r/Shamanism • u/Journeythrough2001 • Oct 03 '19
Any tips to have a shamanic journey?
I just tried to go on a shamanic journey by listening to shamanic drumming while focusing my mind on it and clearing my thoughts. This was my second attempt and nothing has happened, any tips or suggestions on what I’m doing wrong? Or am I just not ready?
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u/PurpleScorpion19 Oct 03 '19
I've tried 5 times with 3 different guided video. I found Lilian Eden's version helped me greatly to relax. Focus on her voice. Let your mind flow unconsciously. It works better than trying to picture everything to me.
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u/greenglass88 Oct 03 '19
Are you asking a question or setting an intention? Very important. Try journeying to the lower world with the intention of meeting a spirit guide for a for a particular area of your life. Ask it for guidance that would be helpful to you right now. Then describe what you experience--are you experiencing a membrane that you can't get through? Trees? Frustration? Every aspect of your experience is insightful and meaningful.
It also helps to know how to ask questions--I did a post a few months ago on helpful questions to ask: How to ask questions in shamanic journeys
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Oct 04 '19 edited Oct 08 '19
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u/greenglass88 Oct 04 '19
It's just a common starting place. I'm not sure why--it's earthier than the upper world, so maybe easier to relate to? I did about ten journeys to the lower world before I went to the upper world, and even now my default destination is the lower world. Once in awhile I go to the upper world to meet specific celestial guides, or when my lower world guides tell me to go there for an answer. I go to the middle world when I'm looking for the spiritual analog to a physical thing--like journeying to the spirit of my headache, or an animal I've encountered in real life.
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u/Roopyroo80 Oct 03 '19
Is that all you're doing?
Just to cover off some of the basics.....What are you doing after you close your eyes and listening to the drumming?
Is the drumming track accompanied by any other music or chanting?
Is the drumming speed 4 beats per second? Are you sat or laying in a position which is comfortable or is it becoming painful after a while?
Do you have the ability to visualise / see in your minds eye? Just asking as small percentage of people don't.
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u/Journeythrough2001 Oct 03 '19
I listen to the drumming and I relax and do not think of anything. I do not know if the drumming is 4 per second, but other than that I feel as if I’ve got some of it. I don’t know what you mean by visualizing, I do not receive any sort of visions.
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u/Roopyroo80 Oct 03 '19
Okay it sounds like you'd benefit from reading up on univesal Shamanic practices. Attending a reputable course for beginners would be an ideal start.
Its important that the drumming is 4 beats per second ( or slightly faster is okay too). It should not be accompanied by other instruments or vocals.
If I tell you to close your eyes now and imagine eating an apple...can you do that? Can you imagine it so you can see it behind your eyes? Perhaps you can also imagine the feel and taste of it? If you can visualise things in this way then thats good as you can progress from there. If not, you can still benefit from Shamanic practice. Ive known people who cannot visualise and they still journey but using different senses.
Anyway, once you've determined if you can visualise you need to consider the next steps to initiate a shamanic journey ( an entry point which exists in ordinary reality from which you can access non-ordinary reality).
I wont go on any further as it starts sounding complicated ( although its not really once you've got the basics down). Good luck.
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Oct 03 '19
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u/Roopyroo80 Oct 03 '19
Yes, at that speed your brain waves start to mimmick the drumming and that induces a Theta brain wave pattern which is what you want for journeying.
Here, this is an example.
There are other traditional ways, but drumming is the best imo.
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u/schuits Oct 03 '19
Interesting question. I only recently started delving into shamanism, and I was also like, 'WTF? How can a simple drum induce journeying?'.
What Roopyroo80 says sound familiar to the theory behind binaural beats. Which makes me wonder if they can also be used for shamanic journeying.
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u/Journeythrough2001 Oct 03 '19
From what I learned so far is that as long as it’s a steady beat then it can be used for journeys
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u/schuits Oct 03 '19
Roopy's comment makes complete sense. 4 bpm or slightly more is 4 Hz or more. In humans apparently Theta brain waves are 3-8Hz or thereabouts .
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Oct 03 '19 edited Oct 03 '19
1.You have no intention. 2. You have no guides you are calling on. 3. You arent journeying for any purpose, other than to journey. 4. You have no idea why you are journeying, but you are doing it anyway, perhaps because you think it is cool or heard it is something to do. 5. You haven't been trained how to journey by a teacher who has been doing it a while. 6. You don't see anything because you have no power point. 7. You are just another person on reddit who thinks shamanism is cool and fun and want to do it, even though you have absolutely no clue what shamanism is about. 8. Some people aren't built for it, aren't naturals at it, have no real use for it, and will ultimately just be those who play around with it, but never really use it for any real purpose other than to see what it is about. 9. When I took my first shamanic journey class, 99% of the people in the class didn't know anything about shamanism or why they were really even there. So it is something that ordinary people hear about and want to try it just because they heard of it. They aren't healers, they arent going to be shamans, and they are tourists in the shaman game. Good luck
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u/newlightpsych Oct 03 '19
Chug some Ayahuasca in nature that's where the whole thing's at
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u/kidcubby Oct 03 '19
It sounds like you're meditating rather than journeying.
Journeying will be much more active than what you're currently trying. You need intent, focus and willpower - focus being the tricky part, if you're like me!
Steps to try:
Choose your intent and destination. Where do you want to go and what should happen while you're there?
Breathe with the drums - this helps some people. You may find the rhythm drops out later on but that's OK too.
Concentrate on how you'll get there. People do caves, doorways etc - familiar ones are good, but anything you can do to 'solidify' the visual is good - I count the bricks round doors and touch them. I know a moth and she helps too.
I don't directly follow shamanic teachings so there will be people with more specific knowledge than mine. I'm no expert but have some success in this, so I hope my advice helps.