About The School Of Shamanic Therapy
About Us
At the School Of Shamanic Therapy, we believe that Shamanism can become an integral part of a healthy lifestyle. Our philosophy is centered around the idea that the mind, body, and spirit are interconnected, and that holistic therapies like Journeying, Drumming and Sound can help to heal and balance our soul and our bodies.
Martin and Sheila are offering a selection of experiential Shamanic retreats, workshops and trainings, some suited to all comers, and others tailored to those with previous experience.
Sheila
I have had careers in hospitality and manufacturing which have allowed me to travel the globe, and have now landed, very firmly, on a small farm at the top of the Mole Valley in Leatherhead, Surrey. We grow elderflowers and grape vines, and share the land with crows and magpies, so noisy you can’t ignore them, foxes, roe deer and the occasional passing badger, as well as many more bird species and less visible field inhabitants. It’s chalk downland or chalk grassland, which is a very special and rare habitat, which we are honoured to be guardian to.
My journey into shamanic practice began with my Holotropic Beathwork and 5 Rhythms practices, about 20 years ago. At that time I dipped my toe into Shamanism, in but declined to dive in. More recently the time was right, and I have been deep into learning and practice, primarily with The Sacred Trust, and with other online and in person teachers as well.
I’m already an integrative psychotherapist so used to bringing in new theory to my practice, or adding new tools to my toolbox. I’ve naturally been able to use certain techniques to fabulous effect with my existing clients. And I’m really excited to be able to teach these traditional healing methods to a new audience. My teacher says we need a shaman on every street corner, and I’m happy to be part of trying to make this happen.
Martin
I have studied with the Sacred Trust over many years to develop my Shamanic Practice. Having completed the two week intensive training I am now currently working on the final two components of the three year practitioner training.
Shamanic practice has now become an integral part of my psychotherapy work.
I have worked in many fields. I started out as an engineer and then moved into the construction industry. After this i retrained becoming part of the education system. I became a school teacher working with special educational needs. I then became an academic at university involved with teacher training. My Masters qualification is in Psychotherapy and Counselling which is now beautifully supplemented with my Shamanic training
What is shamanism
Shamanic Practice
Shamanism is our western word for traditional beliefs and practices still live in indigenous cultures in Asia, Australia, the Americas and the most northern parts of Europe. They seem to be amongst the oldest known belief systems with evidence that the practices are at least 30,000 years old and possibly considerably older as new archeological finds are made, particularly ofburial sites.
These practices vary between cultures and countries, and had been pretty much destroyed in the West, but in the past few decades anthropologists (particularly Michael Harner) have researched indigenous practices and created a model of core practices which are now widely taught in the west.
The actual word we use so widely in the West, Shaman, isn’t a universal old word, but derives from a tribe called the Tungis, in Siberia. A shaman would have been educated by or apprenticed to the previous shaman in their particular tribal beliefs and rituals, as well as living immersed in the culture. So it’s proper and respectful for us to call ourselves shamanic practitioners rather than Shamans when we have chosen to study in the West, rather than being born into the culture and chosen from within our society.
The commonalities between different versions are:
- a belief that everything has a soul and consciousness, from stones through trees to fire, and that
- therefore everything can communicate with everything else. Including humans.
- a belief that there are three worlds all accessible to the shaman during journeying (an altered state generally achieved by breathing, drumming or movement rather than by using psychedelics)
- a belief that shamans can communicate and connect with the inhabitants of these three worlds to request and deliver healing for the wounded, be that human, animal, place or any spirit in need.