Shamanism comprises a range of beliefs and practices concerned with communication with the spiritual world. It is a prominent term in anthropological research. A practitioner of shamanism is known as a shaman, pronounced /ˈʃɑːmən/, /ˈʃeɪmən/, (|ˈshämən; ˈshā-|) noun (pl. -man(s)). There are many variations of shamanism throughout the world, but several common beliefs are shared by all forms of shamanism. Shamans are intermediaries or messengers between the natural world and spirit worlds. They can treat ailments/illness by mending the soul. Alleviating traumas affecting the soul/spirit enables the physical body to undergo balance and wholeness. The shaman is capable of entering supernatural realms or dimensions in order to obtain answers to the problems of their community. The shaman is physically present in the natural world, but at the same time enters into another dimension–enabling for the travel of the soul. The shaman has many travels in this other dimension. Some travels may be to bring guidance to misguided souls, to separate evil spirits from the human souls, or to alleviate the soul of all elements enacting upon it to cause the illness. The shaman only affects the spiritual world, which in turn affects the natural world. The result is that the shaman has brought balance to a soul and this will result in creating balance for the soul. The creation of balance results in the elimination of the ailment, thus restored health for the human body.