Working at the Level of the Ancestors

A well-known saying, often attributed to Albert Einstein, suggests that a problem cannot be solved at the same level of consciousness that created it. Sometimes we understand a problem perfectly well. We know where it came from. We recognize the pattern. We can explain why it keeps happening, yet still find ourselves living through it again. Shamanic therapy offers an alternative way of addressing the problem.

We begin by exploring the problem much as we might in talk therapy or art therapy. We consider what is happening, how it affects your life, what meaning you have made of it, and which patterns continue to repeat. Then we introduce ritual and ceremony to carry the work beyond conceptual understanding and into the mythic level of engagement with reality.

The four levels of engagement with reality

My approach is informed by the Four Levels of Engagement with Reality, a framework popularized by Alberto Villoldo and passed to me through my teachers at the Kimmapii School of Shamanism. The levels are not rigid steps or separate worlds. They are interconnected ways of perceiving and engaging with the same experience.

The Four Levels of Engagement with Reality describe four interconnected ways of perceiving experience: the literal level of observable events, the symbolic level of thoughts and meaning, the mythic level of soul, purpose, and larger patterns, and the energetic level of pure potential from which reality takes form. Together, they allow us to see beyond the immediate problem and engage the deeper pattern shaping it.

Releasing Energetic Imprints. Within the shamanic framework, repeating patterns can carry energetic imprints left by painful experiences, inherited stories, relationships, limiting beliefs, or moments of fear. Through ritual, trance, stones, fire, and intent, shamanic therapy works to release these blockages at the root.

An Energetic Reset. Shamanic ceremonies can provide an energetic reset: extraction of the old pattern’s signature and the opportunity to consciously create something new. As the familiar pattern is wiped clean, you will likely find it easier to respond consciously rather than automatically. Impossible situations suddenly become possible.

The Body, Energy and the Nervous System. Shamanic therapy clears blockages in the luminous energy field, restores the flow of life-force energy, and supports balance throughout the chakra system and physical body. The result is often a sense of relaxation, lightness, and a timeless feeling that lingers beyond the session.

Seeing the World Differently. Shamanic therapy offers a different way of understanding yourself and the world around you. Rooted in ancient wisdom, shamanic principles offer practical guidance for navigating life’s challenges. They can help you step out of cycles of drama and conflict, gain clarity, recognize your purpose, and simply enjoy living. At its heart, this work is about learning to know yourself, love yourself, and live with greater awareness, purpose, and integrity.

My Training and Lineage

I am a senior graduate of the Kimmapii School of Shamanism, where I trained under Marv and Shanon Harwood. Kimmapii weaves knowledge and practices from many different traditions and peoples, with a central commitment to help and to care for all peoples by bridging the gap between cultures. My training in shamanism developed alongside my education and work in art, psychology and community services.

My approach to therapy follows a Two-Eyed Seeing (Etuaptmumk) framework, as proposed by Mi’kmaw Elder Albert Marshall (Bartlett et al., 2012). One eye sees with the knowledge of contemporary psychotherapy and evidence-based practice, while the other sees the importance of Great Spirit and energy medicine. The intention is not to make one worldview submit to the other. It is to allow them to meet, respectfully and purposefully, in service of healing and growth.

Bartlett, C., Marshall, M., & Marshall, A. (2012). Two-Eyed Seeing and other lessons learned within a co-learning journey of bringing together Indigenous and mainstream knowledges and ways of knowing. Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, 2(4), 331–340. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13412-012-0086-8

A Practice for All People –
All Cultures

Is Shamanic Therapy right for you?

You do not need to follow any particular religion, spiritual tradition, or belief system to benefit from this work. At its heart, shamanic healing is about reconnecting with yourself, the Earth, and the natural forces of which we are all a part.

Shamanism is a pan-cultural, non-religious approach to healing rooted in humanity’s ancient relationship with the Earth and the natural world. Its wisdom transcends cultural and spiritual boundaries, drawing upon the universal human connection to nature, the cycles of life, and the living world around us.

Together, we can explore what is happening, listen for the deeper pattern, and create a process that respects both your psychological needs and your spiritual worldview.

Possible Benefits of Shamanic Therapy

Greater awareness of repeating life patterns
Deeper understanding of the root of a problem
Release of energetic imprints that no longer serve you
A calmer, more regulated nervous system
Increased connection to your body, intuition, and inner wisdom
New insight into relationships, identity, ancestry, and purpose
Greater clarity around choices and next steps
A renewed sense of meaning after difficult experiences
Stronger connection with Earth, Spirit, and the mythic dimension of life
Greater freedom to respond consciously and create a new reality
Overall better mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health

A Note on Indigenous Culture