Shamanism and complementary therapy

Shamanism is an ancient tradition which may offer profound insights into the healing process and to our whole understanding of health. It has an extensive historical and geographical distribution, and may contain elements essential to our understanding of humanity. This paper outlines the origin and nature of shamanic practice, and considers its implications for a number of current healing issues. Several areas of potential relevance to complementary practitioners are explored. These include the shamanic concepts of illness, change and growth; illness and healing as rites of passage; death and dying; and the use of imagery in healing. This paper suggests that complementary practitioners may find some shamanic principles highly congruent with their own practice.