1. Altered states of consciousness, possessing the ability to enter alternated states at will; controlling themselves while moving in and out of those states.
2. Mediating between the needs of the spirit world and those of the physical world in a way that can be understood and used by the community.
Serving the needs of the community that cannot be met by practitioners of other disciplines, such as physicians, psychiatrists, priests, and leaders.
A shaman is therefore a specific type of healer who uses an alternate state of consciousness to enter the invisible world, which is made up of all unseen aspects of the world that affect us, including the spiritual, emotional, mental, mythical, archetypal, and dream worlds.
There are three categories of contemporary shamans, including those who:
1. Come from an unbroken shamanic tradition and continue to practice in that tradition, usually in their native culture.
2. Come from a shamanic tradition, but serve to bridge between that tradition and the modern Western world, often by adding ceremonies and rituals that were not necessary in their indigenous culture.
3. Are called by Spirit to serve the needs of their community as shamans, though they may be long separated culturally from their original shamanic roots.