06 Aug Feel better in mind and body with shamanism
Shamanism, which originated in Siberia, is one of mankind’s oldest forms of spirituality. It is also found in the Arctic, Africa, Australia and North America. It was rediscovered in the West thanks to the writings of American anthropologist Carlos Castaneda and Roman ethnologist Mircea Eliade in the second half of the 20th century. This spiritual practice enables shamans to rediscover harmony with nature and the spirits that surround them, something that modern man lost a long time ago, and even more so because of the Cartesian thinking that took over in the 16th century. We have forgotten that we form a whole with the earth and the animals. We are sustainably destroying our environment through the loss of our shamanic values. We no longer listen to nature’s warnings, and when she unleashes her fury, it’s often too late, as was the case during the Tsunami in Thailand, when the animals made no mistake and escaped in time. The same applies to our health. Deeply conditioned by modern medicine, we forget to listen to our bodies. For shamans (also known as “medicine men”), the body has the power to heal and regenerate itself. We need to trust our perceptions and intuitions more. In recent years, more and more Western therapists have taken an interest in shamanism. This growing craze is largely due to our growing awareness of holistic health techniques. In France, professionals in the field practice consciousness modification through hypnosis, for example. In this way, we can more easily access our unconscious resources, which enable us to act on our mind and body. In conclusion, if we decide to open up to shamanism and live more in harmony with Nature, we’ll be able to feel better in mind and body, while respecting Mother Earth. Without becoming shamans ourselves, we can strive to listen more closely to our instincts and to nature, in order to detach ourselves from the materialistic side of our existence and turn towards more spirituality and sharing. To achieve this, practice meditation and consulting a hypnotherapist will undoubtedly enable us to reach that altered state of consciousness the ancients speak of, which will make us feel better.