S1 E31 - Rituals, Ceremony, and the Magic of Connection - LightSong Talking Stick Podcastn

Co-hosts: Jan Engels-Smith and Micah Schwader

In this episode of the LightSong School of 21st Century Shamanism and Energy Medicine Talking Stick Podcast, Jan Engels-Smith and Micah Schwader explore the timeless role of ritual and ceremony in shamanic practice—and why these sacred acts still matter so deeply in our modern lives.

From the gentle power of blessings placed like luminous "sticky notes" upon the soul, to the primal heartbeat of the drum resonating through every culture, Jan and Micah share stories that reveal how ritual alters our energy, grounds us in community, and opens the doorway to spirit.

Together, they discuss:

• The difference between rituals, ceremonies, and traditions—and how each shapes our spiritual lives.
• How everyday acts, from making tea to blowing out birthday candles, carry sacred resonance.
• Why ritual provides safety, belonging, and connection in a time when loneliness is epidemic.
• The way ceremony changes our energetic blueprint, anchoring us into new versions of ourselves.
• How ritual can reprogram the mind, raise vibration, and invite magic into the everyday.

With stories from Indigenous traditions around the world and personal memories from decades of teaching, this conversation is both practical and deeply inspiring. Whether you're lighting a candle before meditation, journeying with a drum, or placing a morning blessing on your family, you'll discover how ritual and ceremony create sacred containers for healing, transformation, and joy.

Come listen and remember: the magic lives in the ritual.

For more information about Jan's ReCreate Yourself class, visit https://www.lightsong.net/recreate-yourself

For more information about Micah's Shamanic Storytelling class, visit https://shamansezz.com/shamanic-storytelling/

For more information about Micah's memoir, Stumbling Into Grace: The Adventures of a Transgender Shaman, visit ShamanSezz.com/stumbling-into-grace-the-book