12 Month Journey Through Contemporary and Traditional Animism and Shamanism
Course Structure:
Duration: 12 months
Format:
10 monthly Zoom sessions (2.5-3 hours)
2 in-person gatherings in Spring and Fall (3 days each)
Space is limited to ten participants to keep the integrity of the teachings and allow for group cohesion.
Tuition: $5,000- This covers all educational materials and supplies for the course. (participants cover their travel and lodging for in-person gatherings) Contact Adhi for payment options
Part 1 (January): Introduction to Animism & Shamanism
Zoom Session: Overview of contemporary and traditional practices, the importance of animism and shamanism in modern times.
Content:
Definition of animism and shamanism
Spiritual ecology and relationship with all beings
Personal goals and intentions for the year-long journey
Practice: Setting personal intentions, guided meditation to connect with the Earth.
Introduction to Animism & Shamanism
This session serves as the foundation of the year-long journey, offering participants an understanding of both traditional and contemporary practices of animism and shamanism. We will explore the ancient roots of these spiritual practices and their relevance in addressing modern ecological and personal crises. Participants will be introduced to the animistic worldview, which sees all beings—plants, animals, humans, rocks, rivers—as alive and imbued with spirit. We’ll also discuss the shamanic concept of journeying into non-ordinary reality for healing and guidance. This session will conclude with setting personal intentions for the course, helping participants begin to identify areas in their lives where they seek growth and healing. A guided meditation will help students ground and connect with the Earth.
Part 2 (February): Divination as a Tool for Guidance
Zoom Session: Exploring divination practices in shamanism for self-awareness and guidance.
Content:
Forms of divination (runes, cards, stones, etc.)
Traditional and contemporary approaches
Practice: Personalized divination session; each participant will practice readings and interpreting signs.
Divination as a Tool for Guidance
This session delves into the ancient art of divination, focusing on its role as a tool for spiritual guidance and self-reflection. We will examine a variety of divination methods used in shamanic traditions, such as runes, stones, animal signs, oracles, and other intuitive techniques. The class will focus on the ethical aspects of divination—using it not only for personal insight but also in service to others and the planet. Through hands-on exercises, participants will practice basic forms of divination, learning to interpret signs from nature and spirit realms. By the end of this session, students will have gained confidence in using divination as a way to navigate challenges and receive spiritual guidance in their daily lives.
Part 3 (March): Drumming & Drum Making
Zoom Session: The role of rhythm in connecting to spirit and the Earth.
Content:
Traditional drum-making techniques
Healing aspects of drumming
The drum as a sacred tool
Practice: Introduction to basic rhythms and sound healing techniques; drum-making begins as a long-term project.
Drumming & Drum Making
Drumming holds a central place in shamanic practice, functioning as a bridge to connect with the spirit world and the energies of the Earth. This session explores the role of rhythm in facilitating altered states of consciousness, creating sacred space, and healing. Participants will learn about traditional drum-making techniques and how to honor the materials used in this sacred craft. We will begin the process of creating our own drums (a long-term project for those who choose to make one). The session will also introduce participants to basic drumming rhythms that are commonly used in journeying and sound healing practices. Through guided drumming exercises, participants will experience the power of sound to shift awareness and connect with spirit.
Part 4 (April): Herbalism & Sacred Plants
Zoom Session: Connecting with plants for healing, wisdom, and ceremonial use.
Content:
Basic shamanic herbalism principles
Local plants and their uses in healing
Ethical wildcrafting and plant communication
Practice: Guided meditation to connect with plant spirits; participants will begin building their herbal toolkit.
Herbalism & Sacred Plants
Plants have long been regarded as powerful allies in healing, divination, and shamanic rituals. This session introduces participants to shamanic herbalism, focusing on how to form respectful and reciprocal relationships with plants. Participants will learn about the medicinal and spiritual properties of local and sacred plants, with an emphasis on ethical wildcrafting and plant communication. We’ll discuss the traditional uses of plants in ceremonies, healing, and spiritual work, exploring how to cultivate a deeper connection with plant spirits. This session will also include a guided meditation to meet a plant ally, as well as practical instruction on building a personal herbal toolkit for healing and ceremonial work.
Part 5 (May): Working with Animals and Other Beings
Zoom Session: Understanding and communicating with animal spirits and other beings of nature.
Content:
Spirit animals and spirit allies
Shapeshifting and embodiment practices
Ethical considerations when working with animal spirits
Practice: Journeying to meet power animals and animal guides.
Working with Animals and Other Beings
In this session, we explore the ancient shamanic practice of working with animal spirits and other beings from nature. Participants will be introduced to the concept of power animals and spirit allies, learning how to recognize, call upon, and work with these beings for guidance and protection. We will also discuss ethical considerations in working with animal spirits, especially in the context of modern environmental concerns. The session will feature journeying exercises, where participants will meet and interact with their power animals, exploring how these beings can assist in both personal and planetary healing. By the end of the session, participants will have developed a deeper understanding of how to work harmoniously with the animal kingdom and other beings of the natural world.
Part 6 (June): In-Person Gathering 1 – Building Sacred Relationships
Location: Outdoor retreat space
Focus: Deepening connections to the natural world and beginning physical practices.
Content:
Drum-making completion (for those who have started)
Fire-making and creating sacred fire ceremonies
Building and using a sacred bundle (medicine bundle)
Offerings to the land and beings
Practice: Fire ceremony, drumming circle, offerings to land spirits, and sacred object creation.
In-Person Gathering 1 – Building Sacred Relationships
The first in-person gathering is a three-day immersive experience, where participants will deepen their connection to the natural world through direct engagement with sacred practices. Set in a natural environment, participants will complete their drum-making projects, learning to imbue the drum with intention and spirit. We will also learn fire-making techniques and the importance of fire in shamanic ceremony. Participants will create and work with sacred bundles, which will be used throughout the course as personal tools for healing and ritual. The gathering will also feature a fire ceremony and group drumming circle, where participants can practice offering their energy and intention to the land and its spirits. The intention of this gathering is to foster sacred relationships with the land, its beings, and the participants’ own spirit allies.
Part 7 (July): Ceremonial Design & Development
Zoom Session: Designing and leading ceremonies for personal and planetary healing.
Content:
Elements of effective ceremony
Creating space for transformation
Incorporating traditional elements with contemporary needs
Practice: Participants design a small personal ceremony to be shared and reviewed.
Ceremonial Design & Development
Ceremony is a powerful tool for healing, transformation, and honoring the cycles of life. In this session, participants will learn the core elements of designing and leading ceremonies, focusing on creating space for personal and collective transformation. We’ll explore how traditional ceremonies can be adapted to meet the needs of modern life, without losing their integrity. Topics will include the importance of sacred space, working with elements (earth, air, fire, water), and the use of sacred objects in ceremony. Participants will design and conduct a small personal ceremony, with feedback from the group, to deepen their understanding of ritual work. By the end of the session, students will be equipped to create and lead ceremonies in their own communities.
Part 8 (August): Rattle Making & Sound Healing
Zoom Session: Rattle making as an extension of drumming for spiritual work.
Content:
Rattle as a tool for healing and spiritual clearing
Sound healing techniques and their application
Practice: Participants begin making rattles and learn to use sound in their own healing practices.
Rattle Making & Sound Healing
Rattles are another essential tool in shamanic practice, used for healing, clearing energy, and calling in spirits. This session focuses on the creation of sacred rattles and their use in sound healing. Participants will make their own rattles, learning how to infuse them with intention and power. We will also explore various sound healing techniques, including how to use rhythm, vibration, and resonance to shift energy in both personal and planetary healing. By the end of the session, participants will have a deeper understanding of the role sound plays in spiritual work and will be able to integrate rattles into their healing and ceremonial practices.
Part 9 (September): Working with Sacred and Geographic Locations
Zoom Session: Engaging with the spiritual energies of geographic locations.
Content:
Geomancy and the spirits of place
How to respectfully connect and work with sacred sites
Creating altars and making offerings
Practice: Virtual altar creation and energy sensing exercises with participants’ local geographic areas.
Working with Sacred and Geographic Locations
In this session, participants will learn how to engage with the spiritual energies of sacred and geographic locations, deepening their connection to the land. We will discuss the practice of geomancy, which involves reading and working with the subtle energies of the Earth, and how to honor and work with the spirits of place. Participants will learn how to approach sacred sites respectfully, make offerings, and create altars as acts of devotion and reciprocity. We will also explore techniques for sensing the energetic imprints of locations and using that energy in healing and ceremonial work. Practical exercises will help participants engage with the sacred geography of their own environments, helping them establish a deeper relationship with the land they live on.
Part 10 (October): Healing Technologies and Techniques
Zoom Session: Exploring shamanic healing technologies such as energy work, soul retrieval, and extraction.
Content:
Introduction and experiential practicum on Shamanic healing techniques
Working in the non-ordinary realms for healing
Practice: Participants will begin practicing energy healing techniques in a supervised setting
Healing Technologies and Techniques
This session introduces participants to a range of healing technologies and techniques used in shamanic practice, such as energy work, soul retrieval, and extraction healing. We will explore how shamans work in non-ordinary reality to remove blockages, restore soul fragments, and facilitate holistic healing. Participants will practice some of these techniques in a supervised setting, learning how to sense and shift energy for both personal and collective healing. The session will emphasize ethical considerations in shamanic healing, ensuring that participants approach their healing work with integrity, compassion, and respect for the sovereignty of others.
Part 11 (November): In-Person Gathering 2 – Ceremonial Mastery & Earth Healing
Location: Outdoor retreat space
Focus: Integrating everything learned, performing larger ceremonies, and Earth healing work.
Content:
Group ceremony design and performance
Advanced fire-making, offerings, and sacred object creation
Healing work for the Earth and collective transformation
Practice: Group fire ceremony, healing rituals for the land, advanced journeying and object consecration.
In-Person Gathering 2 – Ceremonial Mastery & Earth Healing
The second in-person gathering will focus on integrating the year’s learnings and applying them in larger ceremonies and Earth healing work. Over three days, participants will co-create a large-scale group ceremony, using their knowledge of sacred object-making, drumming, fire ceremony, and offerings to the land. This gathering will also focus on deepening participants’ ability to lead and participate in healing rituals for the Earth and collective transformation. Participants will be encouraged to take on leadership roles during this gathering, applying what they have learned to help create a powerful, healing experience for themselves, the land, and the group.
Part 12 (December): Completion, Integration & Moving Forward
Zoom Session: Reflection, integration, and envisioning how to bring shamanic and animistic practices into daily life for personal and planetary healing.
Content:
Integrating the journey into daily life
Offering skills in service to the planet and community
Practice: Closing ceremony for the course and sharing reflections on the year’s journey.
Completion, Integration & Moving Forward
In the final session, participants will reflect on their year-long journey, discussing their growth and how they plan to integrate what they have learned into their daily lives. We will revisit the personal intentions set at the beginning of the course, noting how participants have transformed in their relationship to themselves, their communities, and the planet. This session will also focus on moving forward—how to continue the practices, offer healing, and hold ceremonies in service to all beings and the planet. The group will conclude with a closing ceremony, offering gratitude for the journey and setting intentions for future work as healers and stewards of the Earth.
Outcomes:
Participants will complete the course with practical skills in traditional and contemporary animistic and shamanic practices.
They will have developed tools for personal healing, planetary stewardship, and spiritual growth.
Each participant will have created a personal sacred bundle, drum, rattle, and other sacred objects, and will have the experience of leading and co-designing ceremonies.
This year-long course offers deep personal transformation, skills development, and a supportive community, fostering the growth of confidence, compassion, and service to the planet.
Participants will receive a certificate of course completion at the end of the 12 months.