While it might seem very strange and mystical from the outside, shamanism is very much a methodology rooted in science. I’m talking about the scientific method of course, which is very often not how science is practiced in todays world of news headlines and profit-driven results. So, what is it exactly?
The scientific method is a systematic approach to exploring the wonders of nature. It involves observing phenomena, forming hypotheses, conducting experiments, collecting data, and analyzing the results to draw meaningful conclusions and develop insightful theories.
This is exactly what shamans are doing. The reason why it looks different than modern day scientists is because they live in the jungle, in the middle of nowhere. They have little access to the modern conveniences we are all accustomed to, and they are doing it in the way their grandfathers did it. And those grandfathers did it the way their grandfathers did it, and so on.
Now, imagine what you would be doing out in the jungle with very limited technology, or none at all… My guess is many of you would be observing the natural world around you, forming hypotheses, conducting experiments, collecting data and analyzing the results. It might look like planting a seed here, observing how it doesn’t grow, then planting it over there and observing how it does grow. Then guessing that the sun has something to do with it and further investigating it.
Or it might look like observing how some months the buffalo move in this direction, and other months they go the other direction. Or, and now it gets interesting, observing how certain plants have certain effects on the body, mind and spirit.
The ethereal realms
The only magic happening here is the same magic happening inside every single human being on this planet, which is the magic of human consciousness and the spirit. Plants have different effects on the human body, and people studied this over time. Onions can make your eyes water, chamomile can calm your nervous system, and some plants will thrust upon you an experience like none other. It can feel almost as if you are transported elsewhere.
It’s called many different names in many different shamanic cultures:
- “Spirit World”
- “Land of the Ancestors”
- “Realm of the Gods”
- “Land of the Dead”
- “Dreamtime”
They are all referring to the same thing. How do we know? Because the way these different cultures describe these realms is incredibly similar to the way many other cultures describe their spiritual realms, many without any reference to psychedelic plant use at all. Basically all religions refer to spiritual realms, as well as near-death experiences and the mystical states that can be reached in meditation.
With all this, its pretty clear that there is another realm that is accessible to us. Whether its through religion, meditation, near-death experiences, shamanic drumming (no plants), or the use of certain plants, this realm can be perceived.
Shamanic scientist
So the plants are not so much transporting us somewhere as making it much easier to perceive another realm that is always present. Now we arrive to the shaman: the intermediary between the physical world and the spiritual realm. This mediating can be done through rituals, drumming, chanting, fasting, or the use of psychoactive plants.
A shaman is very much a scientist. The same way a modern day scientist might investigate how to improve a car engine, a shaman might investigate how to improve a persons health (body, mind & spirit.) Observations are made, hypotheses are formed, experiments are conducted, data is collected and the results are analyzed to provide meaningful conclusions and insightful theories.
And now we have arrived to where the blueprint come in. As you might have noticed, there is a key difference between a shaman and a scientist in this specific analogy. The scientist is working with a car engine, whereas the shaman is working with a human being. If something happens to the car engine in one of his experiments, hey no big deal. If something happens to the human being in one of the shamans experiments…
Many layers
Some of you may think “experiment” seems like an interesting term for how a shaman works with someone, but it is the perfect term. If you’ve worked with a shaman before, you might have observed that every time the work is a bit different. It affects you differently, and the net result is different. Even if the methods they used were much the same.
Time to make a distinction. Not all shamans are doing the same thing, just like not all scientists are doing the same thing. As well, not all shamans are good, just like not all doctors are good. There are scientists that work on solar panels, and ones that work on food preservatives. There are doctors that perform brain surgery, and ones that over-prescribe pain medication for the free trip to Maui the drug reps are offering. Get it?
Shamans are the same as any other human being, prone to all the same mistakes, errors and pitfalls as anyone else. The only real difference is that they have devoted some portion of their life to investigating certain plants or techniques for working with the spiritual realms, usually for the benefit of a persons health or well-being.
If anything, the shaman is actually more prone to pitfalls than most others. They very nature of working with such energies in conjunction with regularly taking psychoactive plants makes them extremely vulnerable. The plants themselves are increasing neuroplasticity, and so if the shaman starts to make mistakes and doesn’t quickly course correct, the plants themselves will reinforce that new direction.
Why a blueprint is needed
Basically, there exists a shamanic equivalent of medical school, complete with its own version of the Hippocratic Oath. A “blueprint” which guides one down a path of becoming a shaman. A way of investigating the spiritual realms in a structured way so that they wouldn’t get lost. Think of all the training a neurosurgeon would go through before performing his first brain surgery.
Each shamanic culture has its own version, and this blueprint is how these cultures have survived for so long. Without it, the cultures would have surely been washed away. The blueprint exists to protect the culture.
Let me ask you a question. How much do you trust the modern medical system? How much do you trust individual doctors? Not just your personal doctor, but doctors in general? Would you answer the same 10 years ago as you do now?
There is a medical doctor blueprint as well, but it has been steadily eroding since the mega pharmaceutical companies entered the playing field. Now the extent of many doctors abilities is looking through the literature to see which drug might address your symptoms, prescribing you the medication, and saying, “come back in a couple weeks and lets see how that worked out for you.” Rinse, repeat.
How much longer will the culture of the modern doctor be around? It’s pretty clear that somewhere along the way, something happened. The blueprint of the doctor changed. It was no longer producing doctors that used science to investigate each of their patients and bring them into a state of well-being. It started producing doctors that do what their told and prescribe lots and lots of pills.
A new era
There’s no going back. Times are changing and the landscape is evolving. To think that shamans are anymore immune to what has happened to most (not all) doctors is delusional. It’s already happening. The pharmaceutical companies are already introducing new drugs isolated from psychoactive plants traditionally used in their cultural context by shamans.
The main protection for shamanism throughout history has been their tribal nature. After all, what can really happen when you live in the jungle by yourself growing plants and helping people? How corrupt, distracted or confused can you really become in your jungle hut?
How many shamans throughout history were faced with the temptations of modern affluence and public acclaim? And more importantly, how many could have remained true to their traditions and values despite these influences? Sadly, we already know the answer.
And so, how can you determine the quality of your shaman? The same way as your doctor: by how often you need to go see them. Sure, some people might have underlying health issues and traumas that would necessitate more frequent visits. In general though, if you find yourself constantly in your doctors office, or in front of your shaman, without significant changes between visits, something else might be going on. It may be time to reevaluate your situation.
It’s hard to trust now. Things are different. The old grandfathers are dead, gone. We killed them, our culture. They were unprepared for the onslaught of temptations and changes we brought. What remains is the remnants of a majestic shipwreck washed ashore; an ancient vessel from another era. Many fragments are still intact, scattered on the sand, but much has been claimed by the sea, lost to the depths forever.
My desire is to help preserve the shamanic way, the old way, for as long as possible. At least, what’s left of it. It can be done. It means integrating with our modern culture and refining that point where the two meet together.
This is, after all, just the beginning.
Thank you for reading.
