For millennia, humanity has gazed at the stars, wondering if we are alone. In our modern era, this yearning has manifested in science fiction epics and dedicated scientific searches for extraterrestrial life. Yet, long before telescopes and SETI programmes, there existed a tradition steeped in altered states of consciousness and communication with non-ordinary realities: shamanism. Remarkably, accounts attributed to shamans across diverse cultures and eras offer compelling narratives of encounters with beings that resonate eerily with our modern understanding of extraterrestrials.
While the language and frameworks differ vastly from contemporary science, the core experiences described by shamans in their visionary journeys often paint pictures surprisingly akin to what we might imagine as alien contact. These are not tales of spaceships and laser beams, but rather of encounters with entities inhabiting different planes of existence, possessing profound knowledge, and displaying characteristics that defy earthly categorisation.
It’s crucial to understand that shamanism operates within a cosmology vastly different from Western scientific materialism. Shamans are spiritual practitioners who enter altered states of consciousness – often through ritual, drumming, chanting, or plant medicines – to journey to spirit worlds. These worlds are populated by a myriad of beings: spirits of nature, ancestors, deities, and, intriguingly, entities often described as “star beings” or “sky people.”
Consider the accounts from various indigenous cultures. Amazonian shamans, using the sacred brew ayahuasca, often speak of encounters with beings they call “plant spirits,” “yagé spirits,” or “mother ayahuasca.” These entities are not merely botanic forces but often manifest as intelligent guides, capable of imparting wisdom and healing. Some researchers, like anthropologist Jeremy Narby, have explored the possibility that these plant spirit entities might be associated with the very DNA structure of the plants themselves, an idea that echoes modern concepts of complex information encoded beyond our immediate perception. Could these plant spirits be interpreted, through a different lens, as intelligences originating from a deeper, perhaps extraterrestrial, level of reality interwoven with our own biosphere?
Further afield, in Siberian shamanic traditions, shamans describe spirit flight to the “Upper World,” a realm in the cosmos where they communicate with celestial beings. These “sky spirits” often appear in forms that are decidedly non-human, embodying animalistic or elemental qualities, yet possessing a vast understanding of the cosmos and the destinies of humans. Accounts detail journeys through cosmic landscapes, dialogues with these entities about the origins of the world, and receiving knowledge crucial for the well-being of their tribes. Could these “sky spirits” be interpreted as encounters with beings from other planets or dimensions, whose knowledge is perceived as cosmic wisdom through the shamanic framework?
Indigenous North American traditions also abound with stories of star people and star ancestors. Many tribes maintain rich oral histories and cosmological narratives centred around beings who descended from the stars to teach humanity essential skills and spiritual principles. These star beings, often depicted in petroglyphs and ceremonial objects, are not always benevolent; some are tricksters or testers, but all are powerful and possess knowledge beyond human comprehension. The Hopi, for example, speak of the Kachinas, spirit beings vital to their ceremonies and connection to the cosmos, some of whom are explicitly linked to star origins. Are these star people simply mythological figures, or could they be rooted in ancestral encounters – perhaps even misinterpreted and culturally filtered – with entities from beyond Earth?
It’s important to approach these accounts with nuance and respect for the cultural context from which they arise. We are not suggesting that shamans were literally seeing spaceships or receiving messages from alien civilisations in the way we understand it today. Instead, we are exploring the possibility that the experiences described by shamans, within their unique worldview, may tap into a reality that resonates with our modern quest to understand our place in the cosmos and the potential for life beyond Earth.
The shamanic perspective challenges our materialistic assumptions about reality. It suggests that consciousness is not confined to the brain, that there are realms beyond our ordinary perception, and that communication with non-human intelligences is possible. Whether we interpret these intelligences as spirits, archetypes, or extraterrestrials, the shamanic accounts offer a powerful reminder that the universe may be far more interconnected and populated than we currently comprehend.
Perhaps the wisdom of the shamans, honed over millennia of exploring inner and outer landscapes, offers a valuable counterpoint to our technologically driven search for extraterrestrial life. By listening to these ancient whispers from the stars, filtered through the experiences of shamans, we might unlock new perspectives on consciousness, reality, and our potential connection to a universe teeming with unseen intelligences – whatever form they may take. The journey to understand extraterrestrial life, it seems, may not just be outward to the stars, but also inward, to the depths of human consciousness and the ancient wisdom traditions that have long explored the mysteries of worlds beyond our own.
Worldwide Temple of Aurora 