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April 11 trauma healing program at The Commons to look at ‘How Shamanism Heals the Fragmented Soul’

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Shamanism, a psycho-spiritual practice associated with indigenous people, is as ancient as the Paleolithic era, that is, the Stone Age. Today, there are indigenous people in the world still practicing traditional shamanic ceremonies, led by a community shaman, to heal the sick and help the dead cross over to the spirit world.

Modern shamanism, known as neo-shamanism, is alive and well in the field of psychotherapy, being particularly useful to heal trauma, as well as depression, anxiety, and distress. Author Jeroen Bockhoven in his book, “Generalogies of Shamanism,” noted that the famous 20th century psychologist, Abraham Maslow, remarked that shamanism was the psychotherapy of the ancients and that it is still useful in treatment today. Dr. Andrew Weil in 2011 said, “Patients are more than physical bodies. To understand health and illness, you’ve got to look at mental and emotional and spiritual dimensions.”

At the Commons at Central Hall on Thursday April 11 at 1 p.m., Sandra Ingerman, MA, a world-renowned teacher of shamanism, a licensed psychotherapist and a board-certified expert on traumatic stress will present, via video, a program explaining and demonstrating how shamanic ceremony supports trauma healing. This free program is part of the Sounds True Healing Summit and is brought to the public by NAMI Piscataquis County. Ingerman is the author of the 2018 books, “Hidden Worlds” and “The Book of Ceremony.” Her audio programs include “Soul Retrieval,” “Walking in the Light” and “Shamanic Meditations.”

Ingerman will define the practice of shamanism in soul retrieval work, describe how shamanic practice can work in modern-day Western society to heal traumas and demonstrate practices for everyday people to support trauma recovery. She uses a beautiful shamanic drumming ceremony as part of her presentation. Research has shown drumming to help access a higher power in a secular way, to release negative feelings, to release blockages related to trauma, and to heal the inner self.

According to well-known Dr. Christine Northrup, “Drumming can induce a natural ‘high’ by increasing the Alpha brain waves.” The increase in Alpha brain wave activity causes feelings of well-being, euphoria, and calmness, which can help people alleviate depression and anxiety. Similar brain effects and feelings occur with meditation.

With shaman ceremony, the soul healing process occurs when your internal spiritual roots are activated by connecting with your personal spirits, whether they are your ancestors, animals or religious figures, such as Jesus, angels or saints for Christians. Ingerman and other psychotherapists believe that we can’t be whole without soul healing. The process is not about any one religious belief, but, instead, addresses spiritual universality that lives in all people.

This presentation will delight and inform. Ingerman exudes joy and in-depth, personal knowledge about her topic that will leave listeners feeling happy, well, and smiling.

To learn about shamanism in psychotherapy, please register at nami.piscataquis@gmail.com or 924-7903.

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