Life Force Arts Foundation's Shamanic Training Program provides comprehensive instruction in a contemporary form of shamanism based in the Creative Community Medicine and taught by Joan Forest Mage. The Program has training from the basics of shamanism to establishing a firm personal spiritual practice. Classes are taught as weekend workshops over a period of several months.

For shorter and more introductory workshops, please see the Workshops page.

There are two series of seminars in the Shamanic Training Program: Foundations and Shaman’s Path Series. Each series is comprised of three Seminars. The Seminars are held one weekend each month, so it takes three months to complete one Series. Each Seminar is on a Saturday-Sunday. The schedule on Saturdays is 9 AM - 5 PM and he schedule on Sundays is 9 AM - 2 PM.

Students pay $300 for each Series. The Foundations Series is the pre-requisite for taking the Shaman's Path Series. The Shaman's Path Series is offered those students who wish to further their shamanic studies. Students who take the Foundations Series are not obligated to take the Shaman's Path Series.

Tuition policy: there are no refunds, but each Series is repeated on a regular basis, so if you find you are not able to attend one of the seminars in a Series you have paid for, you can take that Seminar when it is offered again.

Foundations 1: Energetic Protection

Learn about your energetic, spirit body. You will learn to identify your etheric, emotional and astral bodies, and how to ground energy, release energy blockages, invigorate your chakras and protect your energy field. We will practice basic energy techniques such as simple yoga and tai chi exercises, sound healing, hands-of-light, power objects, crystals, and finding your power song and dance. We will align ourselves with the elements (air, earth, water, fire and ether) and experience how they help us shift energy. We will also examine the importance of intention and core beliefs in energy work. No Pre-requisite. Required reading: Mother Wit by Diane Mariechild and Maps To Ecstasy by Gabrielle Roth.

Foundations 2: Shamanic Journeying

Learn the ancient shamanic journey meditation: traveling to the spirit realm to gain wisdom and healing from angels, ancestors, totem animals and other helpful spiritual beings. To the classic shamanic drumbeat, you will journey to the three territories of non-ordinary reality to begin building relationships with your own group of spirit helpers. Learn about shamanic cosmology, the history and ethical basis of shamanism, and the ways shamanic practice applies to the modern world and to healing the web of all life. No previous experience necessary. Please bring a drum or rattle if you have one, and a pen and notebook. Required reading: Singing The Soul Back Home by Caitlin Matthews.

Foundations 3: Shamanic Consciousness

Gain greater skill in entering meditative consciousness through learning time-proven methods of quieting your mind and body, observing your intuitive impressions so you can hear Spirit’s messages more clearly. We will utilize self-expressive arts – writing, drawing, singing, dancing – as meditational and energy work practices. Learn how to interpret the visions you see in your shamanic journeys and dreams through discovering your preferred perceptual mode (seeing, hearing or feeling) for accessing intuitive information. You will further deepen your relationship with your own group of spirit helpers. No pre-requisite. Please bring a drum or rattle if you have one, and a pen and notebook. Required reading: The Open Mind by Dawna Markova.

Shaman’s Path 1: Spirit Guides

Further solidify your relationship with your personal “team” of spirit guides, such as angels, ancestors, gods, goddesses and totem animals. We will particularly focus on working with nature spirits, the seasons, the Elements and the Directions. Part of the day is spent outdoors communing with Nature. You will discover various tasks your spirit guides perform for you, and gain confidence in the helping nature of the universe. Pre-requisite: Foundations Series. Required reading: Enchantment of the Faerie Realm by Ted Andrews; The Seasons of Change by Carol McClelland.

Shaman’s Path 2: Healing Ritual

In this highly experiential seminar, we will explore healing ritual, a process of transformation in sacred time and space. Learn how to design an effective ritual, using the 9 Steps of Healing Ritual and aligning with Nature and the seasons as energies for healing. We will experience charging a space with energy/spirit to create the container that makes ritual safe and effective. We will explore two approaches in shamanic healing ritual: going out of body to the spirit realm, and inviting the spiritual energies to work in the physical space we are in. Deepen your understanding of the 3 modes of auditory, visual & kinesthetic perception for accessing intuitive information. Each learner also examines the deeper meaning and mission of his/her work as a spiritual practitioner to gain personal empowerment and practice shamanism more fully. Pre-requisite: Foundations Series. Required reading: The Water of Life by Michael Meade; Ritual by Malidoma Some and Rites of Passage by Kathleen Wall & Gary Ferguson.

Shaman's Path 3: Shapeshifting

Shapeshifting is the ancient shamanic practice of taking on the spiritual or physical energies of animal spirits and other helpful beings. Through this powerful practice, our spirit allies share their wisdom and strength with us to create profound healing. Learn physical and mental exercises to help us shapeshift between human and more-than-human form. We will experience channeling the energy of our guides, working with the 9 Levels of Self and the 10 Archetypes. As Tom Cowan says, “Shapeshifting might just be the essential, and only, activity of the Universe.” Pre-requisite: Foundations Series. Required Reading: Deerdancer by Michele Jamal and The Path of True Self by Joan Forest Mage.