Shamanism is an ancient animistic religion or spiritual belief system in
which mediation between the visible world (ordinary reality) and the
spirit world (non ordinary reality) is affected by shamans.
The word 'shaman' comes from the Tungus tribe in Siberia and means "one
who sees in the dark". Evidence of Shamanism is also found in Lapland,
parts of Asia, Africa, Australia, and native North and South America
In Shamanic cultures, all things are believed to have spirit. Everything
on earth is animated with its own soul or life force. The well-being of
one lifeform is dependent on its harmony with other lifeforms.
Imbalances in the spiritual essence of a living being can cause disease.
Shamanism is generally used for the purpose of healing a physical
ailment, an emotional or mental problem or a sense of spiritual loss.
For the shaman, illness is always seen as a spiritual problem - a loss
of soul or diminishment of essential spiritual energy.
The distinguishing characteristic of shamanism is its focus on a trance
state in which the soul of the shaman is believed to leave the body ...
and ascend to the sky (the upperworld), descend into the earth (lowerworld) or travel across time and space (middleworld) to the rhythmic beat of the drum.
The shaman uses spirit helpers, with whom he/she communicates, all the
while retaining control of his/her own consciousness, and consciously
moves beyond the physical body.
The call to shamanism is often directly related to a near death
experience or may occur as the result of overcoming a life threatening
illness, a great emotional tragedy or personal struggle.
This "survival" provides the shaman with personal experiences which
strengthen his/her power and ability to work effectively with others.
This work is achieved through a technique for altering consciousness
called the Shamanic Journey which is an active, experiential form of
meditation. This is sacred work and should be taken very seriously.
When Shamans journey, they are being transported inwardly by the pulse of rhythmic sound. Instead of moving by ordinary physical means, they move into an altered state of conseiousness in which they experience realities outside our normal perception.
The first type of journey we will explore is the Journey for Power.
Here, the prospective shaman finds his/her personal power...
and ultimately the Power Animal or Spirit Helper who aids and protects
the shaman in
his/her work.
The Journey for Power takes place in the lower world (a journey into the
earth) aided by a constant rhythmic drumbeat.
The beat of the drum is considered by native people to represent the
heartbeat of the earth and thereby helps gain entry into that world.
Again, this is very serious work and should not
be taken lightly.
4/5/98
Instructions For Journeying
Last week we didn't have time to finish the instructions for the
shamanic journey and because it's so important to follow the
instructions specifically.. I'm going to start that again.
It's very important to avoid alcohol and drugs for 24 hours prior to a
journey .. you need to be completely clear. Eat lightly or not at all
for 4 hours prior to journeying.
As you begin to explore nonordinary reality, it's important to keep a
journal of your journey experiences... things that may not be clear to
you now, will become clear later. You may begin to recognize patterns.
Write everything you can remember about your journey... things you see,
hear, smell, and feel... everything is important.. notice which animals
come to you... and which ones answer your questions, and offer to help
you.
The shaman always journeys with 'intent'... with a mission.. For the
first journey experience, your intent should be simply to explore the
lowerworld and should last for only 10 minutes. Pay attention to
everything that happens.
Don't be discouraged if your first attempt to journey isn't
successful... it sometimes takes practice and there are exercises to
help with visualization.
The laws of nature, as we know them in ordinary reality, do not apply in
nonordinary reality... animals can talk, horses can fly and the passage
of time is very different... sometimes things are speeded up and
sometimes things appear in slow motion.
In a later journey you will find your power animal, who will help answer
questions and protect you in ordinary as well as nonordinary reality.
When you see an animal 4 times in a journey you will know that this is
your power animal.
If your intent is to find the answer to a question, you may ask for an
animal to meet you and help you answer the question... keep searching
for an animal who will answer your question... pay attention.. if it is
a power animal, it will help you.
Your power animal may be a mammal, a fish, a bird or a reptile.... it
will NOT be an insect... if you see an insect in a journey, avoid it..
also avoid any animals that show fangs . And remember that you are in
control.
Sometimes in nonordinary reality you may be given a gift .. DO NOT bring
anything back with you from the journey to nonordinary reality... this
is VERY important. If you are offered a gift, say thank you... but you
may not bring it back to ordinary reality.
Shamans usually work at night.. so it's important to journey in
darkness.. lie on the floor and cover your eyes.. review your mission,
your intent... and begin the drumming tape.. visualize an opening into
the earth... one that exists in ordinary reality..
This should be a place you have seen.. so that you can easily visualize
it. It may be inside a hollow tree, a hole in the ground, through the
bottom of a lake, a cave... any place that you know that you find
peaceful and relaxing.
Visualize yourself entering the opening. Go into the earth as far as you
can go, until you find a tunnel. Go into the tunnel and look for the
light at the end of the tunnel.
The tunnel will head downward...it may be a gradual incline or a sharp
one..but it WILL lead downward.. continue following the tunnel ,
following the light until you come out in the lower world.
Look around, explore...enjoy the experience. Pay attention to detail in
the tunnel and in the lowerworld. ...what do you see, feel, hear,
smell?... Notice colors and textures and any animals that you might
meet. Pay attention to what the animals do and say.
Again...If you see any insects in your journey... avoid them.... also
avoid any animals that show fangs... if you feel frightened or
threatened... call on your power animal to help you.
Breath deeply....... relax... YOU are in control. Listen to the drum...
ride with the drum... let it carry you into the earth... into the
tunnel.. downward , into the light, into the lowerworld.
Near the end of the tape the drumming rhythm will change... you will
hear 4, very obvious sharp beats...followed by a more rapid beat. This
is the 'CALL BACK' signal. At that time you will thank the spirits that
have helped you and quickly return the way came..........
go up through the tunnel and back to ordinary reality through the SAME
opening you entered... DO NOT BRING ANYTHING BACK WITH YOU!! Open your
eyes and sit up.
Take a few minutes to write about your journey experience in your
journal including the date and intent.
When I've done journey groups before, we journey together as a group
..and then discuss and interpret our experiences... group input is
helpful when first exploring nonordinary reality.
The list of animal medicine powers on the Creating Miracles homepage
will help with interpretation of messages and images in the journey.
Check out "Animal Medicine Powers" for that information.
Because of the time required to journey, to write about it, and then the
discussion afterward... it would be impossible to fit that into our hour
on Sunday mornings..
Today I want to restate some previous information and then talk about some of the work that shamans do.
A Shaman enters altered states of awareness and communicates with spirit guides to bring back information or healing.
Shamanic initiation is experiential and often gradual, consisting of learning how to achieve the shamanic state of consciousness.
In order to do his or her work, the shaman depends on special personal power, which is supplied by the guardian and helping spirits. This is the fundamental source of power for the shaman.
The shaman frequently sees and consults with his guardian spirit, travels with it on the shamanic
journey, has it help him, and uses it to help others recover from illness or injury.
The shaman frequently sees and consults with his guardian spirit, travels with it on the shamanic journey, has it help him, and uses it to help others recover from illness or injury.
The guardian spirit is most often a "power animal", a spirit being that not only protects and serves the shaman, but becomes
another identity or alter ego for him or her.
The guardian spirit is most often a "power animal", a spirit being that not only protects and serves the shaman, but becomes
another identity or alter ego for him or her.
Just having a power animal does not make one a shaman... the shaman uses his power animal actively when in an altered
state of consciousness.
The shaman sees and journeys in that state... acquiring personal certainty and knowledge of his/her own guardian spirit, and
enlisting its assistance while in the shamanic state of consciousness; and learning to help others.
A shaman is trained to walk between this and other worlds ,while in a state of ecstatic trance known as shamanic ecstasy or
shamanic flight, and then acts as a bridge between these worlds.
After learning the basic principles and methods of shamanism, the shaman builds personal knowledge and power by
shamanic practice and journeying. As this knowledge is acquired, the shaman becomes a guide for other people. .
They may also help members of their community by obtaining the cooperation of animal and nature spirits for a more
successful hunt, harvest, catch of fish or the protection of herd animals from predators.
Shamanism is a system for psychic, emotional, and spiritual healing and for exploration, discovery, and knowledge gathering
about non-material worlds and states of mind.
Shamans are healers but they also engage in divination; seeing into the past, and future, for other members of the community.
A shaman my also engage in clairvoyance, seeing what is going on elsewhere at the present moment...or even travel to distant
locations in ecstatic trance (out of body experience).
The shaman is a mediary between ordinary and non ordinary reality... in a sense using spirit power to help people achieve a
healthy balance.
Join us on Sunday mornings at 7 est in the 'Reading Area' as we continue to explore the fascinating world of Shamanism
4/19/98
Please View Our Guestbook Please Sign Our Guestbook
