Independent Practices (shamanic or otherwise) operate "outside" of the normal Tradition structure - They have no Tradition of their own, and usually (Oakfed being an exception, for a specific benefit - if you don't want a spirit ally, you don't need to give up your tradition) do not require a worshipper to give up his tradition (which is tantamount to cutting yourself off from society - the equivalent of a heortling giving up the Storm Tribe or a Seshnelan giving up the Church). Look at the listing for Ganval - "he is found in Dragon pass, even among grazers. ...as long as they never worshipped or had a friendship with a wolf spirit." So just about anyone in DP can join Ganval, except those stinkin' Telmori and other wolf-lovers <spit>.
A hero who wants to join an Independent practice needs to convince the local holy person (Shaman, probably, though it could be just a practitioner) that he wants to join. Then he has to convince the Majestic Spirit of the Practice that he's worthy (See the contest on page 136, for a purely mechanical look at joining a practice). That's really it. Of course, the Spirit may have some kooky requirements for you, like never having befriended a wolf, or give up your tradition... Ultimately, just like with most other religious initiations, it comes dwn to convincing a person to teach you enough for you to meet with the Majestic Spirit (God, Saint, dragon...) so you can convince *it* of your worthiness/devotion/usefulness.
If you are a spirit-born Heortling, Black Horse Trooper, Tarshite, Duck, Centaur or Fox-lady, and you feel the compulsion to be a Shaman, and Kolat (or Denbitos, or whoever) just isn't your cup of tea, then Ganval is your ticket out of the backwoods and, err, into the deeper backwoods, probably.
RR
C'est par mon ordre et pour le bien de l'Etat que le porteur du pr�sent a
fait ce qu'il a fait.
- Richelieu
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