The Question of Shamanism Certification
How Can Shamanic Practitioners Certify Professional Credibility?
Sep 16, 2009
How does a modern shaman go about getting a shamanic credential? Beneficial intervention results are the only sure and certain shamanism certification.
Traditional tribal shamans, known as "spiritual healers" in the languages of their peoples around the world, were recognized through ancestral or teaching lineages and public ceremonies and, most importantly, according to their observed, ongoing effectiveness in solving outward troubles through their inner spiritual connections.
Yet contemporary shamanic practitioners, advertising to strangers outside of their local communities, often list their services under the categories of holistic or natural healing, or complementary and alternative medicine. On those lists, their names appear alongside licensed medical professionals and other certified healing arts practitioners with two or three or even whole strings of letters after their names, that show they have enough education, training, and experience in their fields to earn degrees, state-regulated licenses, or publicly-recognized professional organization-issued certificates and titles.
Though it is unlikely that the diverse, broad field of shamanism will ever be standardized, today's shamans who seek professional credentials can innovate certification workarounds.
Shamanism Certification Through Private Organizations
Active membership in a prominent shamanic organization — like the Society for Shamanic Practitioners — can offer peer review and adherence to a code of ethics and standards of conduct, two key benchmarks of professionalism. The Foundation for Shamanic Studies offers certificates of completion for its advanced courses of training in the core shamanism methods originated by founder Michael Harner. Both provide members in good standing with website space to advertise their shamanic services without implied endorsement.
There are many individual shamanic teachers who teach their own shamanic energy healing methods though courses, workshops, or mentoring, and apprenticeships. Some offer certification through mentoring or apprenticeships and others operate schools and offer non-accredited certificates or degrees.
However many credential seeking shamanic practitioners have years of experiential education behind them already, and therefore may hesitate to sign-on and pay for additional years of study, just to receive an unofficial credential. Some shamanic teachers are so well-known that they can present themselves as living credentials and some lead their own certificate programs and establish professional organizations. Meeting a teacher who can open new perspectives or finding a particularly harmonious teacher-student match might make all the additional time and expense worthwhile.
Shamanism Certification Through Ministerial Ordination
Ordination in a shamanic church can serve as an indirect way of credentialing, showing official organizational recognition and endorsement and protecting the right to practice shamanism as freedom of religious exercise, wherever the doctrine of the separation of church and state is followed. Shamanic churches vary in their ordination education and training requirements, time frame, procedures, and costs.
Founding and incorporating a new shamanic church is another way to obtain a church license as a shamanic minister. While incorporation is not mandatory, it documents the state's recognition of the church as a legal body.
Shamanism Certification Through A Related Profession
Holding a license or certification in a second healing or wellness modality that complements the spiritual energy healing ways of shamans is another indirect certification strategy for modern shamans. There are social workers, nurse practitioners, herbalists, aromatherapists, massage therapists, hypnotists, yoga teachers, and life coaches who blend shamanism with their work and brand their practices shamanic.
Through presentations, referrals, and consultations shamanic practitioners can team up with licensed health professionals in clinics, hospitals, and community centers where a holistic outlook prevails. Effective community and online networking can enable shamanic energy healers to do business successfully with or without extra certifications.
Official Shamanism Certification May Never Happen
It may be impossible to standardize or regulate shamanism. Shamanic practices are diverse and individualistic because they arise through direct spiritual experiences. Shamans can continue to certify themselves on the job by facilitating healing consistently.
Shamanic practitioners who want a credential may opt for membership in a professional organization, ordination as a shamanic minister, or working under a related professional credential. These three certification workarounds can help an energy healer advertise shamanic services credibly and protect the right to practice shamanism professionally.
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