The Shaman archetype is a synthesis of all the other archetypes and as a consequence young people can not be shaman, they may be old souls but  experiencing and practicing the shaman archetype requires years of practice and years of review of the other four presented here.The shaman archetype also possesses characteristics of the mother archetype, and the trickster archetype, called Coyote in native traditions.

    The shaman archetype has the characteristics of the warrior, the Explorer, the Adventurer, and the Traveler. The important distinction is that the Shaman devotes her life to others. This is demonstrated in the loving and nurturing characteristics of the mother archetype. The shaman expresses this mother through her knowledge and practice of healing, knowledge of the use of herbs and the knowledge and teachings of heath.

 Because Shaman must be of an older age, their very survival into an elderly state is evidence of their embodiment of shaman. As wisdom comes with age, so does a season skepticism and sense of weariness for this world. Many shaman express this through archetype of the Trickster. Carl Jong says “he is fond of sly jokes, malicious pranks, has a dual nature and skills in shape shifting.” The Aikido shaman may express this in a playful way when teaching her student. She may fain a lack of knowledge, give the opposite or wrong answer for effect, and even demonstrate behaviors opposite to her true self and nature. The purpose of this feigned deceit is to bring the student to a higher level of personal inquiry and help the student look for her own answers.

    Once practicing the shaman archetype the shaman never revisits the other aikido archetypes This may be expressed through a longing for the innocence of the “white belt” or the realization she can never be a simple tourist because she had acquired to much knowledge. The wisdom of the shaman also comes with a great sensitivity to others and even a despondency in the state of the world. The shaman may retreat to high mountains or require time spent in solitude to balance these feelings.

 

    Often the only solace she feels in the achievements of her students because when the students fail to come, the teacher does not have a purpose. It is said that Loa Tsu when finished with his teaching went to the countries North of China because of his discontent with Confucianism. The shaman archetype is also expressed with the character Johnathan Livingston Seagull who simply disappeared from the branch when his teaching was finished.