Having been drawn by forces outside my understanding - what I have come to know as Synchronicity - I believe there is something I must learn on the other side.

The more I look into this phenomenon, the more I want to experience it for myself. To take me out of my-self.

I have joined the forum for educate on safe practice.

I live in NSW Australia and would really love to connect to a Shaman near Sydney if possible.

If you are experienced in the arts and willing to connect, I would love to hear from you.

Thank you for taking the time to read.

Follow plants, not gurus.

Thanks for your response.

Do you think there is any value in having an experienced person on hand for the first time?

If you do find this shaman you seek, make sure he/she helps you for free. Don't pay a dime. I feel like a true shaman would help you with no expectation of financial gain.

I second what FranLover just pointed out, follow plants, not gurus. Be your own shaman.

Maybe I am just building it up too much in my mind...

Thank you both for your thoughts.

Regardless, I would love to connect to someone who has the first hand experience - at least for a phone conversation or hopefully even a face to face meeting prior to my first experience - there is something very grounding to me personally about human contact - regardless of the number of videos and information I take in... Can't explain it any other way...

All of what the above said.

Find your own questions, then your own answers.
Be sceptical of but not closed too any agreement on these things.

The plants are the real shamans, we are but interpreters

I don't know much about Shamans per se, but I'm quite sure that it can be invaluable to have an experienced guide at hand in so many situations.

Human beings can learn a lot on their own, but to have a good teacher who knows the terrain you're about to enter will help most people's growth enormously. Plus, they will be able to prevent certain dangers and help you if things go sideways.

I'd be so happy if I had a psychedelic guide here, but they are very rare. Unfortunately, among so-called Shamans, there are a lot of charlatans. But not all of them! So I hope that you will find a good-hearted, experienced, honest person to guide you.

I myself had most success with meditation teachers. They can navigate a lot of similar terrains and are sometimes included in frameworks which gives a certain chance to estimate their credibility. Don't know if that's your cup of tea, but you might find guidance there also.

A friend that's tripped before, and knows to keep quiet stay out of your trip, but can keep you from jumping out a window is about as good as you can do. However, if you don't live in a high-rise or near a cliff, the sitter is optional.


If you take a strong dose, nobody has any idea of the terrain you are entering. I'm in the camp that thinks most shaman are glorified trip sitters, but if you just read Michael Pollen, then you probably think you need one.


If the meditation teachers have also taken psychedelics then maybe, otherwise I think the two are loosely related at best. I say that as a person that meditates daily.

Shaman is just a word.
It's is applied to many things.

The question is that of the results you seek.
What do you want?

Good advice from all.

I guess what I'm looking for is some personal human contact. More for reassurance than anything else.

A friendly member who lives interstate has graciously taken the time to send me a private message with an offer to speak on the phone. I'm very grateful for this offer and welcome the opportunity, but currently, I am unable to respond to this user as I am a new member.

Friend, I hope you read this. I'm not avoiding your message.

Admin, could I please request humbly to join the ranks of users on this forum?

You might try hanging out in chat. Good way to meet other members and possibly get upvoted to full member.

Have you had experience with any other psychedelics?

^^^ Best advice you'll get on the matter. Be brave, my friend. Nature loves courage.

problem is poeple dedicated to this full time also, like you, pay rent or buyt heir land, buy food and all tools, pay taxes or gas oil, car, insurances ...
So I get what you mean, like you work for moeny but the "shaman" or "healer" shoudl just work for free, but if you talk to them, you'll see they are all human with human life.... SO maybe you'll go deep inthe jungle and try find a remote and living off the grid one that will jsut ask you to help out for cutting woods, hunting, foraging and taking care of everything a tribe or an ermit will need to sustain himself outside of our accomodations ...

Its like artists, exactly, they are often asked to do a show for free, like,they are giving all their time and energy to their art, but are supposed to beg for food and a bed so you can enjoy and save your money for other consumers style, sometimes, for your toxic habits.

SO no, to me, it is not really realistic to say that. Doesn't mean you absolutely have to pay someone, they are options. It can be someone who work and do it as a hobbie on side lol but do'nt expect much either ...

Now "be your own shaman" is good, I too did both, ceremonies and self administration, but it can become for some very dangerous. For exemple you may freak out or have a bad interaction, or not know what you're doing. MAOI, or plants like Iboga and also secreiotns like Kambo and bufo have also a way to put you out of your comfort zone, which could even be dangerous for your life ( like stop breathing whndoing bufo secretions ). Then, you'd be safer with some experienced and ready to face emergency situations, and checking you out, person, that could be a profesional. That means again, living in the same global capitalist world as you do, will need retribution ( although eh / she may later refuse or give you big discount).

But for exemple, I have a good herbal cabinet and I like to share, but I invest alot also, and when someones ( who is always someone I do'nt realy know ) ask that all those herbs should be for free, and its usually poeple who havenothing to offer and just want freebies pretending ethics while there are not fair energy exchange.

I even been almost forced to ask somehting inexchange, cause for the person it didn't felt right to do it for "free" or just the cost of the medecine, and this person say, other wie you'll pay another way, like might be taxing on another level.

So there are also a lot of charlatan and its a shame its for many another business and ego fuelling practice ( like a trend everyone wants to be a healer ). SO I avoid expensive places usually, but I do'nt mind giving money and at times I even gave good tips on top cause I saw the therapeut was really living day to day, no home, and having to trust that everyday someone will be wlcoming.. otherwise it means you sleep outside and wait for meeting new poeple ( that was an itinerant therapeut with no home ).

I knowx ideally we should have everythig for free and just giving eavh other goods and service, but there are always abuses and Men do'nt seem mature enough in general to be trusted about that " free things for everyone".

Even shaman training you often ask a participation for the housing, feeding and medecines .. but you pay less than average patient, and help out. That is a good formula but you have not to be lazy and work hard and do ceremonies nearly even nights.

I agree with you here. True teachings must come from the heart. An experienced person that gives his teachings away for free is someone you can trust.

There's a fair amount of research on what the plants can do. But what's the shaman healing?

Lots of good advice. (Probably from shamans that don't even know they are shamans.)

Shamans... so many things come to mind when I hear this word. I have trouble with the human notion of a shaman being a singular individual. For example: let's say that a friend is having a hard time, so maybe a few friends decide to plan a camping adventure. No drugs were taken, but they had a great time with each other. None of them were "shamans" but the troubled friend begins to feel better. Maybe the idea of friendship was the shaman? Maybe joining together, to participate in a healthy activity was the shaman?

There was a person who organized the event and influenced the others to join, but does that make them THE SHAMAN. Not in my opinion. The healing came from joining together. It doesn't matter who is the one that instigates shamanism. There are many shamans in the act. Even the person being healed is a shaman... after all, that person was the one to ask their friends if they'd like to go camping....


Take Care,
ACY

LOL, truth

I appreciate hearing this angle of the importance of a shaman. It allows me to understand the reason I instinctively reached out to find one.

Not certain about this, but I speculate that this board has been growing at an exponential rate.

You are all teachers. Each one of you who has been brave enough to dive into a world beyond our experience. You all have something to offer and that's why you're here.

You all have experienced something magical and powerful beyond what words can truly express. But you can try to explain it. You are called to explain it.

Your path may not be that of the shaman who devotes their life to this sacred teaching, but I should respect someone who does choose this path. Surely this path would not be easy living in this materialistic world.

A new need is arising.

Perhaps as a community, you should begin to formulate methods for identifying genuine shamanism. Then when one comes forward like me, you will be in no doubt that you are giving the right advise.

Regarding payment. I pay for petroleum to fuel my car on a daily basis. Paying the shaman would be like paying for the instructions to fuel up my car once and perhaps never have to pay again.

Fair is fair. If you expect something for nothing, you're likely to get something that is not right for you.