Quotes on Shamanism and Spirituality

Quotes on Shamanism and other spiritual topics from famous shamans and spiritualists around the world.

Pema Chodron - The Magical Golden Key To Being Alive

"Being satisfied with what we already have is a magical golden key to being alive in a full, unrestricted, and inspired way."

Iroquois Dreams - The Importance

"The Iroquois have, properly speaking, only a single Divinity – the dream. To it they render their submission, and follow all its orders with the utmost exactness."

From Father Jacques Frémin, 1669-70

Lynne McTaggart on Inducing Trance States

"Although the use of hallucinogenic drugs such as ayahuasca is common, many cultures use a strong repetitive rhythm or beat to create that state; the Native American Ojibwa wanbeno, for instance, use drumming, rattling, chanting, naked dancing, and handling of live coals.7 Drumming is particularly effective in producing a highly concentrated focus; a number of studies have shown that listening to the beat of a drum causes the brain to slow down into a trancelike state.8 As Native Americans discovered, even intense heat, as in a sweat lodge, can transport individuals to an altered state."

From Lynne McTaggart

Joesph Campbell - on December 25th

"The night of December 25, to which date the Nativity of Christ was ultimately assigned, was exactly that of the birth of the Persian savior Mithra, who, as an incarnation of eternal light, was born the night of the winter solstice (then dated December 25) at midnight, the instant of the turn of the year from increasing darkness to light."

From Joseph Campbell in "The Mythic Image"

Carlos Castaneda on Knowing Death

"Only the idea of death makes a warrior sufficiently detached so that he is capable of abandoning himself to anything. He knows his death is stalking him and won't give him time to cling to anything so he tries, without craving, all of everything."

From Carlos Castaneda.

Pema Chodron on Self Improvement

"WE ALREADY HAVE everything we need. There is no need for self-improvement. All these trips that we lay on ourselves—the heavy-duty fearing that we’re bad and hoping that we’re good, the identities that we so dearly cling to, the rage, the jealousy and the addictions of all kinds—never touch our basic wealth. They are like clouds that temporarily block the sun. But all the time our warmth and brilliance are right here. This is who we really are. We are one blink of an eye away from being fully awake."

From Pema Chödrön, "Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living"

Carlos Castaneda - The Path Of Heart

“The only question is: Does this path have a heart? If it does, then it is a good path. If it doesn’t, then it is of no use.”

From Carlos Castaneda

Rumi on The Morning Breezes

“The morning breezes have secrets to tell; don't go back to sleep.” 

From Rumi.

The Dalai Lama on the Survival Of Life On Earth

"Peace and the survival of life on earth as we know it are threatened by human activities that lack a commitment to humanitarian values. Destruction of nature and natural resources results from ignorance, greed and lack of respect for the earth's living things."

From HH The Dalai Lama.

Carlos Castaneda on Being A Warrior

"To be a warrior is not a simple matter of wishing to be one. It is rather an endless struggle that will go on to the very last moment of our lives. Nobody is born a warrior, in exactly the same way that nobody is born an average man. We make ourselves into one or the other."

From Carlos Castaneda.

Carlos Castaneda on A Warrior's Actions

“A warrior lives by acting, not by thinking about acting, nor by thinking about what he will think when he has finished acting.”

From  Carlos Castaneda 

Pema Chodon on Teachers

“If we learn to open our hearts, anyone, including the people who drive us crazy, can be our teacher.” 

From Pema Chödrön.

Ralph Waldo Emerson on Being Silent

“Let us be silent, that we may hear the whispers of the gods.” 

From Ralph Waldo Emerson

A Hopi Proverb - Decision Making

"Before you take any decision, consider its effect on the next seven generations."

A Hopi Proverb.

Hopi Proverb -- Don't Be Afraid To Cry

"Don't be afraid to cry. it will free your mind of sorrowful thoughts."

A Hopi Proverb.

Crazy Horse on The Need Of A Great Vision

"A very great vision is needed and the man who has it must follow it as the eagle seeks the deepest blue of the sky."

By Crazy Horse.

Black Elk on Vision Quests

"A Vision Quest is an experience of deeper understanding of Nature and Spirit. It is a ceremony practiced by American Indians. To prepare for this "insight" one must first cleanse the body and mind by going through a Inipi or sweat lodge. Then with the help of a Holy Man is told certain things and must go to a spot, usually on a holy mountain, and stay 2 or 3 days  During this time no food is eaten and one does not sleep but spends the time in deep prayer and observation. Many times, but not always, there is a vision. This vision is then shared with the Holy Man to help learn of its meaning. Sometimes the meaning is not shown for several years afterward. "

From Black Elk.

Carl Jung on Mandalas

"The 'squaring of the circle' is one of the many archetypal motifs which form the basic patterns of our dreams and fantasies. But it is distinguished by the fact that it is one of the most important of them from the functional point of view. Indeed, it could even be called the archetype of wholeness."

From Carl Jung

Alberto Villoldo on Dreaming The World Into Being

"Modern physics is describing what the ancient wisdom keepers of the Americas have long known. These shamans, known as 'the Earthkeepers,' say that we’re dreaming the world into being through the very act of witnessing it. Scientists believe that we’re only able to do this in the very small subatomic world. Shamans understand that we also dream the larger world that we experience with our senses."

From Alberto Villoldo.

Amy Bloom on Boudaries

"Boundaries are the lines we draw that mark off our autonomy and that of other people, that protect our privacy and that of others. Boundaries allow for intimate connection without dissolving or losing one's sense of self."

From Amy Bloom

Sandra Ingerman on Shamanic Journeying

"Shamanic journeying is the inner art of traveling to the 'invisible worlds' beyond ordinary reality to retrieve information for change in any area of your life - from spirituality and health to work and relationships."

From Sandra Ingerman

Carlos Castaneda on the Path With Heart

"A warrior chooses a path with heart, any path with heart, and follows it; and then he rejoices and laughs. He knows because he sees that his life will be over altogether too soon. He sees that nothing is more important than anything else."

From Carlos Castaneda

Carlos Castaneda on The Path Of Knowledge

"Only as a warrior can one withstand the path of knowledge. A warrior cannot complain or regret anything. His life is an endless challenge, and challenges cannot possibly be good or bad. Challenges are simply challenges."

From Carlos Castenada

Rumi on Blame

“People of the world don’t look at themselves, and so they blame one another.”

From Rumi.

Thich Nhat Hanh on Being Alive

"Because you are alive, everything is possible... "

From Thich Nhat Hanh