Shamanism may have originated as early as the Paleolithic era, predating all organized religions, and certainly as early as the Neolithic period. Shamanism is not a Religion, it is the world’s oldest form of Spiritual practice, found in cultures all around the world from ancient times, up to the present day. Hence it cuts across all faiths and creeds.
It is a Way of Life that leads towards the spiritual path, a path of personal and sacred growth and about being one with the Great spirit, the Creator. Many formalized religions, from Buddhism to Christianity, came from ancient shamanic roots and still bear the shamanic threads of deep connection to the divine in all things.
In Shamanism, A Shaman is a Medicine Man or Medicine Woman, considered as highly esteemed members of the community. As in those times when there was no medical sciences or hospitals, shamans used to treat patients, as they have the power to heal the sick, by connecting to the other worlds and communicating with the spirits of plants, animals or guides. Also, at times they became the medium to escort souls of the dead to the afterlife (Death walker) through drumming, singing, chanting, dancing and variety of other procedures. Shamanism is an experience, which includes dismemberment and regeneration of the soul, body and spirit flight (out-of-body experience) through trance. The practices are often seen as disjointed and mysterious, but the core role of the shaman is to lift the veil of ordinary reality and make an ‘ecstatic’ journey into the alternative worlds. In shamanism all beings and objects have meaning and share the same essence. Thus, there’s no difference between nature and culture as there is in Western philosophy. Instead, there is continuity and unity between different worlds. By accessing these different worlds (upper, lower and middle) and breaching the borders between the seen and unseen, the known and unknown, shamans act on behalf of humanity and create a system of exchange between human and natural – spiritual worlds.
Shamanism teaches us how one can honor all the beings in its true form by living in unity, as a society. Since, as a web we all are interconnected – microcosm to macrocosm. But today, the modern world has failed to accept this fact and has not been able to cope with it; as it teaches that we all are separate from each other in all aspects of life. Henceforth, in the current era everything is going digitized, and we human species have forgotten our core indigenous way of life – that was primordial, wild and free spirited, which is now seeking its presence to be accepted by the modern world. And thus, the irony is that the modern world thinks that their way of living is highly sophisticated and socialistic. As they live in concrete compartments and believe that everything is limited through their animalistic behavior. Although, the fact is that the modern world neither has the understanding nor the knowledge about the environment; which is being destroyed under the name of ever changing fast technology. Due to which our ecosystems are getting harmed globally, and the entire world is suffering ecologically. However, if we look through the eyes of Shamanism this same animalistic behavior has the power to change the world for better. So, if one can start to look within oneself, by learning and applying shamanic tools or techniques in our routine life, then we will be able to see the world from broader perspective, because nature is limitless and boundless. But, the way we approach our life today, is rather constricted or conservative.
Although in earlier times, right since the first creation the view of a man was vast and expansive. And, there was no gap between man and nature as they saw everything as one living spirit. So, the connection and bond between the two was extremely deep and strong. The urge to learn, work and create in tandem with nature and community was high and aligned. However, if we look at our lives in present scenario we will see there is continuous push and pull. Neither are we aligned with oneself nor with nature. Furthermore, we are forced, influenced or necessitated to live life otherwise. As we are being fixated with the ideas and ideologies of the modern world. Hence, there is constant fight within the two, that is creating the atmosphere of animosity in our living environment.
So, in order to revive Shamanism in our world today, we have to spread our wings. Starting with the villages that are now extended and developed into cities or small towns. This can be the ideal way to widen Shamanic – teachings and practices, to create better communities in the conducive environments.
The true attainment of life in the world is for people to be able to Iive happily and enjoy their environment and be contented, in rhythm and harmony with the Cosmos and its natural laws. If these are not attained then life becomes defective. These defects can only be remedied when people change their thinking, attitude and low moral patterns. A real magical way of life is based on a proper understanding of God, and the true nature of earth. We must also accept and understand that between nature and mankind there is a vast, infinite world of spirits. Magical power, Wisdom and Attainment is the true object of Human life and therefore all other objectives are secondary. The true spiritual and magical way of life is not to limit or frustrate but to give life fullness and happiness.
We must never forget that Life on earth is a blessing, a sacred ceremony to be celebrated. When we are not connected we forget this. As the creator has designed us to act on faith and belief. So, we need to remember how honorable it is each day to come into the presence of the Creator, and to have the choice to start each day by talking with the Great spirit. The value of staying close to the nature and its creator is the immediate help we have available to us whenever we need it. Staying close helps us remember that we are here to serve and help oneself and others. Nature is the direct access to wisdom. He who’s has wisdom has everything. If we have wisdom, then we will see our lives become more effective in the areas of jobs, relationships, family, friends and finances.
In Shamanism all cultures were or are shamanic cultures, and it isn’t something separate, as the spirit is or was inherent within us. In shamanism we work with the Spirit of Nature & Life. It provides Medicine to the Soul. This is how our familial and societal structures were built. And there was understanding that the boy has to go to the Elder of the tribe, and that the girl had the gifts from the day she was born.
And they both have to step outside on their life journey, by learning to become strong and working with the spiritual aspects of life. And though everybody is Shaman in heart, but only few will answer to that call. Therefore there was grandfather or grandmother, to whom everyone could approach for their blessings and learning or healing or story telling. And that’s how the Heart brings us to the important concept of our lives, that is the longest journey is to travel from our minds to our hearts.
In shamanism we understand that everything has the spirit, and therefore when we go to some countries, one will find that people are worshiping a particular stone, a particular tree, a particular space, land, or river, and finally man – made structures, to signify that immortal self.
Symbolism largely applies to man – made structures. And in fact all the other elements are sacred deities or energies in themselves. Henceforth there is no symbolism, because everything is what it is!!! And we begin to work directly with the spirit, and we live our life in this engagement, with the sense we are all of this.
Shamanism works with the different facets of our lives, the different levels of our reality, and the alternate states of our consciousness. And everyone or anyone can tap into these different states of altered consciousness. What is important is that we are aware of these conditions, so that we can approach life fully, by living life in full spectrum.
One also has to understand that mostly Illnesses starts at the spirit realm which consists of subtle, causal and etheric bodies and then it comes down to the emotional, mental and finally manifesting it into our physical bodies. But the problem is that, we are only focusing on the solution to the final physical manifestation of the issue or disease, without having any clear understanding from where it truly originated.
Therefore, if we see in today’s world most systems are working or dealing on with that final stage rather than working on the root of any problem or issue. Henceforth, suffering keeps growing bigger and bigger where there is loss of spiritual power, and the Spirit starts to become weak which in shamanic language is termed as being dispirited or with lack of spirit.
Shamanism is a very personal journey. Where the Shaman undertakes a sacred ritual to aid others. Hence shamanism is vitally important work for our time. The Great Mother calls, it is time to come back home again…..It is time to take our rightful place on the earth. And it is our birthright to fully express our souls, and create the world we want to live in!!!!!
The Tantras come from Shamanic life in India. Religion, which takes us a step further, and transcendentalism is not removed from this daily life. Therefore the Tantras address this direct oneness, sometimes in form of deity. The divine here is known as (Para) Bhairava and (Para) Shakti. The essence of all Shakti lies in Svatantrya Shakti (the power of freedom and independent will which leads to Self Liberation).
Svatantrya means freedom. Freedom which leads to the inner independence.
It is the Shakti path comprising of iccha (will), jyana (knowledge) and kriya (action). It is a path towards becoming Self Reliant & Self Realized. She is awareness, acceptance and eventually speech. This is the Devi. Through her, this Svatantrya, we walk into and towards the infinite. And within this, an infinite world of possibilities.
Bhairava is the states of consciousness which involves fearlessness, courage, non violence and strength. Longing for the eternal which is omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient.
Bha-Ra-Va: Bharana (maintenance), Ravana (withdrawal) and Vamana (projection and manifestation). Bhairava indicates all the three aspects of the divine. More than anything it is the tradition, the way of thinking, being & living, where every moment one needs to dissolve the time. These traditions and histories are the base of one’s living, whether we are able to accept or deny it. Nevertheless all these states of consciousness are ever new. Hence, living the life with complete knowledge and dissolution of fundamental ignorance will always going to be the prerequisite to see or seek the eternal.
While Bhairava has three aspects, from the point of view of the mystic, is that Ultimate Reality in which Light of Consciousness and Eternal Awareness of that Light are indistinguishably fused. Bhairava embraces in itself transcendence and immanence. It is this Bhairava that is the goal of the seeker. The svarūpa or essential nature of Bhairava is vijñāna (spiritual knowledge) or caitanya (consciousness) the main characteristic of which is svātantrya or absolute freedom. The entire manifestation consisting of subject and object is a mere reflection in this vijñāna.
Parāvasthā (the highest state) of Bhairava is free of all notions pertaining to direction (dik), time (kāla), nor can that be particularized, by some definite space or designation. In verity that can neither be indicated nor described in words. One can be aware of that only when one is completely free (of all thought constructs). One can have an experience of that bliss, in his own inmost Self (when one is completely free of the ego, and is established in pūrnāhantā i.e. in the plentitude of divine I – Consciousness).
That state of Bhairava which is full of the bliss of non difference from the entire world is alone Śakti or Bhairavi. The supreme being or ultimate state of consciousness is eternal and one and always will be.
Svatantrya Bhairava Shamanism 