Kate Henderson, LAc. became interested in shamanic journeying after she and several patients experienced vivid, lucid dreams while receiving acupuncture that differed greatly from night time dreaming. These experiences were clear, seemed meaningful and symbolic to the individual, and were experienced when awake during an acupuncture session. Some of the experiences and themes described by patients fall within a framework of classic symbolic experiences reported by indigenous shamans worldwide who are adept at inducing trance, or self hypnosis, for the purpose of ‘journeying outside of time’. Since before recorded history, rapid rhythmic percussion (referred to in this context by ethnologists as ‘auditory driving’) on a frame drum has been used to induce this state of ‘waking dreaming’. Kate is currently training with the Foundation of Shamanic Studies to learn how to integrate this practice into her work with Chinese Medicine, and performance.
