Initiation: Shamans and Their Training

Video and Transcript Segment 5

TITLE: Initiation: Shamans and Their Training – How to Become a Shaman

What is involved in the training of shamans? Shaman Charles Crooks gives an unrehearsed interview, where he discusses how to become a shaman.

He also answers the questions, “Is a person called to be a shaman?”and “Can anyone become a shaman?” and “Is there an initiation involved in becoming a shaman?” and “How old is shamanism?” Listen below to learn more. You can also read the transcription below the video.

Please click here for the Transcript 5 Video

Note: All questions and responses in the above interview were unrehearsed.

Cindy: I'm here this afternoon with Charles Crooks. He's the man who's been working with me for the last several years and has helped me become a very joyful person and want to help other people. He is a shaman. And people are always saying [to me], "You are working with a shaman. What is a shaman?" Well, Charles Crooks is a shaman and I'm going to ask him some questions concerning that. And one of them is is a person called or born to be a shaman?

Shaman Charles: Ooooh. Yes and no. You're going to have situations where somebody will come in…and they'll come into a family that will allow that to manifest itself, which will be kind of obvious. But then you'll also find other situations where that talent, technique or method may not be known until the last one-third of their life. So it really…it's a hard question to really…to define.

Cindy: So, can somebody train to become a shaman?

Shaman Charles: Yeah.

Cindy: There is training involved in it, even if you're…even if you were…you say you may not be born with it. But if somebody was like…came into it….

Shaman Charles: Exhibited.

Cindy: Yeah. Could they…Do they have to…Is there training involved?

Shaman Charles: Yes.

Cindy: Okay. Can you tell me how old is shamanism? Is it old? Has it been around for a while?

Shaman Charles: About 10,000 years, as far as I know.

Cindy: Okay. How did you, yourself, get interested in shamanism?

Shaman Charles: In my case, I took an action that drew the attention of a couple of people. And they, at different locations, ran configuration checks to figure out who I was. Afterwards, they had me come in and ran me through a bunch of tests, of which I didn't know was going on. It was just casual tests…that type of stuff. And eventually, it was decided a year or so later, after these series of tests, to take a journey out in the desert. And therein, many things were made known to me and also many things were returned to me.

Cindy: So, when you were younger, did you know that you were going to be a shaman?

Shaman Charles: No.

Cindy: You had no idea?

Shaman Charles: No.

Cindy: But you had abilities that other people did not have. Is that true?

Shaman Charles: Yeah, it kept me out of trouble. I knew when it was good to go out with my buddies and goof off and party and all that. And I knew when it was not good. Yeah, I had stuff like that. So yeah.

Cindy: So okay. I've also heard that people…that most shamans have suffered a tremendous illness or have some severe hardship before becoming a shaman. Was that the case with you? Or is that the case? Do you have to suffer to become a shaman?

Shaman Charles: No. However, it is a very good tool to temper things, so to speak. You have to…if you are going to build a beautiful sword you have to beat the heck out of the metal and temper it. It is the same with the individual deciding to do some of the deeper work.

Cindy: It's kind of, like what I've heard with counselors. They say the best counselors are people who have gone through that situation. So, a shaman helps people who are in pain. Is that correct? And so, if you've been through the pain, you are probably a better…well, at a more beneficial spot to help other people. Yes or no?

Shaman Charles: I think that's just common knowledge. It doesn't matter whether you are a shaman or not. For instance, anybody who has been through an experience and is at the point where they're comfortable and without judgment can be a great assistance to somebody else that's going through it.

Cindy: Okay.

Shaman Charles: So, that's all traditions.

Cindy: Alright. And what kind of training does it take to become a shaman? I know…I've been back in your meditation room and I've seen all these plaques and things on the wall. But, what kind of training did you have to become a shaman?

Shaman Charles: That's a good question. I've never really considered the goal to become a shaman to begin with. So, I didn't really start out on a training system or anything of that…with that particular goal. I did get involved with the Rosicrucians Order out of San Jose and they were very good. And their approach was validate, validate, validate. Their actual terms…their actual statement they said, "They wanted people to be walking question marks." This way when you went through whatever they had to teach, or the systems that they used, you learned it first-hand. That way you would not depend upon the parent organization to continue [your training]. So as to training to become a shaman or wanting to become a shaman—nah, that never crossed my mind. To want to help society—yeah, that was kind of like—it was a desire all the way from the get-go I think.

Cindy: So that is your goal—is really to help society.

Shaman Charles: To bring society up to a higher level, yeah. And just bring about overall good tidings all the way around, I guess.

Cindy: Alright. And one of the things that I've heard you talk about is certain traditions. I've heard there are different traditions of shamans. Because, you know, if you look online at a shaman, they'll say there's American Indian shamans, Tibetan shamans and…looking at you, you don't look American Indian…you don't look Tibetan to me. But, is there a certain type of tradition of shamanism that people adopt or how does that work?

Shaman Charles: That's a good question. I'm tied in with the Chinese tradition because of the lineage or, in other words, because of the lineage by which I was brought up in. So, I would have to say it is more along that line. However, the Aztec and/or American Indian are not unknown to me.

Cindy: I've also heard you talk about a 10-cell. What is that—a 10-cell?

Shaman Charles: Okay. There's various cells and training that's done. The 10-cell is the most relaxed and most enjoyable. There are other cells that are very, very strict. And so, it just depends. So, when we do a 10-cell type class, the class is very open, nobody is restricted as to what they may look at or what they may read. The standards….not so much the standards…but the…I would have to use [that] everything is so open that the individual can study anything and still not be out of line with the work that we are doing. So, in other words, there is not…there are no restrictions. It's very open.

Cindy: So that's just a different type of training, is what you're saying. And you are more of an open trainer…is what you're looking at.

Shaman Charles: Yes. Yes. For example, I'll use the process 'the tower,' which is a 16, which is also a system I'll use and I'll also use 'law,' which is 4 because that's in one of my configurations. As a result, the 10-cell, which has a lot of latitude, I'll use 4 for law. And you hear me talk about the law quite a bit. And also, I'll use 16 that has to do with inspiration. And what that does, is it causes one to have that point of inspiration where all things are blown away that no longer support them.

Cindy: So now when you are talking about numbers, as you know I'm major into numbers.

Shaman Charles: Yes.

Cindy: I'm into numerology. You know, there are people that say, "That is a dark force activity—numerology, astrology, anything like that is a dark force activity." What would you have to say to those people?

Shaman Charles: I think that's kind of silly. I mean, after all if it wasn't for astrologers, nobody knew…nobody would have known that Jesus came around. In fact, it was astrologers that made the prophecy that Jesus was going to come into the earth. That's why the Old Testament still exists.

Cindy: From my standpoint, it looks like those things…if they benefit mankind, how can they be bad for people? Do you feel that way also?

Shaman Charles: Well, it's the same mentality you have with every major religion when there's no validation of the principles brought forth and all it is, is belief; then, the first thing you are going to do is fear anything that threatens or that is contrary to what you believe. For example, the most recent statement by one of the religious leaders in the area—basically, [he] says that you can't do yoga anymore because it's bad, but you can 'exercise on the mat.'

Cindy: [Laughter]. We are laughing because when you think…its sounds…it's funny.

Shaman Charles: Yeah, it is.

Cindy: Okay. So now you've talked about doing…do you work in more than one tradition? Do you practice Buddhism and shamanism? Can you work in more than one tradition? Is it beneficial to do that?

Shaman Charles: Depends on what's needed at the time.

Cindy: So you do what's needed?

Shaman Charles: Yeah...what's needed…yeah. For instance, each tradition, each religious order…and I'll put it that way…has benefits. And I would like to use a comment Elvis Presley did years ago. He was having an interview, and somebody noted that he had the cross, the Star of David, and the Muslim symbol of the moon around his neck. And they asked him why he had all of them there. And he said, "I don't want to get kicked out of heaven on a technicality." So I have to stick with that.

Cindy: Okay. I have one more question in this segment.

Shaman Charles: Okay.

Cindy: And that is: Is there any kind of initiation performed to become a shaman?

Shaman Charles: Yes.

Cindy: Yes. And that's all you're going to say because…it's secret.

Shaman Charles: Yes. That is correct.

Cindy: Is it secret?

Shaman Charles: It's private.

Cindy: Oh private, not secret. Okay. Again, we thank you Charles for being with us this afternoon. And if you want to find out more information about Charles, you can reach him on his website. And Charles, can you give us that address?

Shaman Charles: It's http://shamanic-enterprises.com.

Cindy: Thanks again, Charles.

Shaman Charles: And thank you very much.

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