Shamanism has seen an uncontrollable "industry" emerge from ancestral indigenous oral history in the past fifteen years with the development of social media apps. Being seen as a shaman and spreading the news about one’s shamanic offerings worldwide is as easy as a few taps on a smartphone. With that being said, it goes without saying that the ‘shamanic industry’ is full of charlatans, fake babalows, wanna be shamans, even some indigenous ancestral shamans-- all gunning to take your money in exchange for their “help”. The state of the world has people by and large in a state of existential crisis. In a time where everyone is seeking light in the midst of darkness, needing to truly heal to evolve their past into their futures--the last thing anyone needs is abuse marketed as healing. What if there were a shaman himself who needs to self examine? What is the recourse when the shaman, the leader in the community who looks out for the mental, emotional, spiritual, physical well being of all the others, needs a shaman for himself?
As the veil lifts, light shines through brighter than ever, illuminating the darkness for all to see. In the realm of the new age, we have seen in the past thirty to forty years, many gracious indigenous teachers, psychonauts full of wisdom, as well as ancient sages manifest, and yet we also have seen insurmountable charlatans and predators. 2025 is no different.
Illusionists in the realm of shamanism and new age healing are prevalent and there is one right in our faces within the community today and he comes with a team to make the image match the programming. It does not bring me any pleasure to share this with you, but I feel it is a deeply spiritual and professional duty to do so. The so called “Shaman of Instagram” (New York Times) is not only completely out of integrity and unprofessional, having crossed sexual boundaries with multiple clients by his own recorded admission.
I want to be very clear. This isn’t gossip or hearsay. These truths came from the mouth of the man in question himself, in the form of voice recordings he personally sent, as well as multiple victim experiences and statements. The intention of sharing this information is to open up the possibility of justice and healing for those who have been victimized by one Derek D. Verrett and also to stop the perpetuation of this behavior by he who calls himself “Shaman Durek”.
Verrett is known for being able to effortlessly help other folks to remove blocked energy from their bodies, he uses neuro linguistics type programming, as well as speaking in tongues, speaking to a council of “guides” or spirits in other realms, shakes a few rattles, that sort of thing--all to alter their perspective and better their lives. To teach them and guide them to “delve into darkness and self destructive habits as a form of self love rather than kick the can down the road and engage in spiritual bypassing of this pain” (Los Angeles Times). If facing one’s darkness is one of the foundations of his teachings, it makes one wonder when will the Shaman realize his own darkness needs to be addressed? It seems he sees nothing wrong with not revealing his truths, which is blatantly hypocritical, to say the least. He has lived and traveled all over the world, dated both men and women and is currently one year married to Princess Martha Louise of Norway. Who knows what this information will reveal and the number of people’s lives it will affect.
Only one man is responsible for owning up to these truths and claiming his darkness so that he may heal and transmute his transgressions for his greater evolutionary growth.
After repeated genuine requests to Shaman Durek to please face this, own your darkness, tell the truth, own the trauma you have inflicted upon others-- all of which came from a longtime friend and peer in the self help/healing industry. This friend attempting to give the shaman a chance at personal redemption and salvation, an opportunity to save his own reputation in 2020, confronted Durek; he refused and threatened legal action. These voicenotes being the extent of his accountability. For the past five years of holding this truth of his, knowing many victims are suffering from his abuse of power. He now has had a debut Netflix documentary of "Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story", so what better time for this information needed to be shared publicly so that those who have been affected can be healed by the truth being known and be set free. The intention also being to prevent the perpetuation of Shaman Durek’s reckless, life endangering, predatory behavior.
In a conversation that Durek was having with his friend on Whatsapp, his friend has voice recordings of Shaman Durek admitting that he was inappropriate and crossed the line with his clients. So the question is how many clients has he been inappropriate with and/or crossed the line with?
What would it look like for a world renowned Shaman to step away from his ego built by internet and tv fame and authentically bare his true self to the world, mistakes, transgressions, flaws and all? What kind of healing could take place that would then regenerate and refocus the shaman’s ability to serve humanity? What happens to those who seek him out as a spiritual leader when they learn the truths of their shaman? Will the community rally around him and hold him in a safe container for true healing or will his community select a new shaman? As we are at a crux in humanity, about to move forward into a new earth, we need now more than ever--transparent spiritual leaders who are willing to do the inner work to be the person that can actually lead, heal, and be in authentic service to humanity. We share all this in the hopes that this shaman would humble himself, step away from earning through shamanism. To actually do the work he needs to absolve himself of his transgressions and heal so that he may liberate his soul from suffering and no longer inflict suffering upon others.
Comments