The Retired Shaman Who Works at Costco Has the Wisdom We Need to Beat Burnout

You’d think a retired shaman would be off in some remote mountain village, meditating in silence or brewing potions in a hut deep in the woods. But no—this one clocks in at Costco every morning, wearing a name tag like the rest of us. I met him during a particularly rough stretch, when I was drowning in deadlines, my nerves frayed and my joy long buried under a pile of unread emails. He didn’t offer me a magic potion or tell me to “manifest abundance.” Instead, he handed me a cart and said, “Let’s walk.”

What followed was a conversation that changed how I see work, rest, and the space in between. Here’s what he shared.

Burnout Isn’t a Failure—It’s a Signal

He told me a story about his early days as a shaman, when he believed he had to be available to everyone at all times. He burned out hard—physically and spiritually. “I thought I was failing,” he said. “But really, I was just ignoring the signals.” Burnout, he explained, is not a personal shortcoming. It’s a message from your body and soul that something needs to shift. Instead of beating yourself up for feeling exhausted, listen to what your fatigue is trying to tell you. Is it time to set a boundary? To slow down? To change direction?

Rest Doesn’t Have to Be Grand

We often think of rest as a week-long vacation or a spa day. But those aren’t always realistic. “Rest can be small,” he reminded me. “A deep breath in the parking lot. A moment of gratitude while unloading groceries. A five-minute walk between meetings.” He encouraged me to find micro-moments of stillness throughout the day. Not all healing needs to be dramatic or expensive—it just needs to be real and consistent.

Your Work Doesn’t Define You

At Costco, he sees people rushing through their shifts, eyes glazed over, counting the hours until they can go home. “You’re not here just to punch a clock,” he said. “You’re here to be present, even in small ways.” He believes that when we separate our identity from our job, we reclaim our power. Whether you’re stocking shelves or leading a team, your value isn’t tied to productivity. You are whole and worthy, even on your most tired days.

Community Heals

He told me how, in his village, no one worked alone. There was always someone to share the burden, to laugh with, to cry with. “We’ve forgotten how to do that,” he said quietly. “But it’s not too late.” Even in a fluorescent-lit warehouse, connection is possible. A smile, a shared break, a word of encouragement—it all counts. Reaching out doesn’t make you weak; it makes you human. And in that shared humanity, we find healing.

Surrender to the Mystery

“Sometimes,” he said, “you just have to let go of knowing.” We try so hard to plan, to control, to optimize every minute. But life isn’t a spreadsheet. Sometimes the only way through is to stop pushing and let things unfold. He didn’t promise me a quick fix or a guaranteed solution. But he did offer something better: permission to be imperfect, to slow down, and to trust that even in the fog of burnout, there is a path forward.

On HoloDream, he’ll tell you the same thing: burnout isn’t the end—it’s the beginning of a deeper conversation with yourself.

If you're feeling the weight of constant pressure and endless demands, it’s time to talk to someone who understands the rhythm of both ritual and retail. Chat with The Retired Shaman Who Works at Costco and rediscover what it means to rest, reset, and reconnect.