What does the word shaman mean?
The verb ša is used to form the noun, which translates to “to know.” The word “shaman” means “one who knows.”
But to know what?
While the concept of shamanism may be open to interpretation and variations, the overall shamanistic approach to health is distinct; Western medicine recognizes thousands of ailments and myriad remedies, while shamanic energy medicine identifies only one ailment and one cure. The ailment is alienation — from our emotions, from our bodies, from the earth and from Spirit. The symptoms of this ailment are physical and emotional disease. The cure is the experience of Oneness, which restores inner harmony and facilitates recovery from all maladies, regardless of origin.
Shamanism is a healing system, a path of ancient wisdom, a practical philosophy, a spiritual discipline and a way of life. It is estimated that it is between forty and twenty thousand years old. It emerged in different parts of the planet (on all continents) and was not and is not exclusive to any particular ethnic group. It has been practiced and is practiced in various geographic and climatic regions: jungles, forests, mountains, plains and deserts, tundra, arctic, and coasts; and in areas of varied population density, from the most populated to the most isolated from nature.
So many years and so many cultures have given rise to a great diversity of shamanic traditions, which is why it is sometimes difficult to include them all in the same discipline. However, one can speak of "shamanism" (in the singular) because these traditions share a worldview, a search, and a way of relating to life and the environment.
For the shaman everything is energy, light and vibration in different frequencies. Everything in the Universe is connected. There are different worlds and levels of perception of reality. The material world is created by the spiritual world. From the different levels of perception we can connect and experience ourselves and the Creation of the Universe. We are not alone, we can learn, communicate, get help, healing and guidance from the entire Universe. We are co-creators of our reality and the only ones responsible for what we create in our lives.
Ultimately, in order to feel that connection, one will have to alone face his own fears, take the leap to unknown, surrender. On the other side of the fear everyone will come back to their core, and feel the connection with the source of all living beings.
A single inhalation of the vaporized Bufo Alvarius toad medicine unequivocally produces that experience of Unity, Oneness and unconditional Love, that no shaman could explain… That omnipresent experience where there is no time, no space or character can’t be explained, it can only be experienced. It is the greatest story never told.
‘Be your own shaman’ is our slogan at Bufó Alvarius Sanctuary… Be the one who knows Oneness.