"How Do I Become a Shaman?" on March 22 "Why Shamanism Now?" Radio Show with Host Christina Pratt

RHINEBECK, NY, March 21, 2011 (Press-News.org) Streaming live on the Co-Creator Radio Network on Tuesday, March22, at 11 a.m. Pacific time/2 p.m. Eastern time, on her show "Why Shamanism Now?: A Practical Path to Authenticity," shaman and founder of the Last Mask Center for Shamanic Healing Christina Pratt answers dedicates the show to listeners from all over the globe who frequently email: How does someone become a shamanic healer in the 21st Century? What is the first step? What do you do if shamanic healing has been dead in your ancestry for 2000 years, but you still feel the call today? According to Pratt, first there is the Call from spirit. It can be as dramatic as a seven-year illness or as simple as a dream. The call functions to awaken the knowing of one's true self and the yearning to express that self through the artistry of the shaman. Then there is the Training. The function of training is to develop the skills and talents so that shamans don't hurt themselves or others unintentionally. A Korean proverb explains, "Though the spirits give shamans their miraculous powers, shamans must learn the technique of invoking them." Then there is Initiation. Initiation may be spontaneous, begun suddenly by spirit's intervention into the initiate's life, or formalized, set in motion by the initiate's human teachers as part of an ordered, training process. Initiation functions as a transformer -- it causes a radical change in the initiate forever. Initiation creates shamans from those who have been called, but not all who are called will complete the transformation.

In this episode of "Why Shamanism Now?" titled "How Do I Become a Shaman?", Pratt tells listeners that whatever the path that unfolds, the first step begins with spirit.

Christina Pratt is an authentic, non-traditional contemporary shaman. In practice since 1990, she specializes in mending the soul and transforming the parts of life that feel impossible. A teacher of exceptional clarity, humor, and inspiration, Pratt brings the power of shamanism into the practical grasp of anyone willing to take responsibility for improving the quality of their life. Her well-received book, An Encyclopedia of Shamanism (Rosen), is an 800-page, two-volume set with over 750 in-depth entries that clearly discuss the basic concepts of shamanism, methods, and traditions of over 50 different shamanic peoples. Pratt is the founder of the Last Mask Center for Shamanic Healing in Portland, OR, and New York, NY, creator of the original Foundations of Shamanism and Shamanic Healing course at the University of Minnesota, and a frequent and honored speaker for the American Holistic Medical Association.

"Why Shamanism Now?", a live internet talk radio with host Christina Pratt, airs Tuesdays at 11 a.m. Pacific time/2 p.m. Eastern time http://www.co-creatornetwork.com/hosts/shamanism/host_bio.htm. Listeners can ask questions by calling (512) 772-1938 or via Skype. Prior episodes from "Why Shamanism Now" can be downloaded for free from the iTunes library. Pratt also talks about Shamanic Healing on YouTube.

For more information on Christina Pratt, the Last Mask Center for Shamanic Healing, and workshops and classes with Pratt, or to order An Encyclopedia of Shamanism at a special discounted rate, visit http://www.lastmaskcenter.org. Upcoming classes with Pratt include "a two-weekend program "The First Shaman" taking place April 1-3 and July 29-31; Finding Your Authentic Self" on April 15-16; Shamanic Journey Circles the third Tuesday of every month; Wisdom of the Shaman talks every third Friday; and Qigong classes every Wednesday, all in Portland. For additional information or to arrange an interview with Pratt, please contact Linda Woznicki, 845-417-8811, lwoz@frontiernet.net.