~ Shamanism 101 ~ November's Newsletter ~

An increasing number of people are awakening to the beauty and the wisdom of the shamanic path, and this perhaps is not surprising.

In our modern times, the number of challenges that we must face as a community on a global level, and more importantly as sensible individuals who walk rightly upon this Earth, brings us to pose questions. And, as you may guess, we want answers.

 

It is, without any doubt, our wild primordial instinct re-emerging from a forgotten corner of our beloved essence, trying to claim its place within the intricacies of the universe and counterbalance the imminent, perhaps already happening, crashes of our modern society. We all have this primordial flame within us, filled with life and acting as a mighty guide or catalyst for growth, propelled by our disoriented world and ambiguous times. It is, consequently, an initiation that comes from nature's attitude towards rebalancing itself, as it stirs the ingredients of the cosmic cauldron once more, to make something better - something that is more truthful to who we really are, and more than anything else, to who we are about to become.

 

We need new tools for growth, on an emotional, mental, spiritual and practical level.

 

We need to gather and talk.

 

We need to dream.

 

Some wise men and women who are called 'shamans' by their communities suggest that without changing our dreams, the world itself cannot change, and that most of what we are envisioning in our present time is like a discordant symphony that does not produce a harmonious communion among its instruments. Besides, if everyone's dreams from all around the world would be more attuned to the majesty and perfection of nature, our vision of life would be much different. It would sound like wildflowers in the wind; it would smell like the colours of the rainbow; and shine like an epiphany of joyous birds. We need to move beyond conventions and open up to our creativity. There is nothing wrong with it. Although our present circumstances dictate that this would be insane or at least inappropriate, I would have a look around before I cast judgement.

 

There is something mysterious in human nature, something that remains intangible to most. It is like a call - a profound, vibrant sound that only the brave can hear. And one does not have to look far to find the tools that are needed for communities to bypass the inner turmoil of their souls, which is currently happening before our own eyes. Our ancestors knew them.

 

Generation after generation, across the many lands that blissfully float on the Earth's waters, and without having had previous contact among themselves, indigenous cultures lived in harmony with nature, celebrating life, honouring the divine in everything and everyone. They had the formula, the same that we are seeking.

Indigenous cultures from Africa, Siberia, the Americas, Asia and even Australia, although seemingly so different, have very similar ancient spiritual practices. The most celebrated of these is the shamanic journey.

 

How can we refuse such a precious gift? We simply cannot. This is why, in a sense, some of us have joined Shamanism 101 after completing the three levels of training required for graduation - to help others unveil their true-selves as we walk the path, learning from each other and sharing the eternal flame of knowledge that has been passed through millennia. We are, among other things, some of the teachers, the helpers and the guides needed at this time. More will come and more will be revealed constantly, blissfully and eternally, like a circle that reaches its completion, to then start all over again.

 

There is no end. No beginning. There is just the process of integrating what we are here to remember: our ancestor's conscious way of living as a whole.

 

It is my honour to introduce you to some of our current instructors.

 

Raffaele, Shamanism 101, Instructor

 

Meet Elizabeth Harbridge, Shamanism 101, Instructor

 

Excerpt from her article on - Barriers to effective practice; getting the best out of core shamanism -

 

The following article focuses on problematic areas for new students and for experienced practitioners alike. As a mentor for shamanism 101 I find that students are getting stuck with specific concerns.

 

These fall into 2 categories.

1. Problems that are of an individual nature, such as "I feel I am making this journey up", or "I fall asleep easily and can't remember the journey".

2. Problems related to external contextual factors such as the socio-politico-cultural milieu. This encompasses prevailing attitudes to shamanism, and whether it is "real" or worthy of investigation, and also to the impact of colonization upon indigenous cultures and their shamanic practices. The obliteration of traditional shamanic practices has far reaching implications for core or neo-shamanism.

This is particularly   problematic in southern hemisphere countries such as Australia.

 

Personal difficulties which impact on the success of the shamanic work fall into 3 main categories.

1. The feeling or belief that one is "making it all up" and the journey, merge, or ritual is not genuine and the resulting question; "are spirits real"?

2. Falling asleep, or having very vague experiences which lack clarity.

3. Fear or apprehension about meeting something scary on the journey.

These common concerns stem from the following.

1. Medical conditions and medications which may impact on the experience.

2. Lack of trust in ones capabilities and processes.

3. Fear or apprehension about meeting something scary on the journey.

4. Inadequate preparation and/or raising of energy/ heart/passion which is a prerequisite for successful work.

Cultural/socio-political barriers.

 

As described above, this relates to the context in which the student/practitioner operates.

 

Shamanism is often viewed with either indifference, suspicion or with New Age naivety.

 

Practitioners of core shamanism are often accused of misappropriation, fraud or of being misled by superstition and outmoded ways of thinking.

 

Shamanism presents a firm challenge to the current paradigms of rational thought.

 

To practice is to invite suspicion and mistrust as well as ridicule and indifference.

 

To support students and also seasoned practitioners, I have given some thought to how these barriers may be overcome, and our practice can become more effective and of benefit to all.

 

Students become disheartened when they encounter barriers to their practices. By far the most common problem is the idea that one is" making it up". Students new to journeying, merging and to ritual/ceremony or Nature Work feel that their experience lacks "real" spiritual meaning and is merely the product of their imagination, or scene from a recent fantasy movie. For the fundamentally important practices in core shamanism, it is imperative that students receive guidance and support with these concerns. There seems to be very little advice or information given in most books about core shamanism. At this point it is good to go back to basics; core shamanism divides reality into 2 paradigms; "ordinary reality" and "non-ordinary reality", and assume that if our journeys and practices are following the right protocols, then whatever is produced must be "real" in "Non-ordinary reality".

 

If students are feeling/believing that they have made up the journey, yes it is "made up"; we use our imagination to make sense of the information received during shamanic states of consciousness.

 

Without imagination, we would have no coherent narrative about the experience or what it meant.

 

One way to manage these disheartening feelings is to always return to basics and fundamentals of core shamanism; that is to ensure that the journey entry points ( i.e. lower world tunnel, upper world tree, staircase, etc.), is really formerly embedded in your awareness and senses. Firmly create and establish the entry/exit points by using as many senses as possible. See, hear, smell and feel the points; ensure that all entries/exits are the same as a place well known in ordinary reality.

 

Always use the same places and routes. This keeps the mind focused and helps to anchor the experience into your core of being. (Note: occasionally there may be a need to change the entry points; I have noticed that this happens during major life transitions. More about this in another article.)

 

If you feel you are simply regurgitating an episode of a fantasy or historical movie, then breathe deeply, refocus your intent, and use the skill of discernment; sit back from the journey or practice; and sit with it. Let it unfold, and if you consistently feel it is made up, then ask why the information is presented this way. There may be an important lesson here. For example: do you feel that your life is "made up" or a fantasy?

 

Always ensure that you make proper preparations for the work: that is setting up sacred space; cleansing, calling the directions. Sit for a while and meditate to clear your mind of all "stuff" that may interfere with Intention.

 

Follow the same pattern; the brain loves patterns and repetition; I begin session with an "ordinary reality" cleansing; that is tidying up, preparing the physical space, making it conducive to shamanic work.

 

Then I sit in meditation for 10 minutes to clear my mind of any concerns which may impede the work.

 

Then cleanse, and offer prayers of gratitude, and set a firm intent. In fact intent begins even earlier. Call in the directions. Deal with distractions of uncertainties by going back to the last anchor point...

 

Much of the same advice or suggestions can apply to the second most common problem; that of falling asleep or otherwise drifting off and not remembering journeys or merges.

 

If you are prone to falling asleep, trying sitting or standing to journey, or if laying down raise one arm in the air and if it falls you will wake up. Having followed this advice myself many times, I have concluded that it is often inadequate and I need more help to stay awake!

 

An effective method is to speak while journeying; that is to narrate the journey. This helps focus and concentration and can help with recall of the journey. You can have somebody present to take notes as well. This can be very effective to prevent sleepiness from clouding the journey.

 

More on this in our upcoming newsletters!

 

Meet Catherine Center, Shamanism 101, Instructor

 

Catherine grew up on a community farm in British Columbia, Canada and learned early on about deeply connecting to the natural world.  Plants, animals, the land and stars gave her a sense of peace and wholeness that was known but beyond words. She wished to carry this feeling of oneness forward and chose the health care field as a way to give to others.   She worked for several years as a nurse, and then returned to university for a master's degree in counselling psychology. 

 

The deep sense of connectedness got lost along the way, and while working in different provinces she explored traditional and non-traditional methods of healing, read copiously, and looked for ways to rekindle that sense of unity. It was when she was outdoors camping with her family that memories of a connection to the earth and stars began to be remembered, and during her explorations of shamanism the memories began to become reality.

 

The feeling of unity with life can be as real when folding the laundry as when looking at a sunset.   Magic happens when our hearts are open to the love that moves and creates universes.  It takes practice for most of us, since the overlay of what we are usually taught in the western world leads us away from that sense of oneness we may have had as a child, and distracts us from what is true.  Coming back, we each contribute to the healing of the planet, its inhabitants and places beyond in a way that is grounded and real.  

 

Catherine currently divides her time between Newfoundland and Labrador, and Ontario.

 

In Shamanism envisioning is at the core of its purpose. Catherine shares her vision of the universe in her poem "The Womb" moving from a macrocosmic perspective to the richness and peculiarity of the microcosm to which we belong.

 

The Womb

 

Deep Silence, stillness, the North

In the deepest dark of the night, those moments before dawn

All is waiting.

She is lovingly embraced by Sky

And gazing deeply into one another's eyes

She is open, in perfect receptiveness of Him

As lovingly, sacredly, He deeply bows

And plants the seed

Of new creation

Even before the birth

Of the one whose arrival

Is imminent.

For She is never empty of Life

And potential.

Gently, East is birthed

New, the Babe comes

With the first lightening of the horizon.

There is gladness

As every being in Earth and Sky

Participates in the results of

Of the sacred union.

Movement building

Coming to the heat of day

South, the Fire, the passionate embrace of Youth

She yields to Him, the firmly held Spear,

And releases...lets go... in perfect trust.

Reverberation and deep nourishment throughout Her body,

Encompassing Him and the universes beyond. 

Still gazing into each other's eyes,

They come to the West

Flowing with the slowing rhythms of their Union

Furthering the knowledge and wisdom

Of a day fully lived.

Resting, finally, in one another's embrace

The perfect night,

The time of Peace

True North

Gestation in the quietness

Until the deepest, darkest part of the Night...

The unbroken circle, the continued spiral

Life, constant in its phases

Of expression.

A message from Dr. Steve Serr, PhD, Founder and Director, Shamanism 101

 

Thank you for joining us in our little practitioner support newsletter. As you can see, we simply speak from the heart. Nothing special, nothing 'woo-woo', just practitioners sharing their real experience of a very real and ancient paradigm of understanding and set of practices.

 

I am proud and delighted with the staff here at Shamanism 101. They are truly a band of professionals, all stepping forward together to help our world understand the ancient timeliness of these spiritual practices that connect us so deeply to our Earth, and to ourselves.

 

Over the issues ahead, you will have the opportunity to meet the rest of the staff, who like Elizabeth and Raffaele, are deeply committed to mentoring and helping keep alive our healthy indigenous relationship with our sacred Earth, a path to wellness that so many in the contemporary world have forgotten.

 

So, first my gratitude to you, Raffaele and you Elizabeth, for passing on to us in this newsletter the insights you have gleaned after so much hard and committed effort, as you have done so much to understand the nature of our shamanic roots. Then, thank you Catherine, for being our Shamanism 101 Certification guru and making certain that each who passes through our school is now and forever recognized for the quality of work they have demonstrated. Even more, thank for your poem 'The Womb': the interconnectedness of all of life is so much a part of our indigenous shamanic wisdom.

 

Finally, my gratitude to you... yes, you, who are reading this newsletter right now, because you recognize that there is something important in this seemingly crazy, sometimes hard to understand work that we have called 'shamanism'. It has inspired you in some deep way. Stay with this feeling! It is leading you, and all of us, back to our Earth-centered, Earth-sacred, and Earth-respecting and loving condition of wellness!

Many people today associate shamanism with Native Americans, forgetting though, that shamanic practices are found all over the world, like a connecting thread among the different cultures and perspectives of seemingly different ways of life. . .

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