The Nepalese Shamanic Path (Practices for Negotiating the Spirit World)

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There are few areas of our world where shamanic traditions have been preserved in their original context and form. Nepal is one of these rare and special places. In the shadow of the Himalayas Nepalese shamans, known as dhamis or jhankris, are still consulted for heal- ing and divination as well as for providing comfort and maintaining harmony. Following the devastating earthquake in Nepal in 2015, shamanic teacher Evelyn Rysdyk and 27th- generation jhankri Bhola Nath Banstola decided it was time to safeguard Nepalese shamanic knowledge for future generations by recording the practices in a book.

With this comprehensive, experiential guide to the ancient spiritual traditions of Nepal, Rysdyk and Banstola present step-by-step instructions for authentic Himalayan shamanic practices, including techniques for physical and spiritual healing, shamanic journeys, and advanced ceremonies, such as the Kalchakra Katne, a shamanic ritual for removing toxic energies from an individual. They include exercises to help you meet the ancestors in your shamanic lineage, techniques to use your voice as a shamanic tool, and practices for negoti- ating the spirit world safely. They detail shamanic chants and rituals, how to create an altar, and how to use the sacred objects of the dhami/jhankri. Rysdyk and Banstola also exam- ine the importance of Nepalese cosmology in shamanic ritual and spiritual deities such as Hanuman, Garuda, and the Nagas.

Illustrated with photos and Rysdyk's artwork, the book also explores the history of Nepal, its culture and myths, and the different ways Nepalese shamans serve their communities. Written specifically to share the traditional Himalayan shamanic method with the Western world, this guide not only preserves these ancient teachings but also reveals how they are still relevant in the modern world.

Evelyn C. Rysdyk is an internationally recognized shamanic healer, teacher, speaker, and author of several books, including The Norse Shaman and A Spirit Walker's Guide to Shamanic Tools. Teaching advanced experiential shamanism through her organization, Spirit Passages, she finds creative inspiration and renewal on the coast of Maine.

Bhola Nath Banstola is a 27th-generation Nepalese shaman, or jhankri. With his wife, he teaches traditional Himalayan shamanic practices in Europe and North America and leads groups on shamanic tours of Nepal. He divides his time between Italy and Nepal.

In 2003 I was leading an event in Brazil, and I knew that a shaman from Nepal would be attending. The shaman turned out to be Bhola Nath Banstola. I was curious and excited to meet him, but what I con- jured up in my imagination was not even close to what a remarkable shaman and man Bhola Nath Banstola is.

Bhola Nath Banstola is a twenty-seventh generation indigenous shaman. This young man stepped off the plane, and all I can say is that I was so amazed by his presence. I knew he was truly a shaman and holy man, for the joy and light that shined through his eyes and entire presence I have rarely experienced. He carries an inner light, joy, and a passion to help others heal, reconnect to our Mother Earth, and to bring forth the power of his ancient living tradition.

Over the years. I have watched how Bhola Nath Banstola has touched the hearts of Westerners looking to learn ancient ways of heal- ing and living a balanced and healthy life. Bhola is a perfect bridge for bringing Nepalese shamanism into the West. His deep compassion and understanding of what we are experiencing in the West has shaped his teachings: he brilliantly shares such a wealth of knowledge and prac tices to take us into the ancient ways that hold so many keys to healing the emotional and physical illnesses plagued by our collective.

As a girl growing up on Long Island in an urbanized suburb of New York City, my only knowledge of Nepal came from the pages of books and National Geographic. For me, the images of its unusual architecture and strange customs epitomized the very concept of foreignness. Like the Himalayas themselves, Nepal seemed an incredibly mysterious place that was distant in both space and time.

By the late 1960s and 1970s, the Himalayan region and its traditions drew closer to home with more Westerners visiting Nepal, the flowering of Tibetan Buddhism in the States, and pop singers "going to Kathmandu." Still, I never would have imagined myself going there, counting a Nepalese shaman among my close friends, or, for that matter, practicing shamanic spirituality for thirty years.

Bhola and I first met well over a decade ago at a gathering hosted by the Society for Shamanic Practitioners. We made an immediate connection. Over the years, I have enjoyed exploring his marvelous culture and shamanic traditions as they relate to my personal practice. Bhola is an extraordinary teacher whose work needs to be more widely experienced.

I am indebted to him for agreeing to collaborate in bringing the teachings preserved by his ancestors into a written form. With this agreement, he chose to contribute to not only our understanding of shamanism but also to our awareness of our collective human history and wisdom.

Shamanism is a spiritual tradition that has been practiced across the globe and has endured for tens of thousands of years. It has its roots in animism: the idea that there are spirits in all things. These spirits, which are in animals, birds, plants, and everything else in creation, are available to us for relationship. The shaman knows that we are surrounded by sentient beings who can offer their wisdom, guidance, perspectives, and healing power in support of human life. In return for these gifts, the people offer their respect and nurturance to the spirits. This mutually respectful and honorific interaction is the basis for shamanic culture.

The shamanic state of consciousness is an expanded state of awareness or perception that produces an altered experience of reality. During the shamanic state of consciousness, the brain produces high alpha and theta waves, while the majority of the brain's functions shift into the right hemisphere. Though best known for its spiritual benefits, this state of consciousness literally changes our mind. It enhances creative thinking and imagination, which are critical skills for tackling new or challenging situations and for being able to innovate unique solutions in daily life.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages