Dangers of Shamanic Journeying
Shamanic journeying is not without its risks. It is not a practice to be taken lightly, and one should not attempt it unless they have a comprehensive understanding of grounding techniques. Otherwise, it can sometimes be quite difficult to fully ground yourself into your body and restore self-awareness. It is possible to journey too much and spend too much time out of your body in other realms. It can leave one feeling ungrounded and disconnected from life on the physical plane. It is important to have an energetic balance between the spiritual and physical. The dangers of shamanic practice arise when one attempts a certain level of shamanic technique when not sufficiently ready for it. The function of consistent, regular practice is to develop the skills and talents so that shamanic practitioners do not unintentionally hurt themselves or others. Shamanic practice requires discipline, concentration and purpose.
Shamanic journeying involves dissolving the boundaries of how we normally interact with the world. The comfort we derive from the familiarity of ordinary reality gives way when we enter non-ordinary reality. If doing this brings up intense emotions that feel uncomfortable, threatening or out of control, then I suggest stopping. If you have a known history of dissociation or psychosis, then there is the potential for those symptoms to be triggered by such an experience. In that case, it would be best to consult a shamanic practitioner who is trained in such matters. When we are not fully in our bodies, we are disconnected from personal boundaries, sense of self and the wisdom held within our bodies. It makes us more vulnerable to any non-benevolent beings that exist in other realms.
So how can we protect ourselves when we take a shamanic journey? Always begin by smudging in order to create a purified sacred space where you are protected and safe. Smudging is a method of using smoke from burning herbs to dispel negative energy. Sage, cedar and sweetgrass are traditionally used for smudging. To smudge, light the dried herbs in a fire-resistant receptacle, and then blow out the flames. Then use a feather or your hands to fan the smoke around your body and home. I recommend cracking a window or door for ventilation and for releasing unwanted energies.
After creating sacred space, you may wish to ritually open the space by invoking the benevolent powers of the seven directions, and then call out to your helping spirits for help and protection. It is very important to take a trusted spirit guide with you when journeying. Your spirit guide knows the spirit world well and will lead, assist and protect you when necessary. When taking a shamanic journey, you will meet an entity at the entrance to the spirit world that will act as your guide. Once you meet your own power animal, you can call upon it to accompany you on your journeys.
Beyond that, for a studied shamanic practitioner, the dangers are relatively few as long as you adhere to a few simple rules: always ask permission before doing any healing work, offer gratitude to any and all beings that assist you in your work, be clear with your intentions and objectives, be respectful of the Earth and all our relations, and do not dabble. If you are not ready for deep spiritual work, hard truths and serious accountability, then this may not be the right path for you.
