Oh gosh um.. How is it different than astral projection, do you need to be in a deep meditation in order to do shamanic journeying, like you need to in astral projection..also, I attempted to do a shamanic journey and I don't know if I made it up or if it's real.
Altered states are a large part of Shamanism, but the main aspect in many different paths of Shamanism is reverence for nature. Many are animists, which believe that everything has a spirit and can extend to every natural material having a subtle (non-physical) counterpart. You do not need to consciously project (which can be considered by many as merely shifting consciousness from your physical body to your subtle body). In mainstream Shamanism, there are three worlds. There are the upper, middle, and lower worlds which can be seen as the cosmos, the physical world, and the underworld. This isn't terribly similar to the Christian concept of heaven and hell as the cosmos relate to the astral and other subtle planes and the underworld is seen as a subtle realm inside the earth, similar to a spiritual view of the core of Earth.
Often times, journeying consists of 'traveling' between the worlds and learning. Different paths of Shamans have different world views and different ways of doing things, so if you would like to research more about the different paths, you could research them. Shamans typically work heavily with their subconsciousness (as it interprets subtle energy better). There is also a concept if inner realms, which is another concept for the core of something or someone. The underworld would be seen as the inner realm of Earth while the mind is considered the inner realm of a person.
I tried to put on the drumming audio, relaxed, got in tune and visualized that I was at a place in nature. I either climb down a hole for the lower worlds, or my power animal takes me and flies me up to the upper worlds. I've asked to talk to guides, I've talked to my power animal, asked questions, ect. I just don't know if what I'm doing is accurate.. I don't know if I'm making it up. Is this considered "shamanic journeying"?
That is considered Shamanic journeying. You have to trust your instincts though. Have you ever had a feeling of just 'knowing' something was a certain way? That's what a gut feeling feels like.
I do believe I had a shamanic journey. Have you ever had one? Do you mind if I ask to share your experience?. Lol. I really want to learn more about shamanism, and how to bring some of the practices of shamanism into my spirituality and my spiritual practice.
When a shaman journeys, he/she is usually planning on acquiring or learning something by journeying through other worlds. The fact that they have a goal, and set plans on where to go, separates this from your everyday astral projection.
