Journeying

This recording is inspired by an ancient northern European method for long journeying: the “singing journey” methods of the last of the traditional European shamans among the Sami (Laplanders) of northern Scandinavia. Drumming is followed by a women's chorus to provide gentle support for the shamanic journeyer. 

The last Europeans to maintain the full practice of shamanism were the Sami (also spelled Saami) people, or Laplanders, of northernmost Scandinavia. Among Sami practices was a method for making long shamanic journeys. In this technique, the shaman’s journey started in the usual way accompanied by a drum. After the journey was underway for a while, a chorus of women singers replaced the drumming, with their voices maintaining the shaman on the journey for an extended period of time. The singing was undoubtedly similar to the present day Sami style - a beautiful, gentle, lilting form that may or may not employ recognizable words. In this recording, the intention was not to imitate the distinctive Sami style, but to be inspired by it. The song form used here is more familiar to us in terms of our present day singing habits, and comfortably supports the long journeyer without distraction.

Please note: Not for recreational use or while driving. The Foundation for Shamanic Studies Journeywork® Series by Michael Harner From the Foundation for Shamanic Studies.

Each program in this series has been specifically designed for serious journey work as explained by Michael Harner in his classic work The Way of the Shaman. These professional recordings have been digitally remastered for excellent journeying results.

The rattle, in various forms, is used by shamans in many parts of the world to help the practitioner enter a shamanic state of consciousness. Here, Michael Harner shakes a single rawhide rattle to provide a higher frequency sound than the drum, which requires less volume to be effective for journeying.

Please note: Not for recreational use or while driving. The Foundation for Shamanic Studies Journeywork Series by Michael Harner From the Foundation for Shamanic Studies

Each program in this series has been specifically designed for serious journey work as explained by Michael Harner in his classic work The Way of the Shaman. These professional recordings have been digitally remastered for excellent journeying results.

The incredible sound of the aboriginal Australian didgeridoo (an ancient hollow tube drone), accompanied by click sticks, carries one into an extended Dreamtime journey. The didgeridoo is played masterfully by Stephen McDonnell. This recording, as in the case of the others in the series, is meant for use by experienced practitioners of shamanic journeying. The sound is in the classic aboriginal Australian mode, with the didgeridoo played outstandingly by Stephen McDonnell at Michael Harner’s extended training course in shamanism and shamanic healing at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. The participants in this course provided the traditional click stick percussion sound accompaniment. Stephen, a white Australian, has been given recognition by aboriginal Australians for his mastery of the didgeridoo. The Foundation for Shamanic Studies Journeywork® Series by Michael Harner. Each program in this series has been specifically designed for serious journey work as explained by Michael Harner in his classic work The Way of the Shaman. These professional recordings have been digitally remastered for excellent journeying results.