Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Colorado Institute of Shamanic Studies?
The Colorado Institute of Shamanic Studies (CISS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that teaches modern Andean shamanism through structured, sequential online courses. Based in Colorado and open to students worldwide, CISS trains students in the Q'ero lineage of the Peruvian Andes, guiding them through discoveries and experiences that prepare them for personal transformation and professioanl practice as a shamanic practitioner or teacher.
What is Andean shamanism?
Andean shamanism is an energy medicine tradition originating with the Q'ero people of the Peruvian Andes. At the heart of this tradition is the practice of sacred reciprocity, a way of engaging with nature and the cosmos as living, conscious partners rather than as resources to deplete. Andean shamanism centers on restoring energetic balance within oneself and cultivating a deliberate, reciprocal relationship with the natural and spiritual worlds.
Is shamanic training the same as therapy or medical treatment?
No. Shamanic training at CISS is an educational and personal-development practice, not a substitute for medical or mental health treatment. Students often use these practices alongside, not instead of, professional healthcare, and CISS does not make medical claims about its training.
What is the mission of the Colorado Institute for Shamanic Studies (CISS)?
The Institute is committed to providing rigorous shamanic training, high-quality yet affordable services, and general outreach and support to Colorado’s shamanic community. The Institute achives this by offering instruction in shamanism for all levels of lay students and professional practitioners, maintaining a shamanic healing clinic where non-members may experience shamanic healing and advanced students may conduct supervised shamanic healing sessions, conducting public ceremony, organizing community service offerings such as hospital and prison visitations and end-of- life services, conducting and publishing research on the application of shamanism in modern society, and ordaining and licensing qualified individuals in the practice of shamanism.
What is this about?
Course Structure & Format
How are CISS courses structured?
CISS courses run in 10-week quarters delivered online, allowing students anywhere in the world to participate. Each quarter builds sequentially, moving students through foundational concepts, core practices, then leading to advanced techniques like soul retrieval and ancestral healing.
Are CISS classes online or in-person?
CISS classes are held online, making the training accessible to students regardless of location. Course materials, guided journeys, and live class sessions are all delivered through virtual formats. Students desiring certification must attend 2 weekend-long residencies for in-person training and experience.
How long does it take to complete the full CISS program?
The full CISS curriculum is organized into 10-week academic quarters. Courses are sequential from foundational to intermediate, and then culminating in advanced courses. The Foundation series is 2 quarters, the Initiation series (intermediate) is 5 quarters, and most students with a goal of becomming a practicing shaman will take 6 to 8 quarters of advanced study. From beginning to completion, a typical program will take between 3 and 4 years.
Do I need prior experience to start at CISS?
No prior shamanic experience is assumed or required. The foundational courses introduce all the required skills and experience first, so students new to energy medicine and shamanic practice are fully prepared before engaging in more challenging topics in the intermediate and advanced courses.
Core Concepts
What does ayni mean?
Ayni is the Andean principle of sacred reciprocity — the idea that humans exist in a balanced, reciprocal relationship with nature, community, and spirit. It underlies most Andean shamanic practice, including the despacho ceremony, and is taught at CISS as a foundational worldview rather than a single technique.
What is soul retrieval in shamanic practice?
Soul retrieval is a shamanic healing practice aimed at recovering fragmented parts of a person's essence that have become disconnected during trauma or difficult life experiences. At CISS, advanced students learn this practice and experience soul retrieval under careful supervision. Soul retrieval is one of the core practices of shamanism.
What are the four archetypes in Andean shamanism?
The four archetypes are Serpent, Jaguar, Hummingbird, and Eagle-Condor, each representing a stage of personal transformation drawn from Q'ero cosmology. Serpent teaches shedding old patterns, Jaguar teaches fearlessness, Hummingbird teaches pursuing what's meaningful despite obstacles, and Eagle-Condor teaches expanded vision and perspective.
What are the three worlds in shamanic cosmology?
The three worlds--ukhu pacha, kay pacha, and hanaq pacha--represent the lower world, middle (or ordinary) world, and the upper world in Andean shamanic cosmology. Students learn to journey between these realms as part of their shamanic training.
What is a despacho ceremony?
A despacho is a Q'ero ceremonial offering made of natural materials, arranged and blessed to express gratitude, request healing, or mark an intention, then returned to the earth or transformed through fire. It's one of the core ceremonial practices taught at CISS as an expression of ayni, or reciprocity with nature.
What is the luminous energy field?
The luminous energy field (LEF), or poqpo, is the subtle energetic field that surrounds the physical body, holding imprints of experiences, ancestral patterns, and health. Much of Andean energy medicine practice, including work taught at CISS, is focused on cleansing and maintaining this field.
Practical Considerations
Who teaches at CISS?
CISS courses are led by experienced instructors within the Q'ero lineage tradition, under the direction of CISS President Shaman JP McLaughlin and Vice-President Shaman Rowena HawkFeather. All teaching functions at CISS are supervised by the CISS Board of Directors.
Is CISS accredited or certified?
CISS is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable and educational organization. Shamanic training programs are not generally accredited by governmental or academic bodies the way traditional colleges and universites are. CISS certification reflects successful completion within its own structured curriculum, academic standards, and lineage tradition. CISS strives to maintain high academic standards to preserve the value of its certification for the benefit of both perspective students and past graduates.
How much does CISS training cost?
Each course is currently priced at $475 USD per quarter. Most students take one course per quarter, making the annual tuition cost $1900 USD. A full 3 to 4 year certificate program, including tuition for required residencies, is approximately $6650 to $7600 USD. Students are responsible for the own travel expenses for attending residencies. Students may also incur other minor expenses for ceremonial objects and shamanic materials they may need in support of their practices.
Can I take individual CISS courses without committing to the full program?
Yes. Some courses have prerequisites that must be met prior to enrolling, but students register and pay for classes each quarter with no other commitment required.
What's the difference between CISS and other shamanic training programs?
The CISS curriculum optimizes the learning process with a focus on preparing students to become shamanic practitioners. The pacing of coursework and experience gathering is specifically designed to build knowledge and comfort with the practices at a rate most students can effectively absorb and master. CISS is distinguished by its structured, sequential 10-week quarter format, and its flexibility, allowing students to explore their own interests after meeting basic competency through the Foundational and Intermediate courses. For qualified students, CISS offers internships in both shamanic healing and teaching, as well as an optional seminary course to earn credentialing as an ordained shamanic minister.