What is Shamanic Healing?

Shamanic healing is a gentle, spiritually focused approach to healing that supports the restoration of balance, connection and wholeness. Rooted in an animistic understanding that all life is interconnected and that we live within a living spiritual world, shamanic healing works with intention, ceremony, energy and spirit to address the deeper causes of imbalance. This may include energetic blockages, ancestral influences, soul loss and soul retrieval, as well as spiritual disturbances such as intrusive energies, attachments, spirits or curses. Soul retrieval is the process of restoring and reintegrating aspects of a person’s soul essence that may have become separated or lost through trauma, shock or overwhelming life experiences. The role of the shamanic practitioner is to hold a safe, grounded and compassionate space, working respectfully with the client and the spirit world to support healing, reconnection and a renewed sense of inner wisdom, wellbeing and direction in life.

What Happens During a Shamanic Healing Session?

Every practitioner works differently and should explain their approach beforehand but generally:

  • Each shamanic healing session is guided by your individual needs and intentions.
  • Sessions typically begin with conversation before moving into energetic work to identify areas of imbalance, uncover the root of underlying issues, clear energetic blockages, retrieve lost soul parts or energy, and restore balance and grounding.
  • Where appropriate, sessions may also include power animal retrieval and blessing ceremonies to further support your healing journey.

The Principles of Shamanic Healing

The general principles:

  • Supporting personal growth, self-awareness, and a deeper understanding of one’s own healing journey.
  • Encouraging balance, connection, and harmony within oneself, with others, and with the natural world.
  • Honouring and developing a respectful relationship with all our relations, including connection to ancestral wisdom.
  • Working with compassion, integrity, and ethical responsibility, creating a safe and respectful space for healing.

Professional Practice and Ethics

Practitioner members of the Shamanic Healers Circle:

  • Meet recognised standards of training.
  • Follow a professional Code of Ethics.
  • Hold appropriate insurance.
  • Commit to continuing professional development.
  • Work within clear professional boundaries.
  • Work with other healthcare professionals

Is Shamanic Healing Right for Everyone?

While many people find shamanic healing meaningful and transformative, it is not a one-size-fits-all approach. A person’s openness, beliefs, intentions, and readiness to engage with the process can influence their experience. Shamanic healing is most suitable for those who feel drawn to this way of working and are open to exploring their inner world through spiritual connection, ceremony, and energetic practices.

It can sit alongside other forms of care and encourages individuals to honour their own wisdom, intuition, and healing path.

Choosing a Qualified Practitioner

Practical advice:

  • Check their training.
  • Ask about experience.
  • Ensure they work within an ethical framework.
  • Confirm they have insurance.
  • Look for professional accreditation.

Find a qualified practitioner here