A shamanic journey is a guided, focused meditation practice used to shift your awareness into an altered state of consciousness, typically with the help of a steady drumbeat, so you can connect with spirit guides, power animals, and your own inner wisdom. This guide walks you through how to do a shamanic journey step by step, from preparation to integration, so you know exactly what to do the first time you try it.
What Is a Shamanic Journey?
A shamanic journey is a deliberate practice of entering a light trance state, usually through rhythmic drumming or rattling, in order to travel in your imagination and inner perception to non-ordinary reality. There, practitioners seek guidance, healing, and information from spirit guides, power animals, and ancestors. Unlike passive meditation, journeying is active: you set an intention, move through an imagined landscape, and interact with what you encounter.
How to Do a Shamanic Journey: Step by Step
- Set a clear intention. Decide what you are seeking before you begin, such as guidance on a decision, healing for an emotion, or simply to meet a guide. A vague intention tends to produce a vague journey.
- Create a safe, quiet space. Lie down or sit comfortably somewhere you won’t be disturbed for 15-20 minutes. Dim the lights and, if you like, cover your eyes with a cloth.
- Start the drumbeat. Use a shamanic drumming track, a real drum, or a rattle at a steady, monotonous pace. This rhythm is what guides the brain into the light trance state journeying relies on.
- Visualize an entrance. Picture a familiar opening in nature, such as a cave, a hollow tree, a spring, or a burrow, and imagine yourself moving into and through it.
- Let the journey unfold. Follow whatever landscape, beings, or sensations appear. Resist the urge to force a specific outcome; the practice works best when you stay curious rather than controlling.
- Return when you hear the call-back. Most drumming tracks end with a faster “call-back” beat. Retrace your path back through the entrance and gently open your eyes.
- Record what happened. Write down everything you remember immediately afterward, even details that seem unimportant. Meaning often becomes clear later.
The Three Worlds You May Visit
Shamanic cosmology across many cultures describes three realms of non-ordinary reality. Anthropologist Mircea Eliade documented this three-world structure across dozens of traditions in his landmark study Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy, and it remains the most common map used in modern practice.
| World | What It Represents | How You Typically Enter |
|---|---|---|
| Lower World | Nature, instinct, and power animals; a grounded, earthy realm | Descending through tunnels, roots, or burrows |
| Middle World | The spiritual reflection of our physical world; nature spirits and place-based energies | Walking directly out from where you are |
| Upper World | Higher teachers and guides; a lighter, more ethereal realm | Ascending through sky, clouds, or a rising structure |
How to Prepare Before You Begin
- Choose a time when you won’t be interrupted by phones, people, or pets.
- Have water nearby and avoid journeying right after a heavy meal.
- Keep a journal within reach so you can write immediately afterward.
- Start with a short, specific question rather than “show me everything.”
What to Expect During the Journey
Most beginners notice a light, dreamlike focus rather than a dramatic altered state. You may see clear images, sense feelings or colors, or simply “know” things without a visual. All of these are valid ways the journey can present itself; there is no single correct way to experience it. Founder of core shamanism Michael Harner emphasized that journeying is a learnable skill that becomes clearer and more vivid with practice, not a talent only some people have.
If you live with a seizure disorder, severe dissociation, or a diagnosed psychotic condition, shamanic journeying’s altered state can be intense; check with a doctor or therapist first, and treat the practice as a complement to professional care rather than a replacement for it.
Integration: What to Do Afterward
The journey itself is only half the practice; integration is what turns the experience into insight. After writing down what happened, sit with the images or messages for a day or two before interpreting them. Ask what the journey might be pointing to in your waking life, and consider discussing it with a shamanic meditation practice partner, teacher, or practitioner if the meaning isn’t clear.
Ethical Considerations and Cultural Respect
Shamanic journeying as taught in most Western settings today draws on “core shamanism,” a cross-cultural distillation developed by Michael Harner from practices found in dozens of indigenous traditions. When you learn and practice it, it’s worth acknowledging that lineage rather than presenting it as generic or ownerless, and approaching any specific cultural practice (drumming styles, songs, or ceremonial elements tied to a particular people) with the respect and, where relevant, the permission it requires.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a drum to do a shamanic journey?
No. A recorded shamanic drumming track works just as well as a live drum for beginners; what matters is a steady, monotonous rhythm, typically around 4-7 beats per second.
How long should a shamanic journey last?
Most beginner journeys last 15-20 minutes, matching the length of a standard drumming track. You can extend this as you become more experienced.
What if I don’t see or feel anything?
This is common for beginners. Try again with a simpler intention, journey at a different time of day, or focus on any subtle sensation rather than expecting vivid imagery right away.
Is shamanic journeying safe?
For most people, yes. It’s a light, self-directed altered state you can end at any time by opening your eyes. People with certain neurological or psychiatric conditions should consult a doctor first, and it should complement rather than replace professional care.
What’s the difference between meditation and a shamanic journey?
Meditation typically aims to quiet or observe the mind, while a shamanic journey is an active, imaginative practice with a specific intention and destination, guided by rhythmic sound.
Ready to Go Deeper?
Reading about journeying only goes so far; the practice reveals itself through experience. If you’d like structured, guided training, our Elements of Shamanism training walks you through journeying and the wider shamanic toolkit step by step. You may also enjoy our guides on how to find your spirit animal and what shamanic healing involves.
About the Author
Carolin is the founder of One Shamanism and a shamanic practitioner and coach who has guided clients through journeying, soul retrieval, and healing work for years. She teaches journeying the way she first learned it: as a practical, repeatable skill rather than a mystical talent reserved for a few.
