What to Expect in Your First Shamanic Healing Session

Booking your first shamanic healing session can feel like stepping into the unknown. You might be curious but uncertain, drawn to the idea but unsure what will actually happen. That is completely normal - and it is exactly why this guide exists.

Here is an honest, step-by-step walkthrough of what a typical shamanic healing session looks like, so you can arrive feeling informed and at ease.

Before the Session: How to Prepare

Shamanic healing does not require elaborate preparation. You do not need to fast, meditate for hours, or read any particular books. However, a few simple things can help you get the most from your experience:

• Wear comfortable clothing - you will be lying down for much of the session, so loose, comfortable clothes are ideal
• Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours beforehand - this helps keep your energy clear
• Eat lightly - arrive neither stuffed nor starving
• Reflect on your intention - what are you hoping to explore or address? This does not need to be precise - even "I feel stuck and I do not know why" is a perfectly valid starting point
• Bring an open mind - you do not need to believe anything specific, but a willingness to engage with the process helps

Arriving and the Initial Conversation

When you arrive, your practitioner will welcome you and spend some time talking with you. This initial conversation is important - it helps the practitioner understand what you are experiencing and what you are hoping to get from the session.

This is also your chance to ask questions, voice any concerns, and share anything relevant about your history. A good practitioner will listen carefully, without judgement, and explain what they plan to do in the session.

Ryan Jones at The Heart Shaman typically spends 15-20 minutes on this initial conversation. Many clients say this alone feels healing - being truly listened to, without agenda, in a space that feels genuinely safe.

During the Session: What Actually Happens

After the initial conversation, you will be invited to lie down comfortably on a treatment couch or mat. You remain fully clothed throughout.

The practitioner will then begin their healing work. This typically involves:

• Drumming or rattling - the practitioner uses a drum or rattle to enter an altered state of consciousness. The rhythmic sound (usually around 4-7 beats per second) also helps you relax deeply
• Working with helping spirits - the practitioner journeys in non-ordinary reality to gain insight and carry out healing on your behalf
• Energy work - the practitioner may work around your body (usually without physical contact, or with very light touch if appropriate and with your consent)
• Specific techniques - depending on what arises, the practitioner may carry out soul retrieval, extraction, power animal retrieval, or other techniques

What you might experience

Everyone's experience is different, and there is no "right" way to experience a session. Common experiences include:

• Deep relaxation - sometimes deeper than you have felt in years
• Physical sensations such as warmth, tingling, heaviness, or lightness
• Visual imagery or colours
• Emotional releases - tears, laughter, or waves of feeling
• A sense of presence or energy moving through or around you
• Nothing particularly dramatic - and that is fine too

You remain conscious and aware throughout. You are never "under" in any hypnotic sense. If at any point you feel uncomfortable, you can simply say so and the practitioner will adjust.

After the Session: Integration

When the healing work is complete, the practitioner will gently bring you back and give you time to reorient. They will then share what they experienced during the session - what they saw, what they did, and what guidance came through.

This sharing is an important part of the process. It helps you understand what happened and gives you context for any experiences you had during the session.

Your practitioner will also offer guidance on integration - how to support the healing in the days and weeks that follow. This might include:

• Drinking plenty of water
• Being gentle with yourself - avoiding major decisions or stressful situations for a day or two if possible
• Journalling about your experience
• Spending time in nature
• Paying attention to dreams, which can be vivid and meaningful after a session

What to expect in the days afterwards

The effects of shamanic healing often continue to unfold in the days and weeks following a session. You might notice:

• Feeling lighter, calmer, or more centred
• Vivid dreams
• Old memories surfacing - this is a normal part of processing
• A temporary period of tiredness or heightened emotion as things shift
• Gradual changes in how you relate to old patterns or situations

If you experience anything that concerns you, a good practitioner will always be available to answer questions between sessions.

How Many Sessions Will You Need?

This varies enormously depending on the individual and what they are working with. Some people experience a significant shift in a single session. Others find that a series of sessions over weeks or months provides the deepest and most lasting transformation.

A trustworthy practitioner will be honest with you about this rather than creating dependency. Ryan typically recommends starting with one session and seeing how you feel before deciding whether further work would be beneficial.

Ready to Book Your First Session?

If you are curious about shamanic healing but still have questions, a free discovery call is the perfect starting point. It is a chance to talk with Ryan, share what you are experiencing, and get an honest sense of whether this work is right for you.