Jesus was a shaman.
These words open the mind to the realization that the man known as the Son of God was still, in fact, a man– as human as you and I, as strong and fragile, as vulnerable to all the challenges we face from day to day, as capable of love and anger and yearning and joy as each of us. Yet his life, death, and post-mortem appearances to his followers have inspired people around the world for over 2000 years. Despite multiple interpretations (and misinterpretations) of his teachings by Christians and others, we remain mystified, intrigued
What makes a shaman different from other men? How can any human being, shaman or not, suffer, die, and rise again? A true shaman is also an adept– one who has made friends with death, who no longer fears anything that can possibly happen, because she has mastered the ego. The Uhane, the Middle Self– that part of us that fears, hopes, desires, angers, plans, and generally drives us crazy with self-absorption and endless striving– no longer rules her fate. She knows she is more than what she appears to be. The extent to which we can see that we are not just our bodies– these packets of bone and flesh– but pure Spirit, is the extent to which we, too, can become as free as Jesus was.
Jose’ Stevens’ latest article explores the themes of Christ’s Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension from a shamanic point of view. He explains the real meaning behind the saga of Jesus, and encourages us to consider that we too can enjoy our lives to the full, knowing that life in the body is a dream and that we, like Jesus, are the dreamweavers.