Shamanic Psychopomp

Book excerpt: Throughout time, the shaman has carried the responsibility of escorting the souls of kindred members to the realms of beyond. Today this service is still greatly needed. Although the knowledge of how to accomplish this task has faded as the close-knit tribal community has given way to modern civilization, shamanic practitioners are discovering the call to guide souls, or to act as a psychopomp, inadvertently through their ecstatic journeys. Legendary works such as Pert em hur; Bardo Thödol; and Ars Moriendi provided a map of the afterlife. But what is the destiny of those who have not been exposed to these manuals of post mortem navigation? Without this directional knowledge many souls become stuck in the liminal space between realms. Thus, the need of a guide to assist in completing the crossing. Presented in an effort to provide the seasoned practitioner familiar with the basic concepts of shamanism with a guide, I provide first hand accounts to assist the reader with examples of how to accomplish the sacred task of psychopomp. Additionally, I explore why some spirits are unable to complete the crossing and how the shamanic practitioner deals with the trauma entailed in performing the role of psychopomp.