Creative Journeying And Creative Writing

Ancient techniques which have been used in every culture for thousands of years are currently experiencing a renewal. I became aware of the term Shamanic Journeying several years ago and even tried a guided journey, with a shamanic practitioner.  I found it to be similar to a hypnotic state and many images and thoughts were brought forward during the process.The shamanic guide stays with you and asks you questions as you journey. It was an unusual experience at the time and I encountered a power animal, my totem animal apparently is a white blue eyed wolf. The white wolf came with me on the journey after appearing more or less straight away. After which  images of previous lives came to the fore, the images were clear and in colour. I saw myself  hung as a witch in one life and was an apprentice Buddhist Monk in Tibet in another life, this is apparently what needed to be addressed in this life. I don't know if it's true or if it was figments of imagination, stirred under questioning. It could be books that I had read or information obtained via other means rising to the surface, but it was interesting anyway.
So what is shamanic journeying? It is a method of obtaining an altered state of consciousness by either the use of monotonous sound such as percussion (drums, rattles), or in the case of Native American Indians, the sound of a waterfall, or the use of some type of sensory deprivation.
Both of these methods  create a forced incubation period which allows the mind to go within and wander interiorly. Whilst in this state, a person can receive insights and revelations which they didn't expect. Once the shamanic journey is over the inspiration received is put into practice and verified, thus completing the process of the creative act. Those received inspirations and visions are recorded in writings, drawings or paintings. Thus the shamanic journey itself becomes the active vehicle for two aspects of the creative process. The incubation by way of the changed state of consciousness and the inspiration by way of the content of the experience.