Greetings everyone!

I have been lurking here for quite a while now, but I feel that this is a good time for me to become a bit more active. I had planned on reprogramming my mind (again) for a while before starting on a new spiritual path. However, the coming of teopiltzin has spiked my interest in shamanism, a path I know next to nothing about. Although I usually don't rush into these things, I feel that it might be interesting to follow a path that I am not biased to in any way. While little foreknowledge might be a problem in most magickal disciplines I don't think it will be in this case, since Goibniu said shamanism is a path that requires less human teaching than others and because of the fact that it is the oldest form of religion and therefore probably the most intuitive. It is because of my intuition that I am following through with this, but I might need some guidance. I'm planning on posting my questions and my advancement in the path in this thread, so other beginning shamans might perhaps benefit from it someday.

Something I would like to avoid are complicated rituals and material requirements. I prefer to practise any magickal art empty-handed. Apart from that I'm also not very fond of serving any particular god. I started my path as a christian and I've had enough of devotion to a deity for a while, though I have learned a great deal and generally agree with Jesus' teachings (but no so much with christianity anymore). I would instead prefer to work with spirits as my friends, counsellors and mentors. I hope that this will be possible with shamanism.

As I understand, my first step is to make a shamanic journey to find my power animal. I have felt a strong connection with ravens before, so I suspect I might have already had some guidance. Any advice you can give me before I begin this journey? A first question that springs to mind is: how will I know for sure I am really in a shamanic journey and not just daydreaming? Unless that it's fine if this is daydreaming since the power animal is really just a subconscious part of myself and the journey is just a means to connect with that part?

Peace be with you,

Mir