Shamans are concerned with the human soul, with healing during life and assisting the soul's passage out of the Middle World after death. Familiar with the realms of the dead, a shaman can act as a psychopomp—a conductor of souls. In this fully experiential workshop, you will have the opportunity to explore, from a core shamanic perspective, what happens to human souls after they leave the body. Learn and practice the psychopomp method to locate souls of the deceased that want assistance and guide them out of the Middle World to the Upper or Lower Worlds, where they will be supported on their journey.

Prerequisites

Please meet either the in-person prerequisites or the online prerequisites.

  What to Bring

  • Rattle and/or drum
  • Notebook and pen for note-taking
  • Blindfold, eye covering, bandana, or Mindfold®
  • Computer, tablet, or smartphone (for Zoom videoconferencing)
  • Headphones, headset, or ear buds (recommended)

  What to Expect

  • All FSS workshops and training programs are experiential, interactive, and participatory. They feature instruction and practice with shamanic methodologies, as well as journeywork, shamanic drumming, group sharing, and small group discussions.

  Considerations

  • This workshop is designed exclusively for people who want to bring shamanic healing work into their practice with others. This training is not designed for people looking for personal healing.
  • Participants must be able to successfully journey in the Upper, Lower, and Middle Worlds, and have a strong relationship with a Power Animal and/or Teacher from the Upper or Lower Worlds.

  Notes

  • 10.5 FSS Continuing Education (CE) Credits are available.
  • Completion of this workshop with an authorized FSS faculty member qualifies participants to take more advanced FSS workshops. NOTE: You must complete all sessions of this workshop to get credit and to meet prerequisites required for more advanced workshops. Please arrange your schedule so that you can be present at all sessions of the training.
  • Electronic recording, including audio, video, photographic or otherwise, is not permitted during the workshop.
  • Tuition discounts for online workshops are available to FSS members. Please see our online workshops FAQ (#15). Not a member? Join us!

Zoom Videoconferencing Instructions

Online workshops presented by the FSS are interactive and delivered using Zoom video conferencing. All students must participate individually with audio and video enabled. Before your workshop begins, you will receive details from the instructor for joining the Zoom meeting. Please review our Zoom Videoconferencing Instructions for more information and recommended settings.

Before the workshop, select a private, comfortable location where you are unlikely to be disturbed. Please consider the use of headphones or earbuds for an enhanced audio experience, and the use of a computer or tablet for an enhanced video experience. We recommend you connect your device to a power source prior to the workshop, or fully charge your device's battery.

Related Podcast Episodes

Podcast Episode #5

"The Shaman as Psychopomp™ with Mujiba Cabugos." Join Mujiba Cabugos as she shares her transformative journey into shamanism, her experiences with Core Shamanism, and how she integrates psychopomp work into her life to help spirits and suffering beings. Discover practical insights, healing stories, and the spiritual power behind this ancient practice.

What Participants Say

"This workshop was really amazing! Full of content and the journeys were so deep, it is one of my favorites! And I'm so impressed that we can reach out so far through Zoom, it is incredible!"

"Very deeply satisfying. Gained a visceral understanding of what it means to be doing good work, which I did not expect. Really developed my relationships with the helping spirits in new directions."

"This exploration into psychopomp work had a deep emotional impact on me and opened up compassionate feelings I've not had in many years."

Workshop Schedule

The Shaman as Psychopomp™ (Online)

 
 
 
 
DateLocation / TimeInstructorContact

May 19—May 21, 2026

Latin America (GMT-3)

May 19 7pm-10:30pm
May 20 7pm-10:30pm
May 21 7pm-10:30pm

Gerardo Roemer

Taught in Spanish, en Español

Gererdo Roemer


May 30—May 31, 2026

Pacific Canada PDT

May 30 9am-5pm
May 31 9am-1pm

Robbie Priestley

10.5 FSS CE credits

Robbie Priestley


Details & Registration

Jun 3—Jun 17, 2026

East EDT

Jun 3 5pm-8:30pm
Jun 10 5pm-8:30pm
Jun 17 5pm-8:30pm

Alex Solomon

10.5 FSS CE credits

Alex Solomon


Details & Registration

Jun 27—Jun 28, 2026

West PDT

Jun 27 9am-5pm
Jun 28 9am-1pm

Juan-Carlos Safa

10.5 FSS CE credits

Juan-Carlos Safa


Details & Registration

Jul 9—Jul 12, 2026

West PDT

Jul 9 3pm-6pm
Jul 11 9:30am-1pm
Jul 12 9:30am-1pm

Nikki Sherwood

10.5 FSS CE credits

Nikki Sherwood


Details & Registration

Aug 10—Aug 14, 2026

Southeast EDT

Aug 10 9am-12:30pm
Aug 12 9am-12:30pm
Aug 14 9am-12:30pm

Sharon Licata

10.5 FSS CE credits

Sharon Licata


Details & Registration

Aug 15—Aug 16, 2026

East EDT

Aug 15 10am-4pm
Aug 16 10am-4pm

Dana Robinson

10.5 FSS CE credits

Dana Robinson


Details & Registration

Sep 22—Sep 24, 2026

Latin America (GMT-3)

Sep 22 7pm-10:30pm
Sep 23 7pm-10:30pm
Sep 24 7pm-10:30pm

Gerardo Roemer

Taught in Spanish, en Español

Gererdo Roemer


Our workshops are widely recognized as unparalleled in the world.

Originated, researched and developed over nearly 50 years by anthropologist Michael Harner, the pioneer of contemporary shamanism.

Our training offers students the opportunity to learn and practice authentic, powerful, and effective shamanic healing methods to high ethical standards.

© Copyright

All Foundation workshops and training programs are based in Michael Harner’s Core Shamanism and are copyrighted. © YYYY The Foundation for Shamanic Studies. All rights reserved. Electronic recording of audio, video or images is not permitted.