Shamanic Journeying for Guidance and Healing

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Shamanic Journeying for Guidance explores an ancient method of inner exploration that has been practiced across many cultures. In modern life, many people feel overwhelmed by complexity and noise, which makes clarity and inner direction hard to reach. This free event offers a reflective introduction to shamanic journeying as a way of engaging with guidance through awareness rather than analysis.

Sandra Ingerman is hosting this free Shamanic Journeying for Guidance event through The Shift Network, drawing on nearly four decades of teaching. Reserve your free spot here before reading the full breakdown below.

Who Leads Shamanic Journeying for Guidance

Sandra Ingerman, MA, is a teacher of shamanism and the author of more than ten books, including Soul Retrieval, Medicine for the Earth, and Walking in Light. She has taught workshops internationally for nearly forty years, has presented audio programs with Sounds True, and hosts a weekly podcast called The Shaman’s Cave.

She was named one of the Top 10 Spiritual Leaders of 2013 by Spirituality & Health magazine and was included in Watkins’ list of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential People of 2020. Shamanic Journeying for Guidance draws on that long experience, presented in a short session for people new to the practice.

Understanding Shamanic Journeying as Inner Exploration

Shamanic journeying is often mistaken for imaginative storytelling. In traditional settings it is regarded as a disciplined practice of focused awareness, one that uses attention and rhythm to move beyond surface thought into subtler layers of perception.

The event presents journeying as an inward method of listening. The goal isn’t escape, but a deeper engagement with one’s own life and questions, and Shamanic Journeying for Guidance keeps that distinction clear throughout.

Guidance as a Relationship, Not a Message

One of the core ideas explored is that guidance is relational rather than informational. Instead of expecting a set of instructions, practitioners develop an ongoing relationship with insight. That relationship builds through repeated listening and reflection, and over time clarity becomes easier to recognize without effort.

The emphasis stays on trust rather than certainty. In Shamanic Journeying for Guidance, no single journey is expected to settle a question. The practice is understood as something that deepens with time.

What a First Journey Often Looks Like

For many people, the hardest part of shamanic journeying is simply not knowing what to expect. The practice can sound dramatic from the outside, but in most traditional and modern settings it is quiet and fairly simple. Understanding the usual shape of a session can make the whole idea feel less intimidating, and it is one reason Shamanic Journeying for Guidance is aimed at beginners.

A session usually begins with a question. Rather than asking for a prediction, people tend to choose something open and sincere, such as “what do I need to understand about this situation?” or “what would help me right now?” A clear intention gives attention something to hold, and it keeps the practice from drifting into pure daydreaming. The question doesn’t need to be impressive. It only needs to be honest.

Many practitioners then settle into a comfortable position, often lying down in a quiet room, and listen to steady rhythm, such as a drum or rattle. The repetition gives the mind a simple pattern to follow, which tends to quiet the usual stream of commentary. Some people use a recorded rhythm, and others practice in silence. There is no single correct method, and the approach that helps a person stay present is the one that works for them.

What people experience during a journey varies widely. Some see vivid images, others sense a feeling or a presence, and some hear words or simply know something without being able to say how. A few notice very little the first time. None of these is a failure. Shamanic Journeying for Guidance treats the practice as one that develops gradually, so a quiet first attempt is a normal starting point and not a sign that something is wrong.

Afterward, writing down what came up is a common habit. Notes taken soon after tend to capture details that fade quickly, and rereading them later often reveals patterns that weren’t obvious at the time. It also helps to hold the material lightly, as something to reflect on and test against real life instead of an instruction to follow. Insight from any inner practice is most useful when it is checked against ordinary judgment and the advice of people who know you well.

A few simple habits support the whole process. Practicing in a calm, private setting helps. Short sessions are usually better than long ones for beginners. And taking a few minutes at the end to come back to the room, with a glass of water, a short walk, or a slow look around, helps a person return to ordinary awareness before getting on with the day.

It’s also reasonable to ease off if something feels unsettling. Journeying is meant to be a gentle practice, and nothing about it requires pushing through discomfort. For anything that feels heavier than ordinary restlessness, the guidance of trusted people and qualified professionals comes first, and Shamanic Journeying for Guidance works best as a companion to that support. Approached with patience and realistic expectations, the practice tends to be less about dramatic experiences and more about learning to listen.

Shamanic Perspectives on Balance

Rather than framing challenges as isolated problems, shamanic traditions often view them as expressions of imbalance. This shifts attention from the surface of a situation to the pattern underneath it.

The event explores how awareness can reveal where energy, attention, or intention has become scattered. Recognizing those patterns makes adjustment possible, and this approach favors careful observation over quick intervention.

What the Session Explores

The video event introduces journeying as a focused awareness practice and looks at how guidance tends to emerge through listening. Participants explore symbolic perception without rushing to interpret it, learn to treat imbalance as information, and consider how traditional perspectives apply to modern situations.

The session also touches on ceremony as a way of supporting attention and intention, and on the role of connection with the natural world in shamanic practice. Each element of Shamanic Journeying for Guidance is offered as an invitation rather than a directive.

Journeying Through Non-Ordinary Awareness

Shamanic journeying is often described as entering non-ordinary awareness. This doesn’t mean fantasy or losing touch with the room you’re in. It refers to perception that isn’t limited to linear thinking. When awareness widens, insight can arrive in unexpected ways, and new perspectives can surface without forcing a change.

Shamanic Journeying for Guidance treats this as a skill that develops with practice, not a special gift reserved for a few people.

Ceremony as a Container for Awareness

Ceremony is introduced as a structure that supports attention and intention. It isn’t presented as ritualized performance. Instead, ceremony provides a container that helps awareness stay steady, and within that container, insight has room to emerge.

This framing keeps ceremony grounded and practical. In Shamanic Journeying for Guidance, it works as a way of giving a practice a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Applying Journeying to Everyday Life

The teachings aren’t meant to stay abstract. Participants are encouraged to notice how the principles of journeying apply to daily decisions, relationships, and challenges. When awareness is broadened, responses tend to become less reactive, and over time this can shape how situations are approached from the inside.

Change comes gradually rather than dramatically, which makes Shamanic Journeying for Guidance easy to carry into an ordinary week.

Reframing Uncertainty as Inquiry

Periods of uncertainty often bring worry or avoidance. The event reframes uncertainty as an invitation to inquiry. Instead of demanding immediate answers, participants are guided to sit with their questions and let insight unfold through patience rather than urgency.

This orientation supports steadiness during transitions, which is one reason Shamanic Journeying for Guidance appeals to people facing a decision they aren’t ready to make.

Learning Through Indigenous Wisdom

The event draws on indigenous traditions that emphasize relationship with the unseen dimensions of life. These teachings are presented with respect and without appropriation. Rather than copying specific practices, participants are encouraged to understand the principles beneath them, so the wisdom can be applied in a contemporary setting.

The focus stays on awareness rather than belief. Anyone curious about Shamanic Journeying for Guidance can approach it as a practice to try and evaluate through their own experience.

Who This Event Is For

Shamanic Journeying for Guidance suits anyone curious about shamanism and inner guidance, including complete beginners. No prior experience with shamanic practice is needed.

If this approach interests you, What Is a Shamanic Journey? The Complete Beginner’s Guide offers a broader foundation in the practice, and The Gifts of Celtic Shamanism explores a related tradition through teacher Jane Burns, who studied directly with Sandra Ingerman.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Shamanic Journeying for Guidance about?

Shamanic Journeying for Guidance is a free Shift Network event with Sandra Ingerman introducing shamanic journeying as a practice of focused awareness and inner listening.

Do I need shamanic experience to attend?

No. The event is designed to be accessible to complete beginners, with no prior experience required.

Who leads this event?

Sandra Ingerman, MA, a teacher of shamanism for nearly four decades and the author of Soul Retrieval and other books.

Is Shamanic Journeying for Guidance really free?

Yes. The event itself is free to attend, with additional programs available afterward for anyone who wants to continue further.