What is Shamanism?

It is a very ancient way of working with spirits of the land, which we believe was practiced worldwide by our ancestors. The foundations of shamanism are the same across many different cultures.

There is a familiarity and sense of comfort about the shamanic healing process that recipients sense. It is performed with love and there is great strength in it that is afforded by the spirits who work with, and guide, the shaman. Blockages that have been present for many lifetimes can be shifted quickly and release the person to step onto a new path in life.

Why Andean Shamanism?

There is an ancient quality about the form of Shamanism preserved by the Que’ro in Peru. When the Spanish invaded to conquer Peru the shamans went up to the high mountains and stayed there until the middle of the 20th Century. Therefore the teachings (all by word of mouth) remained purer than in many other cultures.

What is a shaman?

In Peru, a village shaman was only paid when the villagers were well – he/she was the health provider for the village! In the modern world a Shaman tends to be called upon to release deep blockages that are holding a person back in some way.

A shaman works from the heart, for the best interests of his/her client.    The principles applied, as for the Munay-Ki Rites, are:

NON-VIOLENCE, TRUTHFULNESS, INTEGRITY, MODERATION and GENEROSITY

Misconceptions

• It is NOT a religion. Many shaman in Peru are also Catholics. The two things sit comfortably alongside each other.
• Nor is it Black Magic or Sorcery!

The Four Winds Society

I was drawn to train with Alberto Villoldo’s Four Winds Society after reading his book “Shaman Healer Sage” in 2005.

Native American Shamans have practiced energy medicine for thousands of years. Alberto Villoldo Ph.D., a medical anthropologist and psychologist, founded The Four Winds Society & The Light Body School after spending over 30 years in the high Andes and the Amazon training with master shaman.  Dr. Villoldo is the best-selling author of many books including “Shaman, Healer, Sage” (that set me on the path to Peru and to train with him) & “Power up Your Brain”.

The Four Winds offers a scientific framework through which the the ancient art of energy medicine is applied to daily life and professional practice. The basic practices were augmented by Alberto with other techniques to broaden them for the modern world.

The mission of the Four Winds Society is stil to train master practitioners in the shamanic wisdom and healing arts of the ancient Americas.

Shaman discovered that the luminous energy field (LEF) that surrounds the body holds the keys for how we will age, how we will heal, and how we might die.

The training creates modern shamans – caretakers of the earth, steeped in the ancient wisdom of the Earth peoples and also in cutting-edge neuroscience. Ancient shamanic practices that help to wire the brain for health, joy, and longevity are taught. They believe that energy medicine is the healing practice of the future.

Deepening my practice

After completing the Four Winds “Healing the Light Body” course over a period of two years (including my trip to Peru with them) I completed their  “Way of the Sage” programme as well. This is an advanced training with mentoring from a Four Winds senior teacher.

Linda Fitch was one of my main tutors when I studied with the Four Winds (she was a senior member of staff at the time).  She now has her own business.

Then I have also continued to deepen my knowledge on several further training courses with

• Carla Fox – Farwalkers Destiny trained in Andean Shamanic practice and has added other skills on top of it. Very deep acting, very quick work.
• Jose Luis Herrera – Rainbow Jaguar – from Cusco in Peru, who works with the most experienced shaman in the area
• Stephen Victor – Who practices Andean Shamanism and also Hellinger Constellation work

Today most of my clients live a long way from where I practice. Remote sessions work brilliantly for you – you can be at home, relaxing or pottering about doing jobs while I do the session without any need to travel.  I can focus entirely on the session without worries about whether you are hot/cold/thirsty etc.

Often the trigger for someone to want this form of healing is a pattern that is not shifting. It can be a life situation, an imbalance in the body or multi-level such as anxieties and stresses.

Rarely does someone have more than one session for the same issue. It tends to act deeply and last.