Shamanism has been deemed “the mother of all healing modalities and religious systems”. It is an ancient, worldwide phenomenon that has been practiced by every culture throughout history. A close examination of today’s healing, and spiritual systems will reveal that these methods have emerged through the explorations, expanded consciousness and compassionate hearts of the indigenous shamans. According to the shamans and their ancient beliefs in animism, “the entire universe is alive and teeming with spirits!”

Part one of our training will begin with a one-day-a-month for three months commitment to learning the history and human necessity of shamanic practices. These practices focus around two things, the shamanic journey to the three worlds followed by the art of divination.

- The Shamanic Journey is a term used by anthropologists for the “spiritual (soul) traveling” of the shaman into what is called “non-ordinary reality”, the inner dream world where it becomes possible to communicate with the spirits of ones choosing.

- Divination has been defined as the actual intuitive act of communication with the spiritual world. This act alone is what allowed the human species to not only survive our tenuous beginnings but also to thrive. It is the most important aspect of human consciousness for if we could not communicate with our surroundings, we would have been doomed to a horrible demise.

The most important prerequisites to practicing shamanism is a pure and guileless heart and an open mind along with an intense desire to help all those in need, including ourselves!

This is only Part I of the series. For those who wish to go all the way in this training, Parts II – IV will take us to the acts of Shamanic Healing, Soul Retrieval and working with the dying and the dead, called Psychopomp work. It is required to take Part I to train in the other sections.

By finishing all IV segments of The Roots training, you will possess a deep understanding and respect for yourself and all that surrounds you. Shamanism is the ROOT of all spiritual life and therefore your spiritual practices will have the foundation and grounding so necessary to follow your soul’s path. By the way, it does not stop here!!!

Our Presenter:

Gregory Besek is a lifelong spiritual practitioner and religious mystic. Raised a Roman Catholic, Greg began his extended spiritual training in 1972, becoming a solitary monk and taking the Hindu Brahmacharya vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. In 1974, he was accepted into a Hindu Ashram where he lived for 5 years as a monastic under the tutelage of Guru Maharaj Ji of Hardwar, India. Here he studied and practiced the essence of the Hindu Vedic lifestyle of service, satsang and meditation until 1980.

As a result of a spontaneous spiritual experience in the 80’s, Greg was led into the mystical world of Shamanism. During the next 30 years, he studied with many renowned individuals in this field including Michael Harner of The Foundation of Shamanic Studies and Aama Bombo of Boudhanath, Nepal. He further studied with shamans of Peru (Don Oscar Miro Quesada), Tibet (Dr. Larry Peters), Native America (Don Cardinal), Celtic (Tom Cowan), Korea (Hiah Park), Romani Gypsy King (Patrick Jasper Lee) and Mongolia (Sarangerel).

In 1994, Gregory began a teaching center called “The Center Pole” whose guiding light was in “keeping ancient spiritual traditions alive!” Through The Center Pole, he conducted over 250 workshops, along with numerous lectures, and seminars for people along the east coast helping those attending to follow their deepest desire, a oneness with their own heart