My education in Shamanism is very informal, in fact it is no education plan or structured learning at all. I learned through books, friends, classes, and spur-of-the-moment occurrences. I go as guided. I follow no formal path or tradition because no one has come forth to teach me a path or tradition.
My first dream/vision came about in this way. I asked for my main spirit animal to appear to me just before I fell asleep one night. It took about four nights before I had my dream/vision. Interestingly enough, in this dream/vision I saw the animal in four views as discussed by Michael Harner in his book, "Way of the Shaman". This was before I read Harner's book so I know this wasn't a mind trick. We met and solved a problem, and after that we had a discussion. During the discussion the animal told me that his "people" and I would always have a friendship. He later led me to some lessons and to meet another one of my spirit animals.
Another animal was brought back to me at the FSS workshop. Still another came to me during a healing and has been with me every since. Another was revealed to me by my main spirit animal.
I met two of the plant spirits who work with me by going out in the field and actually communicating with the plants. I met others by asking them to assist me in healing. While dealing with plant spirits, I found some of these spirits are weakened because their healing powers are not used any more and not many work with them, believe in them, respect them now as in the past.
I discovered the various earth energies by working with them in a series of informal workshops. I'm now able to call on these seven earth energies to assist me in healing situations. I do not command these energies, I invite them to assist me. They usually accept the invitation and guide me as to which of the energies is best suited for the situation.
The power items I have were found, given me as gifts, purchased, or made by me. If I find an item, I leave an offering. For a special stone or mineral, I leave some tobacco or a copper penny or something like that. While gathering Juniper in Arizona, I left water as a gift. When I go fishing, I make an offering to the lake or stream. I also make an offering of thanks to each of the fish who allows me to catch them. I never catch a lot of fish, but I always catch enough to eat; when the fishing is good I catch enough to eat and no more and when the fishing is bad I catch enough to eat and no more.
Special items I use or am learning to use are candles scented with the scents of the plants I work with, a drum, a rattle, a didgeridu (I am learning to play it), chants and medicine songs, and some animal relics that have come to me in special ways. I use special plants and herbs for smudging to remove unwanted energies and entities from an area or a person's aura.