Shamanism is a practice that has been around for thousands of years. It is an ancient spiritual practice that involves use of rituals and symbols to connect with the spiritual world and ask for special help. A shaman is a person who practices shamanism and is believed to have special powers to communicate with spirits, both good and bad, from the spirit world. A shaman can use rituals and other tools to find answers to physical, mental and spiritual questions or concerns. For example, a shaman might use rituals to help heal an illness or to bring peace and abundance to a tribe or community.