Shamanic Wisdom & Practices

Anger is not random. It does not rise without purpose. Sometimes anger is born from a present-moment boundary being crossed. And sometimes—just as powerfully—it erupts because someone has brushed against anunhealed shadowwithin you. The shadow is not “bad.”

The Q’ero people of the high Andes mountains in Peru have a deep way of looking at the world. They view life as a series of directions, much like a compass. In their tradition, the East is a place of great importance because it represents the rising sun and the start of a new day. This medicine of the East is not a pill you take from a pharmacy. Instead, it is a way of shifting how you see your own life and the possibilities ahead of you.

In the Quechua language, Phajcha literally translates to "waterfall" or "fountain." But to the paqos (Andean priests) of Peru, it represents a profound spiritual state. To live in Phajcha is to be a living conduit for Sami—the light, refined energy of the cosmos. Most of us living a fast-paced life treat energy like a battery: we charge up, then we drain out. But the Andean wisdom of the Chacana teaches us that we are not batteries; we are pipes.

In shamanic teachings, we are reminded again and again of a simple truth: “The universe reminds us to give more than we take, but never at the cost of balance.” This teaching is not a commandment. It is a remembrance—a way of living in right relationship with all that exists. Does the night need the light more or does the light need the darkness more? We are called into the darkness to shine light on all possibilities that are unseen by those who suffer in the darkness.

At the Chacana Spiritual Center, we often look to the wisdom of the High Andes to understand why we feel the way we do today. According to the teachings of the Laika (Earthkeepers), we carry a "Luminous Energy Field"—an invisible matrix that surrounds our physical body. This field contains a record of every trauma, every triumph, and every unfulfilled dream of our ancestors.

Ever wonder what "magic" really looks like on a Chacana retreat? Sometimes, it looks like a heartbeat in the distance. 🥁 Back in July 2024, while exploring the sacred Hill of Tara in Ireland, our group started hearing the sound of drumming. We followed the rhythm over the crest of a hill and came face-to-face with a group of shamans. The moment we saw their mesas , we knew: they were family. In a beautiful "see, it really happens!" moment for our students, we stepped forward

People often imagine spiritual awakening as peace, love, bliss, white light, angels, and serenity. But if you are truly awakening, it can feel very different. It can feel like grief. It can feel like pressure. It can feel like everything you once relied on is dissolving. And yet… This isn’t punishment. It is the sacred moment where light meets shadow. It is the place where your soul finally has the courage to see what it could not see before.

Years ago, I wandered into Aquarian Dreams — the magical purple building so many in our community know. That’s where I met Cheri, and where I began returning to her Spiritual Development classes again and again.

In our modern lives, we spend most of our time in ordinary time—a linear world of schedules, to-do lists, and ego-driven concerns. When we open Sacred Space, we step into non-ordinary time. We create a protected energetic "container" that allows us to leave the mundane world behind and enter a realm of healing, vision, and connection with the Divine. By calling upon the four directions, Mother Earth, and Father Sky, we are inviting the archetypal energies of the universe to

This past week has been particularly special for for the Chacana Spiritual Center. On Sunday the 21st, we gathered as a community to create a beautiful Ayni Despacho to celebrate the Winter Solstice. As the sun stood still and we entered the shortest day of the year, we came together to honor the return of the light and plant the seeds of our intentions for the coming year. This ceremony held a deeper weight than usual, as it marked our last solstice celebration at our curren

In the Andean lineage teachings I carry, we do not approach healing by endlessly reliving the story or reopening the pain. Instead, we work with medicine—the energetic wisdom that helps us gain perspective, release what no longer belongs to us, and return power back to the self.

From a shamanic perspective, prosperity is not something we chase—it is something we align with . In the ancient teachings of Earth-honoring traditions, abundance flows naturally when we live in right relationship with ourselves, with others, and with the unseen forces that move through all life. Many sensitive, heart-centered people are natural givers. They give time, energy, wisdom, resources, care, and emotional presence—often without hesitation. Yet when giving becomes im

In shamanic traditions , being rooted means more than feeling calm. It means your spirit is fully seated in your body, your nervous system feels safe, and your energy is in right relationship with the Earth. When we are rooted, life feels more manageable, decisions feel clearer, and emotions move through us instead of overwhelming us. Here are three simple, powerful shamanic practices you can use today to come back into your body, your breath, and your belonging on this Ear

The holidays ask many things of us. To gather. To give. To remember. To keep moving forward even when parts of the heart are tender. A shamanic approach does not ask you to rise above your feelings or replace them with forced cheer. It invites you to be with what is true —with kindness, patience, and presence. Healing, in this way, is not about fixing yourself. It is about creating space for the heart to feel safe again . In shamanic traditions, stress, anxiety, and grief ar

There is nothing wrong with you. So many people arrive at a moment in life where they believe they are damaged — too sensitive, too emotional, too tired, or somehow failing at being human. They’ve tried therapy, self-help, spiritual practices, and years of “working on themselves,” yet they still feel heavy. Overwhelmed. Carrying sadness, fear, or exhaustion that doesn’t quite make sense. This is often the moment when a deeper truth begins to surface: You’re not broken — you’r

There comes a moment in every person’s spiritual journey when life begins whispering in a way you can no longer explain… and no longer ignore. It’s subtle at first. A feeling. A nudge. A quiet knowing in your chest that something is shifting. And it often feels like Spirit is gently brushing your shoulder saying: “Beloved one, pay attention. Something is awakening.”

By Shannon Davis, Apu Mamma Aku Returning to Peru—the homeland of the indigenous teachings that first found me here in America—has transformed my life in ways I could never have imagined. Walking through hidden valleys, standing before the ancient mountains, visiting sacred sites untouched by tourism, and meeting our Altomesayoq elder Don Humberto and his son has been an experience beyond words. This lineage reshaped how I think, how I heal, and how I meet life’s challenges.

As shamanic practitioners, we are white light healers that journey into the deepest shadows (trauma) to help others. While doing this, and especially while training, we need energetic protection.The shamanic knife gives us a shield from heaven to earth, upper world to lower world. It acts as an essential defense, protecting us throughout the journey and allows for profound healing opportunities for ourselves and others.

Throughout generations, the feminine energy center has often carried the memory of trauma, emotional wounds, and sorrow.

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