Alicia Luengas Gates, CSC

In Memoriam (1936 - 2020)

Alicia Luengas Gates spent seven years with indigenous populations in Mexico, where she was born. She has studied with the Foundation for Shamanic Studies, especially with Michael Harner, since 1986 and is a Certified Harner Method Shamanic Counselor (C.S.C.) as well as having an active practice in shamanic counseling, consulting, and healing. She has been a faculty member of the Foundation since 1993, teaching the Basic Workshop and advanced programs in the United States, Argentina, and Spain.

Over the past several years, she has taught the Three-Year Program in Advanced Shamanism and Shamanic Healing and the Two-Week Intensive Course on the West Coast, in addition to teaching the Three Year program in Argentina and Spain. As of August 2014, Alicia decided that as director of FSS trainings in Latin America and Spain, she wishes to focus her efforts on continuing to build the FSS presence in the Spanish-speaking countries and will not teach in the USA for the time being. She is looking forward to spending longer periods of time working with the FSS faculty in Argentina and Spain and teaching the FSS weekend workshops, Harner Shamanic Counseling, and the Three Year programs to the many students there eager to experience FSS trainings.

I was a Franciscan nun in Mexico, and then while living with the Yaqui tribe, during the Deer Dance ceremony, my spirit animals came to me, talked to me, and helped me become one of them. I received them with joy and thought, like Francis of Assisi, I was learning to talk to the animals and to the brother sun and sister moon. Still, I did not know how to reach them, for they only appeared to me during the Deer Dance and special tribal celebrations. Later on, when I made my first shamanic journey, I found the same spirit animals, but now could talk to them, ask them questions, and understand how they communicated with me. I now could go meet them whenever I wanted to. WHAT A JOY! I knew then that I had found my spiritual path. I immediately started training with the Foundation for Shamanic Studies intending to apply this to my personal growth and problem-solving, without knowing that one day I would be called by my spirit helpers to offer shamanic healing to those who request it. My shamanic practice has flourished ever since with their help. Shamanic work is not work for me, it is my life and my passion. I consider myself blessed to have the privilege of doing this work and to share shamanic knowledge teaching for the Foundation.

Alicia Luengas Gates, CSC

Student Feedback

"I wanted to let you know how much I have enjoyed the rich experiences of FSS 3-Year Program. My relationship with the Spirits has become more vivid and deep with each session. I have been humbled by the vast shamanic experience that you bring to each session to lead us all. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."

"I felt very connected to Alicia and most grateful that someone as gifted and deeply connected to source energy is willing to share her considerable talent and knowledge with us."

"Quintessential teacher: compassionate, disciplined, and able to communicate the methodology from an experienced vantage point. She was aware of the group as a whole and each individual. She has earned my respect and trust and showed me the beauty and blessing of this healing work."