In shamanic belief systems, death and rebirth are symbolic processes representing profound transformation and spiritual evolution rather than literal events. Death symbolizes the shedding of old patterns, beliefs, and attachments that no longer serve one’s growth, while rebirth signifies the emergence of a renewed self or higher state of consciousness. These processes reflect the cyclical nature of existence, where endings give rise to new beginnings, and personal transformation leads to spiritual growth and enlightenment.
Creating a “safe container” for individuals undergoing a death/rebirth experience involves establishing trust, boundaries, clear intentions, safety, and support. The absence of a secure container is frequently evident among less experienced practitioners who offer “healing” without adequate support and personal integration. As a result, individuals may return from such experiences feeling shattered and fragmented, having undergone a more traumatic symbolic death without subsequent rebirth due to the practitioner’s unaddressed shadow aspects. These safe container conditions are also central to working safely and ethically with psychotherapy clients. In fact, psychotherapists act as shamans here without consciously realising.
The psychotherapeutic process itself involves a symbolic death and rebirth. In trauma therapy facing painful memories and emotions may ultimately allow them to be processed, releasing the client from the grip of trauma (death) allowing them to rebuild their lives with new purpose, direction, and resilience (rebirth). Similarly, individuals struggling with depression or anxiety may have to empathically confront and challenge negative thought patterns and self-limiting beliefs (death) allowing them to develop hopefulness, optimism, and self-love (rebirth).
In my training as a shamanic practitioner, I had to undergo a literal burial to symbolise a death and rebirth process. It involved my digging a four-foot-deep grave and spending ten hours in there overnight. After stepping into the arms of mother earth and being covered over, I had to stay awake all night with the quest to share my life story to her. We’ve been conditioned into believing that an experience like this should be terrifying, however it was quite the opposite, it was blissful. Why? Because of the safe container I was in. I was being held by the earth, remembering that this was where my body came from and where it will return, nothing could hurt me here. I experienced a lot of healing though this initiation and certainly felt like I left a lot of baggage behind in my grave. I came out in the morning to watch the sunrise. It was like no sunrise I’d ever seen before. I felt different, better, happier and reconnected to the planet.
The thought of psychotherapy for some can be terrifying, like the idea of being buried alive underground for ten hours alone. My job therefore is to create a safe container within my practice room, so the death and rebirth process can organically commence. It is this container that makes a seemingly scary experience, one of curiosity, growth and expansion. Going into the arms of mother earth or into the arms of Freud’s consulting room to share your life story, should have the same conditions of professionalism, trust, boundaries, safety, and support.
Wherever you seek healing and transformation, regardless of the modality, always prioritise and seek out a secure container, from whoever or whatever you are called to work with.
