Finding a Teacher
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![I teach in the Denver area and along the Colorado Front Range.
To find shamanic teachers in other parts of the USA and worldwide, please visit: www.shamanicteachers.com
To find shamanic practitioners — those trained in shamanic healing practices, please visit: www.shamanicteachers.com/practitioners.html
To find teachers of Wicca and other metaphysical subjects in other parts of the USA and worldwide, please visit: www.witchvox.com
The shamanic teachers site and the practitioners site hold the names of folks whose training parallels my own, i.e. through Sandra Ingerman and/or the Foundation for Shamanic Studies. I’ve met many of these folks when we studied together, and I feel very comfortable referring people to this site. Ask and explore: If curious as to someone’s suitability to become your teacher, ask them to share some information about their background and training.*
While the witchvox site — more formally, The Witches’ Voice — shows hundreds, maybe thousands of listings, please view this as a potential resource, not a referral. In some parts of the country, teachers of Wicca are easy to find—through local metaphysical shops, for example. Other areas may have neither shops nor teachers, or the teachers may work so privately and “under the radar” that you have difficulty locating them. Witchvox is a simple means of finding people, but note that the site makes no guarantees concerning each member's suitability or credentials.
Both shamanism and Wicca are spiritual paths that ultimately stress personal power and responsibility. You are entitled to inquire about a potential healer's or teacher's training and qualifications, what they require of a student, and what they charge for their work. I encourage you: Make these inquiries! While there is no set criteria of “right” answers to these questions, the key point is that legitimate healers and teachers aren't offended by being politely and diplomatically* asked. Trust your own intuition and common sense.
How do you ask these things diplomatically? Write down a few questions before you call (or reread your out-going email), and aim to take about 5 minutes of the person’s time.
Try any or all of these:
— Can you tell me something about your background [or training] in this tradition?
— What do you charge for your healing work?
— How long have you been on this path [or doing this work]?
— What sort of commitment do you expect from your students [clients]?
Listen with both ears and heart. Credentials alone don’t trump compatibility — they both count. As long as your own tone (whether spoken or written) is curious, conversational and brief — rather than confrontational and lengthy — you'll do fine and gather the information you need to find people to assist you on your path.](Finding%20a%20Teacher_files/shapeimage_2.png)
