One only needs to browse the internet to find that one, succinct definition does not exist as to what a shaman is.  Perhaps the difficulty lies within the fact that most native shamans do not call themselves shamans, nor do they perceive it as a religion.  The concept of “shamanism” is the creation of scholars and anthropologists to coin an aspect of a certain kind of spiritual experience.

That being said, shamans devote their entire lives to serving their community, usually initiated by Spirit into this special role.  Historically, they have been doctors, healers, wisdom keepers, oracles, and counselors. Shamans guided their community on hunting, planting, harvesting, and everything in between.  They are trusted members in their community and act as guardians of the sacred relationship between humans, nature, and spirit.  Their role is to access wisdom to treat physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual imbalances, to mediate between human and spirit realms, and to preserve harmony between humans and nature.  

A shamanic practitioner is rooted in the ancient practice of shamanism, usually blending ancient traditions from around the world with new practices as a way to evolve and adapt, making it more accessible and relatable in modern times.  A shamanic practitioner may have a smaller role and perhaps offer a smaller array of services than a traditional shaman.  The new modern shamanism is criticized by some as appropriation of indigenous cultures and traditions and embraced by others as evidence for the desire to return to spirit and nature.  When posed with the question of one being drawn to Shamanism, Granddaughter Crow of the Navajo Nation explains that traditional shamans are born into the DNA but this does not necessarily mean the DNA is human, cultural, or bloodline.  It could also be a coding in their soul, a spiritual lineage, and she encourages people to not be afraid of identifying as such.

The Munay-Ki are rites that “activate consciousness toward an embodied and transcendental perception” as defined by Marcela Lobos.  These rites were born in 1996 when Alberto Villoldo and 20 of his students joined Don Manuel Quispe, a Q’ero shaman, with nearly 100 of his people to trek up Mount Ausangate in Peru.  During the ceremony on top of the sacred mountain, a bridge was built between ancient Q’ero wisdom and modern times where the Munay-Ki would be the tool. “We have been the keepers of rites that usher in who we are becoming as a people, as a planet.  These processes are not only for the Indians, but for the entire World,” explained Don Manuel Quispe.  The Munay-Ki were designed for the Western world based on ancient rites.  The traditional rites of initiation of the Q’ero belong to their people and lineage.  Respect is due to their Andean cultures and way of life and infinite gratitude for bringing the Munay-Ki to the rest of the world.