How To Do Shamanic Journeys to the Three Otherworlds
Basic Shamanism Lessons:
Shamanism is the art of going into altered states of consciousness and interacting with sacred beings and forces in order to bring back information, healing, or power, for your own benefit and that of the greater community.
A large part of shamanism is learning how to access these altered states of consciousness quickly and easily. Then it is up to you, the shaman, to remain alert, ask the right questions of all beings you encounter, and remember all that happens, so that you can return to the Ordinary State of Consciousness (referred to from now on as OSC) and record all you see, hear, and experience in your Shamanic Journal.
There are three main parts of the Otherworld, or Unseen Realms. These are referred to as the Underworld, the Middleworld, and the Upperworld.
There are planes of consciousness and being far beyond these realms, but in these beginning lessons we shall concern ourselves mainly with the Three Main Otherworlds.
You will use drumming or other suitable trance-inducing music, a quiet, private, and comfortable space, and vivid mental imagery to get into the Under, Middle, or Upper Worlds.
Drumming is an ancient and time-honored method of getting into the Shamanic State of Consciousness (from now on referred to as SSC), and for this purpose I recommend either the shamanic drumming CDs of David and Steve Gordon, or Michael Harner, or the music of Iasos. Iasos doesn't use percussion in his music, but I find it very suitable for deep meditation.
Before You Travel to the Other Realms
Put on your shamanic drumming or other trance-inducing music.
Then, lie down comfortably in bed or on a pad or blanket.
Relax your entire body, from your toes all the way up to your head. Breathe deeply and gently as you first tense and then relax each set of muscles, starting at the feet, ankles, calves, knees, thighs, pelvic area, spine, abdomen, rib cage, shoulders, arms, hands, fingers, neck, face, jaw, eyes, and scalp.
Then visualize a protective white light surrounding you.
Then visualize standing next to a well.
Dump all your problems, including problem people, into this well. This is done to release all your personal cares temporarily while you travel in the Other Realms. The subconscious mind speaks and is spoken to only by symbols. Dreams and tarot cards are good ways to send and receive messages to and from the subconscious, which holds the solution to every problem.
Then do the right imagery for either the Underworld, Middleworld, or Upperworld.
The following sections give the correct imagery for these Three Otherworld Realms.
The Underworld
Here is where you will meet your power animal(s). Your power animal is like a guardian angel, only in animal form. Everyone has at least one. Usually your power animal is an animal with whom you share certain qualities. You have a strong connection to this animal. Your power animal will be your guide and guardian on all your journeys to all Worlds.
The Underworld is reached by visualizing a giant tree, known in many ancient cultures as the World Tree. You then go into an opening at the bottom of the tree trunk, or into one of its roots, and travel down, down, down, deep into the Earth, until you come to a doorway.
You then open the door and see the Underworld.
You will find that it looks much like the physical Earth we inhabit in OSC, except that all the animals, plants, people, rocks, bodies of water, inanimate objects, and other things can speak to you and interact with you in ways only humans can in OSC.
On your first Underworld journey, you will see many, many animals of all kinds. They will be walking, running, flying, swimming, crawling, or otherwise moving around, much like actual Earth animals in the world of OSC.
The Celts say that any animals that approach you 3 times or more will be your Power Animals. Many Native Americans say that your power animals will approach you 4 times, from each of the cardinal directions (or North, South, East, and West).
Note which animals approach you.
If any animal bares its teeth at you or otherwise acts hostile, leave it alone. It is not your power animal.
When you do meet your power animal, greet it respectfully and hug it.
Ask this animal any questions you have about anything that concerns you.
Some good questions to start with:
Who am I?
Where do I come from?
Why am I here?
Where am I going?
What do I need more of?
What do I need less of?
What do you need from me?
When you are finished talking and listening to your animal(s), thank it (them), and leave the Underworld.
Come back through the doorway, up the tunnel or root, and back to the bottom of the World Tree.
Walk through the wall of white light separating the world of SSC from the world of OSC and come back into this world.
Record all that happened and everything you heard or saw in your Shamanic Journal. Eat or drink something light, delicious, and nutritious to ground yourself.
The Middleworld
The Middleworld is that place where you can see into the past or future, including past lives, the Earth's history, or your future, or that of anyone else. You can also send and receive telepathic messages in this Realm. From here it is possible to also travel into the distant past, such as your past lives or a period in Earth's history. You can go back to Ancient Egypt or Rome or the time of Christ. Or you can travel back to a bygone time in your current lifetime. You can even change the past in order to change the future, or release old emotional traumas! You can also see into your future, or anyone else's, or travel to the distant future, such as the time when we have interplanetary or intergalactic space travel. And if you don't like what you see in your future, you can change something you are doing in the here and now in order to alter the future. The future is always in flux. Someone said you can predict your most likely future by looking at the thoughts and emotions you are currently holding within your mind.
Affirmation and imagery can heal past traumas and losses, give you strength to deal with the present, and make your future much better. Affirmations and imagery, used correctly and consistently, can even make you wealthy, healthy, happy, and draw to you the right work, mate, friends, a better home, car, money for any purpose, or anything else you desire! Affirmations and imagery can bring harmony where there is now conflict. Harmonious relationships with all people are very important.
In the Middleworld, there is a river. You can see the recent or distant past or near and distant future in this river. You can also send telepathic messages across this river to any friends, loved ones, pets, even those who have died. Please do not use this as an opportunity to be a Peeping Tom or impose yourself upon people who don't wish to receive you in this manner!
You reach the Middleworld by doing the same things you did before reaching the Underworld.
The difference now is that when you arrive at the World Tree, you enter the doorway on the small mound of dirt on which the Tree grows, and take a few steps through the underground tunnel until you come to a platform. The platform stretches out over the river, like a dock.
Look out over the river and start by thinking of some time in your past which was pleasant for you. Soon you will see the sights, sounds, smells, and emotions surrounding the people in the scene, yourself included.
Now think of some historical time in Earth's past which interests you. Perhaps the American Revolution, Ancient Egypt, Rome, Atlantis, or the time that Jesus walked the Earth. You will see the sights and sounds and people there, in vivid images. You can then step back into that time.
This is a good way to explore your past lives. Past life exploration can help you find out why your present life is the way it is, and why some things scare you, and why you are drawn to some things and people, and repelled from others.
Now look into your near future, say 6 months from now. What are you doing? What kind of work, friends, lovers, material things have you drawn to yourself? If you don't like what you see 6 months from now, then think of what you can do within the present moment to change your future to something more desirable.
You may or may not attract a guide or teacher to show you around this river. I usually meet a boatman, in a glass boat, who then steers me out over this river.
When you are ready, come back onto the dock, up the short flight of steps, out the door in the dirt mound, through the wall of white light, and back into the everyday world.
Record all you saw and heard in your Shamanic Journal and eat or drink something light, tasty, and nutritious. Food and drink will ground you after such magickal practices.
Journeying to the Otherworlds is a Magickal Act.
The Upperworld
Do the usual steps that prepare you to go on a journey.
When you reach the World Tree, climb up the trunk and travel up the branches to a hole in the sky. Go through this hole in the sky and find yourself in a beautiful natural setting.
The Upperworld is the realm of the Gods and Goddesses.
You may also find some parts of the Realm of the Dead here. There is a Paradise, and also a section of the Realm of the Dead where life is much like modern 21st C. Earth, and also a Hell, where the really evil souls go. Please note that Hell is not permanent, and that not following a certain religion's strict rules doesn't mean you will go there when you die. But I will call this gloomy and dark section of the Realm of the Dead Hell for lack of a better term. Some parts of the Realm of the Dead are quite beautiful and full of light and flowers and soft pastel colors. The souls of the spiritually evolved and those who did many good deeds without expectation of reward go there. Angels come from that Realm, also.
In this Upperworld, you will meet your Guardian Angel, or spirit guide in human form.
When you do so, note this Angel's appearance, age, gender, clothing, hair color, and what historic period he or she appears to come from. Angels can appear in any form, human or otherwise. Accept whatever appearance your Angel puts on.
Ask this being his or her name. Remember this name.
Do not worry if you are not given a name immediately. You may receive a name later. Or you may never get a specific name at all. That is not a problem with the higher beings.
Ask this Angel any questions you may have about your life, anything that concerns you. No problem is too big or too small to bring before the Angels.
It is possible you may have more than one spirit guide. But everyone has at least one.
A good technique for problem-solving with problem people is to talk or write to their Angel, or Main Lifetime Spirit Guide. Tell this Guide what the problem is. Ask their help in resolving it. I have done this with noisy neighbors whom I couldn't reach any other way. It works! Eventually, the bothersome neighbor always turned down their music or else moved out!
Always be sure to thank your Guardian Angel before leaving the Upperworld.
You can also contact Jesus Christ, Mother Mary, Gods from other religions, the Father God, the Mother Goddess, any Ascended Masters (such as Lord Maitreya), gurus (such as Paramahansa Yogananda or Sai Baba), or saints (such as St. Francis or St. Theresa). All these types of beings live in the Upperworld, whether they are dead or alive.
You can talk with any of these beings in a conversation as you would with a good friend on Earth. Visions of religious beings, angels, etc, are not limited only to saints or people of one religious path.
Come back down to the hole in the sky above the World Tree, then slide back down the branches, down the trunk, and onto the ground.
Go through the wall of light and come back to the everyday world.
Record all that happened in your Shamanic Journal and eat and drink a little to ground yourself.
Conclusion (and the Beginning)
Shamanism is a vast subject. Shamanism is found all over the world, and in many other planetary civilizations far beyond this Earth.
I will not try and cover it all here in these brief Lessons on this web site. I am just covering a few basics.
Shamanism, like any religious path, is a lifelong study and practice.
If your religious path makes you a better person, or a happier person who doesn't harm self, others, or Nature, then it is a very valid one, no matter which Gods you invoke or what kinds of rituals, prayers, and sacred objects you use.
The heart of every religion is communion with God, self, other humans, and all of Nature; indeed, all of Life.
Copyright 2000 by Linda Smith
About this author: Linda Smith is an author, Reiki healer, shaman, pagan, Christian, magickian, Tantrika, and student of many New Age subjects and world religions. She lives in Northern California.
