A shamanic journey may be understood as a deliberate, trance-like shift in consciousness through which a practitioner enters “non-ordinary reality” to communicate with spirits, seek guidance, or carry out healing and divinatory work. This process is not a loss of awareness but a controlled alteration of perception, often described as a kind of soul-flight or spirit-travel. The inner landscape encountered in this state tends to be stable and repeatable, forming a mythic geography that includes distinct realms commonly referred to as the Upper, Lower, and Middle Worlds. Within these realms, the shaman engages with spirit allies such as power animals, ancestors, teachers, or deities, and receives information or power that can be applied to personal or communal needs.

The journey typically begins with careful preparation. The practitioner sets a clear intention—perhaps to obtain guidance, support healing, or retrieve a lost soul-part—and creates a safe, sacred space. This may involve simple purification rituals such as smudging, prayer, or the arrangement of ritual objects like feathers, crystals, or other sacred items. The body is placed in a comfortable posture, usually sitting or lying down with eyes closed or covered, so that attention can turn inward and remain focused on the unfolding experience.

To enter the altered state, rhythmic sound is central. Repetitive drumming, often in the range of 4–7 beats per second, is widely used to shift consciousness from ordinary awareness into the shamanic state, though rattling, chanting, or dancing may serve a similar function. As the sound continues, the practitioner relaxes, follows the rhythm, and allows an inner doorway to appear—perhaps a tunnel, cave, hole in the ground, tree, river, or path into the sky. Passing through this portal, the shaman “travels” either downward into the Lower World, upward into the Upper World, or horizontally within the Middle World, depending on the nature of the intention and the spirits being sought.

Within these realms, the shaman encounters spirit guides, power animals, or teachers and engages them in dialogue or symbolic interaction. Questions may be posed, healing requested, or lost power and soul-parts sought and retrieved. The information or energy received can come in visual images, sounds, sensations, or enacted scenes, all of which are understood as meaningful communications from the spirit world. In healing contexts, the shaman may negotiate on behalf of a person or community, or witness actions by the spirits that are later translated into ritual or guidance in ordinary reality.

The journey concludes with a conscious return. A change in the drumming pattern or another agreed-upon signal serves as a “call-back,” prompting the practitioner to retrace the path through the portal and reorient to ordinary consciousness. Once fully present, the shaman often records the experience in detail and reflects on its symbolism in light of the original intention. The insights, messages, or power obtained are then integrated into daily life or used in healing work, so that what was encountered in non-ordinary reality can bear fruit in the visible world.