We suggest a small number of practitioners whose shamanic work we have witnessed personally and can vouch for; you will find them on our Resources page. All of them offer distance work over the internet, which really does work well. Our Practitioner Competencies page sets out what to look for in any practitioner.
Does Paul Francis offer one-to-one sessions? #
No. Paul Francis retired from one-to-one work some time ago. He now gives his time to teaching and writing. The practitioners below are the people we suggest instead.
Who do you suggest? #
The practitioners listed in the “Practitioners” section of our Resources page. We only point people to practitioners whose work we have seen for ourselves and can vouch for. The “Friends” section of the same page lists the websites of some of our students, friends and colleagues. We do not run a professional register of practitioners.
What if there is no one near me? #
That need not matter. Shamanic work can be done at a distance, and all the practitioners we suggest offer it online. Distance work over the internet really does work well.
What should I look for in a practitioner? #
Experience, ethics and good therapeutic skills. Our Practitioner Competencies page lists what we would expect of anyone offering Therapeutic Shamanism professionally. Amongst other things, a practitioner should: – be highly experienced and at ease journeying in all three shamanic realmsThree realms. The Upper-World, the middle-world and the Lower-World: the cosmological map of shamanic reality. Rooted first in the Lower-World, then the Upper-World, and only then the middle-world. Read the full answer, with a practice strongly based in the Lower-WorldLower-World. The realm of Mother Earth: pure, unspoilt, wild nature, with no technology and no agriculture. Home of the Peoples and of our own Soul, and completely safe: feeling threatened in a journey is a reliable sign of not having reached it. Read the full answer and Upper-WorldUpper-World. The realm of Father Sky and of Spirit: spacious, rarefied and clear, layered in tiers, offering not escape but perspective. Not better than the Lower-World: we ascend rooted, and bring the gifts back down. Read the full answer; – work only with your actual and explicit consent, keep your confidentiality and respect your boundaries; – be aware of the power relationship between practitioner and client, and always seek to empower you; – facilitate rather than interpret, so that the meaning of your experience stays yours; – know how to spot mental health issues that mean shamanic work may not be right for you at that time.
See What are shamanic ethics, and how are they different from rules or morality?
Can I train to become a practitioner myself? #
We offer a Shamanic Practitioner training as the fourth level of our training, after the First-Steps, Next-Steps and Further-Steps courses; details are on the courses page. The competencies list is also a useful guide to what becoming a practitioner involves. The next practitioner training is planned to start at the beginning of 2027.
