About
Shamanism
Everyone wants a little magic in their
lives. Well, there is a certain kind of
magic always around us here on Earth. You
can recognize it whenever you feel that surge of delight that courses through your
cells as it permeates the space around you.
It is the joy of throwing off your jacket in Spring because the sun is
finally, again, all you need to warm yourself.
It is the delicate explosion of pink that enchants you at cherry blossom
time. It is the acute awareness of peace
and expansion brought on by the thunderous yet tranquil sound of a cascading
waterfall. It is the sensation that accompanies
the inspiration for a painting, the pleasure you get from the smile that bursts
from a child, the awe you feel in your heart and soul as you gaze up at the Milky
Way.
These experiences open you up and you feel
“connected.” Time is suspended and you
find yourself in a state of exuberance and gladness that is, yet, so serene. You are in a state of connectedness – to
nature, to the Source, and to yourself. Shamanism
is a means of entering that state at will.
A BRIEF HISTORY
Human beings of all cultures have
practiced shamanism in one form or another since the beginning of time. Archeologists and anthropologists have found
evidence on the markings of antlers and bones that date back at least 30,000
years and suggest shamanic rites and practices took place in deep caves. There is evidence as far back as Paleolithic,
Mesolithic and Neolithic eras that shamanism was widespread in many indigenous
cultures. It is apparent in Greek and
Roman myths, and it is obvious in the present-day indigenous cultures of the
Americas, where it is enjoying a resurgence.
Likewise, it is reemerging in Europe and Asia, and growing in the United
States.
The word shamanism, itself, has its roots
in many languages. The Manchu-Tungus
word, saman, comes from the verb “to
know,” so the shaman is “one who knows.”
In Sanskrit, shaman means ascetic.
In Japan and Korea, shamanism is called mugyo (alluding to the Great Void from which all springs) or shingyo (referring to the sacred in
everything). In Mexico, it is called
curanderismo. Most cultures do not use
the word shaman and shamanism. They have
their own word for their connection to Spirit and healing. However, there are common elements across
cultures:
Within the society, shamans are typically
the spiritual and secular leaders, the teachers, healers, herbalists and
midwives. Their ability and authority
comes not from dominance, but from a strong relationship with Spirit that
provides vision, guidance, healing and protection to the community. The shaman understands the importance of
harmonious relationships – with one’s own mind and body, one’s own family and
friends, with community, with nature, and with spirit. The shaman develops and refines his/her
realtionships on all levels to benefit and enrich the community, and to be in
service to the people. To that end,
shamanism grows and changes with the evolving world, yet never looses its
essence or relevance.
WHAT SHAMANISM OFFERS
Shamanism offers us ways of accessing the
exquisite peace and beauty found in the silence between our thoughts. It is a very special stillness where you can
hear your guidance whispering to you, and where you can find healing for your
mind and body, heart and soul. Shamanism
directs you to a deep honoring of life - - your own life and all life in this miracle of creation. It helps develop your relationship with the
Source of All Being, and you begin to have a more fulfilling and satisfying
life. When you honor life, you begin to
notice your own place in the grand scheme.
When you see how you fit into the design, you can recognize your gifts, realize
who you are, and offer your contribution to peace and goodness on earth.
When to seek shamanic guidance
Recurring
Issues – Sometimes there is an issue in your
life that you have been trying to resolve for a while. You have tried everything you can think of
but cannot find a solution. The issue
just repeats or continues, despite all your efforts. You know you must be missing something but
can’t figure out what it is. Shamanism
will give you another approach, another view, previously unseen, that can help
you get to the next level.
People
In Your Life – You may look around you and notice
that the people who fill your life are angry, jealous, needy or generally
unhappy. You wish you had companions who
were more loving, caring and compassionate. Know that the people who surround you reflect
your orientation toward the world. Your
orientation can only change when you do.
Shamanism offers the tools to make that change “in a good way,” as the
Native Americans say. In Celtic
shamanism they say “if it harms none, do as you will.”
Times
of Transition – You may be experiencing one or more of
the top three stressors in life: 1) moving (home or career/job); 2) divorce; 3)
death in the family. Perhaps a mid-life crisis
has grabbed hold of you. Maybe facing
the empty nest is more difficult than you anticipated. More support than you could have imagined is
available to you through shamanic avenues.
Your personal allies and your personal power to handle the transition
are within reach.
Restlessness
– Maybe you are in a good place in your life right now, but things are
happening that you don’t understand. You may be feeling restless or ready to
break free of old restrictive patterns.
You may get tingles or shivers on your scalp or skin. Events seem to flow with more
synchronicity. Perhaps you have more
energy, and yet you feel a little lost, or waves of emotion come upon you
suddenly, for no reason. These can be
signs of spiritual awakening that calls out for the kind of direction that
centuries-old shamanic wisdom and meditations offer.
BLUEPRINT OF a shamanic guidance session
The first thing that happens in a session
is an in-depth about your personal history and what is going on in your present
life that has you seeking shamanic counsel.
Next, a sacred space is formally set up and prepared, both spiritually
and emotionally, for you and your session.
The guide prays to be of service and connects with Spirit to hear what
is needed for your personal development, healing and spiritual evolution at
this time.
Sometimes you will learn meditations or
techniques to build you up and make you effective in your area of concern. Other times you may receive healings that
erase negative self-images or old beliefs that do not serve you. Usually you will receive messages suggesting
specific attitudes and practices that reinforce your hopes, insights and
endeavors.
Almost always, depending upon the
directive of Spirit, you will learn to “journey.” Journeying is one of the most commonly used
practices of all shamanic traditions. It
involves going into a meditative state to meet your guides. They can be angels, animal totems, spirit
guides . . . They are the beings given
to you at birth by Creator to help you through your life. They are your allies, and you can rely on
them for advice and assistance.
what i provide as a shamanic guide
A shamanic practitioner is especially
beneficial during those periods when “going it alone” isn’t really working that
well and you could use a little boost to navigate the ups and downs of life. The services I offer include a variety of
journeys and healings that will get you in touch with your inner voice and
guidance, and help you identify tools and practices for improving the quality
of your life. Some of the most common traditional
methods, across all shamanic cultures, are:
· Grounding
· Connecting
with the Elements
· Employing
the Four Directions
· Meeting
your totem animals
· Identifying
and retrieving your Soul
· Chakra
development
· Messages
from your angels and guides
· Hands-on
or off-the-body energy work
Neither you nor I get to choose when a
particular method will be used. The
timing and sequence of events unfolds according to a greater wisdom. In a prayerful meditative state, I listen to
hear the message from Spirit of how to best serve you, and proceed accordingly. It is always Spirit that directs what will
happen in a session, depending on your need at the time.
It is my aim and endeavor as a shamanic
practitioner to walk evermore deeply in harmony with All That Is. This is much to your benefit, for it is the power
of that well-established connection to Earth and Sky that helps me bring Spirit
closer to you. When the two of us are
together in the same space, you will feel the strength of that connection, and
it helps you identify your own connection. Working with Spirit and my own guides, I will
do everything I know to give you clear access to your own spirit . . . and to
Great Spirit . . . and put you in touch with your unique guidance system. I will introduce you to the shamanic realm,
where you will learn how to reinforce your bond with Spirit and elevate it to
the next level. We can then orient these
new skills and knowledge toward the areas of your life you want to enhance or
improve.