The Upper, Middle, and Lower Worlds in Shamanism
BY NICOLE LAU
Shamanic cosmology divides reality into three worlds—Upper, Middle, and Lower—connected by the World Tree or axis mundi. This is not primitive superstition but a sophisticated map of consciousness, reality, and the psyche. Understanding these three worlds reveals the structure underlying all mystical traditions and depth psychology.
The Three-World Structure
Shamanic traditions worldwide describe reality as three-layered:
- Upper World: The realm of sky, spirit, vision, and divine guidance
- Middle World: The realm of earth, ordinary reality, and human life
- Lower World: The realm of underworld, ancestors, instinct, and power animals
These are not physical locations but states of consciousness, levels of reality, and domains of the psyche.
The Upper World: Realm of Spirit and Vision
The Upper World is accessed by ascending—climbing the World Tree, flying, or rising through smoke:
Characteristics
- Light and airy: Bright, ethereal, celestial
- Visionary: Realm of prophecy, foresight, and divine guidance
- Transcendent: Beyond ordinary reality
- Structured: Often described as having levels or heavens
Inhabitants
- Spirit guides: Teachers, angels, ascended masters
- Deities: Gods and goddesses of light
- Ancestors (elevated): Those who've transcended
- Celestial beings: Star people, cosmic entities
What You Seek There
- Guidance and wisdom
- Vision and prophecy
- Connection to the divine
- Perspective from above
- Spiritual teachings
The Middle World: Realm of Ordinary Reality
The Middle World is where we live—the physical, everyday world:
Characteristics
- Material: Physical, tangible, sensory
- Temporal: Subject to time and change
- Dualistic: Good and evil, light and dark coexist
- The field of action: Where choices are made and lived
Inhabitants
- Humans: Living people
- Animals and plants: Physical nature
- Nature spirits: Spirits of place, land, and elements
- Ghosts: Spirits stuck in the Middle World
What You Do There
- Live your life
- Make choices
- Interact with others
- Work with nature spirits
- Integrate what you've learned from Upper and Lower Worlds
The Lower World: Realm of Instinct and Power
The Lower World is accessed by descending—through caves, roots, water, or earth:
Characteristics
- Dark and earthy: Primal, instinctual, chthonic
- Powerful: Realm of raw life force and energy
- Ancient: Timeless, primordial
- Natural: Often described as pristine wilderness
Inhabitants
- Power animals: Spirit allies in animal form
- Ancestors: Those who've passed, especially recent dead
- Earth spirits: Gnomes, dwarves, underground beings
- Chthonic deities: Gods and goddesses of the underworld
What You Seek There
- Power and energy
- Healing (soul retrieval)
- Connection to instinct and body
- Ancestral wisdom
- Lost parts of self
- Grounding and embodiment
The World Tree: Connecting the Three Worlds
The axis mundi—World Tree, cosmic pillar, or sacred mountain—connects all three worlds:
- Roots in the Lower World: Drawing power from below
- Trunk in the Middle World: Manifesting in physical reality
- Branches in the Upper World: Reaching toward the divine
The shaman climbs or descends this axis to journey between worlds.
The Shamanic Journey
Shamans travel between worlds to:
- Retrieve information: From spirit guides (Upper) or power animals (Lower)
- Heal: Soul retrieval from Lower World, guidance from Upper World
- Gain power: Connecting with allies in non-ordinary reality
- Mediate: Between spirits and humans in Middle World
The journey is facilitated by drumming, dancing, plant medicines, or trance.
Psychological Mapping
The three worlds map onto the psyche:
- Upper World = Superconscious: Higher self, spiritual aspirations, ideals
- Middle World = Conscious: Ego, everyday awareness, waking life
- Lower World = Unconscious: Shadow, instinct, repressed content, ancestral patterns
Shamanic journeying is depth psychology in action—accessing unconscious (Lower) and superconscious (Upper) to integrate in consciousness (Middle).
Cross-Cultural Parallels
The three-world structure appears everywhere:
- Norse: Asgard (Upper), Midgard (Middle), Helheim (Lower)
- Greek: Olympus (Upper), Earth (Middle), Hades (Lower)
- Christian: Heaven (Upper), Earth (Middle), Hell (Lower)
- Kabbalistic: Atziluth (Upper), Yetzirah (Middle), Assiah (Lower)
- Hindu: Svarga (Upper), Bhuloka (Middle), Patala (Lower)
This universality suggests the three worlds are not cultural invention but discovered structure of reality and consciousness.
Practical Application: Journeying the Three Worlds
To work with the three worlds:
- Establish your axis: Find your personal World Tree or axis mundi
- Journey to the Upper World: For guidance, vision, and spiritual teaching
- Journey to the Lower World: For power, healing, and instinctual wisdom
- Integrate in the Middle World: Apply what you've learned to daily life
- Balance all three: Don't get stuck in one world
The three worlds are not separate places—they're three levels of one reality, three modes of one consciousness. The shaman travels between them to bring healing, power, and wisdom to the Middle World. You don't need to be a shaman to journey—the three worlds are always accessible through meditation, dreamwork, and conscious exploration of the psyche.
