Namaste.
My name is Bhola Banstola, a 27th Generation Jhankri Shaman from Nepal.
Welcome to my website, where I hope to help you understand my path, and also to invite you to join in with the courses we offer.
It is my greatest wish to preserve and share the Shamanism of my tradition, to keep it alive and to bring it to new generations of practitioners. I also support Nepali education and culture through my work and the kindness of others. I believe that a Shaman should always serve their community in the best way they can.
Shamanism in Nepal, as in other places, is based on an animistic belief that honours Mother Earth, elemental beings and respects the spirit that resides in all living beings. This universal worldview is vital in preserving the ecology of the land and in bringing harmony and universal brotherhood and sisterhood to all things, both tangible and intangible.
Shamanic sources of power come from honouring the ancestors, lineage protectors, Mother Earth and the spirits of the place where the Shaman performs his or her ceremonies. The Shamans must call on the Guardian Spirits of Earth and the Deities who are all partners in the work. The hidden sacred language of the land is felt in the form of rhythms, vibrations, and warm and cold sensations in the physical body. Understanding this language, the shaman always honours the spirits of the place they practice, and requests their permission and blessings. The Elements within the body and those of the land are powerfully connected and this relationship is integral to the way a Shaman works.
Dhami and Jhankri are the generic terms used throughout Nepal for a Shaman or Healer, both male and female. They are the ones people traditionally consult to re-establish harmony and heal mind and body. These Shamans are the central figures in their communities for they are not only the healers but also the advisers, plant healers, soul guides, storytellers, dancers, singers, artists, and musicians.
They acquire these talents and their spiritual power and wisdom through their personal training and experiences in working with spirits, ancestral deities, elemental spirits, and guides. They can voluntarily modify their state of consciousness to heal individuals and bring harmony into the community.
My blessings to you on your path, with my hope that you may also wish to explore the richness of the Jhankri way.
Sarwa Mangalam
Bhola Banstola
