Online shamanic healing is a session in which the practitioner journeys for you while you join by video call or simply rest at home, and for many people it works just as well as meeting in the same room. In shamanism, healing happens in non-ordinary reality, the spirit world the practitioner enters through drumming and focused intention. Physical distance plays a much smaller role there than most people expect.
If you are wondering whether a session through a screen can really reach you, that doubt is healthy. This article gives you an honest answer: how online sessions work, what the research says and does not say, who they suit, and when meeting in person is still the better choice.
Does online shamanic healing really work?
Yes, online shamanic healing can work, and many clients report the same changes after a remote session as after an in-person one: more energy, a calmer nervous system, and the feeling of being more present in their own life. What matters is the quality of the connection between you, the practitioner and the helping spirits, not the kilometres between you.
Shamans have always worked across distance. In his classic study Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy, the historian of religion Mircea Eliade describes the shaman as someone whose soul travels to other places and worlds on behalf of the community. Michael Harner, who brought core shamanism to the West in The Way of the Shaman (1980), taught that the journey itself is the vehicle of healing. A video call is simply a new way of being present for that journey.
If you want the deeper background on remote work in general, read Does Distance Shamanic Healing Work?.
How does an online shamanic healing session work?
An online session follows the same steps as an in-person session: you talk about your intention, the practitioner journeys for you while you lie down and rest, and afterwards you talk about what was received. The only difference is that you are in your own home.
- The conversation. We meet on video and you tell me what brings you. Together we shape one clear intention for the session.
- Preparing your space. You find a quiet room, switch off notifications and lie down with a blanket. Headphones help if you want to hear the drum.
- The journey. I drum or play a recording and journey on your behalf. Depending on what is needed, this may be a soul retrieval, a power animal retrieval or an extraction.
- The return. When I return, I blow what was brought back into you through the connection. Many clients feel warmth or tingling at this moment, even through the screen.
- The sharing. We sit up, have some water and I tell you what I saw. You get time to ask questions and a few suggestions for the coming days.
What does the research say about distant healing?
The research on distant healing is limited and mixed. Some studies show positive effects, but most are small and the methods vary, so science cannot yet confirm or rule out that remote healing works.
A systematic review in the Annals of Internal Medicine by Astin, Harkness and Ernst (2000) looked at 23 randomised trials of distant healing, including prayer and other remote practices. About half reported a positive effect, and the authors called for more and better research. I find this honest picture helpful. Shamanic work is a spiritual practice. It is measured best by the changes you notice in your own life, not by promises.
Online or in person: what is the difference?
The main difference between online and in-person sessions is the setting, not the healing. Each format has its own strengths, and this overview can help you choose.
| Aspect | Online session | In-person session |
|---|---|---|
| Where you are | In your own home, in a space you know | In the practitioner’s room |
| Travel | None, so you can rest straight afterwards | Travel time before and after |
| Choice of practitioner | Anyone in the world who works online | Only practitioners near you |
| Physical touch | Not possible | Possible, for example rattling close to the body |
| Privacy | Very private, nobody sees you arrive | Depends on the location |
| Best for | Most soul retrievals, power animal work, follow-up sessions | People who need a strong physical container or feel very ungrounded |
Who is online shamanic healing right for?
Online shamanic healing suits most adults who can find a quiet, private space at home and who feel safe being on their own after the session. It is especially helpful if there is no trusted practitioner near you.
- You live far from a practitioner you trust
- You feel more relaxed in your own surroundings
- You have limited mobility, small children or a busy schedule
- You want a follow-up session after earlier work
- You are sensitive to new places and people
Meeting in person may be the better choice if you feel very unstable at the moment, if you have no private space at home, or if being alone after a deep session feels frightening. A good practitioner will talk this through with you honestly before you book.
Important: shamanic healing, online or in person, can support therapy and medical treatment. It does not replace them. If you are living with a mental or physical illness, please keep your professional care and tell your practitioner about it. For more on this, see Is Shamanic Healing Safe? What You Should Know.
How can you get the most out of an online session?
You get the most out of an online session by preparing your space, keeping your intention simple and protecting the hours after the session. These small things make a real difference.
- Test your connection the day before, and keep your phone charged as a backup.
- Close the door and tell the people you live with that you are not available.
- Lie down comfortably with a blanket, as your body temperature often drops while you rest.
- Keep water and a notebook next to you for afterwards.
- Plan a quiet evening. Skip screens, crowds and alcohol, and go to bed early.
The days after a session matter as much as the session itself. You will find practical ideas in After the Session: How to Integrate a Shamanic Healing.
From my practice: what I have learned from working online
I was sceptical myself when I started offering sessions online. I had learned to work with the drum in a room, with the client lying next to me. I worried that something essential would get lost through a laptop.
What I found surprised me. When I journey for someone online, the helping spirits do not seem to care where the person is. The images come in the same way, the power animals show up in the same way, and the moment of return feels just as clear. What has changed most is on the client’s side. Many people relax more deeply at home than in a stranger’s room. They do not have to drive home afterwards with their heart wide open. They can stay under their blanket and rest.
Today most of my sessions take place online, with clients in many different countries. The feedback I hear a few weeks later is the same as with in-person work: feeling more at home in themselves, sleeping better, old patterns loosening. If you would like to experience this for yourself, you can read about my soul retrieval sessions and book an online session there.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The practitioner journeys for you during the call while you lie down and rest at home. The conversation before and after happens on video, and many practitioners turn the camera off during the journey itself.
Not usually. Most practitioners ask you to keep the call open so you can hear the drum and stay connected, but you can lie down with the camera pointing away. Ask your practitioner what they prefer.
Many clients notice the same changes after online and in-person sessions. In shamanic understanding the healing happens in the spirit world, where physical distance matters very little. Research on distant healing is still limited.
A quiet private room, a stable internet connection, headphones if you want to hear the drum, a blanket, water and a notebook. Plan a calm evening after the session.
No. Shamanic healing is a spiritual practice that can support psychological and medical treatment, but it does not replace it. Keep any professional care you have and tell your practitioner about it.
Online sessions are not a second-best version of shamanic work. For many people they are simply the way that fits their life. Have you had a session online? Tell me in the comments how it felt for you.
