Each culture has its own branch of Shamanism, and there are even known types of Shaman who specialize in serving through an element, or a mix of elements. Types include:

• Earth shaman – One who communes with plants, including and not limited to herbal remedies and plant medicines like Tezpochuite, Ayahuasca, Wachuma (aka San Pedro), Rapé/Hapé, Sananga, Iboga,  tinctures and foods. They communicate with the spirits of those plants to gain insights and wisdom. They are taught by the plant exactly what the plant can do and how it should be used in a multitude of practices and ceremonies. Earth shamans also use with the drums to generate energy – like Mongolian, African and Native American Shamans.

   

• Fire shaman – These shamans connect with the fire and heat to heal the body. Their mythologies are serving with the fire spirits and fire elementals. Fire ceremonies like Temazcals where they heat the grandmother and grandfather stones to cleanse and purify all in the ceremony. Fire shamans know how much heat someone can take in their body, how much fire they can take and adjust as needed. Native Americans, Mayans and Toltecs, and African shamans are popularly known to hold fire shaman techniques like this.

   

• Air shaman – These shamans use music and sound to transmit energy and frequencies. Tools include their voices, singing bowls, didgeridoos, gongs… and a deep knowledge of which effects each frequencies will create in a person. Tibetan and Mongolian throat singing, African (Mende Tribe) music healing, Sámi Yoiking – a powerful shamanic sound using some of the oldest songs in Europe – and sound healing are popular and powerful known air shaman techniques. Sound healing is an important air shaman technique, as is light language, which can also be channeled into singing energy toward and into a person’s body to induce healing.

   

• Water shaman – Like the ones you see in Indonesia; these shamans bless the water with symbols, and certain energies, then they put flowers in the water and pour it over your head for clearing and healing. They can also use water to pool poisons and negativities out of your body. Otherwise, they will submerge you in water and have the water initiate and carry the healing service for you. Polynesian cultures are known to host many water healing techniques and systems as well.

   

• Spirit shaman – A spirit Shaman is connected to the spirits in stones, water, fire, air, your cells, your body and your organs. Anything that has a spirit, a spirit shaman can communicate with. Spirit shamans can ask spirits to do things for them, because they have a relationship with the spirits.

A shaman type is not based on tribe, but rather how the spirits taught the individual to access the elements associated. For example, a Native American shaman can be any of these types. Some tribes will certainly have known specializations and favorite practices, like the Andean shamans who favor Despacho offerings to the lands, but the type of shaman is not known to be biased against.

Ultimately, all shamans serve with their element – oftentimes a mix if the spirits wish it – to realize their goals of up-leveling the community they serve. 

As a spirit shaman myself, and one aligned with creation and bringing more love to the planet, my shamanic service is devoted to assisting all to own their power, and become who they are fully meant to be, in harmony with the planet.

If you’d like to learn more about becoming a shaman, you can read my book Spirit Hacking, check out my blog posts here, learn from The Shaman School, check out my Insta feed and of course, book a session with me.

Amala àṣẹ, 

Shaman Durek