Shamanic trance: what shamanism is and how journeying works

What is a shaman? The origin of the word

The word shaman comes from Evenki, a Tungusic language of Siberia. Among the Evenki, the šaman is the person who enters trance to communicate with the spirits on behalf of the community. The word reached European languages through Russian.

Anthropologists later used it for similar figures around the world: in Mongolia, among the Sámi of northern Europe, in the Amazon, in North America. Each tradition has its own name, language and rituals. In Korean shamanism, for example, the mudang, most often women, lead a ritual called gut. Speaking of shamanism in the singular is a convenience; in reality, there are many shamanisms. Many of them rest on animism, the view that animals, plants and places have a spirit of their own.

So what does a shaman do? Depending on the culture, a shaman may seek guidance for the group or look for the cause of a misfortune. Some also accompany the souls of the dead or help the hunt. At the heart of it lies the journey: a trance in which the shaman travels in spirit and comes back with something useful.

From Eliade to Harner: shamanism in the West

In 1951, the historian of religions Mircea Eliade published the book known in English as Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy. He described the shaman as a specialist of ecstasy, whose soul leaves the body to travel to the sky or the underworld. He also gave great weight to shamanic initiation, often a long and demanding ordeal. His work shaped how the West sees shamanism.

In 1980, the American anthropologist Michael Harner published The Way of the Shaman. He drew together elements shared by many cultures: the drum, the journey, the three worlds and the power animal. He called the result core shamanism, a practice without the rituals of any one people.

Core shamanism has made the shamanic path accessible to many, but it also raises questions. Many Indigenous peoples ask that their ceremonies not be copied or sold. The respectful attitude is simple: learn from the source cultures, do not claim their titles and call your practice by its true name.

What is trance? Shamanic trance and altered states of consciousness

A trance is an altered state of consciousness in which attention turns inward and becomes deeply absorbed. The outside world fades, inner images grow vivid and the sense of time shifts. You already know light versions of it, such as being lost in music.

The phrase altered states of consciousness became widely known through a 1969 book of that name, edited by the psychologist Charles Tart. It covers dreaming, hypnosis, meditation and the trance state brought on by rhythm. In the app, the Consciousness & Trance category explores several of these doorways.

In a shamanic trance, the person usually stays aware and remembers the journey. It is less a loss of control than a shift of focus, held by an intention and a rhythm.

Shamanic drumming: the rhythm of the journey

In many traditions, the drum carries the journey. In Siberia, it is often called the shaman's horse. The shamanic drum is usually a frame drum: a hide stretched over a wooden hoop, struck with a beater. The beat is steady, fast and repetitive, with no melody to follow. Rattles, chanting or dancing can play the same role.

Drumming for a shamanic journey usually follows a simple structure. A steady beat accompanies the traveler for a set time. Then a change in rhythm calls the traveler back, often a few sharp beats followed by a faster roll.

Researchers have studied how repetitive drumming affects attention and brain activity. Small studies suggest that rhythm makes it easier to turn inward and stay absorbed. Science, however, does not describe what the traveler meets.

The three worlds of the shamanic journey

Many shamanic traditions describe the universe in three levels, connected by a central axis: a world tree, a mountain or a pillar. The shaman climbs or descends along it. Eliade called it the axis of the world, or axis mundi.

In core shamanism, the lower world is often reached through an opening in the earth, such as a cave, a hollow tree or a spring. The upper world is reached by climbing a tree, a ladder or rising smoke. In the app, Journey to the Lower World and Journey to the Upper World, in Trances & Techniques, follow these two paths.

Power animals: how to find your power animal

A power animal is a protective spirit that appears in animal form and accompanies the shaman. In many cultures, these allies are met during the journey, often in the lower world. Some traditions also link an animal to a person or a clan for life. The word totem, behind the phrase totem animals, comes from Ojibwe, a language of North America.

Finding your power animal in a guided meditation is simple. You set the intention, travel inward and notice which animal shows itself, often more than once. It may be humble, like a mouse, or majestic, like a bear. What matters is how it behaves and what it brings you.

The phrase spirit animal comes from Indigenous traditions, and many people now prefer animal guide out of respect. If you wonder how to find out what your spirit animal is, the shamanic answer is the journey itself, not a list or your birth month. Our page on spirit guides explores these figures further. In The Wolf Spirit Forest, a starry wolf becomes your guide for 15 minutes.

What is a shamanic journey? How a guided shamanic meditation unfolds

A shamanic journey is a trance voyage with a clear intention, made in the imagination and lived with all the senses. Here is how a guided shamanic meditation usually unfolds. For four complete journeys, see the Shamanic Trance category.

1. Prepare the space

   Find a quiet, dim room where no one will disturb you. Lie down or sit, and cover your eyes if you like.

2. State your intention

   Choose one simple purpose, such as meeting a protective animal or seeking a symbol for a decision.

3. Find the entrance

   Picture a place you know in nature: a cave, a tree, a pool. It becomes your doorway down or up.

4. Travel with the drum

   Let the rhythm carry you. Follow the path, notice what you see, hear and feel, and let the scene unfold.

5. Meet and ask

   If an animal or a figure appears, greet it, ask your question and accept whatever comes, even silence.

6. Return by the same path

   When the rhythm changes, thank those you met and come back the way you came, to your body and the room.

7. Write it down

   Note your journey right away. Its meaning often becomes clearer over the following days.

Is shamanic trance safe? Returning and grounding

A gentle guided trance is a form of deep relaxation, and you can open your eyes at any moment. Most people find it calming. Still, inner journeys can stir strong images or emotions, so a few habits help.

• Always end with a full return: name the room, feel your weight, move your hands and feet.
• Drink some water or eat something light afterward if you feel spacey.
• Never practice while driving or doing anything that needs your attention.
• On days when you feel fragile, choose a simple breathing session instead.
• Keep it simple: these journeys need nothing but your attention and a quiet room.