It is fascinating how similar the spiritual beliefs and practices of indigenous or pre-Christian societies all over the world were. How did so many shamanic cultures come to have so similar beliefs - from Latin America to Scandinavia? It is a question hard to answer but it makes it so much more interesting to dive into and learn about the different cultures, and today I talk with Irka Mateo about the The Taíno culture. The Taíno were an indigenous people of the Caribbean. Taíno spirituality centered on the worship of zemís. A zemí is a spirit or ancestor. Irka Mateo is a Dominican singer-songwriter, a folk music & spirituality researcher who has brought the sounds of her native country to the wider world, as well as the knowledge of her ancestors' spiritual practices. Connect with Irka Mateo: Website: http://irkamateo.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irkamateo/ The song by played at the end of this episode is "Tainos" featured on Irka Mateo's album "Vamo a Goza". - Learn Shamanic Journeying with shaman Sandra Ingerman - reserve your free space: https://shiftnetwork.infusionsoft.com/go/sjgheg/a20347 - Schedule a Nordic Music Magic session with me: https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/137996 - Become a patron of mine on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NordicMagicLink - Check out my music & website: https://emmacairo.com The song featured in the intro and end of this episode is: "I Am" - Emma Cairo --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/emma-cairo/message