I, Larisa Oorzhak Baker, come from a long shamanic family lineage. My maternal great-grandfather as well as my paternal great-grandfather and great-grandmother were powerful shamans in the Republic of Tuva, Russian Federation, where I am originally from.
When I was 28 years old, a shaman from Tuva: Oleg Pavlovich Toiduk, with whom I traveled as an interpreter in Germany, told me that the spirits of my ancestors came to him and asked him to do a ritual for me to connect me with them, in order to become a shamaness, so I could do the kind of work he does.
Oleg Pavlovich Toiduk, who has made his transition into the non-physical realm since then, was a well known shaman in Tuva. His shamanic robe is now on display in the National Museum of Tuva, in the capital city Kyzyl, he was famous for his healing abilities.
I immediately said no, and could not understand how I could help people heal, as I was sick most of my life myself. He offered to do the ritual two more times within a 6-month period and I said no each time. I was young and wanted to be modern and normal in my own understanding of life at that time. After my third and final refusal he said that, even though I refused now, it does not really matter because no matter what I decide to do in my life, the shamanic calling will find me because it is who I am.
And it did! I had no idea at that time that my path would carry me far from Tuva - not only beyond Russia, but across the oceans, eventually leading me to Kinnelon, New Jersey, where I reside now with my beloved husband right on Pyramid Mountain, surrounded by forest, lakes and the quiet voices of nature.
The miracle of being a native Tuvan Shamaness continue to blossom wherever Spirit plants my feet.