At least once a month, someone contacts me who feels drawn to learn shamanism but who can't visualize. The inability to see pictures in one's mind is called Aphantaasia. According to neuroscience, there is no cure for Aphantasia. Some people have overcome their failure to make pictures in their mind's eye.
I was born with several congenital disabilities; doctors told my parents I would never walk. Not only did I learn how to walk, but I also played sports and learned and taught martial arts. Human beings are incredibly flexible and resilient, but it takes persistence.
Learning shamanism involves learning to journey. In a shamanic journey, the practitioner separates part of their consciousness to travel in spirit and work with helping spirits. Many people think that to journey successfully, one has to be able to see vivid pictures in their imagination. That's not the case. I will cover a couple of options if you have aphantasia but want to learn how to journey.
I have a friend who is a shamanic practitioner who cannot visualize. She journeys successfully using her other senses - especially smell, touch, and sound. Instead of focusing on visuals that aren't coming and straining or getting frustrated - she relaxes and lets her other senses take over.
A key to this approach is relinquishing your expectations of a journey and surrendering to how it unfolds. Frustration will hold you back, while curiosity and openness will give space for you to have powerful experiences.
Your helping spirits want to work with you and will find a way to communicate with you. Most people who go into shamanism with rigid expectations get surprised or frustrated quickly. For example - most students who tell me they already know who their power animal is don't. Your helping spirits have a way of keeping you on your toes.
I am not a neuroscientist or doctor, but I have seen neuroplasticity at work in my own life. Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to form new neural pathways, and it's a promising area of brain research.
It can be a way for many people who have had aphantasia to start to be able to visualize. There are anecdotal stories of people doing just that, and it may be worth exploring. I will share a video made by a photographer who was able to use a technique called image streaming to overcome aphantasia powerfully.
If you want to try this approach, here are a few things to remember:
It's going to take some time, don't expect instant results. It's a bit like going to the gym. In the beginning, you start out with light weights, but you build strength over time. It takes time and repetition to create new neural pathways.
Mark Twain said, "Comparison is the death of joy." Do not compare your results to others. There is no competition in shamanism, and it's not a race. I have taught hundreds of people, and every single person's experience is entirely unique and completely valid.
Be open to experimentation. You may find ways that work better for you. This has been my way my whole life - figuring out how to do things with a body that was very different from everybody else's.
Here is the video explaining how this photographer used image streaming to overcome aphantasia.
A video of a technique called image streaming by a photographer who overcame apantasia.
In learning to practice Shamanism, one will sooner or later encounter human-like spirits known to some as fae. Some practitioners regularly work with these ancient spiritual beings, and some merely encounter them during their journeys.
We can learn to work with fae through shamanic practices in ritual and ceremony. This article will explore Shamanism's relationship with the fae and discuss how to work with them.
The fae are nature spirits that live in our natural environment. There are names for the fae in almost every culture - menahune, leprechauns, elves, sprites, fairies, tomte, and kontomble - these nature spirits show up everywhere there are humans.
Some of these nature spirits are strongly tied to the place where they live, while others seem to travel.
They can be seen as guardians of the land and help humans connect with their environment and find healing, insight, and guidance. Stories of human interaction with the fae have been around since ancient times. They can be mischievous, even dangerous, but possess wisdom and power.
Practitioners can call upon them in times of need to bring balance and harmony. They are protectors of the land. In some cultures, such as Scandinavia, these spirits can be bargained with to protect homes and farms.
From a shamanic perspective, these non-human people are residents of the middle world. The middle world is the spiritual layer of the 3D world we inhabit. This is a spiritual reality that is close to our ordinary waking world. This is why people can sometimes see and interact with the fae.
Shamans in different cultures practices often interact with the fae as nature spirits. The fae have become more elusive as nature has become less wild, but their presence is still felt in shamanic work. Fae come in many forms and serve varied roles in shamanic practices, from guiding practitioners to helping with healing rituals.
Sometimes the fae are divided into two broad categories: elemental fae and forest fae. Elemental fae come from the four elements – water, earth, fire, and air – while forest fae are associated with plants, animals, and other wild creatures.
Elemental fae can be called upon to help heal a physical wound or illness. They can also help purify the environment and bring clarity and focus to a spiritual journey. Forest fae are best consulted for guidance during spiritual practices, such as shape-shifting, an advanced spiritual practice.
When working with the fae, it is essential to take certain precautions to ensure safety and respect for their energy. Here are some tips for working safely with fae in your shamanic rituals and practices:
1. Establish Boundaries: Before engaging with the fae, it is crucial to establish boundaries. You can do this through prayer, visualization, or speaking aloud. Invite them to talk with you, but never demand. Call in your helping spirits to mediate - always in middle-world work.
2. Set an Intention: Before engaging fae, set an intention for what you want to achieve with their help. Make sure it is clear and concise so that fae can understand and work towards your desired outcome.
3. Offer a Gift: A small offering such as flowers, incense, or food can be offered to the fae to thank them for their help and guidance. I suggest offering them something traditional to the culture that lived on the land before you. If you are going o leave something in nature - make sure it is in harmony with the land, plants, animals, and water.
4. Release and Thank: After your ritual or journey is complete, bid them farewell and thank them for their assistance. In Shamanism, harmonious relationships with spirits are essential.
Following these tips can ensure a safe and beneficial experience when working with the fae.
The fae, or nature spirits, are essential to shamanic practices. They come in many forms and serve varied roles, from guiding practitioners to helping with healing rituals. To work safely and respectfully with fae when engaging in shamanic practice, it is essential to set boundaries, have a clear intention for the desired outcome, offer them a traditional offering as thanks for their help and guidance, and take time to release fae at the end of your journey. By understanding who fae are and how they can be called upon during spiritual work, we can gain insight into our lives while honoring these powerful beings that inhabit Mother Nature's realm.
