What is a Shaman?

The reasoning for a NDE to be reqired depends on culture and tribe.

The basic premise is that the person near death has walked in the spirit realm and has been granted permission by the powers that be to return and comunicate with the spirit world.

Think about people who have written of their nde's. Most stories talk about the psychic awareness and sixth sense being heightened. Not all NDE's result as such though, so its about being called or chosen by the spirits to the life path.

Most cultures are offended by the term shaman. Its not their language or term, and so shows that you have no interest in learning their world, beliefs, etc.

how else besides taking dmt or other substances can we acheve an altered state of consciousness?

Meditation...

Some tribes the seeker would fast for three days then use the sweat lodge.

Deprive yourself of sleep...

Lol anything that allows the mind to 'hallucinate' or go its own way..

[norseman]

There is ample evidence of European shaman in Neolithic times with the Hunter-Gatherer tribes who lived and hunted on the dry North Sea plain before it flooded around 6/7000 BC.

i know what a shaman is NOT.....someone who goes to a 'retreat' to learn to be a shaman in a weekend for big bucks.

becoming a shaman takes years of learning.

the origin of the word is not native american but actually asian.

[Makoiyi]

Agreed elisi, that person is also chosen by the spirits n the people they work for not because they want to take on that role as they think its cool.

Most would and do run from it until they realize its something they have no choice about.

Its only then that they learn about what they carry and how to work with it., and as you've already said, that takes years and then a lifetime to practice.

Maikan

Agree with Makoiyi. And with elisa also.

My own personal view. The NDE doesn't have to be physical. Even when people 'leave' the body, although it appears that they exit the body outwards they really travel inwards. We travel outwards at birth, and into the world. Reality is a mirror. A medicine person/Healer is forced to go as deep within as possible to retrieve the medicine. Books and workshops and retreats are of no use to a Medicine person/Healer. The teaching is of Spirit and of Nature. The process isn't a choice, it becomes essential. A medicine person/Healer must save themselves many times (Illnesses, challenges, trials) Most importantly this healing is not a selfish pursuit - it is brought forth for all. If the medicine does not benefit all, it is not true medicine. Since we are all interconnected, In this way it benefits all - The medicine person/Healer is taught to heal in this way. The medicine person/Healer is made strong, yet also completely humbled - Everything is the medicine person/Healers teacher. The healing is balanced - There is an exchange, but no need for profit or 'gain' - As this would be unbalanced. The healing is intune with nature which is always balanced. The medicine person/Healer doesn't seek to heal people, the healing is simultaneous. We are all healed through eachother - If one is suffering then we all are. A medicine person/Healer doesn't consider themselves as different as you, or I.

[Thunder Bow]

A Shaman is just a Shaman. No matter where on this Earth.. No Resume', no workshop, no college degree, Required. Hollywood and Internet definitions do not apply. No long winded dissertations required on this topic. Being a Shaman is a very down to Earth way, and need not to be talked to death.