Shamanism in the MRI Scanner by Eline Kieft

Medical tests are an inevitable part of modern life. One experience that tends to heighten anxiety is an MRI scan. The claustrophobic tube, the pounding mechanical noise and the requirement to remain perfectly still for extended periods can create intense sensory overload.

At some point I became aware of the similarities with a shamanic journey, and found a way to transform this ordeal into a ritual of connection and support. With mindful presence and inner attunement, you can imagine the tube as a tunnel to the archetypal realms. The rhythmic, mechanical hum replaces the drumbeat. Spirit becomes a companion alongside modern technology.

I hope you’ll never need it, but should you be scheduling an MRI scan, this is an invitation to meet it with a sacred intention. You might connect with a power guide, receive unexpected insights, or simply meditate on a sense of peace while your body is being scanned. Participate, actively, in something that can feel “done to you” and turn it into a soulful inquiry into your inner world while the medical staff do their thing…

What is a Shamanic Journey?

A shamanic journey is a form of meditation or visionary practice where you travel into non-ordinary reality, usually with the aid of a drumbeat or rattle, to connect with spiritual allies. It’s a time-honoured way of seeking guidance, wisdom and healing from power animals or spirit helpers. These live in the Upper, Middle or Lower Worlds, depending on the cosmology you work with.

The journey itself is initiated by setting a clear intention, whether it’s meeting a power animal, seeking answers, offering healing or simply engaging in sacred communion with the spirit world.

The steady drumbeat, much like the repetitive sounds of the MRI machine, helps to shift brainwaves from a beta state (associated with alert, waking consciousness) to an alpha or even theta state, which are more meditative and conducive to journeying. This change in consciousness allows you to move beyond ordinary reality and enter the deep, spiritual realm of your shamanic practice.

In this context, your shamanic journey in the MRI scanner is not just an escape from the stress of the scan but a meaningful way to make the time count. By anchoring yourself in your spiritual practice, you may even find that the physical discomfort or mental unease is mitigated, and that you emerge from the scanner feeling centred, empowered and even renewed!

The MRI Scanner: A Challenge for the Soul

If you’ve ever had an MRI scan, you’re familiar with the process. You lie on a table, which is then slid into a large, cylindrical machine. For many, the enclosed space of the scanner can evoke feelings of claustrophobia. The machine’s loud, rattling and knocking noises can also be deeply unsettling. And it’s essential not to move for the entire duration of the scan. Every though your body wants to change posture, you must remain perfectly still. Imagine what a challenge that is for me :-)

For the highly sensitive or spiritually attuned individual, the scanner feels like a test of endurance. But there’s another way to approach it. Rather than dreading the time spent in that tight, noisy space, why not choose to see it as a unique environment where a different type of healing can take place? That certainly is the case if you approach it as a shamanic journey.

In the scanner, I had an amazing journey with Badger, one of the medicine allies, spirit helpers, or power animals I’m working with at the moment. He helped me dig through the tunnel, clearing away the growth of the fibroid on my uterus (this was back in 2024 and I am doing well after a full hysterectomy!).

Clearing space, we emerged in a beautiful pink cave, where I spent deep relaxing healing time with what felt like the essence of Mary Magdalen. In fact, I was sad when the scan was complete, as I felt there was more to explore in the otherworld!

Recipe for Making a Journey in the MRI Scanner

Here are some concrete steps to take before and during your MRI Journey:

1. Just as you would prepare for a traditional shamanic journey, it’s important to set a clear intention. I felt it was powerful to connect with my upcoming hysterectomy for which I was in the scanner, but it can be as simple as asking your power animal for protection, going to a place of nurture and relaxation, or receiving guidance for healing.
2. Once you’ve set your intention, call in your power animal. You might visualise them standing beside you or feel their presence within you. If you’re not familiar with working with a power animal, simply call upon a creature that resonates with you. The power of the shamanic journey lies in its personal nature. It’s your relationship with this animal that matters most.
3. One of the most challenging aspects of an MRI is the overwhelming noise. But in shamanic traditions, sound is often a portal to non-ordinary reality. Drums and rattles help us to enter a trance state. Although the MRI scanner isn’t a traditional drum, the repetitive sounds can serve a similar function. Rather than fighting the noise, try to imagine it as a drumbeat guiding you into your journey. Allow the rhythm, even if it is irregular, to carry you deeper into your experience.
4. On the hoofbeat or wings of sound, imagine travelling to a sacred place. This could be a place you’re familiar with from previous journeys, or it could be somewhere new. If you already have a power animal, you can ask it to guide you. It’s often easiest to travel into the lower world via a tunnel.
5. Let the journey unfold naturally. As my teacher Jonathan Horwitz always says: “Take an active, yet non-controlling stance.” Relax back and “enjoy the ride”, and if nothing happens, ask for help. You may meet with spiritual allies, receive messages, or simply enjoy the sensation of being connected to something greater than yourself. Remember, the journey doesn’t have to be “productive” in the traditional sense, it’s enough simply to be in the sacred space.
6. To keep your body physically still, focus on your breath and the connection with your power animal. You might imagine your power animal resting beside you, offering comfort and protection. Some people find it helpful to visualise themselves surrounded by a sphere of light, a bubble of sacred energy that keeps them grounded and centred. This is especially helpful if you start to feel anxious or uncomfortable.
7. When the scan is over, switch back to everyday consciousness. You have to get dressed first, I had to pee desperately too. Perhaps you have questions for the medical or administrative staff, or they for you. Depending on the situation, you might need to pay afterwards too.
8. Once those practicalities are done, for example when you’re back in your car, or taking a cup of tea in the café, take a moment to close the journey, thank your power animal and reflect on your experience. How do you feel? Did you receive any insights or messages during your journey? Did it contribute to a sense of peace and calm? Whatever the outcome for you, recognise that the time spent in sacred connection has its own value, regardless of whether you received any concrete answers or solutions.

Two Major Differences

Of course it’s not the same as making a shamanic journey in a traditional shamanic context, a safely held workshop setting or a familiar space at home. There are two main differences:

1. You’re likely feeling some pressure of the situation. Perhaps you’re worried about the results of the test, concerned about your health or simply dreading the physical aspects of the scan itself. These are all valid concerns, but in this context, the journey can serve a dual purpose: it can help you calm your mind and body, and it can also be a way to connect with your spiritual allies for guidance, protection and healing. These times are often when we need their support the most!
2. You are in a professional health care setting, with medical personnel attending to you. There is a different level of surrender and you are likely going to be “pulled out of your journey” at any moment, as I was after 10 minutes, to be injected with a contrast fluid. Telling them off, “Purlease, leave me alone, I’m having a conversation with Badger here” would not be helpful. Practise stretching and flexing of your shamanic consciousness, and regard the interruption as part of the journey. This also goes for the return to everyday consciousness afterward (see step 7 above).

Conclusion

It’s easy to feel frustrated with medical exams, or feel that we are merely passive recipients of a time consuming process. But when you approach the MRI scan as an opportunity for shamanic journeying, it’s no longer just about getting through the test, you are actively engaging in your own healing. This transforms the experience from a potential trial to something deeply meaningful. So, the next time you might find yourself lying in that narrow, noisy scanner, remember: the journey is yours to make.

I’d love to read your comments on this essay – even when MRI’s or shamanic journeys are far from your experience… what do you think?

References

Image designed by Eline Kieft with ChatGPT and edited in Canva.

An earlier version of this essay was published on November 09, 2025 on my Substack Wild Soul Moves, as Sacred Space in Hospital: Spiritual Practice for MRI Scanner Anxiety.

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Bio

Her book Dancing in the Muddy Temple blends theory and practice in service of land, body, and spirit. Now leading Wild Soul Centre for Embodied Consciousness, she offers coaching and courses to support deep transformation and inner strength through movement and the body. Try out her Qi Gong Membership for free! You can also find her on LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram and Substack.