Reindeer Shamanism – Journaling my Shamanic Path

Welcome to the ongoing series of articles that document my path through shamanism. You can find all these articles (in reverse chronological order) under the blog category of ‘My Shamanic Path‘ if you’d like to follow the full story.

In the summer and early fall of 2022, I had a series of unexpected experiences that propelled me onto a shamanic path. When I say unexpected, I mean it – studying shamanism and becoming an initiated shaman in an ancient tradition was definitely not on my radar when these things happened.

I have no idea how many, if any, people are studying Reindeer Shamanism. It is an ancient tradition that probably wouldn’t be taught as I’m learning it in modern times, even if shamanic practices hadn’t been all but eliminated from northern Scandinavia. So there’s a pretty good chance I’m currently the only one.

I have no physical teacher at the moment (which has taken some getting used to), although I’m sure I’ll work with one eventually. For now, I have enough to learn from my shamanic teacher and our lineage.

I’ve been recording my experiences as I go, so I can track what I’m learning and put this story together. I’m documenting most of my journal entries here to share with others who are curious about shamanic paths.

My Story

My maternal Grandfather – Grandpa Charlie, pictured on the right  – is guiding the Shamanic practice that I’ve embarked on. He was my guardian and shamanic teacher thousands of years ago when we both lived among the Reindeer Tribe – indigenous Scandinavian people who are now called the Sami. In this lifetime, he and I are descended in a small part from the Sami on his father’s side. Although we weren’t close when he was alive, I have come to realize that we have a deep and powerful history together and that he is one of the most important people who has been part of my soul tribe through many lifetimes.

The triggering event happened while I was watching a video that came across my YouTube feed (I’m seldom on YouTube, I don’t even remember why I went on in the first place), by the band Heilung. About two-thirds of the way through the video, I found myself crying heavily as I watched a young, blond girl with antlers become a young woman with antlers, who was eventually shown in a field embracing a reindeer. The feeling that brought me to tears was a deep longing for something I couldn’t even begin to guess at.

At my next appointment with my energy healer, I asked them about that experience and if there was a connection to my Norwegian grandfather. That was the only connection to the video that I could think of. They affirmed that yes, my Grandfather was a part of my reaction, and they helped me discover a vision of the past life we lived together thousands of years ago. I connected with my Grandfather in the vision and learned that I was orphaned at an early age. He took me in and raised me as his daughter, and we loved each other very much. I saw myself as a child, reindeer antlers in my hands, pretending to be a reindeer, feeling the intense love and awe I felt for them.

 I was told by my Grandfather in that first vision that I was to bring Reindeer Medicine back to the people – that was my gift and task. Since then I have begun studying Reindeer Medicine in shamanic reality with him and our shamanic lineage and contemplating how it will eventually integrate into my healing practice.