What to Do After a Shamanic Travel Experience
So… You Just Had a Shamanic Journey. Now What?
Coming back from a shamanic travel experience is kind of like waking up from the most vivid, soul-shaking dream of your life… and then immediately having to do your laundry.
You just cracked open your soul, in a Shamanic retreat, hugged your inner child, cried into the jungle floor, maybe purged in a bucket (no shame), and now you’re back in your tiny apartment surrounded by emails and unpaid bills. Ugh. The magic feels like it’s already slipping away.
So what the heck are you supposed to do now? That’s where integration comes in.
Integration is how you make all that cosmic insight stick. Without it? Your big awakening becomes just another story you tell over drinks. (And let’s be honest, “That one time I became a jaguar” only gets you so far.)
Let’s break it down together, step by step, like friends unpacking their spiritual suitcases.
Why Integration Is the Real Journey
Integration is where the transformation happens. The ceremony cracked you open, sure. But what you do afterward determines whether you evolve or just regress into your old patterns.
Ever wonder why people go to amazing retreats and come back… the same?
Spoiler alert: It’s not the retreat’s fault. They didn’t integrate.
What Does Integration Actually Mean?
Let’s strip it down. Integration is:
- Making sense of your experience
- Applying your insights to daily life
- Creating new habits that reflect your growth
You don’t need a PhD in spirituality, you just need intention, patience, and maybe a friend who won’t judge when you start talking about energy grids. Here is What to Do After Your Shamanic Travel Experience
1. Give Yourself Time to Land
First things first: Don’t rush back into your old life.
I know, I know. You’ve got stuff to do. But seriously, your nervous system needs a minute. Or several.
Step 1: Rest Is Not Laziness
Think of your body as the hard drive, and the shamanic journey as the massive software download. You wouldn’t start multitasking while your system updates, right?
Take at least a few days (or more) to:
- Sleep—your dreams might still be processing things for you.
- Unplug—minimize tech, noise, and distractions.
- Reflect—let the experience settle before you start analyzing it.
Pro tip: If you can swing it, spend some time in nature. Even just sitting under a tree can work wonders. FYI, trees don’t judge your emotional baggage.
2. Journal Like Your Life Depends on It (Because It Kinda Does)
Okay, maybe not your whole life, but journaling is your integration MVP.
Why? Because your mind will forget what your soul whispered, especially once your to-do list kicks back in.
Not Sure What to Write? Start Here:
- What did I experience, and how did it feel?
- What insights came through?
- What did I learn about myself, my patterns, or my purpose?
- What’s changing inside me—and what’s resisting that change?
Pro tip: Don’t edit. Just write. Ugly handwriting, weird metaphors, messy feelings? All welcome.
IMO, some of the best breakthroughs come from total word vomit.
3. Talk to Someone Who Gets It
Please, for the love of all things sacred, don’t try to explain your spirit animal journey to your skeptical boss. That’s a one-way ticket to awkward-town.
Instead, connect with people who actually get it.
Good Options:
- A trained integration coach
- A therapist who’s cool with spiritual stuff
- A friend who’s also had a shamanic experience
- Online integration circles or support groups
Why this matters: Processing with others can validate your experience, help you stay accountable, and remind you that you’re not totally losing it. (Even if it feels like it.)
4. Anchor Insights Into Action
You know that insight you got about needing stronger boundaries? Or the realization that your job is slowly draining your soul?
Yeah… don’t just nod and forget it. Integration means doing something about it.
Try This:
- Pick one insight that really hit home.
- Ask yourself: What does it look like in real life?
- Set a small, doable goal around it.
Example:
Insight: “I need to be more present.”
Action: Start each day with 5 minutes of breathwork instead of doomscrolling.
Don’t try to change your entire life overnight. Just start living in alignment, one habit at a time.
5. Beware the Post-Retreat Identity Crisis (It’s a Thing)
Let’s talk about the post-journey emotional hangover. One minute you’re high on universal love, the next you’re sobbing because you don’t relate to your friends anymore.
This is normal.
Seriously, so many of us go through this. You’ve just met a deeper version of yourself—of course, you’re going to feel out of sync for a bit.
Tips to Stay Grounded:
- Stay hydrated—yes, water really helps.
- Eat clean-ish—your body’s still recalibrating.
- Move your body—walk, dance, stretch. Just move.
- Cry if you need to—tears are detox, not weakness.
Let it be weird. Growth always feels weird at first.
6. Don’t Chase the Next Ceremony (Yet)
Look, I get the temptation. That high from your last retreat? It’s addictive. But integration is not a spiritual buffet where you just hop from ceremony to ceremony without digesting.
If you feel the urge to jump into your next healing journey ASAP, ask yourself:
Am I integrating or escaping?
Take time to absorb this one. Let it breathe. You wouldn’t eat a five-course meal in 10 minutes—why rush your soul’s process?
7. Create Your Own Daily Rituals
Retreats have structure, support, and ceremony. Your real life… probably doesn’t. But guess what? You can build your own tiny sacred moments that keep the magic alive.
Simple Rituals That Work:
- Morning tea with intention
- Lighting a candle while journaling
- Pulling a daily oracle card
- Breathing deeply before checking your phone (wild idea, right?)
The point isn’t perfection. It’s consistency. These rituals anchor your new awareness into your everyday reality.
8. Keep Your Spiritual Toolbox Handy
You left that retreat with something. Maybe a mantra, a crystal, a chant, or a playlist that opens your heart in 0.5 seconds.
Use it. Don’t let your tools collect dust.
And if you didn’t take any tools home, start building your own:
- Breathwork techniques
- Sound healing playlists
- Guided shamanic journeys (YouTube has some decent ones)
- Books or podcasts by trusted spiritual teachers
Just remember: The tools don’t do the work—you do.
9. Track Your Growth (Even the Weird Little Wins)
This one might sound corny, but I swear it works.
Keep a running list of your “integration wins.”
Big ones, like leaving a toxic job. Small ones, like choosing a green juice over doomscrolling.
Why It Helps:
- You’ll see real evidence that change is happening.
- You’ll stay motivated when the process gets messy.
- You’ll stop thinking you’re “backsliding” just because you had one bad day.
Healing isn’t linear, but it is measurable, if you’re paying attention.
10. Be Gentle With Yourself (Seriously)
You don’t need to become a better person overnight. You don’t need to throw away everything you own and move to a yurt in the mountains (unless you want to—then go for it!).
What you do need is compassion.
Integration isn’t a checklist. It’s a lifestyle.
So on days when you’re back to binge-watching reality TV and forgetting your morning rituals? Don’t beat yourself up. Just begin again.
Every moment is a chance to come back to yourself.
Final Thoughts: What to Do After a Shamanic Travel Experience
Shamanic journeys shake up your soul in the best possible way. But what happens after is where the real transformation lives.
So journal your heart out. Take naps. Say “no” more. Say “yes” to what lights you up.
And remember: You’re not broken. You’re blooming.
You got this.
Now go drink some water, take a deep breath, and maybe hug a tree for good measure. Because hey, integration is the new enlightenment.
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Evelyn, founder of TheraputicPlaces.com, is a travel writer and content creator passionate about soulful journeys, hidden places, and storytelling that inspires. Her blog explores how nature, movement, and mindful travel support emotional well-being. Her content is intended for inspiration, not as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.