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Other journeys are like a Star Trek adventure as shamans encounter places and beings with whom they are less familiar. Shamans may find themselves in barren deserts that seem to extend forever. They may find unearthly cacti in this desert that speak to them about how to heal the patient. Shamans may find themselves near a cave in which a tribal African ritual is occurring and be invited to participate by a wise woman who approaches. Eliade has classified nonordinary reality into three major territories: Upper World, Middle World, and Lower World. The names come from the direction of travel the shaman experiences in getting to these worlds.

There are many levels in the Upper World and Lower World. Traveling in these territories, the shamanic practitioner realizes that we live in an unlimited universe. Although descriptions of nonordinary reality are subject to mental limitations, I will share some of what I experience there to give you an idea of what these territories might be like.

The Upper World is experienced by some as ethereal. The lighting is often very bright, and the colors can go from blinding light to soft pastels, to gray, to complete darkness. In the[…]”