Led by Larry Peters, Ph.D.

Each of the 4 workshops in the series is devoted to sharing the “ecstatic” shamanic healing and ritual techniques practiced by Tibetan Bön shamans long before Buddhism, traditions still practiced by the descendants of these master shamans, the Tibetan tribal people living in the Nepal Himalayas, where shamanism is a living healing system. Dr. Larry Peters is a licensed psychotherapist, author, professor, and an initiated shaman in this tradition.

Participants should be familiar with shamanic journeying & power animals; bring something to sit on, a drum or rattle eyeshade or bandana, something personal for the group altar, and a sacred intention for the weekend. Workshops need not be taken in order as each is complete in itself and has its own ritual focus.


Tibetan Shamanism 1: Mandala of Shapes, Lights, Elements & Directions

A key pilgrimage site for Tibetans is the sacred reliquary structure known as "stupa." As a symbolic form, the stupa embodies the essential elements and goals of shamanic, as well as Tibetan Buddhist, practice. Each of its 5 levels represents a color, shape, element, and direction, as well as the chakra energy and state of consciousness gifted by the Buddha who resides there. These are the 5 Buddhas of Meditation and of the Bardo (the intermediate condition after death and before birth). 

The purpose of this workshop is to experience, in journey, meditation, and masked dance, the dynamic energies of the spirit elements, directions, and lights, for personal growth, inspiration, and realization. The workshop has an initiatory structure and purpose, culminating in a "nature journey" to enlist the aid of the elemental spirits for healing, including amulet-making and offerings for the community and planetary benefit of all beings.
-top of page-

Tibetan Shamanism 2: Techniques of Healing with Spiritual Extraction

Spiritual extraction techniques can be used to heal individual patients as well as for community cleansing. This workshop will focus on healing techniques practiced by the Ancient Bön Tibetan shamans and still used extensively by shamans in the Nepal Himalayas. These skills are taught through guided journeys and shamanic practices embodying spirit in dance and for the healing of others.
-top of page-

Tibetan Shamanism 3: Soul Retrieval and Psychopomp Process

Soul retrieval is a multi-faceted tradition involving ritual skills as well as the journeywork of the shamanic practitioner. Soul retrieval is more often than not combined with other healing processes like extraction, divination, spirit invocation, and psychopompic work. When these multiple processes are involved, the ritual as a whole is often known as karga puja (spirit weapon ceremony). In this workshop, the group first learns and then performs the karga puja ritual.

-top of page-

Tibetan Shamanism 4: Chöd, Community Cleansing, and the Cosmos

In this workshop, the guru puja initiation, which includes an introduction to techniques like pho-wa transference of consciousness) and chöd (the sacrifice of hindrances to spiritual awakening), is both learned and enacted, conferring shamanic abilities for soul retrieval; journey work with the dead and dying; healing of others, self, community, and planet.

Current workshops are being taught as part of the Nepal pilgrimages. At this time there is no 2007 workshop schedule in the U.S. 

Organizers interested in having Dr. Peters teach a workshop series in their locales (minimum – 20 participants) can contact Carol Peters (carol@petersmgmt.com) to arrange a mutually convenient date/place.