What is Shamanism?
Shamanism is a spiritual path, a healing modality and a method of personal development that holds, at its centre, a deep connection to Mother Earth. Humans, all over the world, have been practicing shamanism for a very, very long time. It is not a religion but rather a spiritual way which is open to all. In shamanism, we access the world of Spirit in order to gain wisdom, guidance, power or healing, for ourselves or for others.
Shamanism is about healing. It is about connecting to the energy of the Earth and honouring her. And it is about connecting to and honouring our own spirit and the wisdom of our hearts. Some of the ways we do this are through ceremony, sitting in circle, and shamanic journeying. The journeying technique I practice uses shamanic drumming to access an altered state of consciousness, which facilitates a connection with the world of Spirit.
Shamanism can also be a great aid to personal development and can help in dealing with life issues, finding direction, and getting a broader perspective on the big questions of life, death and the meaning of it all. We connect with our spirit guides and with the spirit in all things to gain wisdom, insight and support. This is deep work which reaps rich rewards.
The shamanism I practice is always focused on connecting to Pure Love, honouring the Earth and serving the Light/God/Source. It includes journeying with the drum; ceremony; deep connection with nature, the seasons, the elements, and with land around me; death & life work; working with the ancestors, and honouring the traditional wisdom; bringing peace to places of troubled energy; and Earth healing.
A word on Irish shamanism:
Ancient Ireland was an animistic culture, deeply connected to nature's rhythms and honouring the sacred. We don't have an unbroken tradition of shamanism in this country, as evidenced by the fact that we're using this adopted word ("shaman" from the Tungus language) and so much of our shamanic lineage is lost to us. Many of us Irish shamanic practitioners are doing our best to root our practice in this land; honouring Irish deities, incorporating the Irish language, connecting with ancient traditions and stories. That's important to me and I'm in an ever-unfolding process of taking what is core to shamanism and letting Spirit guide me to breathe the life of these times and this place into it. And in balance with that, I've had a life-long interest in world religions, cultures, spiritual practices and folklore and so I like to keep the door open to whatever may appear in the moment, forever marvelling at the riches of the collective unconscious. I live in a great, big, beautiful world and I live in this special land between the Derryveagh Mountains and the Atlantic, with the rich magic of the bog, the curlew and the deer. It is all blessed to me.
Who is Karen McLaughlin?
Hello! Thank you for taking the time to visit my website. I was born and raised in Northern Ireland during the Troubles but for many years now I've been living in the wilds of NW Donegal and loving it. My wandering life path has included voice work, sound healing, community arts, teaching, poetry, songwriting and performance before finding, in shamanism, that thing I've been reaching toward all my life. I live near Falcarragh, Co Donegal but run events across the NW and beyond. Although shamanism is at the heart of my work, I do also offer a range of more general wellness courses and workshops. You can find out more about all my upcoming events here. I also provide individual healing sessions; more info here. My whole life, I have been a spiritual searcher, constantly striving toward self-actualisation. In Shamanism, I have found a path that brings me great healing and joy, and I absolutely love sharing it with others.
I'm a Certified Shamanic Practitioner, Trained Counsellor, Natural Voice Practitioner, have a Diploma in Sound Healing, a Degree in Education, and training in Sensory Labyrinth Theatre. I've many years of experience as a facilitator in the arts, voice, and wellness fields. I'm an artist, poet, singer-songwriter, mother, living room dancer, star-gazer and enthusiastic tree-hugger.
If you've made it this far: woohoo! I hope we get to meet somewhere along the road!
My Shamanic Practice
In 2009 or 2010, a friend came to visit and brought along a companion, who happened to practice shamanism. I was curious and, without really talking much about what shamanism is, he drummed for me. I didn't know what journeying was and I certainly didn't expect much from a bit of drumming, but something in me came alive to the sound and my mind flooded with images. At around the same time (isn't the universe marvellous?) two friends of mine were beginning to offer shamanic work. Eliza White Buffalo introduced me to the medicine wheel and connecting with guides, and I did my first shamanic journey with the wonderful shamanic practitioner, Katie Rutledge. It immediately felt like a coming home. I've attended many shamanic workshops and courses since then, culminating in a year-long shamanic practitioner training with Katie. My shamanic practice owes a lot to Core Shamanism (taking what is universal in shamanic cultures) but it also draws on Irish mythology, history and tradition and is firmly rooted in this land and its rhythms. In recent years, I've begun working a lot with Dragons and that has become a major part of my shamanic practice. It's all an ever-unfolding journey of discovery, of learning, of transformation. I'm forever a student of the great cosmic teacher.
