THE PROCESS
We are storytellers.
We can walk between the worlds.
We are part of forests, mountains, waterfalls and meadows.
We are nature.
... or at least, that's how we lived for most of our 200.000 years of human history. About 6000 years ago, the shift to agriculture changed our relationship with the world and nature itself. We began seeing ourselves as separate and superior.
That separation came at a cost. Like a leaf declaring independence from the tree, it disconnected us from our true source of power. Our personal and collective stories of what it means to be human became distorted. We've created a world filled with depression, anxiety and inequality, driving us rapidly toward anthropocene extinction.
We've lost our way. Luckily, shamanism shows us the way back - or rather, forward.
Shamanism always understood what modern science is now catching up to: our everyday reality is shaped by blueprints from deeper, unseen reality.
When we do a shamanic journey, we tap into those blueprints. They guide us beyond human, outside the "human box" – the expectations and roles we've taken on to fit in – and reconnect us with the deep, forgotten parts of ourselves and the wider web of life. It’s a process of remembering who we truly are and drawing on the wisdom of our Soul.
It's also a process of embracing the guidance of other-than-human Allies. In shamanic journeying, we don’t just access information about ourselves; we connect to the blueprints of everything around us. We can experience what it’s like to fly as a bird, dive into molten lava, become the wind, a waterfall, or a tree.
Each of these teaches us something about the ecosystem we are part of, and each has a valuable message about how to be human, how to co-create the world around us and find our place in the larger web of life.
Listen to the drum.
Lose yourself in the womb of darkness.
Be still and embrace the whispers of silence.
They will change you from within.
The energetic reality exists independently of us; it’s not just our imagination. However, because it exists on the edge of our consciousness, we cannot perceive it objectively. We cannot simply dive in and see things as they are. Like quantum reality, it needs to be dressed in metaphors and symbols that we then interpret in the context of our lives.
When I journey for you, I bring back a healing story and symbols that are relevant to you and your life - we interpret them together after I narrate the journey to you.
Sometimes, the meaning of the symbols is instant and we are shocked by their relevance, other times, they may seem a bit abstract at first. But in any case - if you hold them in your body, feel their energetic imprint, and stay with the experience, it will have long-lasting and profound effects, changing you from the inside out.
Symbols bypass the mind and the rational, analytical parts of ourselves, which are more concerned with roles, identities, and societal boxes they need to fit us in.
Symbols connect us to the felt sense of the truth.
So - physical reality is shaped and organised by the energy patterns of the deeper reality. These patterns carry the blueprint of what each thing is meant to be and its place in the world. Nature follows these energetic patterns effortlessly.
A bear knows how to be a bear and an acorn instinctively grows into an oak tree. The river never forgets its path to the sea, and the sunset always finds its way to the horizon.
Every being knows how to be who they were meant to be. Except humans.
We are storytellers - it’s both our greatest gift and our greatest curse. The reason we create stories that diverge from our true nature lies within modern society - in how we are raised and how we relate to one another.
We are born with a distinctive physic imprint, our own inner tribe of selves. All our inner parts have a voice and a reason to exist. When we treat them equally and give them a chance to express, they feel nurtured and heard. They have no problem cooperating when cooperation is necessary.
Until at some point, we allow the outside world to label some of our parts as bad, ugly, and not enough and demand those parts gone. A parent, unable to handle our stubbornness. A teacher, overwhelmed by our playfulness. A sibling, jealous of our authenticity.
They make us choose - human connection and love versus troublesome parts of our souls that "tend to do no good anyway". Seems like a no-brainer to cast the troublemakers out.
This leads to a fragmentation of our psyche.
Some parts are pushed away (in shamanism, we call these "Orphans"), while others have to step up and carry on best
as they can (known as "Fort-holders").
From that point on, we no longer listen to the cast-out parts. We do everything in our power to keep them hidden and deny their existence, hoping they will simply go away. But those hidden parts don’t disappear. They simmer in the background, fuelled by anger, abandonment, and shame. They want to be heard, understood, and treated fairly. Ignoring them only makes them more disruptive.
Meanwhile, the parts that stayed - our protective strategies - go into overdrive, working tirelessly to keep the exiled parts locked away. Take playfulness, for example. If we suppress it and choose to be serious and reliable instead, the serious part will do anything to keep playfulness at bay. It will lash out at a child joyfully splashing in puddles, or bury itself in work, taking on extra tasks just to silence the urge to join that painting class your friends invited you to.
The protective part has good intentions - it’s acting from a time when playfulness genuinely felt dangerous - when your father would punish you for running around and making noise when he wanted peace and quiet, or when your teacher got frustrated with your constant questions.
The way forward is to embrace the reality that your inner self is made up of many parts. Some you manage with confidence, some get you into trouble, and others protect you but rob you of living. Healing comes from giving each part a voice, allowing them to tell their story, and offering them the space to be understood.
Getting our parts on board is a prerequisite to any healing.
Otherwise, no matter what gets achieved in a session will just get overridden by their protective strategies. This is good news. Yes, it's work and it's not always easy, but it's the most rewarding process there is.
It means you can get your playfulness back. You can stop lashing out when triggered and discover inner resources like calmness and drawing boundaries better.
You are so much more than the protective strategies you put up to cope with the hardships of life.
At the heart of indigenous animist cultures worldwide lies the Wheel of Life, an ancient symbol that reflects how everything - whether in nature or within us - moves in cycles.
Air - the world of possibilities
Air opens us to a world of unlimited potential, where we envision, consider ideas, and think things through. But too much Air leaves us trapped in indecision, lost in endless "what ifs" and unable to commit. Stuck in the future, we try to predict every outcome, paralysed by the anxiety of choosing and acting, making it difficult to transition to Fire.
Fire - time for action
Fire shows us how to decide and take action. It assists us in cultivating our personal power, our inner fire - a driving force behind our authority and integrity. It helps us set and stick to healthy boundaries, speak up when necessary, and keep things real. It's also the boost behind our enthusiasm, and the push to keep going. It's the reason we approach life with optimism, find joy in the journey and build the confidence to face whatever comes our way.
Too much fire can make people feel restless and easily bored. They often crave moving on to the next exciting thing without fully seeing tasks through to the end.
Water - reflection & possibilities
Water represents the time of harvest, guiding us through perseverance and reflection. It helps us accept what has been learned and decide what to keep and what to let go of. It is also about being able to feel.
When Water is blocked, we struggle to move forward, caught in endless reflections on the past and unresolved grief. We cling to what no longer serves us, unable to let go and make room for new growth.
Earth - lession in letting go
Earth invites us to slow down, let go, and rest, offering a quiet pause before a new cycle begins. It represents a commitment to realism, practicality, and staying grounded, providing a sense of safety and belonging.
When stuck in Earth, we can become stubborn, overly conventional, and sceptical. We may be cynical, narrow-minded, and resistant to change, struggling to look beyond the surface. This can lead to a lack of inspiration, excessive materialism, and an overly cautious approach, making us conservative and emotionally detached.
Health is based on the free flow of energy around the Wheel. If you feel stuck, it might be due to an elemental imbalance. We will explore the challenging element and the next phase of the cycle, understand your resistance, and find ways for you to move forward.
