Shamanism and NLP
Some people try to combine Shamanism and NLP techniques in their practices, but this is very few people. I don’t know why people try to link Shamanism and NLP. It could be to try can give Shamanism more credibility, but NLP already does not have a lot of credibility in the scientific community and by allowing any links between Shamanism and NLP, it just damages NLP even more!
Shamanism is centered around communicating with the spirit world. Shamans believe they are intermediaries between the spirit world and the human world. They believe they can treat illness can believe they can enter the spiritual realm to give us answers. (If you are a Xena fan, the later seasons have a lot of Shamanism in it.)
Storytelling and Metaphors
One reason some people see a connection is because both use story telling and metaphors quite extensively. Shamanism using story telling as more of a tradition, while NLP uses story telling to implant messages into the subconscious mind.
Trance and Hypnosis
Some people also see a connection because they both use trance or hypnosis. While Shamans use trances to try and enter the spiritual world, NLP uses mild form of hypnosis on patients to try and deliver therapy.
Healing
One of the more controversial reasons some people see a similarity is the ability to heal. Shamans believe they are healers can can often travel to the spiritual world so that they can find out the answer or cure for the disease.
NLP does not claim to fix physical disease, although some fringe practitioners believe they can use it for this. I would stay away from these people.
If you have a physical disease see a licensed doctor.
Summary
Like I said at the beginning of this post, I think anyone who wants to link Shamanism and NLP should be questioned. Allowing these people to incorporate NLP into their practice damages NLP and reduces its validity in many peoples eyes.
