Shamanic Practice
About Shamanic Practices
The word “Shaman” comes from Siberia, but in English we use it to refer to spiritual leaders and healers who are connected to Indigienous Practice.
Each Indigenous Culture has its own traditions, histories, and specific practices.
When studying pre-Christian cultures, anthropologists have noticed that small tribes and villages across the globe had common threads in their spiritual practices and their understanding of the non-material world.
These common threads include music or drumming to connect to the spirit world, an understanding of holistic health and the energy body, and an ability to communicate with spirit guides, angels, power animals, totems, past lives, or ancestors.
A thoughtful Shamanic Practitioner should be able to name the lineage from which they practice, understand colonization in the United States, and recognize the difference between honoring and appropriating culture. A thoughtful practitioner studies deeply with a teacher or teachers, has a regular embodied practice, and works to bring healing, peace, and kindness to their community.
Shamanism has an understanding that in addition to our physical body, we have an energy body. Much of our distress comes from the loss of a soul part or from an intrusion of unwanted energy.
My practice
The Shamanic work I practice dates back 60,000 years. We work with guides, totems, and energies to reach ways of knowing and receiving information from beyond the material plane.
Shamanic Practice allows us to journey to other dimensions and realms. We can find wisdom in these dimensions to heal ourselves, our communities, and our planet.
Work with Me
How I work
I work as a healing artist and also to train novice practitioners to develop the skills of their own Shamanic Practice.
Because of my other training in bodywork, anatomy, functional health, and transforming trauma symptoms, I have a particular skill at working with your physical body and your energy body to help restore stability and health. Some call this Shamanic Practice, others have names for it like Medical Intuitive.
Shamanism has an understanding that in addition to our physical body, we have an energy body. Much of our distress comes from the loss of a soul part or from an intrusion of unwanted energy.
Together, we will:
We work together to find unwanted energies in your field that may be trapped or stuck or disrupting your health, mental health, or relationships, and work together to clear what needs to go, return the parts that were lost, and build practices so that you can find transformation, integration, clarity, and stability.
As we each work to bring more balance and vitality into our lives, we show up in family, community, and society with more agency to affect change and create the world we want to see. Choosing to heal and to be in relationship with Spirit is a radical choice to be actively engaged with the world around us and to be creating conscious change.
Your role as collaborator
In choosing to work with me you understand that I do just one part of the work; in order for it to stick, you need to do the other part. Between our sessions, you’ll need to practice consistently in order to make lasting change.
Your role as collaborator
In choosing to work with me you understand that I do just one part of the work; in order for it to stick, you need to do the other part. Between our sessions, you’ll need to practice consistently in order to make lasting change.
Get in touch with me
I work with people in person at my home in Lowell, MA or over zoom.
In person at my home can also include healing bodywork as part of the practice. Click here to see the healing modalities I can incorporate into a session; Shamanic sessions are $200/hour.
Inquire about shamanic sessions below.
Jamie Ballou
She/Her
Dancer
The Franklin Method workshop allowed me to dive deeper into knowledge about my own body. Josie did a wonderful job creating a lot of visuals which helped me conceptualize ways to work/move in a safer, more effective way. Taking Josie’s foot workshop changed the way I danced onstage and improved my balance permanently!
Josie’s workshops are not only educational, they are fun and truly shift the way you think about your body.
Sam Fidler
Actor, Playwright
Josie Bray’s approach to movement work has not only made me a better actor, it has made me a healthier and more body-aware person. With Josie’s teaching of the Franklin Method, I have learned to infuse my text with vivid imagery that manifests as a tight focus and consistency in my performance. I rarely meet instructors as willing to figure out and provide what an individual student/actor needs in their work than Josie.
Shannon Sweeny
She/Her/Hers
Dancer
Studying the Franklin Method with Josie has given me what I’ve been missing in my 20 years of training. I have always been taught to push my muscles to their limit and with the Franklin Method I have learned to use my muscles in the way they are the most powerful. I have a self awareness I have never had before and it has changed me as a dancer.