade, Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of |
| of rising, floating, flying, or spiraling upward through | | | | Ecstasy (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1972). |
| the air or sky. Journeys to the Lower World involve | | | | 2. Kira Van Deusen, "Shamanism and Music in Tuva |
| the movement of awareness to a level beneath | | | | and Khakassia," Shaman's Drum, No. 47, Winter 1997, |
| ordinary reality and Celestial journeys involve | | | | p. 26. |