From the beginning of time, shamans have been helping their community by healing their imbalances and the world by allowing their wisdom to be shared. As countless of us have been touched by their dedication and hard work, our desire to thank them has become more and more natural.
So, what do you give a shaman?
Before we share with you the list of shamanic gifts we’ve compiled, we would like to underline that for a gift to be accepted by a shaman, the core of it must bear the energy of truthful gratefulness. Nothing other than purity, innocence, and life-giving force will ever be seen and accepted as a shamanic gift.
Shamanic gift ideas
We have compiled a list of objects to consider when seeking a shamanic gift. They all fall into the following ten categories:
- Musical instruments
- Incence
- Bells
- Crystals
- Feathers
- Plants or natural medicine
- Handmade textiles
- Other ceremonial objects
- Books and magazines
- Divination tools
1. Musical instruments
For shamans, every sound is a world; thus, they have a great interest in instruments that allow them to explore these worlds for themselves and lead others there.
Wind chimes (Koshi & Zaphir)
These are a type of percussion instrument, usually hung in gardens, that promote a sense of well-being and harmony all around them. Due to today’s topic, shamanic gifts, we won’t be talking about the world’s largest wind chime (12,80m long, in Illinois, United States), but rather the contrary. Koshi measures 15,3cm x 6cm, and Zaphir 12cm x 5cm, making it travel-friendly and a perfect shamanic gift.
The Koshi chime is primarily a musical instrument, crafted by hand from bamboo at the foot of the Pyrenean mountains. It comes in four different melodies, all inspired by the four elements.
Terra (G C E F G C E G)
Aqua (A D F G A D F A / Pentatonic)
Aria (A C E A B C E B)
Ignis (G B D G B D G A / Pentatonic).
Zaphir chimes are five pieces, available in gorgeous colours and made from recycled materials. They are inspired by the five seasons and elements (Feng Shui):
Crystalide – G A B D A G B D (spring)
Sunray – G B C E G E A C (summer)
Twilight – E G B C E G B C (autumn)
Sufi – F A D F A G A D (intermediate)
Blue Moon – D F A B C E A C (winter)
Shamanic rattles are percussion instruments that make sounds when shaken. There are countless types of rattles classified by the materials, usage, and culture they belong to.
We suggest you choose the one that sums up your shaman friend’s personality and culture.
Kalimbas are a modern interpretation of the African musical instrument called Mbira. Traditional to the Shona people of Zimbabwe, these instruments are made of a wooden board and stacked metal tines and are played by plucking these tines with the fingers. Being tuned to simple scales, this instrument makes it easy for anyone to create relaxing, beautiful music.
Singing bowls, also known as standing or resting bells, originated in China. They are used in ceremonies, chakra work, energy healing, and meditation, to name a few. Made of copper and tin alloy, singing bowls come in different sizes, making them a perfect shamanic gift.
Jew’s harp, also known as the jaw or mouth harp, originated in Siberia and has no relation to Jewish culture. It consists of a flexible metal, bamboo tongue, or reed attached to a frame, and it is played using the mouth cavity as a resonator.
Xylophones are percussion instruments made of a set of tuned wooden keys arranged in a similar way to that of the piano and played with the help of rubber mallets. Its joyous sounds made this instrument famous among many countries around the world. It is known by many names and there are countless sources where you can purchase this instrument.
Conch shell or Nepalese jhankri shankha is a shell used to call good spirits in ceremonies, clearing spaces, meditation, and sound journeys. According to Arunava Bose, “The shankha is praised in Hindu scriptures as a giver of fame, longevity, and prosperity, the cleanser of sin and the abode of goddess Lakshmi, who is the goddess of prosperity and consort of Vishnu.”
2. Incense
When it comes to this category, every tradition has its variety of options, so we’re briefly mentioning some of the major ones. We won’t be sharing sources as we would like to encourage you to support your community by purchasing locally.
- Buthanese (Pure Red Sandalwood, Riwo-Sangchoe Bhutan, Sangche Prayer Sang).
- Germanic (Wotan, World Tree, Holda Blend).
- Indian (Laoshan Sandalwood, Mogra, Nag Champa).
- Japanese incense is a lot more subtle than the previously listed ones (Matcha, Agarwood, Sandalwood).
- Nepalese (Wind Horse, Himalayan Ayurvedic, and special aromas).
- Tibetan (recommended producers: Mindroling Monastery, Tunba Village, or Barkhor Street).
3. Bells
These are hollowed cups that vibrate in a single tone when struck. Usually cast from a type of bronze called bell metal, bells have always been related to religious rites, making them a perfect shamanic gift. Here are a couple of bells we thought you might find interesting in your pursuit of the perfect present:
- Peruvian brass bell
- Tibetan bells
- Tibetan wind bells
- Tingsha
- Shang or flat bell
- Jhangry bell
- Tibetan Buddhist rolmo
- Burmese spinning gong or Burma Bell
- Agogo bell
- Apitua bell
- Elephant bell
4. Crystals
Instead of naming hundreds of options, we thought of sharing one way of choosing a crystal.
Before entering the store, online or physical:
- Bring the person you are buying it for in your mind.
- Sit for a moment, imagining them happy, fulfilled, and joyous.
- When the image is clear in your mind, walk into the store or start scrolling the crystals online list, and allow your eyes to rest upon the crystal meant for you to gift.
5. Feathers
Shamans connect with various worlds, but if we are to put it simply, there’s the sky, earth, and underworld. In their line of work, they need allies; wearing birds’ feathers often brings along spirits supporting healing.
Along one’s journey, countless feathers can be found, presenting the opportunity to gather and either create a ruffle or keep them individually.
Some can be bought as well, especially exotic ones from the Amazon. Each is directly connected to the bird they come from; each has different attributes.
They can also take the form of jewellery, such as earrings, necklaces, or headbands.
6. Nature elements
Imagine entering an herbal store. Teas, medicinal herbs, creams, serums, and everything else you see count as a shamanic gift because there is nothing closer to a medicine man’s heart than nature and her gifts.
7. Handmade textiles
You can craft something yourself or support communities such as those from the Amazon, the USA, or India. You can buy a great variety of textiles that make a great gift. These are usually T-shirts, bags, belts, pouches, or ponchos, all with a personal touch.
8. Other Ceremony objects
The following objects will be familiar to those who have participated in plant medicine retreats or any shamanic experience. For those who haven’t, we’ve included a small description to help you make a conscious choice.
- Kuripe is a pipe used for the self-administration of tobacco in the form of rapé or hapé.
- Tepi is a longer pipe, also used for the administration of rapé, except it is used in administration to others.
- Agua Florida is a mixture of grains, alcohol, and essential oils, and it is a must for spiritual cleansing.
- Smudge sticks are exactly that: sticks made of herbs to be burnt. The residual smoke is used to clean spaces, people, or objects of negative energy.
- Carvings are shapes or patterns carved in wood, stone, or other materials. Shamans usually have such objects on their altars or in the shape of jewellery. When choosing, go with something that means something to you, and keep it small.
- Chakapa is a shamanic leaf bundle important for the shamans of the Amazon. Its sound relaxes, heals, and calms those in the ceremony.
- Huayruro seeds necklaces are a symbol of prosperity and fertility; these seeds have been considered amulets since the times of the Inca.
- Palo Santo, also known as Bursera graveolens, is a type of wood known for its healing properties and ability to cleanse spaces.
- Prayer beads are used for meditation and prayer but can also be used as jewellery.
9. Books and magazines
Most shamans have a genuine thirst for knowledge, especially regarding human and fauna heritage. You won’t disappoint if your book of choice is a reinterpretation of ancient rites, religion, or philosophy.
10. Divination tools
Some of the top divination tools are Tarot cards, Oracle cards, pendulums, and coins, all of which allow their users to connect with the spirit and receive the guidance they seek. There is no art in choosing these gifts, but you can apply the previous technique we shared in the Chrystal section.
Our list might be biassed by the fact that we have interacted mostly with Ayahuasca shamans. They spend a lot of time dieting and alone in remote places. They carry their things when they walk the world with us, so our list of shamanic gifts focuses on small objects. However, we can assure you that these gifts will be happily received by all humans (whatever world they might be bridging).
We hope you found our list helpful and that it made it easy to choose the gift that best suits the lifestyle of the person you are grateful to. At Avalon’s Ayahuasca retreats in Europe, we are dedicated to bringing you everything you might be curious about healing and shamanism. If you feel a calling to join any of our upcoming retreats, do let us know!
