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VOLUME7ISSUE1SPRING2014AustralianAboriginalWisdomBackyardSpiritHouseFirebird-WorkingShamanicallyWithCancerPatientsThePlaceofReconciliationImmramaJourneysinIndigenousCelticShamanicPracticeustasTheHealingForcesofNatureTheSacredPlantAJournalofContemporaryShamanism thefoundationforshamanicstudiesanon-proftpubliccharitableandeducaonalorganizaonTRAININGINSHAMANISMSHAMANICHEALINGWWW.SHAMANISM.ORGAuthentic.Effective.Powerful.PioneeredbyMichaelHarnerauthorofTheWayoftheShamanandCaveandCosmosWorkshopsandtrainingprogramsofferedworldwidewithoutstandinghighlyexperiencedFSSfaculty.ReadthearticleinPreventionmagazineVisitshamanism.organdchecktheNewscolumnonleftshamanism.orgnewsp1360forthePreventionmagazinelink Contents3LETTERFROMTOMCOWANPhD.4ACKNOWLEDGEMENTWELCOMETankyouCarolProudfootEdgarandSandraIngermanWelcomeGenieHobbs5MEMORIALSRossLewallenbySandraIngermanDavidCorbinbyElaineEgidioAngelesArrienbyBonnieHorrigan6SHAMANICPRACTICEAustralianAboriginalWisdomHankWesselmanPhD.9SHAMANICPRACTICETePlaceofReconciliationEllenWinnerJ.D.14ESSAYTeSacredPlantPatTuholske17INTERVIEWFirebirdWorkingShamanicallywithCancerPatientsDianaDenkeTalkswithMagdaRohanszky22ESSAYGoingSoloinNatureTeAncientShamanicPracticeforAwakeningtoSpiritJosLuisStevensPhD.25SHAMANICPRACTICEustasTeHealingForcesofNatureElizabethB.JenkinsMAMFT28SHAMANICPRACTICEImmramaJourneysinIndigenousCelticShamanicPracticeSharonMacLeod35SHAMANICPRACTICEBackyardSpiritHouseJaimeMeyers37REVIEWSNEWWAISCHUCROSSINGByGaryLindorfReviewbyTomCowanPhD.40AWAKENINGHEINNERSHAMANByJosStevensPhD.ReviewbyTerriMonroeEd.D.M.Div42RESOURCEDIRECTORYwww.shamanicsociety.org1CoverArtWhereTeCrowsurnbyRossLewallenAJournalofContemporaryShamanismVOLUME7ISSUE1SPRING2014 2AJournalofContemporaryShamanismVOLUME7ISSUE1SPRING2014WomensCreativityRetreatJuly10-142014InnerShamanRetreatJuly24-282014EagleBearRetreatNewMexicowww.thepowerpath.com505-982-8732JoseStevensPhDLenaStevensGoingDeeperWithYourInnerWorkNeedsupportorskillsSupportduringspiritualemergencySupportduringlifetransitionsShadowworkforspiritualseekersPreparingforandintegratingdeeptransformativeexperiencesGrofHolotropicBreathworkGuidedFocusingsessionsKevinSachsPhD646-415-6721SafeJourneysHomegmail.comSafeJourneysHomeLLCfacilitationsupporteducationforyourtransformationServicesOfferedEDITORSTomCowanPhD.Editor-in-ChiefJonathanHorwitzMAEuropeanBureauKayKamalaMaryPatLynchNitaRenfrewARTDESIGNAllegraMarketingPrintMailwww.allegrasantafe.comPUBLISHERSaraJohnstonSocietyforShamanicPractitionersADVERTISINGSALESSaraJohnstonForinformationaboutadvertisingsalespleasecontactsarashamansociety.org303-726-2922.AJournalofContemporaryShamanismispublishedtwiceayearSpringandFallbytheSocietyforShamanicPractitioners2004.AllRightsReserved.NopartofthisjournalmaybereproducedorcopiedwithoutthepermissionoftheSociety.Non-profitpostagepaidatSantaFeNM.PermitNo.173.POSTMASTERSendaddresschangestotheSocietyforShamanicPractitionersPOBox100007DenverCO80250.SubscriptionSocietymembersreceivethejournalasabenefitofmembership.Non-membersmaypurchaseasubscriptionfor24one-yearUS32one-yearoverseasand38one-yearUSlibrary.Tojointhesocietyorsubscribepleasevisitwww.shamansociety.orgorsendyourchecktotheSocietyforShamanicPractitionersP.O.Box100007DenverCO80250.TheSocietyforShamanicPractitionersanon-profit501c3isaninternationalallianceofpeoplededicatedtothere-emergenceofshamanicpracticesinmodernsocietyespeciallythosethatpromotehealthyindividualsandviablecommuni-ties.Emailadminshamansociety.org.Websitewww.shamansociety.org.SSPBOARDOFDIRECTORSTomCowanPhDAlanDavisMDGenieHobbsLCSWAnnaHarringtonMarthaLucierJosLuisStevensPhDLenaStevensSaraJohnstonExecutiveDirectorKarrieCooperAdministrationwww.shamansociety.org www.shamansociety.org3DearSSPMembersandSubscribersOurJournalisslowlyshapeshitingintoanewormandlookthatwehopewillappealtoourreaders.LastyearweintroducedournewnameAJournalofContemporaryShamanism.Webelievethiswillreectmoreaccuratelyourcallormorediversearticlesonallormsandtraditionsoshamanism.Weareaddinganewdepartmentletterstotheeditororwhichwehaveguidelinespublishedbelow.Alsoourhopeistopublishmoreinterviewswithpeoplewhoaredoingexcitingworkinshamanismwhetheritbeproession-allywithdrummingcirclesorintheirprivatedailylives.WeareputtingoutaspecialcalltoSSPmemberstocontrib-utearticlesabouttheirshamaniclivingwhichcanbeshortessaysorlongerpieces.WealsowanttowelcomeourneweditorsKayKamalaMaryPatLynchandNitaRenrew.Teyhavedoneaspectacularjobonthiscurrentis-sue.AndasalwaysaheartythankstoJonathanHorwitzwhohasbeenourEuropeaneditorandcorrespondentorthelastseveralissues.omCowanSSPBoardMemberandJournalEditor-in-ChiefKayKamalaisanintuitiveliecounselorandstudentovariedspiritualtraditions.Shehasbeenwritingnewslettersorecastsandarticlesorherintuitivecounselingpracticeorover25yearsandhasdoneeditingandresearchorseveralauthors.Kayistheauthorothee-bookSevenVoicesOneSongRelationshipCompatibilityBetweenthe7ArchetypalRolespublishedin2010byPowerPathwww.thepowerpath.com.ShelivesandworksinSantaFeNewMexico.Visitherwebsiteatwww.kaykamala.comMaryPatLynchisawriterandexplor-erointuitivelanguages.Heracademicbackgroundcombinedanthropologyandeducationandshedesignedinstructionalmaterialsandworkedwithacultyontheirteachingandwritingoralmosttwentyyears.Shewritespoetryessaysandction.HerworkhasappearedinParabolaPanGaiaSagewomanRockyMountainDreamJournalandonlineinEarthsongsandMythologyaswellasLlewellynannuals.httpthreecauldrons.comNitaRenfrewhasbeenanartsandpublicafairsconsultantaneditorandawriterjournalistandoreignafairscom-mentatorortelevisionandradio.Forsev-eralyearsshewasonthestafoahospitalandamedicalacilitydoingshamanicenergyhealingwhichshehastaughtintheU.S.EuropeGreenlandandLatinAmerica.SheisaHealingPrayerMinisterintheEpiscopalChurchanordainedIn-terspiritualMinisterCMHOUNIandshamanicpractitionerandisaresearchassociateattheCoyoteInstitute.nitaren-rewyahoo.comor212879-3961GuidelinesforSubmittingLetterstotheEditorandOpinionEditorialContributionsBeginningwiththeAutumn2014issueoContemporaryShamanismwewillbepublishingLetterstotheEditorOpEdandDebatecontributionsromyouthereaders.Wearelookingorresponsestoar-ticlesinContemporaryShamanismandalsoyourpersonalviewsonanyissuesrelevanttoshamanicpractitionersandlivingwithashamanicpracticeorexamplecontri-butionsonshamanicethicsorshamanictourism.obeginweinviteyoutosendideasabouttherelevanceocoreshamanismtoday.ForexampleWhatisCoreShaman-ismtoyouHowhascoreshamanisminu-encedyourpracticeHascoreshamanismchangedovertheyearsHowdoesitrelatetoworkingwithothershamanictraditionsDoesshamanicworkneedtoconnecttoancestrallandorcanitberootedinotherwaysPleasesendyourthoughtstoomCowancowanwoodsaol.comLetterstotheEditorshouldbenolon-gerthan250wordsOpEdpiecescanbeupto750words.Duetospacelimitationsnotallcontributionsmaybepublishedandcontributionsmaybeeditedorlength.Wehopeyouwilltakethisopportunitytoshareyourpassionsquestionsandin-sightswiththelargershamaniccommunityandwelookorwardtoreceivingthem.TeEditorsBiosofNewEditors 4AJournalofContemporaryShamanismVOLUME7ISSUE1SPRING2014ACKNOWLEDGEMENTThankYouCarolProudfootEdgarandSandraIngermanSandraIngermanMAwww.sandraingerman.comisoneofourfoundingboardmembers.SandrahelpedcreateSSPfromtheashesofShamanismInHealthcareconferenceswithotheroriginalboardmembersandBonnieHorriganourfoundingexecutivedirector.SandrahasbroughtallofhertalenttohelpmakeSSPaplaceforshamanicpractitionersandthosewithaninterestinshamanism.Shehasbeenavoiceofintegrityandvaluescommunitybuildingandoutreachtopractitioners.Sandrahastaughtatourgather-ingsregularlywrittenforourbooksnewsletterandjournalandhasgivenfullyofherselftomakingSSPabetterorganization.Shehastransitionedtoouradvisoryboardwhereshewillcontinuetobeapresenceasoneofourwiseelders.ThankyouSandraforallthatyouhavedonetocreateandenlivenSSPWewillmissyouonourboardbutknowthatyouarestillthereforus.CarolProudfootEdgarwww.shamanicvision.comhasservedasanSSPboardmemberformorethan10years.Duringthattimewehavebeengiftedbyhershamanicwisdomgleanedfromherindigenousbackgroundandyearsofbuildingshamaniccommunityandgatherings.ShewasinstrumentalincreatingourShamanismWithoutBordersconferencenearSantaCruzCaliforniaandcontributedmuchtotheShamanismWithoutBordersbook.Carolgavefreelytoourboardandmembershipbyaskingthemoredifficultquestionssuchaswhatwordsarereallytryingtospeakaswefollowedtheebbsandflowsofourboardandmemberenergy.Wehaveenjoyedhersoftpresenceanddeepthinking.ThankyouCarolforbeingyouWehaveenjoyedeveryminuteofyourguidanceandworkontheboard.WelcometoournewestBoardMemberGenieHobbsGenieHobbsLCSWisashamanicpractitionerandteacherwhoworksprimarilyintheDenverarea.Shesbeenonadedicatedshamanicpathfor15yearsandhasstudiedprimarilywithThePowerPathSchoolofShamanismandwithhealersfromtheHuicholandShipibotraditions.Shamanismisanintegralpartofherday-to-daylifeandworldview.Geniecombinesnewthoughtwithancientindigenouswisdomsothatherclientsandstudentsenjoyrestoredandinvigoratedconnec-tionstotheirheartstheirinnerwisdomandtheirpersonalpower.ShealsoworksasapsychotherapistandispassionateaboutsupportingherclientsastheyrememberwhotheyareasbeautifulandpowerfulreflectionsofSpirit.GenieisexcitedabouttheopportunitytoservetheexistingmembershipofSSPandtointroduceshamanicprinciplestoalargercommunity.httpwww.theshamanicway.comandhttpgeniehobbs.com www.shamansociety.org5ATributetoAngelesArrienbyBonnieHorriganAngelesArrien1940-2014AngelesArrienculturalanthropolo-gistaward-winningauthorandeducatorunexpectedlypassedoveronApril242014.AngeleswhowasoneoftheearlypioneersofthetranspersonalpsychologymovementhadservedontheadvisoryboardoftheSocietyforShamanicPracti-tionerssinceitsinception.MostpeopleknewAngelesfromherbookswhichincludeTheFour-FoldWayWalkingthePathsoftheWarriorTeacherHealerandVisionarySignsofLifeTheFiveUniversalShapesandHowtoUseThemTheSecondHalfofLifeOpeningtheEightGatesofWisdomandLivinginGratitudeAJourneyThatWillChangeYourLife.AtAngeleswishtherewillnotbeapublicmemorial.Sherequestedthatonceamonthontheanniversaryofherpassingthe24thofeachmonththosewishingtohonorheroverthisnextyearshouldlightacandleandsayaprayer.BonnieHorriganFoundingExecutiveDirectorSocietyforShamanicPractitionersRossLewallen1937-2014WhenRossLewallentranscendedfromhisearthlyhometothespiritualrealmssomeofusinhiscommunityinSantaFehadthehonorofbeingathisbedsidetodrumrattleandsingforhimashemadehistransitionpeacefully.Rosswasabrilliantshamanicpracti-tionerandteacher.HelivedinSantaFesincethe1970sandhadawell-knowngallerywherehesoldhisjewelrywhichheimbuedwiththepoweroftheinvisiblerealms.Eachpieceofjewelryandeverypaintingheldshamanicpowertoassistinhealingandtransformation.Hebroughthealingjoyinspirationandmagicintoallhisartworkandsharedhiscraftgener-ouslywithothers.Whentouristscameintohisstorehewouldimmediatelystarttalkingaboutshamanismandhandthemabookaboutit.Hewassoenthusiasticaboutthesub-jectofshamanicpracticethatonecouldnotrefusehisinvitationtoexploreandlearnmore.OvertheyearsIhavereceivedlettersfromallovertheworldfrompeoplewhowrotethataftermeetingRosstheyeithertookaworkshoponshamanismorhadashamanichealingwithhimorwithan-otherpractitioner.Allexpressedgratitudeforhowhisteachingandhealingworkinfluencedandchangedtheirlives.Rosswasanextraordinaryshamanteacherartistjewelertravelersailorfish-ermanfathergrandfatherhusbandandbrothertohismen.Helivedenthusias-ticallyandjoyfully.Hiseyessparkledandallwhocameintohispresencefeltlovedandacceptedwithoutcondition.Hewasalwayssokindandgenerous.Rossspresencewasagifttotheearthandwewillmisshim.Iknowhisloveandlaughterwillcontinuetofillourhearts.SandraIngermanDavidCorbinbyElaineEgidioDavidCorbin1953-2014IfirstmetDavidCorbininPhoe-niciaNewYorkin1996whenhewasassistingaFoundationforShamanicStudiesweek-longtrainingprogram.Iwasimpressedbyhiscalmdemeanorhissenseofhumorandhiskindness.OvertheyearsIhavehadmanyinspiringmomentswithhimbothashisstudentandlaterasanassistantfortheworkshopsthatheofferedwithhiswifeNanMoss.Ihavealwaysbeenimpressedbyhiscalmnessundermanytryingcir-cumstancesincrediblesenseofrhythmabilitytoinspirepeopleinagentleyetdirectmannerandasenseofhumorthatneverseemedtofailhim.Hesharedhisknowledgeconnectionanddeeploveofthespiritworldwithmanypeople.IrememberhowDavidwouldleanforwardtohearandengageworkshopandtrainingparticipants.Helistenedwithhisheartwithhisconnectiontothespiritsandheneverfailedtomakehimselfavailabletootherstohelpthemfindtheirwaythroughthespiritworld.WithNanhespentyearsdrivingcoasttocoastandteachingweeksatatimetobringhealingandinspirationtoothers.HisworkasanastrologerledbothhimandNanintoadeeploveofthestarstheskycloudsandtheever-changingweather.Davidwasasolidmanwhocouldholdspaceinthisworldwhileengagedintheworldofspirits.Hewasastrongmentoradependableteacherandguideadeepthinkeronewhoknewhowtolistenandbepresentwitheyesthatwerekindandknowing.Manypeoplewillmisshimasateacherfriendandshaman.ElaineEgidioMEMORIALSRossLewallenbySandraIngerman 6AJournalofContemporaryShamanismVOLUME7ISSUE1SPRING2014WeWesternersliveinaworldofcontinualandunrelentingdistraction.Ourdaysbeginwiththenewspapersinthemorningourworkworldduringthedayandtelevisionotherentertain-mentsortheinternetintheevenings.Inadditionthereareourself-promotingschemesandoureverchanginglifestylesrepletewithfamiliesandfriendsrestaurantsandfilmsandvariousculturalandendlesssportingeventsallofwhicharepartofthemulti-leveledtemplateofdistractionthatwecalllife.Accordinglythroughoutourdaysandournightsourmindsarenevereverstill.Theinternalchatterinourheadscon-tinuestosurgethiswayandthatdealingwithourproblemsandourfearsandourwidely-flungnetworksofrelationshipswitheveryoneeverywhere.InresponsetoallofthisweWesternersworry...andweworryalot.TheIndigenousWorldThisbringsmetoconsideraquitedifferentstateofbeingonethattheindigenouspeoplesoftheworldknowwellastatethatfewintheWesternworldrememberalthoughasImakethisstatementIhavetoacknowl-edgethatthoseworthieswhohaveameditationoryogapracticewillknowexactlywhatImtalkingabout.AmongsomeoftheAustralianAboriginalpeoplesthisstateofbeingisknownasdadirriatermthatliterallytranslatesintoEnglishasdeeplistening.SomeinformationaboutthisisincludedinHYPERLINKhttpwww.sharedwisdom.comproductawakening-spirit-worldAwakeningtotheSpiritWorldbySandraIngermanandHankWesselman2010.SeveralyearsagoIreceivedanemailfromsomeunknownsoulanunexpectedmissivethatincludedthewordsofanAus-tralianAboriginaleldernamedMiriamRoseUngunmerr-Bau-mann.IhadneverheardofherbeforebutasIreadthroughherbriefstatementIrealizedthathernarrativewasfilledwithpowerinitssimplicityanddirectness.MiriamRosesmessageisclearlyforallofusandsoIsharesomeofitwithyouhereenhancedbysomeadditionalinformationaboutAboriginalthought.ForstartersMiriamRosedefinestheabilitycalleddadirriasaspecialqualitythatallowseachofustomakecontactwithadeepspringthatlieswithinus.Toconnectwiththatspringrequiresthatweachieveastateofquietstillawareness.ItissimilartowhatweWesternerscallcontemplationormeditation.Sha-manicpractitionersknowitwell.DadirriForthetraditionalAboriginalsMiriamRoseproclaimsthatthiscontemplativefocuspermeatestheirentirewayoflifetheirwholebeingthatdadirricontinuallyrenewsthemonadaytodaybasisbringingthempeacecreatingharmonywherethereisdisharmonyproducingbalancewherethereisimbalancerestoringhealthwherethereisillness.TherearenogreathiddentruthsherenosecretknowledgehiddenawayforcenturieswaitingforabunchofNewAgecharismaticswithPowerPointpresentationstorediscoverthemexcavatethemandwriteabookaboutthemproclaimingthemasthesolutiontoallourproblemspersonalandcollective.ThiswomansmessageconveysasimpleandunmistakabletruththatthepracticeofdadirrimakestheAboriginalsfeelwholeagain.Shesharesthattheycannotlivegoodandusefullivesunlesstheypracticedadirriandthattheylearnedhowtodothisfromtheirancestors.AsaWesternanthropologistwhohasdoneconsiderabletimeintheindigenousworldIcanappreciatethistraditionalwomanswords.DuringmyyearsspentamongthetribalpeoplesofAfricaoneofthethingsthatIlearnedisthattheyarenotthreatenedbysilence.Tothecontrarytheyarecompletelyathomeinit.Theirtraditionalwayshavetaughtthemhowtobestillandhowtolistentothesilence.Accordinglytheydonottrytohurrythingsup.Rathertheyallowthemtofollowtheirnaturalcoursesliketheseasons...andtheywait.SotheAboriginalwomansmessagefromAustraliaconveysafamiliarmessageaswellasanextraordinaryclaimthatthoseAboriginalsstilllivingintheirtraditionallifewaysdontworry...thattheyneverworry.Theyknowthatinthepracticeofdadirrithedeeplisteningandquietstillnessofthesoulthatallwayswillbemadecleartothemintime.SHAMANICPRACTICEAustralianAboriginalWisdomByHankWesselmanPhD. www.shamansociety.org7TheAboriginalPerspectiveThetraditionalAboriginalsarenotgoalorientedinthesamewaythatweWesternersareprogrammedtobefromchild-hoodnordotheyattempttopushtheriverwhichtheyknowwithabsolutecertaintyisanexerciseinabsolutefutility.InMiriamRoseswordsWearelikethetreestandinginthemiddleofabushfiresweepingthroughthetimber.Theleavesarescorchedandthetoughbarkisscarredandburntbutinsidethetreethesapisstillflowingandunderthegroundtherootsarestillstrong.Likethetreewehaveenduredtheflamesandyetwestillhavethepowertobereborn.Aftermorethan200yearsofassimilationistpracticesinflicteduponthembychurchandstatealiketheAustralianAboriginalsarestillhere.Theyareusedtotheongoingstruggleandtothelongwaiting.Inthissensetheystillwaitforthewhitepeopletounderstandthembetter.TheyhavespentmanygenerationslearningaboutWesternways.Theyhavelearnedtospeakourlanguageandhavelistenedtowhatwehavetosay.Yettheycon-tinuetowaitforustocomeclosertothem.Theylongforthosethingstheyhavealwayshopedforrespectandunderstanding.InMiriamRoseUngunmerr-BaumannswordsWeknowthatourwhitebrothersandsisterscarrytheirownparticularburdens.Wecarryburdensaswell.YetIbelievethatiftheyletuscometothemiftheywouldopenuptheirmindsandheartstousandhearwhatwehavetosaywemightlightentheirburdens.Thereisastruggleforallofusbutweunlikethemhavenotlostourspiritofdadirri.SheconcludeshermessagebyobservingIbelievethatthespiritofdadirrithatwehavetooffertotheworldwillhelpyouWesternerstoblossomandgrownotjustwithinyourselvesbutwithinyournationaswell.Therearedeepspringswithineachofusandwithinthemthereisasoundthesoundofthedeepcallingtothedeep.Thetimeforrebirthisnow.Ifourcultureandyourculturearealiveandwellaswellasstrongandrespectedtheywillgrow.Insuchacaseourculturewillnotdienorwillyoursandourspiritswillnotbelost.Wewillcontinuetogetherasthiswasalwaysmeanttobe.AboriginalPhilosophyThiswonderfulstatementremindsmeofapaperIreadyearsagoinananthologycalledShamanismExpandedViewsofRealityeditedbyShirleyNicholson1987.ThepaperistitledTheDreamtimeMysticismandLiberationShamanisminAustra-liaanditisauthoredbytheVenerableE.NandisvaraNayakeTheroPhD.thenthechiefSanghanayakaoftheTheravadaOrderofBuddhistmonksinIndia.AformerprofessorofcomparativereligionatMadrasUniversityaswellasDirectoroftheMahaBodhiSocietyofSriLankaandSecretaryGeneraloftheWorldSanghaCouncilDr.NandisvarahadrecentlyreturnedfromaresearchexpeditionwithananthropologicalteaminAustraliawherehehadlivedforsometimewithanativeAboriginalcommunityinhiswordsanextremelyancientracewhosewayoflifehuntingandgather-inghadnotsubstantiallychangedforperhaps35000years.InhisreportDr.Nandisvaramakesanextraordinarystate-ment.TothosewhojudgethedegreeofaculturebythedegreeofitstechnologicalsophisticationthefactthattheAustralianna-tivesliveinthesamefashionnowastheydidthousandsofyearsagomayimplythattheyareuncivilizedoruncultured.HoweverIwouldsuggestthatifacivilizationbedefinedbythedegreeofpolishingofanindividualsmindandthebuildingofhisorhercharacterandifthatculturereflectsthemeasureofourself-disciplineaswellasourlevelofconscious-nessthentheAustralianAboriginalsareactuallyoneofthemostcivilizedandhighlyculturedpeoplesintheworldtoday.FromhisconversationswiththeirshamansandspiritualeldersDr.NandisvaraconcludedthattheirspiritualtraditionishighlyadvancedandthattheirreligiousbeliefsareparallelwiththosefoundinthevariousbranchesofthePerennialPhilosophy.TheAboriginalelderstoldDr.Nandisvarathatthespiritofahumanbeingisalwaysincontactwiththehigherspiritualrealmsofbeingeveniftheremaybenoawarenessofthiscontactinonesordinarystateofconsciousness.Theyinformedhimthatthisgivestoeachoneofusanextraordinarygiftinthattherecanbedirectcommunicationbetweenthehumanandthedivineplanesofbeingwithouttheneedforanyecclesiasticalintermedi-aryorpriest.InotherwordsinAboriginalthoughtthereisquitesimplynogreatimpassablegulfbetweenthehumanandthedivineaperceptionthatisindirectoppositiontomostesotericschoolsoftheologyincludingJudeo-Christianity.ThisiswhytheAborigi-nalshadnoneedtodevelopanyorganizedreligionrunbyabureaucratizedandstratifiedpriesthood.Whattheyhaveinsteadisanauthenticspiritualegalitarianisminwhichtheyasindividu-alscanaccesstheDreamtimethroughtrancegivingthemdirectandimmediateaccessintothespiritualdimensionsthroughtheshamanictechniquesofecstasy.Thisabilitygivesthemanunshakableauthoritytomakehighlyevolvedphilosophicalobservations.ForexamplelikethereligiousthanatologiesofotherspiritualtraditionstheAborigi-nalsdescribetheprogressionofhumanconsciousnessafterdeathassurvivalininfinity.Theyknowfromdirectexperiencethattheindividualpointofcontactwiththeinfinitudeofcosmicconsciousnesscontinuestoexpandafterdeathuntilitisco-extensivewithit...untilitliterallybecomesit.ThisisnotatheoryfortheAboriginalsnorisitaconcept.ItisaperceptbasedupontheirowndirectexperiencearevelationthatisrevealedalsointheTibetanBookoftheDead.TheHindusandBuddhistsusethewordSamadhitodescribethisstate.TheAboriginalscallittheDreamtimeyetitisclearfromtheirdescriptionsofitthatempiricallyandphenomenologicallythesestatesarethesame.EarthandSkyPhilosophiesDr.NandisvarasessayalsoreportsthatthereisatraditionofpersonalspiritualaspirationinAboriginalsocietythatissimilar 8AJournalofContemporaryShamanismVOLUME7ISSUE1SPRING2014tothatfoundinyoga.Thisisnotsurprisingastheshamanictraditionistheancestralprecursortoalltheyogictraditions.ThefourstagesoflifeinHinduismarebrahmacharya-unmarriedstudentgrihastha-marriedhouseholderwithchildrenvanaprastha-forestdwellerandsannyasa-wanderer.DuringthelastyearsoftheirlivesmanyoftheAboriginaleldersleavetheircommunitiesandgooffaloneintothemountainstoengageinspiritualpracticesmuchasinthelasttwostagesoftheHindusystemwhicharecharacterizedbysolitaryretirementtotheforestastrivingforspiritualunderstandingandpreparationfordeath.OneofthetechniquesreportedbyDr.NandisvarapracticedbysuchrenunciateAboriginaleldersisgazingattheskywithwide-openeyes.Thisisnotatypeofastronomyorastrology.Ratheritisameditativemethodusedtoobtainspiritualinspira-tionandintuitiondirectlyfromthecosmos.InBuddhismYogaJudeo-Christianityandotherrelativelyrecentreligioussystemsskyphilosophiespredominateinwhichtheconceptsofspaceandskydeitiesareofgreatestreli-giousimport.InoppositiontothisaretheearlierreligiousaswellasindigenoustraditionsinwhichearthphilosophieswerethenormfocusedastheywereupontheEarthasMotheraswellasotherearthlydeitiespoweranimalsorfertilitygoddessesasthepredominateobjectsofreverence.InterestinglyinAboriginalthoughtbothphilosophiesarepresent.TheEarthisthebasisforallspiritualstudiesduringthefirstandintermediatestagesoflife.ButwiththeapproachoflifesendthebasicEarthstudyiscompletedandthereisarefocusingofthestillembodiedspiritoftheindividualtowardtheboundlessreachesofthesky.ThusfortheAustralianAboriginalsthehighestspiritualityisassociatednotwiththeEarthbutwiththeshamanicUpperWorldsandwiththeinfinityofspacewithCosmicConscious-nessitself.ThisagainisincompletealignmentwiththegreatteachingsofthePerennialPhilosophy.Atthisstageboththebodyandthemindhavebecomeabso-lutelystill.Thisisnotthesamestateassociatedwiththechakrasasdescribedinkundaliniyogaandtheotheresotericschoolsforitisbeyondsuchexperiences.Itisinfactawithdrawalofenergyfromthechakrassothattheynolongerhaveanyeffectonthemindwhatsoever.Thisisthestateofdadirri...thedeeplistening.Dr.Nandisvaradescribesthisstateastheborderlandbetweenthemindthatisconnectedtothisworldandthemindthatisnotconnectedtothisworldthemindthatisabsolutelyfree.ItistheinterfacebetweentheexplicateandimplicateordersofrealityofthephysicistDavidBohm...theintimateone-on-oneconnectionwiththehigherselfofthemystic.ThisisthestatethattheAboriginaleldersseekastheyleavetheirhomesandgoofftoliveinthemountainstopracticegazingatthesky.Thisistheshamansinvitationtothespiritualcosmicforcetoapproachandembracethefocusofourmind.Itisandwasandwillforeverbeunionwiththeinfiniteauthen-ticnon-dualmysticism.ReconsideringIndigenousWisdomItistimeIthinktoacknowledgethattheindigenoustribalpeopleswerenotandarenotatsomechildlikeformofaware-ness.RatherthetimehascomeforusallegedlycivilizedWest-ernerstoseriouslyreconsidertheirworldviewsandtheirspiritualpractices.Fortheirwaysofbeingintheworldhavekeptthemandtheirsocietiesaliveandwellfor40000yearsandmore...whilewewhoconsiderourselvessohighlyevolvedhaveonlybeenhereforafewhundred...andthingsarenotgoingparticu-larlywellthesedays.Dr.Nandisvaraalsodiscussessomethingelseofinterest...Alongtheirwaytoachievingthehigherstatesofconscious-nesstheshamansinAboriginalsocietiesareabletodevelopvarioussortsofpsychicabilities.Theypossessforexamplethecapacitytotraveloutofthebodyacrosstheskyinanalteredstateofconsciousnessandvisitanyplacetheywish.ItisalsoknownamongtheAboriginalsthattheirshamanscanjourneytothemoonortoanyotherplanetatanytimetheychoose.ThisiswhytheywerenotparticularlyimpressedwhentheApollomissionsflewtothemoonandback.Infacttheyfailedtounderstandwhywehadneededmachinestogothereastheyarebothbulkyaswellasslow.Dr.NandisvaraconcludeshisessaybyobservingwithconsiderablereverencethatthoseAboriginalsstillinvolvedintheirtraditionallifewaysaresopeacefulandquietaswellassoharmoniouslyintunewithNatureandthespiritualdimension.Bycontrasttherestoftheworldaroundthemincludingmostoftheso-calledcivilizedsocietiesareincrisisdominatedbymurderandmayhempoliticalmendacityandcorporategreedwithpeoplekillingeachotherinthenameofwhatevergodtheyespouseexploitingtheenvironmentandtheirfellowlivingbe-ingsofthisbeautifulworldonlysomeofwhomhappentobehuman.WecouldobserveinpassingthatthereislittledoubtthatwearetheRomansofourtime.IsitthereforesurprisingthatDr.NandisvarawhosomehavecalledthePopeofIndiahascho-sentodescribethenativeAustraliansasoneofthemostcivilizedandculturedpeoplesontheplanettodayABOUTTHEAUTHORHankWesselmanPhD.isananthropologistwhohasbeeninvolvedinthesearchforhumanoriginsinthefossilbedsofEthiopiaforover40yearsatimethathasallowedhimtoliveforsubstantialperiodswithtraditionalpeoplesrarelyifevervisitedbyoutsiders.HeisalsotheauthorofeightbooksonshamanismincludingTheBowlofLightAncestralWisdomfromaHawaiianShamantheaward-winningAwakeningtotheSpiritWorldTheShamanicPathofDirectRevelationwithSandraIngermanandhiscriticallyacclaimedSpiritwalkerTrilogy.HelivesonHawaiiIslandwhereheandhisfamilyareinvolvedwithsustainablehorticulture.HankalsooffersshamanictrainingworkshopsatretreatcentersacrosstheUSandabroad.Visithiswebsiteatwww.sharedwisdom.com www.shamansociety.org9SHAMANICPRACTICETHEPLACEOFRECONCILIATIONByEllenWinnerJ.D.LastJulyafewweeksaftermyseventiethbirthdayIhadadreaminwhichanauthoritativemalevoicematter-of-factlyannouncedGodiscallingyouhome.InthedreamIfoundmyselfbetweenandslightlybehindtwomenIdidntknowstandingsothatweformedatriangle.Anothervoiceremarkedthatthethreeofuswouldbeleavingtogether.Fearofdeathhasplaguedmesincechildhoodsoitwasoddthatitallseemedsoordinary.Iwouldneverpersonallyhavesaidcallingyouhome.Thosewerewordsforsanctimoniouspreachersorforchurchladiestoechotoeachotherwithfalseassurance.Yetinthedreamtheyfeltobviousandrightwithnosenseatallofwhistlinginthedark.Beingcalledhomewasnothingmorethananaturalnextstepsomethingmildlypleasurabletolookforwardto.IdidnttellmyfamilybecauseIthoughtitwouldscarethembutmadeanoteinmyjournaljustincase.Ifanythinghap-penedIwantedeveryonetoknowIdbeencalledhomeratherthansnatchedbythecrueljawsofdeathorcutdownbythegrimreaper.AndnowthatmonthshavepassedsincethedreamImnolongerworriedaboutwakingupdeadanytimesoon.Itgotmyattentionthoughenoughtoinvestigatefurther.AlreadyfamiliarwithRaymondMoodyandElisabethKubler-RosssPerrysLifeAfterLife1InowreadneurosurgeonEbenAlexandersProofofHeaven2andJeffLongandPaulPer-rysEvidenceoftheAfterlife3andfoundseveralgoodwebsites.4Acommonelementofthenear-deathexperienceisalifereviewinwhichalovingspiritshowsyouwithoutjudgmentscenesfromyourlifewhenyoucausedharmtoothers.Fullyexperienc-ingthehurtfulemotionsyoucausedasiftheywereyourownyouaremovedtocompassion.Youaresodeeplysorryforthepainyoucausedyouhavenodesireeventotrytojustifyyourac-tionsandatthesametimeyouunderstandhowyourownpainandignorancecausedyoutoactthatwayandareabletoforgiveyourself.Thelovingspiritalsoletsyourelivethekindactsyouperformedsoyoucanfullyrealizehowimportanttheywere.ExploratoryJourneytothePlaceofReconciliationInadditiontolearningaboutthenear-deathexperiencesofothersasashamanicpractitionerIfeltcompelledtoinvestigatefurtherwithajourneytomyowndeath.ImaginingmyselfonmydeathbedItraveledupwardpassingthroughalineofdemarcationintoadarkishplaceItooktobeaninterworld5betweentheMiddleandUpperWorldsinnon-ordinaryreality.TherestretchingintothedistanceasfarastheeyecouldseewasasceneofthousandsofhumanheadsandbodiesliketheviewsontelevisionofmassedprotestsinEgyptsTahrirSquare.IunderstoodthatthesewereallthepeoplewhohadsharedtheEarthwithmeduringmylifeandwonderedbrieflyhowtheoneswhowerestillaliveonEarthcouldalsobehereinthisafter-deathplace.Butitdidntmatter.Thereweallweretogetherinagiganticcrowdmiddle-easternmenwithbeardsAfricansAsiansAmericanschildrenbabieswomenandmenofallagesracesandnationalities.SomeIfeltgoodaboutandsomeliketheTalibanmenIcouldseeinthefardistancecouldhavebeenfrighteningyetIfeltnofear.Thewholehumanmasswasgentlyvibratingjostlingtogetherasthoughsettlinginreconcilingtoeachother.AsurgeofsocialanxietytriggeredatemptationtocomeoutofthejourneyuntilIheardamalevoicesayTheprincipleofbeautyapplieshere.Irefocusedinnon-ordinaryreality.Everyoneherewasinittogether.Noonecouldescapeandinthisplacewenolongerhadpowertodoeachotherharm.Therewasnothingwecoulddobutreconcileaccepteachotheraswewere.Thatswhatthevoicemeant.Wehadtofindbeautyinthisplacebecausethiswasourwholerealityandbeautywastheretobefound.Ibegantosensethemovementofcompassioninthecrowdasindividualsfocusedoneachotherfeelingeachotherspainandgriefastheirown.Thiswasalifereviewonaverylargescalebutdifferentfromnear-deathexperiencesIdreadaboutbecauseIwasntbeingaskedtoconfrontthingsIhadpersonallydonetohurtothers.Ihadcomeintothejourneywithastrongneedtounderstanddyingandnowthecompassionatespiritswereshowingmethisplace.Iknewitwasrealplaceinnon-ordinaryrealitythatotherscouldvisitstayingaslongastheywished.ThewordsThePlaceofReconciliationsprangtomindlikearecognitionofitstruename.AsthejourneyendedIknewIwouldbeback.Thejourneyremindedmethatcompassionisanaturallawforhumanbeings.Despitetheexistenceofselfishnessandcru-eltyintheworldnoonecandenythatsurvivalofthefittestisoneoflifesoperatingprinciplesthehighestlawisloveandconnection.WhenwedontfeelscaredorthreatenedandinthePlaceofReconciliationwedontcompassionautomaticallyarises. 10AJournalofContemporaryShamanismVOLUME7ISSUE1SPRING2014YoumaybewonderingwhatmakesmesosuretheplaceIreachedinmyjourneyisreliablycompassionateandsafe.Whatifabullyorcriminalarrivedtheresomeonesodamagedtheyhadnoexperienceorcapacitytocareaboutthewell-beingofothersHowcouldtheybeexpectedtosuddenlybeginfeelingkind-nessandgoodwilljustbecausetheyhadcometothisPlaceIcanonlysaythatinmyjourneyIneverthoughttoquestionmysensethatbadbehaviorwasimpos-siblethereanymorethanIquestionedthetruthandbasickindnessofthemes-sageinmydreamthatGodwascallingmehome.IfyoujourneytothePlaceofReconciliationyouwillexperienceitasitshowsitselftoyouandseeforyourself.Wearehard-wiredtopayextraatten-tiontothethoughtsandemotionsthathelpusreacttothreat.Thisisanancientstrategytokeepusaliveinadangerousworld.Yetwhennotdisturbedbythreatwenaturallysettleintoahappyrestingstate.WhenphysicaldeathhasalreadyhappenedwhereistheneedtocontinuerunninginstinctualbehaviorstoavoiditIfoundthePlaceofReconciliationinajourneybeyondmyowndeathandthatstheonlywayshortofactualphysicaldeathIknowforanyonetoreachit.Itmakessensetomethatwhoeverarrivesnomatterhowbrutalizedbylifemustsuccumbtoitsharmonizingforces.Compassionisatoolaskillfulmeansforarrivingatreconciliationacceptanceandharmonywiththerestoftheuni-versedefinedbyWebstersassympa-theticconsciousnessofothersdistresstogetherwithadesiretoalleviateit.IwouldaddthatinthePlaceofReconcili-ationcompassionismorethanadesiretorelieveanotherssufferingitsaheartfeltwilltodoso.AsaplaceofcompassionthePlaceofReconciliationisadestinationforhealingwhereshamanscanjourneyforhealing.BasedonmyownimpressionsandreportsfromothersIveintroducedtothisjourneyvisitorstothePlaceofRec-onciliationdiscoveradeepappreciationforthesufferingofothersandastrongandheartfeltwilltomakeitbetter.Theyfeeltrulysorry.Theircompassioncanbesostrongitsendsouttendrilsofforcetosurroundanddigbeneaththepainlift-ingitoutandawayfromapersonssoul.Compassioncanhelpyouseeyourclientasahurtchildandgivefreereintoyourinstincttorushtohissideandmakethepaingoaway.InthePlaceofReconciliationthatkindofcompassionistheoperatingprinciple.Itisthelaw.Ev-eryoneknowstheresnowayout.Theyrestucktheretogetherwithnothingtodobutadaptandacceptitasitis.Noonehasthepowertoharmanyoneelseandnoonecanbeharmed.Theonlymove-mentpossibleisthemovementtowardbeautyharmonyandtotalreconciliationwithwhatsthere.Notethatreconcilia-tionamovementtowardlifeisnotthesameasresignationwhichisagivinguptothenumbnessofdespair.InstructionsforanExploratoryJourneytothePlaceofReconciliationIntenttovisitthePlaceofReconcili-ationinnon-ordinaryrealitytolearnaboutitandexperiencethecompassionthere.BeopenandwillingtoacceptwhateverhappensandalerttowitnesskindlovingactsbetweenbeingsinthatPlace.YoucometothePlaceofRecon-ciliationbyright.Itisaplaceinnon-ordinaryrealitydesignedforyou.Youseeitasyourown.Theothersaretherebothforyouandforthemselves.Youcomeasoneofthem. www.shamansociety.org11TravelupwardtothePlaceofRec-onciliation.Watchforalineofdemar-cationprobablynotasdefiniteasthatbetweentheMiddleandLowerWorlds.Askforacompassionateguidetomeetyouthere.Itcanbeanangelsagesaintreligiousdeityascendedmasterances-tororfriendwhohaspassedonbeforeyouoranyotherbeingofpowerwholovesyouunconditionallyandwhomyoutrust.Theguideistoassistyouingivingandreceivingforgivenessandreconcili-ation.Letthisbeapersonaljourneyjustforyoutoaplaceyouwillbetakenafterdeathforreconciliationwiththosewholivedwithyouonearthorsincetheresnotimetherewecouldevencallitaplacewhereyourreconciliationisgoingonrightnow.YourPlaceofReconcili-ationmaynotlookatallliketheoneIexperienced.Weallseethingsdifferentlyinourjourneys.UnityofAllThingsInshamanismwerepeatedlyreceivemessagesfromourspiritsthateverythingisaliveandabletocommunicate.Andthemorewejourneythemoreourspiritsteachuslessonsofunitywithalovinguniverse.6ThaddeusGolasanintrepidLSDcosmonautofthenineteen-sixtiesandseventieswhowellunderstoodtheunityofallbeingswroteabouthisacidtripstohelphisbrothersandsistersonthisdangerouspathdealwithbadtrips.AmarvelousteachinghebroughtbackwasLoveistheactionofbeinginthesamespacewithotherbeings.7InthePlaceofReconciliationwehavenochoicebuttobeinthesamespacewithotherbeings.Ourwilledactionofgoingthereandourcommitmentnottoleaveisanactoflove.GolasdescribeshowconsciousnesscanexpandtoalevelhecallsspaceortheOneMindwherewefeelatonewithalllife.TheOneMindbydefinitionhasaplaceandspacewithinitforeverybeingandeverythingthathappens.Ifwefailtorecognizeapartofallthatisanddismissitasuglylowstupidorunworthyofouracceptanceinwhateverwaywedepriveourselvesofaccesstothewisdompowerandlovecontainedinthatpartandbasicallycreateashadowthatwontgoawayuntilweacceptit.WhenwejourneytothePlaceofRec-onciliationwedeliberatelyputourselvesintothesamespacewithbeingswefailedtofullyacceptinthepastwiththeintenttoacceptthemnowwhichisthesameassayingtheintenttolovethemnow.AHealingJourneytothePlaceofReconciliationAnnoyedbychronicbackandribpainoneeveningshortlyaftermyfirstjourneytothePlaceofReconciliationandawareofThaddeusGolassteachingthatpainistheexperienceofnotbeingabletogetintothesamespacewithoth-ers8Ithoughtofreturningtoseekrelief.Icouldcertainlyusealittlecompassion.ThistimeIfoundthePlacesubtlychangedlessdarkandalittlehigherupasthoughprogresshadbeenmadeinthereconciliationprocesssincemyfirstvisit.Ifeltagreatersenseofharmony.Mybodyspreadoutexpandingtoincludewithinitsboundarieseveryoneofthosemultitudeswhosharedtheearthwithmeinlife.FocusingonthebeingsinmybackandribswhereithurtIfelttheircompassionformeandforeachotherastheycontinuedtoharmonizeengagedinaprocessofrecognizingeachotherspresenceandconsciouslyreplac-ingfeelingsofantagonismorresistancewithacceptance.Theywerewillingtobeinthesamespaceasmypaintheyfeltcompassionformysufferingandeachothersandtheirloveandacceptancelessenedmypain.Agoodstrategyfordealingwithpainistostopresistingandacceptit.Youcantestthisoutforyourselfifyouhappentoburnyourfinger.Insteadofrushingtothefaucettonumbitwithcoldwaterfocusonit.Concentrateasthepaincomesupreachesitspeakandthenrecedes.Itwillbegoneinmuchlesstimethanifyoutriedtoavoidfeelingit.InmyjourneyallIhadtodowasfocusonthepainandnoticethatspiritsinmybackandribswerepresentandfeelingcompassionandsomethingshiftedtolessenthepain.Becomingawareofspiritswholiveinsideyourbodyatthesiteofpainandmakingaspaceforthemtoreconcileisalwaysagoodstrategyfordealingwithbothphysicalandemotionalpain.Ifyoutakeastepbackandlookatthepainobjectivelyyoullnoticeitsarisingsimultaneouslywithresistancetoit.Asshamansweknowthateverythinghasaspiritandthatincludesboththepainandtheresistance.Youcanhavecompas-sionforboththesespirits.InthePlaceofReconciliationyoufindextrasupportforbringingthesewarringspiritsintoacceptanceofeachother.ThePlaceofReconciliationcanalsohelpdealwithafter-effectsoftrauma.Theconsequencesoftraumacanbegreatlyalleviatedbyadministeringpsychologicalfirstaidatthetimeofthetrauma.Ifsomeoneisthereatthetimeoftheinjurytocomfortavictimofdisasterorbattlethelong-termneedfortreat-mentislessened.Inshamanictermstheeffectsofsoullossarereduced.Firstrespondersaretaughttoshowimmediatecompassionengagingwithvictimsandensuringtheirsafetyandcomfort.InthePlaceofReconciliationoutsidetimeyoumaybegivenpsychologicalfirstaidasyoure-experienceatraumainthepres-enceofhealingcompassion.Whenyoucomeoutofthejourneyyoumaynoticethememoriesofthetraumainyourbodyandmindhavebecomelessinsistent.InstructionsforaHealingJourneytothePlaceofReconciliationIntenttojourneytothePlaceofReconciliationinnon-ordinaryrealityandaskforhealingofpainyouhave.Itcanbephysicaloremotional.Itcanbeanythingfromachronicbackpaintoaconstantnegativereactionyouvebeenhavingtoasituationorpersoninyourlife.Identifywhereinyourbodytheprob-lemis.Locatethephysicalpainorifyouwanttoworkwithachronicnegativere-actionoremotionallowyourselftofeeltheemotionfullyandthenaskWhereinmybodydoIfeelthismoststrongly 12AJournalofContemporaryShamanismVOLUME7ISSUE1SPRING2014Thenvisualizethatpartofyourbodyandworkthere.Youcanidentifytheplaceinyourbodybeforeyoustartthejourneyorwaituntilyoureinthejourneytoscanyourbodyandfindtheplaceofpain.Painoftenmovesaroundandyoucanfollowitifyouneedto.Butbeginbylocatingaplacetostartwherethepainseemsmostintenseandworkwiththebeingsyoufindthere.AtthePlaceofReconciliationasktomeetatleasttwobeingswhoaremostinvolvedwithyourpain.Itmaybethatmerelyrec-ognizingthemandknowingtheyreworkingwithcompassioninthisPlaceofReconciliationwillmakethepaingoawayoryoumayhavetogivethemalittlehelptoreconcilewitheachother.YoucansimplyremindthemthatyouareallheretogetherinthePlaceofReconciliationwherecompassionisthelawandaskthemtomakefriendswitheachotheraccepteachotherfullyandbewillingtobeinthesamespacewitheachother.Nojudgmentnostrainingtogetridofanyonenotevenaspiritofsomeonewhohurtyouinthepastorsomeoneyouquarreledwithrejectedandcouldneverforgive.InthePlaceofReconciliationyouareabletoforgiveandbeforgivenforeverything.Youmightasktoseeboththespiritwhosresistingthepainandthespiritwhoseemstobecausingitbytryingtoariseandbenoticed.Acceptanceandlovetheactionofbeinginthesamespacewiththeotherbeingsiswhathappenshere.Youmayfindamaleandfemalespiritatoddswitheachotherinthepainfulplaceinyourbody.Letthemknowthatallacceptanceishereandifnecessaryhelpthemreconciletheirdifferences.YoucandothistypeofhealingprocessintheMiddleWorldwithoutjourneyinganywhereexceptinsideyourownbodybuttheresultsaresupportedandmagnifiedbydoingitinthePlaceofReconciliationwhereeverybeingiswillfullyexercisingcom-passionandlearningtoacceptallthatis.AJourneytothePlaceofReconciliationforHealingforAnotherThePlaceofReconciliationcanalsobeaplacewheresha-manstakeotherstobehealed.Askedtodoshamanicworkforafriendwhosuffersfromalteredcellsinhisbrainthatcauseshortblack-outseizuresIdecidedtojourneytoseeifhealingwouldbethereforhim.AgainItraveledupwardfromthemiddleworldthistimemergedwithalowerworldhelperandcarriedmyfriendsreclin-ingbodyinmyarmslikeasickchild.IhadtogoevenhigherthanbeforetofindthelineofdemarcationbetweentheMiddleWorldandthePlaceofReconciliation.CrossingiteasilyIsawthatthecrowdhadgrownlarger.Peoplesheadsandbodiesstretchedsofarintothedistancetheylookedlikethetopsofpinetreesonamountainseenfromanairplaneattwentythousandfeet.Iquestionedwhetherwewereintherightplace.PuffydarkcloudsmovedinandblockedthesceneandIfeltusfloatingevenhigher.WhenthecloudsclearedIcouldmakeoutindividu-alpeoplenearbywithcompassionatehelpingspiritsbendingovertohelpthemandknewwehadreachedtherightplace.IaskedforhealingformyfriendandsensedwewereinsidehisskullmyhelpingspiritandIsurroundedbyhisdistinctlyidentifiablebutdiffusespirit.Ibecameawarethatmanymanyofhisancestorswerehereinsidetheskullwithus.Atfirsttheyseemeduncomfortablewitheachothertryingtoavoidphysi-calcontactbutthiswasthePlaceofReconciliationsoIknewtheydsoonsettledownandstartacceptingeachother.Asthishappeneddisembodiedfeelingsoflovebegantoarise.Isimplywitnessedfeelingwhatwasgoingon.WhenitwastimetocomebacktheharmonizationwasstillinprogresssoIleftmyfriendandspirithelperthereandreturnedtoordinaryrealityknowingtheywouldgentlyreturnwhentheprocesswascomplete.AsinbothmypreviousjourneystothePlaceofReconcili-ationthingsseemedtohappenwithoutmyactiveparticipa-tionconfirmingthatthiswasindeedaPlaceofPower.IknewIcouldnthavecreateditbymyselfwithmyownlittleimagina-tion.Asallshamansknowthespiritsarealwayshappiestwhenweworktohelpsomeoneelse.YoucanbringothersinneedofhealingtothePlaceofReconciliationandaskthespiritstheretohelpthem.InstructionsforaJourneytothePlaceofReconciliationtoHealAnotherIntenttotakeanotherpersonreferredtohereastheclienttothePlaceofReconciliationandaskthecompassionatespiritstohealthem.IfyouknowsomeoneinneedofhealingaskiftheywouldbewillingtojourneywithyoutothePlaceofReconciliationandopenthemselvestoanyhealingthatsavailable.Havethemdescribeapaintheyreexperiencingphysicaloremotionalandencouragethemtolocateitintheirbodyandtellyouwhereitis.Iftheyareunabletolocateanemotionalissueintheirbodyitsnotnecessarytopressthem.Thespiritswillknowwherethehealingworkisneeded.BringyourclientwithyoutothePlaceofReconciliation.Askforcompassionatespiritstobepresentandforahealingforyourclient.Ifyoucanseeorsensespiritsthatarecausingthepaininyourclientsbodysurroundthemwithyourloveandexpressyourcompassiontoeachoneindividuallylettingthemknowhowveryverysorryyouarefortheirsuffering.RemindthemthatyouareallinthePlaceofReconciliationwherecompassionisthelaw.Ifyouarecalledtotakeanactivepartinthehealingyoumightmodeltheacceptanceandcompassionyouwantthebe-ingsinvolvedinyourclientspaintoshowtowardeachother.InthePlaceofReconciliationyoucanputyourselfrightinsideyourclientspainandfeelyourselfdiggingitoutscrapingitoutliftingitoutconcentratingyourwholesoulonmakingyourcli-entwholeandwellandhappy.Thiskindofcompassioncanfeellikeaphysicalforceanenergyyoucouldalmostcutwithaknife.Itsthatpowerful.Youmaybegivendetailsaboutthecausesofyourclientspainandhowthehealingisbeingaccomplished.Acceptwhateveryoulearnwithoutjudgment.Ifyouarenotgivensuchdetailssimply www.shamansociety.org13trustthatthehealingistakingplace.HealingthattakesplaceinConsciousnesslikethisisthemosteffectivethereis.Healingatthishighestlevelautomaticallyresultsinphysicalandemotionalhealingatlowerlevelsofbeing.ItsnotclearhowmanypeoplestillinbodieshavebeenallowedtovisitthePlaceofReconciliationbutthesejourneyshavebeentriedwithgoodresultsinhealingcirclesIbelongto.TheneedwehaveonearthforthisPlaceofReconciliationisgreatandsurelythecompassionatespiritstherearemovedbyoursufferingandwanttohelp.ThemorewevisitandusethisPlaceforhealingthemorepowerfulitwillbecome.Endnotes1MoodyR.andKubler-RossE.LifeAfterLifeTheInvestigationofaPhenomenon--SurvivalofBodilyDeath.NewYorkNYHarperCollins2001.2AlexanderE.ProofofHeavenANeurosurgeonsJourneyintotheAfterlife.NewYorkNYSimonSchusterPaperbacks2012.3LongJ.andPerryP.EvidenceoftheAfterlifeTheScienceofNear-DeathExperiences.NewYorkNYHarperCollins2010.4Seee.g.NearDeathExperienceResearchCenter.httpwww.nderf.org.Accessed10252013.5HarnerM.CaveandCosmosShamanicEncounterswithAnotherReality.BerkeleyCANorthAtlanticBooks2013.HarnerdescribestheinterworldasnarrowbandsofparticularspiritsattheinterfacesoftheMiddleWorldwiththeUpperandLowerones.p.68.6MokelkeS.WhyStudyCoreShamanismhttpwww.shamanism.orgarticlesarticle15.html.Accessed10262013.7GolasT.TheLazyMansGuidetoEnlightenment.LaytonUTGibbsSmith1995p.57.Beingsofcourseincludeallthingsbecauseallareconsciousandalive.8Golas.Ibid.p.42.ABOUTTHEAUTHOREllenWinnerJ.D.CertifiedShamanicCounselorlivesinBoulderCOandpracticesandteachescoreshamanismservingasGuestFacultyfortheFoundationforShamanicStudies.SheapprenticedwithindigenousHimalayanshamansinNepalandorganizedandfacilitatedtheFirstAnnualColoradoCross-CulturalShamanicConferencein2013.AuthorofWorldShamanandThoughtsintheMindofGodsheworksduringthedayasaPatentAttorney.www.worldshaman.org. 14AJournalofContemporaryShamanismVOLUME7ISSUE1SPRING2014ESSAYTheSacredPlantbyPatTuholskeNaturalistTheShamanHuntsthePlantTheshamanhealerstalkstheforestsearchingforaplantremedy.Apersonofthetribehasaskedfortreatmentofachesinthejointssadnessofheartanddisconnectedconfusion.Thepeoplehavereliedonthehealingplantsofthisforestforthousandsofyears.Theshamansfeethavewalkedthesewoodsformanyseasonsseekingthewisdomofthewildhealingplants.Duringhermedicinewalkshecallsouttothespir-itswhotendtheplantsthatonemaygiveofitspowertothesickperson.Withhergreenvisionthesha-manseesoneplantflutterswithoutwind.Theplantglowsintheshadowsandwhispersasong.Plantspirithasspoken.Thewisewomanidentifiestheplantasonefirstlearnedasachildfromagrandmotherlongagoonanherbalteach-ingwalk.Thisplantisoneofmanyusedbytheforestsha-manthisonesuniquehealingpowerwillsoothethesickness.Anofferingismadethanksisgivenandtheplantistenderlyharvested.Prayersofgratitudearemadetothespiritsofthelandforshowingthewaytohelpthesoulofthesickone.Theplantispreparedwithcareandadministeredtothetribalmember.Thesicknessthatbeganfirstinthesoulandisnowreflectedinthebodyiscomforted.Thiswasthepathofourshamanicancestors.Theylistenedtotheplantsforhealingadvice.Herbalknowledgewaspassedonfromgenera-tiontogeneration.Weoweourcurrentwealthofherbalknowledgetotheirapplicationofwhattheyheardfromtheplantsthemselves.Andthisisstillthepracticeofsomepresentdayindigenoushealers.WhenIfirststartedstudyingherbalismIreadbookscovertocoversearchedthroughindexesworkedcor-respondencecoursesandexperimentedonfriendsandrelatives.WithpilesofherbbooksbesidemybedIdevendreamofherbs.HourswerespentintheOzarkwoodsandfieldswithidenti-ficationguides.FallinginlovewiththeplantinmyearlytwentiesIreceivedmydegreeinhorticulture.ImmersingmyselfintheplantworldIdfoundmypassion.OnedayIclosedthebooks.FeelingIwasrelyingtoomuchonthewrittenwordsofsomeoneelseIannouncedtotheplantsthatIwantedtolearndirectlyfromthem.Iwantedthemtobemyteachers.AtthatmomentIfeltadeeperconnectionandthespiritsoftheplantsbegantotalktome.WatchinggardenerslabeltheirplantsIvowwithallbeingstopracticetheoldhorticultureandlettheplantsidentifyme.RobertAitkin.WeedsattheDoorIhuntweeds.SearchingthegroundaroundhouseandbarnItracktheweedsthathavebecomeperennialoldfriends...PlantainYellowDockSheepSorrel.Seekingfreshplantpartner-shipsIgreetthenewcomersthathavefoundtheirwaytomethisyear...VioletsRedCloverMullein.Ieatweeds.IaddChickweedtosaladsLambsQuarterstosoupsVioletFlowerstoeggsNettlestostews.Mybodyishungryforthenutritioninweeds.Mycellsrecognizeandutilizeeverypartofthiswildfood.Maximumnutritionisabsorbed.Vitalenergyisignited.Mybodyisnurturedmyspiritfilled.IhavethepowertolivethelifeIlove.Ihealwithweeds.Theweedsatmydooraremyremedies.YellowDockcleansesmyliver.Burdockkeepsmybloodandskinhealthy.BlackWalnutsharpensmybrainfunction.Dandelionplayswithmyjoyouschild.WithMugwortIdream.Aweedismerelyaplantgrowingwhereitisnotwanted.Asanherbal-istIworkaroundmyweeds.SomeIencouragetocomebackyearafteryearwhileothersmaythriveforonlyonesummer.Mygardensarefairlyfullofweedsthatarepowerfulmedicinalna-MeandtheplantspiritsJohntookthisphotoofmewhileIwasgatheringgoldenseal.Noticethespirithoveringjustabovemyopenpalm www.shamansociety.org15tiveplantsandnutritionalnaturalfood.Ilovethewildnessandtheadventureofwatchingwhichgreenweedfriendwillgrowwithme.Theweedsgrowingatyourdoorstephavecometohelpyourspirit.Diseaseisoftenasymptomofsoulsickness.Look-ingoutsideyourowndooryouwillfindnatureoffersthecure.Theweedsatyourdoorareareflectionofwhatyouneedtohealinyourself.Makefriendswiththemidentifythemandaskabouttheirhealingqualities.Wehavedisconnectedfromtheweedworld.Weeradicatethemwithpoisonsbattlethemwithdiggersandsmotherthemwithmulch.Wehavedonethesamewithourownessenceourtrueheart.Wedontlistentoourbodies.Weshutoutourinnerlongings.Oftenwemakethemistakeoffightingtheweedsatthedoorthatcanhelpusfindourcenter.Weedsarethefootprintsofthehelp-ingspiritsinnature.Learntointerpretthelanguageoftheweedbeforeyoukillapotentialplantally.Thosewithanalerteyeandawillingheartcanfollowtheirpathtoahappyheartandsoundsoul.WildPlantMedicineThewildplantsinournaturalenvi-ronmentcanmakeusstrongandhealthy.Wesharewiththemthewindsunseasonalchangesandearthenergy.Inourglobalsocietyweoftenturntoherbsgrowingontheothersideoftheplanet.Neverthelesstheweedatyourowndoormaybethebesthealingherbforyourcondition.Ibelieveinthepowerofournativewildplants.Ideeplyrespecttheknowledgeandmedicinalherbresearchassembledover50000yearsbyindigenousshamanichealers.Wecannotdismissthisvalu-ablewisdomthathasbeencollectedinculturesallovertheworld.Thesehealerskeptthehumanracealivebyapplyingtheknowledgetheyreceivedfromtheplants.ThecurrentrevivalofEssiacisproofofthemedicineinnativeweeds.EssiacisablendofBurdockRootSheepSorrelSlipperyElmBarkandRhubarbRoot.TheformulawasgiventoaCana-diannursein1920byaChippewamedi-cineman.ThenursesnamewasReneCaisse.Essiacisherlastnamespelledbackwards.Renehelpedhundredsofcancerpatientswiththesehumbleplants.TheEssiacherbsgrowwildinOzarkfieldsandforests.Herbsmaintainthebalanceofbodymindheartandspirit.Usingherbsoveraperiodoftimebringshealthandwell-being.Becommittedandconsistenttakingtheappropriateherbonemonthforeveryyeartheconditionhasbeenpresent.Asymptomisnotsuppressedaswiththeuseofprescriptiondrugs.Herbssupportthebodytohealitselfdeeplyandatitsownpace.Consultaqualifiedhealerbeforeat-temptingself-diagnosis.Herbscanharmiftakentoolongtoostrongorcombinedincorrectly.Herbscansometimesinter-actwithprescriptiondrugs.Someherbsmayhaveunwantedsideeffects.Workwithaknowledgeableherbalist.Educateyourselftotheproperdosageandrightplantthatwillremedyyou.Eachofusisuniqueandanherbthathelpsonemaynothelptheother.Knowyourbodyandwhichherbsareyourallies.Herbsareveryeffectiveanddeserveourrespect.Donttakethemforgrantedjustbecausetheyarefoundoneverystoreshelftoday.Thirty-fiveyearsagowhenIfirststartedinthebusinessofherbsIhadtoexplainwhatanherbwas.NeverdidIthinkIdseethedaywhenmedicinalherbscouldbepurchasedatthelocalstore.Buyherbsfromastorethatcircu-latestheherbsquickly.Medicinalherbsloosetheirpotencyafteroneyear.Ifyoubuyyourherbsfromabusyhealthyfoodstoreorareputableherbcompanychancesarebetterthattheywillbefreshandpotent.Bestyetgroworgatheryourown.Buyonlyorganicorethicallywildcraftedplants.Importedherbsarefumigatedattheshippingdocksastheyenterourcountry.ThepesticidesthathavebeenbannedhereintheUSweshiptoothercountriesandtheycomerightbacktousonourfoodherbsandcoffees.Neverconsumeanherbthathasbeengatheredfromaroadsideorneararailroadtrack.Theseareashaveahighconcentrationofchemicalpollution.Knowwhereyourherbscomefrom.Manylocalherbshavebeenover-gatheredbyenthusiasticwildcrafters.Thereareplanthunterswhoareinitonlyforthebuckandselltothehighestbidder.EchinaceaSt.JohnsWortandSheepSorrelarestolenfromroadsides.GinsengandGoldensealarepoachedfromwoodlands.Plantsareharvestedatthewrongtimeofyearreducingmedici-nalpotency.Alltheplantsareremovedleavingnonetoreseedtheplantcom-munity.Anethicalwildcraftertakesonlywhatisneededatthepropertimeofyearandleavesthepatchtoeasilyrecover.Ialwaysencouragestudentstoleaveanofferingofthanksandtoneverharvesttheoldestplants.Therearehundredsofwildna-tivemedicinalherbsanditcanseemoverwhelming.Startyourstudieswithafew...fiveorso.Learnthemedicinalpropertiesthebotanicalnameshowtheylookandsmellwheretheygrowwhichpartisusedleafflowerbarkrootthetimeofyeartheyshouldbeharvestedandhowyourbodyresponds.Youwillfindyourselfdevelopinganin-tuitiverelationshipwithyourplantalliesandfeelingastrongerconnectiontotheblessingsoftheearthyouwalkupon.Gotothewildnativeplantsoftheforestandfieldwhenyoufeelbad.Quietyourthoughtsandcriticalthink-ing.Onewillchoosetospeaktoyouifyouchoosetolisten.Learnaboutyourplantandhowyoucanuseit.Respectitspower.Plantsaregreatteachersandhealers.Theytreatmorethanoursymp-toms.Theyhealoursoul.ABOUTTHEAUTHORPatTuholskeisaMissouriOzarkforestdwellerworkingwithherbalmedicineandpracticingshamanismforfourdecades.SheisthecrafterofWillowRainHerbalGoodsprovidingremediesandwreathsmadefromthewildnativeplantsofherOzarkmountainfarm. 16AJournalofContemporaryShamanismVOLUME7ISSUE1SPRING2014FirebirdbySaroltaKontra www.shamansociety.org17Hungarianpsycho-oncologistMagdaRohanszkytalkswithShamanicPractitionerDianaDenkeaboutherlongstandingpracticeinbringingaspiritualaspecttoconventionalcancertreatment.WhendidyoufirstcomeintocontactwithshamanismImusthavebeenaround40andformeitwasaperiodofchange.Ihadtodecidewhichwaytogowhethertocontinuetodoexecutivecoachingandtrainingsforbigcorporationsalong-sideofmyconventionalpsychotherapypractice.Orinsteadtoincludeaspiritualelementandmakehealingmypath.ThiswasthetimewhenIbegantogetinterestedinmetaphysicslearnedBachflowertherapyandmetshamanism.ShamanismcausedmealotoftroubleIthasalwaysbeenofutmostimportanceformetocom-prehendcausalitytoseethelinksbetweenphenomenaandtogainunderstanding.IhadamaterialisticapproachtolifeanditcausedmeenormousdifficultytotakeinsomethingthatIdidntunderstand.MyteacherJonathanHorwitzhadasubstantialroleinmyintegrationofshamanism.HewasgivingworkshopsinHungarytwoorthreetimesayearthenandIwasorganizingthem.Therewasabigresistanceinmeatthetimetowardsreligionmostlybutalsotowardspirituality.Iwasntreallyconsideringthedifferencebetweenreligionandspirituality.ThenImetBud-dhismandalmostsimultaneouslyshamanismandsomethingstartedtoslowlychange.ShamanismasJonathanshareditofferedaverypurepath.Onethatconnectedmewithmyownpowersandthatofferedtoconsciouslybuildandstrengthenthemwiththehelpofmyspirits.HowdoesshamanismfitintoyourpsychotherapeuticworkAsapsychologistItrytofindascientificexplanationandunderstandingforthephenomenonexperienced.WhileinmyshamanicworkIcomeintodirectcontactwiththepowersofnatureandthehappeningsofthehiddenworldthatisaroundus.InfactitismostlyconceptualormethodologicaldifferencesthatIcomeacrossbetweenpsychotherapyandshamanismbutessentiallytheyareaboutthesamethingempoweringpeopleunlockingtheirpotentialsothattheycanbemastersoftheirownlives.BecauseIworkasapsychotherapistshamaniccounselingfitsthebestwithmyapproach.Thismethodhelpstheclientstobedisciplinedandfocused.Itenablesustogodeepquickly.Howeverthemostdifficultphaseisthelastonewhentheinsightfromthejourneysareputintopracticeindailylife.Thisisalsothemostdifficultpartofthepsychotherapeuticprocess.Manytimesthisisthepointwhentheworkfailsthereisagoodmissionformulationasuccessfuljourneythekeyteachingsareunlockedandunderstood-butitisneverputintopracticeTellmeaboutyourworkwithFirebirdFirebirdwasbornsomeeighteenyearsagoonthefirstsha-maniccounselingcoursethatIattended.Iwasinaverydifficultlifesituationatthetime.Lookingbackitwasamid-lifecrisisIwouldsay.Inoneofthejourneysmyspirithelpersdismemberedmeandthrewmeintothefire.Icametobere-bornfromtheflamesjustlikeaFirebirdthePhoenix.CominghomeIcontemplatedhowtointegratethequalityoftheFirebirdintomylife.Firebirdfirstcameintolifeasacrisiscenterforthemiddle-aged.Ithostedindividualtherapysessionsshamaniccounselingandcoursesforself-development.Itofferedanopportunityforpatientstore-definethemselvestoletgooftheoldandtostartanew.Thenin2001IwascontactedbyaProfessorofOncologywhoinvitedmetoworkasapsycho-oncologistinhiscancerward.IaskedfortimetothinkitthroughandtraveledtoIndia.TheoneandahalfmonthsspentinIndiawasabiglearningexperienceaboutmyself.IfoundmyselfinacompletelynewenvironmentcomparedtotheoneIgrewupinandlivedinuntilthatpoint.IlearnedhowvulnerableIcouldbecomewhenfacedwithsituationswheredifferentrulesapply.SHAMANICPRACTICEFirebirdWorkingShamanicallywithCancerPatientsDianaDenketalkswithMagadaRohanszky 18AJournalofContemporaryShamanismVOLUME7ISSUE1SPRING2014ThinkingaboutitIrealizedthatnewlydiagnosedcancerpatientswhenenteringthehealthsystemmustfeelasimilarvulnerabilitytowhatIhadfeltinatotallyunknownculture.Thehealth-caresystemisadifferentworld.Hereitdoesntmatterwhoyouhavebeenbeforewhatyouknoworwhatvaluesyouhave.Hereyouareapatient.Youhavetoadapt.Youhavetounderstandadifferentlanguageadifferentbehaviorandmeetdifferentexpectationsinordertosuccess-fullyaccommodateandgetallthatyouneedtoregainyourhealth.SoIsaidyestotheofferandmyjourneyinmedicalhealthcarebegan.Ifoundmyselfinoneofthemosthierar-chicalofinstitutions-ahospitalanditwasabigchallengeforme.ButatthispointofmylifeIhadmuchexperiencebehindmeandIalsohadmyspirithelpers.Ihadtoadapttomanythings.Fixedtimeschedulesrulesandregula-tionsandnomenclaturestonamebutafew.ButmostofallIhadtofindtheinterfacetoconnecttoaformofhealingthatwasstillmostlybasedonabiologicalmedicalapproach.Iwascalledapsycho-oncologistandmytaskwastoworkouthowtherapycouldworkinoncologyandthenimplementit.Withinmonthsitbecameclearthatthistaskwasnotonlyrelevantinthismedicaldepartmentbutalsonation-wideandsowithafewcolleaguesweestablishedtheHungarianAssociationforPsycho-oncology.Wehavebeenworkinghardtogainrecognitionforpsycho-oncologyandtomakepsycholog-icalintervention-andthusthehealingofthesoul-anequallyimportantpartintreatmentofcancer.Iworkedoutaholisticprogramforpsychosocialrehabilitationwhichregardspatientsasphysicalandspiritualbeings.ThenewprogramreceivedthenameFirebirdfollowedbytheestablishmentofFirebirdFoundation.Themanage-mentofSt.LaszloHospitalappreciatedthenewapproachandweweregivenaseparatepavilionwithintheterritoryofthehospitaltolaunchtheproject.Wemovedinin2009andsincethenFirebirdhasbeenflying.SohowdoyouworkwithpatientsWhatistheprogramFirebirdoffershelpforpatientsandtheirrelativesalike.Theprogramstartswithafirstinterviewsimilartoanexploratorydiscussion.Thepatienttalksabouthimselftellsmewhatbroughthimherewhatmakeshimanxiousandwhatobstaclesanddifficultieshehastoface.Healsotalksaboutchangesthathavehappenedinhislifesincethediagnoseshowhislifewasbeforecancerandwhatmakeshisadaptationtohisnewsituationdifficult.Initssettingitissimilartoashaman-icguidancesession.Attheendoftheinterviewwelookbacktoourdiscussiontogetherandidentifywhathascometothesurface.Wediscusswhatthebestinterventioncouldbe.Withcanceritisimportantforthehelptoarrivequickly.Thereforewedonthavewaitinglists.Weoffershort-term5-6sessionsdynamicpsychotherapybutinpracticethepatientisreceivinghelpaslongassheneedsit.Weoftenhavecouplestherapyandfamilyconsul-tationaswell.IfthepatientcomestoseemeandweagreeonpsychotherapyinthebeginningIdontknowwhetherornotshamaniccounselingwillbeintroduced.Ineverworkwithoutmyspirithelpers.TheyarealwaysaroundandoftenwhenIamstuckIaskfortheiradvice.Shamanicpracticeisaveryintimateinnerwork.UsuallyIoffertheoptionofshamaniccounselingtothosewhomIdontregardascapableofusingverbaltherapy.Orwhenitisdifficultforsomeonetocon-necttotheirfeelingsorwhensomebodyseeshimselfandhislifeperfectlyeventhoughheisnotfunctioningwell.Thesewallsarehardtobreak.OntheseoccasionsIoffertointroduceanewmethodshamaniccounseling-andwestarttotalkaboutit.Itisveryimportantthatitisexplainedinawaythatsuitsthepersonsintellectandknowledge.Sometimesevenintroduc-inganotioncangiverisetoresistance.Thosewhocontactmeareseekingapsychotherapistnotashamanichealersointroducingshamanismcanonlyhappenwhenatrustingrelationshiphasbeendeveloped.AtacertainpointofourtherapeuticworkImaystarttofeelintuitivelythatshamanismneedstobeintroducedinorderforthepatienttostrengthenandopentoaprocesswithwhichhecanmove.HowInameshamanictermshighlydependsontheperson.Ireceivealotofguidancefrommyspirithelpersinthisregard.Iputallmyattentiontothepersonandoftenthewordsmostsuitabletothesituationappearbythemselves.Icanusedifferenttermstodescribethesamethingindifferentsituations.ForexampleImaysayshewillcomeacrossspirithelpersorinnerguidesorherinnerpowersinthejourneys.Icantsaythesamethingtoeveryonebecausesomewillshyawayorsimplydeclareitnonsense.HowdoshamanismandmodernmedicinerelateIbelievethatwhatusedtobetheshamanstaskinancienttimesisnowthecombinedtaskofthemedicaldoc-torthepriestandthepsychologist.Itisunfortunatethatthehealingprocessissofragmented.Includingpsychotherapyinthetreatmentofphysicaldiseasesisagreatleapforwardinthehealingprocesstosaynothingofthespiritualdimen-sionIfthiswerealwaysthecasepatientscouldbereceivinghealingforallaspectsthebodymindandspirit.Ioftenexperi-encetheadvantageofhavingboththepsychologicalandthespiritualdomainsaccessibletome.ButIalsoexperiencethedisadvantageofnothavingenoughknowledgeaboutthephysicalbody.Iendeavortolearnmoreaboutthebodyabouttheimpactofmedicalcancertreat-mentandthenatureofcanceritself.Ithinkthatthemorelevelsonwhichyoucanconnecttothepatientthebetteryourchancesaretounderstandwhatishappeningandthehigheryourchancesaretointerveneinahealingway.TheshamanicpracticethatIamdoingisnotaboutmakingthepatientbelievethatIamabletohealhimthatIholdthepowerandknowledgetodo www.shamansociety.org19so.Ratheritisabouthelpinghimtorealizethathehimselfcancontributetohishealing.Iamonlyhelpingtofindhiswaytothosepowersthenfacilitatingintheirunfoldingandstrength-ening.Thereforethepsychotherapist-shamanputsherselfinadifferentpositiontothatwhichtraditionalshamansheld.Ialsobelievethatapsychotherapist-shamancanonlyactauthenticallywhenhehimselfhasexperiencedthisprocessoftransformationandhealingincollaborationwiththehelpingspirits.Thisadditionalspiritualdimensionnotonlymeansthatyouarebringinginanewapproachforthepatientbutthatyouyourselfareinconnectionwiththesource.WouldyoushareafewcasestudiesBalinthadcoloncancer.Hewasayoungprofessoratauni-versitywithwhomIwasworkinginapsychoanalyticalthera-peuticsetting.Weworkedalotwithinterpretinghisdreamsanddealingwithhisemotions.Balintwroteextensivelywhichhelpedhimtoprocesshisproblems.Thecoloncancerrecededandhebecamesymptom-free.Weendedtherapy.CriticalareaswhichstillneededtobeaddressedwereclearbutBalintdecidedtobuilduphisnewhealthylifefirst.Imethimseveraltimesafterwardswhenhecameforcontrolvisits.Hefeltveryhappythatherecoveredandtoldmewhatturnshislifehadmadeandwhatwerethemostdifficultchangestobeimplemented.Threeyearslatercancerknockedonhisdooragainnotcoloncancerrecurringbutanewprimarytumor.Itwasahighlymalignanttypeandtheprognosiswasbad.Whenwemetandhetoldmethediagnosishewascompletelydesperate.Hedidnotunderstandwhythiswashappening.Hehadmadesomanychangestohislifeandhedidsomuchinordertoremainhealthy.Hewasalsodisappointedwithhimself.Wedecidedthatthistimewewouldworkdifferentlyinawaythatwouldallowhimtoconnectmoredeeplyandonmultiplelevelstohisinnerworld.Balintthoughtthatheknewwhatthemajorobstaclesinhisself-actualizationwereandwhyhecouldnotmakecertainchangesrecentlyandmoveforward.Thereforeheacceptedshamaniccounselingthenewmethodeasily.Ouraimwastoimprovehischancesforlivingandtoremovetheblocksthatwereinthewayofhishealingandtransformation.Balinthadthreesmallchildren.Hewasdeeplyconcernedwithhowhecouldsharethemostofhislifeexperienceshelptheirwayandgivethemthestrongestimprintofwhathislifehadbeen.Helearntshamanicjourneyingquickly.Hedrummedforhischildrenandhiswife.Thesesharedfamilyjourneysweregivingthemanopportunitytotunetoeachotherssoulsanddealwiththeirfearofloss.Balinthadbeautifuljourneys.Hehadthreespirithelpersinthelowerworldandtwoofthemtookanactivepartinhishealing.Oneofthemwasabear.InmostofthejourneysBearwasstandinginafireburningthemetastatictumorsfromhisliver.Henotonlyreceivedteachingsabouthowtodealwithpsychologicalissuesbuthewasgivendietaryandlifestyleadviseaswell.Foralonglongtimewehadgreatresults.Thenewcan-cerwasatumorinthepancreaswithlivermetastases.Shamanicjourneysandchemotreatmentswerehappeningduringthesameperiod.Balintgrewstrongermentallyandphysically.Hisrelationshipwithhiswifeandchildrenbecamemoreharmoni-ous.Asaresultofthetreatmentshistumorwasreceding.Balintstartedtorelax.Hestartedtofeelgoodagainhefeltoncemorethathewastakingcontrolofhislife.WhileBalintgrewstrongerandstrongerthefamilyhasalsorecoveredfromtheshockfromthenewcancer.Balintdecidedtogobacktoteachattheuniversityandatthesametimebecameengagedwiththeadvocacyofcancerpa-tients.Suddenlyhefeltthatwiththesupportofhisspirithelp-ershewascapableofeverything.Wemetlessandtheshamanicjourneysbecomelessfrequent.Hewasdealingwithsomanythings-andhadlesstimeforhimself.Suddenlyatonepointhishealthstoppedimprovinganditallturnedbackwards.Hewassetonthepathofaslowbutunstoppableprogressionoftheillness.ThenBalintcamebacktojourneyingagain.WhenhisconditiondeterioratedandhestartedtofeelweakerhewasnolongerastrongyoungNativeAmericanfigureinhisjourneysbutoneofskinandbones.Changehap-penedinhimspirituallyaswell.Hewaspreparingtoletgooflife.Hischildrenappearedmoreandmoreofteninhisjourneys.Sometimestheywerereceivingteachingstogetherothertimestheyappearedasasupportivepowerforhim.Hewasveryclosewithhisspirithelperswhoalsomadehimfamiliarwiththerealmofdeath.Hewasfearlessinhispreparationtoleavethelandoftheliving.Hefeltthestrongpresenceofhisspirithelpersevenintheverylastperiodofhislifewhenhewasun-abletojourneymore.DuringthistimeIbroughthimapoweranimalthatwouldhelphimgothroughthisphase.Wealsodidasoul-retrievalinordertosortoutremainingproblemsinhisrelationshipwithhisparents.OnoneoccasionwhenIvisitedhiminthehospitalIbroughthimastrangebluestone.Heuseditasapowerstone.Hiswifeandchildrenwerechargingitwithpowerforhimeveryday.Hehadthestoneuntiltheverylastmoment.Italkedtohim2daysbeforehisdeath.Hehadsaidgoodbyetohisfriendshehadthestrengthtotalktohischildrentotellthemhowhewillalwaysbearoundandlookafterthem.Whenhefinallylostconsciousnesshiswifewasdrummingforhimtohelphisjourneytotherealmofthedeadwhichhealreadyknewfromhisjourneys.Thiswasabeautifulbuttragicprocessforallinvolved.WiththehelpofhisspirithelpersBalinthadfinallygrownintohissituationandwalkedeverymomentconsciouslyonhispath.Ihadbigandnave-expectationstowardsshamanicwork.Ithoughtthatthosepeoplewhocanbepresenttotheirpro-cesseswhohavetheirpoweranimalsandspiritteachersaroundthemwillalwaysfindtheirway.Theywontfallillseriouslytheywontbecomedepressed.IrememberJonathantellingmeabouthisfirstclientwhowasacancerpatient.HetoldmehisclientdiedandIrememberbeingsodisappointed.HowcouldthathappenifJonathanandthespiritswereworkingwithhimHowcouldhehavediedWhiledeathisanaturalpartoflifewhenworkinginaplace 20AJournalofContemporaryShamanismVOLUME7ISSUE1SPRING2014providingsupportinhershamanicwork.Thehummingbirdflutteredaroundherhelpinghertoseetheessenceofmatters.AfterthepoweranimalretrievaloftheHummingbirdshewasabletojourneyandhadverypowerfulexperiencesreceivingbothteachingsandhelp.Shealsomadejourneystoaskforthepowertoreceivehealingandaboutrelatingtotheworldaroundher.DuringthisperiodIalsodidtwosoulretrievalsforher.Theintegrationofoneofthelostsoul-partswhichwasapowerfulstrongandindependentlittlegirlwashard.ButonajourneytoaskWhatcanIdotomakeyouhappytheybondedandLizaisnowcomingtofeelthatsheisreadyforsomedeepchangesinherlife.Latershejourneyedtohergreat-great-grandmotherintheupperworldtoaskWhatismytaskinlifeTheresultofthisjourneyisthatsheisnowworkingtowardacareerchangemovingfrommathematicsandprogram-mingtowardthehelpingprofessions.Thishasbeensomeveryintensiveworkyouhavebeendoing.WhereisshewithitnowLizahasbeensymptom-freefortwoyears.Thankstoshamaniccounselinghertherapyworkhasdeepenedandshehascommittedherselftorebuildandmaintainherhealthyself.Herabusivestressfullongtermrelationshipwithapartnerended.Herrelationshipwithhercontrollingandstrictmotherisslowlyresolving.Lizafeelsreadyforanewrelationship.Hertrustinlifeisgettingwhereitisoccurringdailywewerestillhopingforsomesortofsupernaturalpowertointervene.SometimesitdoesyettodayIknowthatwithamalignantdiseasestrugglingforlifeandrecog-nizingthemomentwhenitistimetochangeareequallyimportant.Sometimesoneslifecannotbeprolongedanymore.Birthanddeathareinseparablefromeachother.Theyarepartofthesamecycle.Maybeitisourseparationfromthenaturalworldthathaspushedtheacceptanceofthissimplenaturallawsofaraway.Consciouslylivingthroughthisnaturalprocesshoweverisanopportuni-tyforfulfillment.AndwonderfulthingscanhappenonthewayMiracleshappeninmanyforms.WhataboutmiraclesRecognizingmiraclesrequiresconsciouspresenceawarenessmaturityandasortofwisdom.Afewdaysagoapatientcametoseeme.Shehadunder-goneanoperationandchemoandwascurrentlyreceivingradiotherapy.Shehadnosymptomsandhadabrilliantprognosisforahealthyfuture.Butshecametoseemeitwasbecauseshewasconstantlyanxiousaboutwhetherornotshewasreallyhealthy.Shewasconstantlypreoccupiedaboutwhenshewasgoingtodie.ShecouldntbehappythatshewasingoodhealthnowandacceptthatwhatevertheamountoftimeisleftsheisgoodnowThisheightenedstressandanxietystatethatshefoundherselfinisoftenevokedbythetraumacausedbythedisease.Wecouldcallitaformofpost-traumaticstressdisorder.Thisstatehadcausedacompletelossofpowerinthispatient.Shewasunabletostayinthepresentbecauseofherfearsofthefuturewhichhavetheirrootsinthepast.Inhercaseshamaniccounselingcouldbeagreathelptomoveforwardtoseethemiracleofherpresentsituation.Shecouldre-connecttoherownpowersbringherfearsundercontrolandlearntotrustagainintheopportunitiesthatlifeisofferingtoher.HaveyoueverworkedwithaclientwhofoundshamaniccounselingdifficultLizaisa36yearoldmathemati-ciantheeldestofthreesisters.Shewasdiagnosedwithbreastcancerandatthestartofourtherapyshehadundergonechemo-andradiotherapytreatments.Imetherononeofourassertivenesstrain-ingsandlatersheappliedforindividualpsychotherapy.Shewantedtoworkmoresothatshecouldfullyanddefinitivelyhealfromthebreastcancer.InitiallyonthesurfacewemadegoodprogresswithJungiantherapy.Butsoonitbecameclearthattheproblemsthatwereseem-inglyunderstoodandprocesseddidnotvanish.Shegainedmuchunderstandingyettheseinsightswereneverincorpo-ratedtherewasnorealtransformationandnobehavioralchange.Theprocesswasstuck.Lizasawwhatwashappeningbutshewassodeeplyattachedtotheproblemsthattheinsightsgainedintheprocess-ingcouldnotenablehertoletthemgo.ThiswasthemomentwhenIofferedshamaniccounselingtoher.Weproceededslowly.Releasingcon-trolandexperiencinganalteredstateofconsciousnessfrightenedher.Shedidnotdothejourneysshereceivedforhome-workandshewouldalwaysfindexcuses.Herstrongreligiousattitudemadeitdifficultforhertoembraceshamaniccosmologyandworkingwiththespirits.Itwasdifficultforhertosurrendertothesoundofthedrum.Abreakthroughcamefinallywithapoweranimalshereceivedfrommefor www.shamansociety.org21strongerandshehasanintensebondwithherspirithelpers.Shereliesalotupontheminthisprocessofchangegainingunderstandingandself-knowledge.WhatisitthatyoufeeltheSpiritscanofferthatconventionalmedicineorpsychologicalcounselingcannotThereisadifference.Intraditionalpsychotherapywemostlyworkwithexperiencesthoughtsemotions.Withshamanismwecanreachmuchdeeperdimensions.Apatientisenabledtoquicklysolveseriousproblemsthatwouldnormallyrequirealongprocess.Shecanevaluatesituationsfromapreviouslyunknownperspective.Mostimportantlyherownresourcesaremorepresenttoherandhelpherdealwithdifficultsituations.Herautonomyincreasesandadependencydoesnotdevelopwiththepsychotherapist.Itisveryimportantthatsolutionscomefromtheclient.WorkingwiththespiritsisempoweringTraditionalpsychologicalcategoriesbecomemeaninglesswhenitcomestoshamanicwork.Thepatientisneveronherown.Shecanturntoherspirithelpersanytime.Thecontrolisinherhands.Ifsomebodylearnstojourneywellhasastrongconnectiontoherspirithelpersandmanagestounlockthemessagesshecanworkonherissuesanddreamsevenwithoutacounselorortherapist.HowdoyourSpiritsfeelaboutthisworkWhathaveyoulearnedfromtheSpiritsaboutcancerandworkingwithcancerpatientsAccordingtothemcancerisamanifestationofalossofbalanceinthefunctionsofthepersonalitythelossofemotionalbalancebeyondwhichthereareimportantlearningprocessesindispensableforthesoul.Thisdiseasecancerstartsalearninganddevelopmentalprocessbothforthepatientandhissur-roundings.TheyhavetoldmeThisdiseaseislikeahugespi-derlyinginambushwaitingfortherightmomenttopounceandsuckthevitalenergyofthepatient.Escapeisthroughcuttingthespidernetwhichholdsthespiderandprovidesmovementforit.Bycuttingthenetthespiderbecomesunvi-ablecondemningittoatrophy.WhatadvicewouldyougivetothosewhowishtocombineshamanismwithcounselingorpsychotherapyWhatisimportanttoconsiderAgoalhastobesetstatingwhatwewanttoaccomplishwithourjointwork.Ithastobeclearfortheclientandthethera-pistthattheworkisdonebytheclientsspirithelpers-withtheindispensableactiveinvolvementoftheclient.Shamaniccounselingrequiresarigorouspracticeandself-discipline.Journeysthatwerepreviouslyagreeduponcanbemadeathomethentheprocessingcanhappeninthetherapistsoffice.Themergingofshamanicworkwithpsychotherapyisaninterestingdance.Ithastobeadynamicrelationshipwherespirithelpersofthetherapistarealwaysaround.Butintermsofbehaviorandwordingthecredibilityofthepsychologisthastobemaintained.DoesitfeeldifferentforyouwhenworkingwithaclientinapsychotherapysessionorworkingwiththemshamanicallyYesIdoworkdifferentlywhenIcanonlybuildontherep-ertoireofpsychologicaltools.ButIcannotalwaysdistinguishbetweenthetwomethodsthesedaysMyhelpersaregenerallyaroundandtheysometimescomeupwithsurprisingideasinthetherapeuticprocess.Myhelpersteachmealotmostlybygivinginsightsaboutwhatishappeningbeyondtheconcretemanifestreality.Theseinsightsrevealamoregenuinemeaning.Theyencouragemetounderstandtheoperationsofacomplexexpandedworld.HowdoyouworkwiththeSpiritstosupportyourselfandtogetguidanceforFirebirdMyspirithelpersarealwaysaroundandIparticularlycon-sultthemindifficultsituations.WhenIamuncertainwhetherornottooffershamaniccounselingtoaclientorwhenIamstuckinatherapeuticprocessIalwaysjourneyforhelp.IaskforguidanceaboutwhichwaytofollowortobeshownwhatIamunabletosee.Igotothemforsupervisionregularly.Ipresentinterestingorchallengingcasestothem.SometimesweevenargueIalsoconsultthemregardingmyowndoubtsmyowndifficultiesandmyownlifesituations.SometimeswhenIgetverytiredorhavehadenoughofthesadnessandpainIjustsurrendertotheminmyjourneys.Andtheycleanmehealmeandrechargemybatteries.ABOUTTHEAUTHORSMagdaRohanszkybeganpracticingClinicalPsychologyin1975.Shehasbeenworkingwithcancerpatientsforfifteenyears.In2006shestartedTheFirebirdFoundationandbecamepresidentoftheHungarianPsycho-OncologySocietyofwhichshewasafoundingmember.ShehasfourchildrenandfourgrandchildrenandlivesinBudapestHungary.Shecanbereachedattuzmadar51gmail.comDianaDenkehasanMscinInternationalRelationsandiscurrentlytakingadegreeinPsychology.ShehasstudiedBuddhismandmeditationinBurmaandhasanactiveshamanicpractice.Shehasalsotranslatedthisinterview. 22AJournalofContemporaryShamanismVOLUME7ISSUE1SPRING2014Fromtimeimmemorialhumanbeingssoughtthegreatoutdoorsorsoli-tudeobservationlisteningandlearningthewaysonaturetoenhancetheirownsurvivalandempowerment.Shamansrommanycontinentssoughtisolationintheormsowalkaboutsandvisionqueststoincreasetheirpowersandtodevelopspecialsupernaturalabilities.Tewell-knownNativeAmericanVisionQuestisanexampleoceremonialalonetimededicatedtoseekinginnerknowl-edgeanddirectionromthespiritworld.WhyspendsolotimeinnatureSolotimeinnatureisworthitsweightingoldwhenitcomestorelieromthedailygrindostressulcondi-tionsatwork.Butrelieromworkstressisarromtheonlyadvantageoferedbysolotimeinnature.Temysticsandshamansooldwenttonaturebecausetheyknewthattheonlywaytorechargewastohookupwithsomethingmorepowerulthanthey.WhatbetterwaytorechargethantositonamountaininaorestornexttoawateralloraewdaysandnightsTeyknewthatsomeothatnaturalpowercouldbegatheredandstoredusingspecialtechniquesandthenappliedlatertotheiractiveendeav-ors.Tereisnoreasonwhyanordinarypersonorabusinessororganizationalleadercannotlearnandapplysimilartechniquestorechargegatherstoreandapplytherenewedvitalitygainedromsolotime.Whileanintentandsolotimeinanaturalenvironmentareactuallysu-cienttoaccomplishagreatdealthereareotherimportantadditionstoasolothatenormouslyenhanceitsefectiveness.Firstoallduringasoloaparticipantcanengageinaseriesopowerulancientpracticesdesignedspecicallytobreakthrougholdpatternsgatherandstorevitalityandenhancevisioning.Secondlythereisgreatpowerindoingasoloundertheguidanceoanexperiencedsologuidewhosupervisestheexperi-enceoanumberopeopledoingsolosinthevicinity.Tisbringsameasureosaetytotheexperienceaswellasasenseocommunityeventhoughthetimeisspentinsolitude.Aterthesolothegroupcangathershareandintegratetheirexperiencesthusprovidingmuchgreateroverallinsightandlearning.WhathappensonasoloInatruesolotherearenoouterdistractionsnothingtoleakorhelpdischargethepowerotheexperience.Priortoandduringthesolothereisanallimportantdeclaredintentarivetingocustobreakthroughtogatherpowerandclarity.Tisocusthisintentmakesallthediferenceintheworldanddis-tinguishestimealoneromanordinaryvacation.Mostotensoloexperienceslongorshortindurationincludespecialpracticesconcentrationsothemindphysicalposturesorchigongorgather-ingvitalityanddeepmeditation.OnepracticemightbetoanswerthequestionWhoamIorWhatistrulyimpor-tantinmylieOrWhatismyimpos-sibledreamSomeparticipantspracticetaichiyogabreathingexercisesorothermethodsogatheringenergy.Peoplespendtimeinprayersayinghellotona-turerecapitulatingtheirlivesorgivinganderasingnegativememoriesclearingawaypersonalenergyleaksocusingonintentionsandthelike.Tepossibilitiesarepracticallyendless.Apersoncanbeasbusyorasrelaxedasheorshechoosestobeduringtheirsolotime.Tereistrulynoonecorrectwaytodoone.WhatarethechallengesofthesoloPerhapsthegreatestchallengeormanypeopleparticipatinginanaturesoloisboredom.Unaccustomedtohavingmuchtimeontheirhandstheybecomerestlessdgetyirritatedandimpatient.Atrsttheyarenotquitesurewhattodowiththemselveswithnoneotheirusualdistractions.Teirmindsmightitromthingtothinginarandomannoyingwaythatrevisitsworriesandregretscirculatingwithnoresolution.Onemayeelcompelledtopacebackandorthbeingdistractedbythethoughtsthattheyarewastingpre-cioustimewhiletheycouldbeworkingonprojectsputtingtogetherdealsandmakingimportantcalls.Inawordthesepeoplehavebecomeaddictedtostressandhaveachallengeexperiencinganenvironmentthatcanbeexceptionallypeaceul.ESSAYGoingSoloinNatureTheAncientShamanicPracticeForAwakeningToSpiritByJosLuisStevensPh.D. www.shamansociety.org23Animpatientpersoncancomeacetoacewiththeirtimedemoninaratherunpleasantway.Othersmightworrythatwhiletheyareisolatedtheircompetitionisgettingtheupperhandonthemorsomehowtheyareallingbehind.Whilethisphenomenonmightplaguemostpeopleorshortperiodsotimeitisextremelyrareorapersontoexperiencediscomortslikethesetheentiretimebecausetheexperienceothesolotendstowashthesetemporaryworriesawayateratime.Allthesechallengescanbeirritantsortheycanbeexcellentteachersorthewillingstudentorlearner.Tevastmajorityoworkingpeopleknowhowtolearnromdifcultyorchallengesmetintheirworksettingssoalittleoutdoordiscomortshouldnotbeagravedeter-rent.Mostsayaterwardsthatthechal-lengeshelpedthemtobecomequietandintrospectiveappreciativeoisolationandsilence.SoloValueWhatisthegainfortheaveragepersonTegreatmajorityosoloveter-anseelthattheexperiencesomehowchangedtheirlivesorthebetter.Followupshowsthatuponreturningtotheirworkworldtheyaremoreacceptingodierencesmoredisciplinedmorepositiveandmoreproductive.Mosteelspirituallyrenewednomatterwhattheirreligiousorspiritualorientation.Morethanaewndtheexperiencethesinglemosttransormationalexperienceotheirentirelives.odaytheneedtospendtimealoneremainsasimportantandnecessaryaseverperhapsevenmoresogiventheunrelentinghecticpaceomodernlie.Whiletheancientsalwayslivedinharmonywiththenaturalenvironmentmodernpeoplearemostlydisconnectedromnatureorthemajorpartoeveryday.Tevastmajorityopeoplewhoexperienceanaturesoloreportthattheirpersonalunderstandingothepowerinnatureandtheneedtoprotectitgrowsphenomenallyollowingtheirsolo.GoingSoloinNatureTheAncientShamanicPracticeForAwakeningToSpiritAugust13August172014SSPINTERNATIONALWILDERNESSGATHERINGFEATURINGATHREENIGHTSOLOThisSSPinternationalgatheringwillofferavaluableanduniqueoppor-tunitytoexperienceshamanicliving....Thewell-knownNativeAmericanVisionQuestisanexampleofceremonialtimealonededicatedtoseekinginnerknowledgeanddirec-tionfromthespiritworld.Saintsandmysticsfromallreligionsareequallyknownfortheirlongstaysinnatureisolatedfromthebusinessofevery-daylife.JosLuisStevensJoinyourfellowSSPmembersfromaroundtheworldatthisuniqueve-daywildernessgatheringintheSangredeCristoRangeoftheRockyMountainsinNorthernNewMexico.WewillgatherontwothousandacresofwildlandwithmixedpineforestandawidevarietyofterrainincludingmeadowsforestandrockyridgeswithviewsofthesurroundingRockiesandtheGreatPlainsthatstretcheastwardtowardtheTexasandOkla-homapanhandles.ThisincredibleopportunityisbroughttoyoubySSPfor375whichincludes5mealsandcompletesupportforthe5days.Travelandequip-mentarenotincluded.3solonights5deliciousmealsinanoutdoorkitchenbeforeandafterthesoloCompletesupportinpreparationguidelinesandwhattoexpectpriortoarrivalinNewMexicoSupportwhileonsoloincludingwateranddailycheck-insOpportunitytomeetwithallparticipantsinintegrationandsharingafterthesoloexperienceGotohttpwww.shamansociety.orgssp-international.htmlformoreinformationorcontactSarashamansociety.org.SocietyorShamanicPractitioners 24AJournalofContemporaryShamanismVOLUME7ISSUE1SPRING2014Iwasblessedtopilgrimagetoamoun-tainonthesouthernshoresofLakeTahoewithinthePaiutetraditionandintroducedbyaneldertothisdeitysmanifestationintheworldGratitude.IthoughtthatIknewandunderstoodthanksbutIrealizedaftermythreedaysandnightsoffastingandplacingsacredofferingsthatmypreviousknowingofthispowerfulemotionandwayofbeingintheworldhadbeensuperficial.Ittookamountainfallingonmetoexperiencegratitudeandwarmthandconnectionthatcomewithunrestrictedgiving.Thisdeitygavethegreatgiftofbeinggratitudeandhavinglivedthishasal-lowedmetoreturnagainandagaintomyplaceintheworld.PeterBrownOlympiaWashingtonIwaslocateduponawoodedridgeoverlookingafield.Astandofpinetreescreatedanicecircleofshadeandwindbreak.IcreatedasimplemedicinewheelandeachmorningandeveningprayedtoandconnectedwiththefourdirectionsGreatSpiritandMotherEarth.Thequietoftheplaceallowedmetomeditateforanextendedperiodoftimeanddeepenmyobservationskills.Ichosetofasttoaddtoanalteredstatewhileonsolo.Theconnectiontonatureengenderedbythesoloformeistheheartofashamanicpractice.Theconnectiontonaturetransferstotheabilitytoconnectwithmyself.ThesoloremindedmeIamalsopartofnatureandherrhythms.KarenDiTrapaniAlbuquerqueNMOnmythree-daysoloIhadtolearnasongfromSpiritthatIwouldthenbecalledupontosingintheceremonyclosingthesoloexperience.IdidntconsidermyselfasingerbutIalsounderstoodthatapartofshamanicpracticeissinging.OntheseconddayIlaydownonthegroundearlyinthemorningandwithgreatgratitudeforthistimealoneprayedtoSpiritforhelpinmytask.IcalledoneverygoddessIknewbynametosurroundmeandtheydid.AnditwasMaryMagdalenewhostoodatmyhead.Withnoeffortasonghonoringherpowerandhealingabil-ityandbeneficenceandsacredplaceasconsorttotheChristenergyfilledme.ForadayandahalfIsangthatmagnificentsonggiftandItookitbacktomycirclewiththecouragetosinginfrontof30people.PatLilesSanAnselmoCaliforniaThetransformationexperienceofmywildernesssolocamenotfromanydramaticrevelationbutbecauseIdidthehardtediousinnerworkofreviewingmylifestartingwithmyfirstmemoriesreleasinganyangerorfearandgivingmyselfacknowledgmentforthetriumphsandkindnesses.Thateffortwasemotion-allydrainingworkandittookmostofthetimeonsolo.Theresulthoweverleftmefeelingcleanerandlighter.Theexperi-enceleftmemoreintunewithmyselfandnatureandmuchmoreopentoSpirit.TraceyWhitleyAttorneyatLawLastsummerIbackpackedintheMarbleMountainstakingmypackrattleandintentions.Ihopedforsup-portwithmyintensefearofbears-ashadowonanotherwisebeautifulloveaffairwiththeoutdoors.Idneverseenabearwhilebackpackingbutthefearwasaliveandreal.Ileftanofferingaskedforsupportfromspiritofplaceandhikedin.WithinanhourIheardthensawablackbearcubgazingatmewhilerompingupahill.PureaweanddelightThefirstnightbythefireIrattledconnectedwiththespir-itofplaceandhadasurprisinglyrest-fulsleepinterwovenwithdreamvisitsfromwolfandothers.OverthenexttwonightsIworkedthroughlayersoffearandlimitingbeliefs.WhenIsetupcamponmyfinalnightunderatreewithfreshsapdrippingfromabearsclawIhadtolaugh.Bearhadbeenwithmethewholewaywithitsstrengthandpowerhelpingmecallonmyinnerresourcesandfindmywaytofreedominthewilderness.EleniLivitsanosSanFranciscoBayAreaIhavedonemanymanysoloswithwonderfulexperiences.Sittingqui-etlylisteningtonatureandgettingintomyheartalwaysmakesmefeelonewithnature.Thequietnessandbeingalonegivesmetimeforreflec-tionandtogetquestionsIhaveaboutmyselfanswered.ThereweretimesthatIstayedawakeallnighttocommunicatewiththenightskywhichwasverysatisfy-ing.Lyingontheearthlookingupatthestarsandseeingmeteoriteswasaverypowerfulexperience.IalwaysfeltsafeevenwhentheelkcamerompingbymyspotandwhenIcouldhearthebears.Therewereinsectstoseeandmanybirdstowatchandtalktoespeciallythehummingbird.IfeltsoprivilegedthatIwroteasongaboutallthecritters.FloraMcCormackSittinginsidemystonecircleattheedgeoftheOzarkforestIwatchtheskymovingfurtherawayasthestarsrecede.Lurkingshadowsscurryfromthehalf-lightastheglowofpredawnslipsin.ThedawnfeelssoaliveIfeelsoaliveEverythingthatoccurswithinmysacredcircleofstonesispartofmyvisionquest...mythoughtsdreamsandfearsinthenight.Aninsectsbuzzingasnakesmeanderingthevoiceofabirdshapesinthecloudsthewindinthetrees....allareanswerstomyprayersandmessagesfromspirit.NatureshowsmetheinnerworkingsofmysoulandwhereIfitintheworld.Timealonesittingandbeingmakesmereachdeepinside.Myyearlyquestsgivemevaluableinsights.ItisaprocessItrustdeeply.IgototheWildtorememberwhoIam.PatTuholskeGrubvilleMissouriMembersShareTheirSoloExperiences www.shamansociety.org25SHAMANICPRACTICEustasTheInkaHealingForcesofNaturePronouncednyoostahsByElizabethB.JenkinsMAMFTThereisnodenyingthatthemysteriousallureofPeruMacchuPikchutheInkasandtheshamanismoftheQeroIndiansofPeruthemodernlinealdescendantsoftheInkahasbeenmagnetizingpeoplefromaroundtheglobeforthelasttwentyyears.Tourismhasincreasedtosuchadegreethataccesstomanysacredsitesisnowhighlyrestrictedorevenofflimits.WeWesternersknowinnatelythatthereissomethingtherethatwewantsomethingthatwedesperatelyneed.QERONATUREWISDOMTheInkaNatureWisdomtraditionalsoknownasAndeanMysticismorQeroShamanismisasophisticated-yet-simpleindigenousknowledgesystem.1Itdescribesingreatdetailtheinterfacebetweenhumansandnaturetoadegreethatistrulymind-boggling.Unfortunatelythereisverylittleac-curateinformationwrittenaboutthespiritualandphilosophi-calworldviewoftheInkasbothancientandmodernthetrueInkagoldThereisverylittlewrittenatall.Perhapsitisbecausewritingisnottheirwayofknowledge.TheirtrueknowledgeispersonaldirectbasedinintimatecommunionwithnatureandpassedonthroughoraltraditionskeptalivethankstofivehundredyearsofresistancebytheQerohighintheirmist-shroudedAndeanhomes.ItisliterallyimpossibletoreachtheQeroNationwithoutcrossinga20000-footmoun-tainpass.PerhapsthisisasafeguardtoensurethatanyonewhoapproachesmustcomeintoresonancewithnatureattheveryleastbyadaptingtotheextremelyhighaltitudeIthasbeenmyprivilegetostudyandparticipateinthiswisdomtraditionandattempttoserveasatranslatorofitsworldviewsince1988.AlasIconfessthatmytwenty-sixyearsofexperiencehavepermittedmetotouchlittlemorethanthetipofanancientandenigmaticicebergofknowledgewhosetruegirthbreadthanddepthremainamystery.Ipresentmypersonalexperienceandknowledgeasitisandhascometomewithoutpretenseofitbeinganymoreoranylessthanwhatitis.Ipraythatitwillbeofvaluetothereader.Ihonormyteach-ersfromthegreatQeroNationwhomthePeruvianInstituteofCulturehasofficiallydesignatedtheLastInkaAylluofPeru.TheInkatraditionisbasedonhumanperceptionandparticipationinthelawsofthemostmodernandadvancedtheoreticalphysics.KawsaypachameanstheworldoflivingenergiesinQuechua.ToperceiveandmovethroughthisworldisthebasicfunctionofthepaqoorinitiateontheAndeanPath.Accordingtothisancienttraditionweinhabitasuper-abundantcosmosinwhicheverythingismadeoflivingenergy.TheworldandindeedtheuniversefunctionthroughsacredexchangesofenergyaprincipleknowntotheInkasasayni.Thisenergyexchangetakesplacecontinuouslyandoneveryleveldowntothetiniestparticleswhereasmodernphysicistswoulddescribeitaquantumfieldisgeneratedbyparticlesexchangingenergy.Theworkofthepaqoistomaintainthesesacredexchangeswithnaturebasedonmutualadvantageandrespect.Considertheactofbreathingforamomentwhichspringsfromafundamentalbiologicalcollaborationbetweenhumansandplantswherethecarbondioxidewebreatheoutisexchangedforoxygenfromtheplantworld.Whatweexhaleislifegivingforplantsandviceversa.FurthermoreintheInkaslivingenergyworldjustasinnaturewheretherearenogoodorevilplantsoranimalstherearenopositiveornegativeenergiesonlyhoochameaningtheheavierenergiesandsamithemore-refinedenergies.SamitheQuechuawordforfin-estlivingenergyliterallymeansnectarandissuppliedinabundancebyMotherNature.TheustasOneimportantcomponentintheInkaenergycosmologyistheconceptoftheustasornaturespiritsofwhichwestillknowverylittle.ForyearswestudentsoftheAndeanPathweretoldandlearnedfromdictionariesthattheQuechuawordustameantprincessliterallythedaughteroftheQoyaorRoyalQueen.WekneworthoughtweknewthatustaswerealsofemaleforcesofnatureandthattheywerecalleduponbytheQerofortheirhealingpowersandwisdom.IfirstencounteredandunderstoodtheustasasbeinganoverarchingenergeticarchetypeoffemalenatureenergiesduringanInkainitiationcalledtheHatunQarpaymeaningGreatInitiationorGreatTransmissionoftheInka.ThewordqarpayliterallymeansirrigationinQuechuawhetherphysicalorspiritual.Thisten-dayinitiationceremonywasrecoveredbyPeruviananthropologistJuanNuezdelPradoafterhehimselfwasinitiatedintothefourth-levelbyhisteacherDonBenitoQori-waman.ThisauthenticInkainitiationritetakesplacewithinthesacredInkageography.Initiatesperformritualsofenergyex-changewithsacredsitesbeginninginCuzcossacredcenterand 26AJournalofContemporaryShamanismVOLUME7ISSUE1SPRING2014CcapawasinvitedbytheWiraqochaFoundationanon-profitthatIfoundedforthepurposeofpreservingindigenouswisdomtoteachintheU.S.DuringavisittoRedlandsUniversityhesuddenlystoppedlookingstunnedinfrontofasix-foot-highglobeoftheEarththatwetoldhimwasarepresentationofthewholeofPachamamaMotherEarth.AswepointedoutSouthAmericaCuzcotheapproximatelocationofQerosandtheoceanhehadtraveledovertoreachCaliforniahiseyesgrewwiderandwider.HecircledtheglobeslowlyexclaimingexcitedlyOfcourseOfcourseNowonderMamaQochaMotherOceanisSOpowerfulwhenyoucallher.JustlookathowbigsheisDonAugustinsknowledgeoftheoceanhadnotcomefromatextbookandnowtheglobewasgivinghimaconfirmingvisualandmentalframeworkforwhathealreadyknewwhathehadperceiveddirectlyfromherlivingenergy.DoaBernardinacontinuedwithherexplanationoftheustastellingusthatustascomeincomplementarypairsofmaleandfemalereflectingtheAndeanprincipleofyanantinmeaningthehar-moniousrelationshipofcomplements.LiketheapusmountainspiritsconfirmedDonHumberto.Eachapuhasawife.Theapusaregenerallybutnotalwaysmalewhiletheriverbeingsareoftenbutnotalwaysfemale.Theconceptofyanantinwheretherearenooppositesbutonlylife-affirmingcom-plementsisafoundationoftheAndeanworldview.IfyoumeetabeautifulsexymaninyourdreamsDoaBernardinacontinuedsmilingatthewomenthatisausta.Butifyouareamanyouwillseeaverynicelady.OURNATUREFATHERANDMOTHERIntheInkatraditionhumaniden-tityisatawantinaunityoffour.WedescendfromapairofhumanbeingsfromwhomwereceiveourDNAaswellasfromapairofnaturebeingswhicharethemaleandfemalenaturespiritsattheprecisegeographiclocationofourbirth.Ourpaqarinaornaturemotherandourituapuornaturefatherarethoughttoholdthewisdomaswellasoffertheen-movingthroughtheSacredValleyoftheInkastothelowerelevationsofMacchuPikchuandthenontothehighestandlargesttemplecomplexofWiraqochaInkaatRaqchi.ItwasatthePachamamaCaveintheMacchuPikchucitadelcomplexduringtheHatunQarpayinitiationthatIwaspersonallyintroducedtotheustasasfemalenaturespirits.WehadalreadybeeninformedthatthefamousnichesfoundeverywherebuiltintothewallsofthesetemplesofInkaorganicarchitec-turewerereceptorsforspecificlivingenergiesofnature.AttheentrancetothePachamamaCavebelowWaynaPikchuatatemplecomplexcommonlyknownastheTempleoftheMoontherearefiveniches.Weweretoldthatthesenicheswereactuallythehousesoffiveustasprincessesorprimaryfemalelivingenergiesofnature.ThefirstfournichesgroupedtogetherontheleftsideofthecaveentrancearehomestotheBlackRedGoldandSilverustasdesignedtocollectandcontainthefinestfemininelivingenergiesoftheWaterEarthSunandWindMoonStarsrespectively.ThefifthnicheisthatoftheGreenusta.Thepurposeofthisritualisforthepaqotoestablishapersonalandenergeticrelationshipwitheachoftheseustasbyenteringtheirnichesonebyoneandexchangingpersonalpowerwiththem.Nextthepaqoreleasesanyheavyener-giesliberatedbytheritualintoastoneseatlocatedbetweenthegroupoffournichesandthefifthniche.Theinitiatethenpullsthepowerfromtheotherfournichesintohisherpersonalbubbleandoffersthiscombinedpowertothefifthandfinalniche.TheritualistherebycompletedthroughtheexchangeofthepaqospersonalpowerwiththeGreenusta.Thesignificanceoftheritualliesinthepaqospersonalexperiencewitheachusta.OvermanyyearsofceremonieswithmanyQeropaqoswehaveheardinvo-cationsofmanydifferentustasfromthenowfamiliarGoldandSilverustastonamesasenigmaticastheustaoftheFifthGranary.NotuntilDecember2008howeverdidwelearnthatthereisabroadermeaningofthetermusta.Thiswasduringaten-daystudysessionwithasmallgroupofpaqosatmyfarminHawaiiwithanexcellenttranslatorandtwoofthemostfamousandbelovedQerohealersDonHumbertoSonqoQespiandDoaBernardinaApazaFlores.DonHumbertoandDoaBer-nardinafromtheQerocommunitiesofCharqapataandQolpaKuchobecameacoupleatthetenderagesoffourteenandfifteen.AyearlatertheywereinitiatedbyagreatQeromasterasasacredheal-ingcoupleitwastheircureforagraveillnessandtheyhavebeenperforminghealingstogethernowformorethanhalfacenturyAlwayscuriousabouttheustasweaskedtoknowmoreaboutthem.ToourgreatsurpriseDoaBernardinaholdingupanarthriticindexfingerstatedTheustaisonebutithasamaleandfemalepart.ThisstatementopenedupaveritablePandorasbox.Obviouslywehadalotmoretolearnabouttheustaswhichwehadthoughtweresolelyprincessesorfemalenaturespirits.Pleasewhatareustasaskedarelativelynewstudent.TheustasarethehealingforcesofnaturerepliedDonHumbertolookingaskanceatusforaskingsuchanobviousquestion.FortheQerowhoseknowl-edgeisbasedondirectperceptionofthelivingenergyworlditisverystrangethatweshouldaskanotherpersontoexplainwhatwecanknowthroughourowndirectexperience.RighthereonthishillsideDonHumbertocontinuedgesturingtowardtheorchardyoucanseethousandsofustas.Theymakethetreesgrowandtheflowersbloom.Lookathowtheyareworking.HepointedtothefloweringmacadamianuttreesandaddedWemustneverforgettothankthem.WhatIwouldntgivetoliveinsidetheperceptualfieldofDonHumbertoandDoaBernardinaforevenadayTheQeroknowledgesystemfunctionsatapreciselyinverseangletoours.Directperceptionoflivingenergyishowtheyareraisedtaughtandtrainedtoknowtheworld.Ihadhadoccasiontoexperiencesomethingequallyrevealingonanotherdramaticoccasionin1996whenayoungQeropaqoDonAugustinPaucar www.shamansociety.org27ergeticsupportthatwerequiretoachieveourdestiny.DonHumbertotoldusinnouncertaintermsthatWithouttheconnectiontoyourpaqarinaandituapuyourpowerasahealerisalmostnoth-ing.Fromhispointofviewtheprimaryabilityofthehealeristobeachannelthroughwhichtheforcesofnaturesuchastheustastheapusorpachamamacanbedeliveredtoaccomplishthehealing.WhatamIbymyselfDonHumbertoaskeduslaughingjustabigsackofhoochaAndsoitisthroughourconnectionandrightrelationshipswithnaturethatallhealingisaccomplished.DonHum-bertotoldusmoreoverthatinthethou-sandsofhealingsheandDoaBernar-dinahaveperformedacrosstheU.S.andEuropeheconsistentlyfindspatientswhoaresufferingfromaseveredeple-tionoflivingenergyduetotheirmissingconnectionwiththeirownpaqarinaandituapu.WhenyourrelationshipwithPachamamaisnotinharmonyyougetsickDonHumbertotoldus.LuckilytheAndeanteachingsprovidenumer-oustoolsthatcanbeusedtorestorethatharmoniousrelationshipDonHumbertoexplainedthatasamanhehasanaturalconnectionwiththeapusthemostly-masculinelivingspiritsoftheMountains.ButshehesaidlookingwitheyesfullofrespectatDoaBernardinasheisconnectedtotherealpowerPachamama.ThisAn-deanrespectforMotherEarthliesinthefactthattheentireAndeanTraditionisconsideredtobefemaleandthegreatestpoweristhefemalepowerofreceptiv-itytheabilitytoreceiveEVERYkindoflivingenergyasdoesPachamamawithoutrejectinganyoneoranything.Thisisahighly-inclusivetraditionwheretheQeropaqosproclaimtheirstaunchRomanCatholicismwhileatthesametimetheyinvokethespiritsofPachamamaandthemountainswithprofoundreverenceandnotahintofcontradiction.DonHumbertoleftusponderingonefinalmystery.Theustascomefromfivesourcesheproclaimedremov-inghisbroad-brimmedhattoindicatethatwhathewouldsaynextwassacred.TheycomefromPachamamafromtheIntiKunaacurioususeoftheQuechuapluralmeaningthesunstheQuillyaKunameaningthemoonstheChaskaKunameaningthestarsandfromMiskayani.THEMYTHOFMISKAYANIThefirsttimeIheardofMiskay-aniwasfromJuanNuezdelPradoin1992.ButthefirsttimeIheardaQerospeakthewordwasin1996atthe25thInternationalTranspersonalAssociationconferenceinManausBrazilwhereJuanandIwereescortingDonMan-uelQespioneofthelastgreatQeromasterssincedeceasedwhowasthekeynotepresenter.WhenDonManuelarrivedIinvitedhimtocomeandgreetthemightyRioNegrotheriverthatrannexttothehotelwheretheconferencewasbeingheld.AsDonManuelpro-ceededtomakehistraditionalcocaleafofferingtothismagnificentriverJuanandIobservedasDonManuelspoqpotheenergybubbleofapersonorbeinggrewandgrewexpandingashespokehisprayers.WhenhehadfinishedDonManuelturnedtofaceushisbubblehugewithriversaminectarandathousand-wattsmilespreadacrosshisfeatures.Hemadethisenigmaticcom-mentwhichIwastorecalllaterduringtheteachingwithDonHumbertoandDoaBernardina.Therearehundredsofustashere.Theyaresobeautiful.WemustbeveryclosetothebordersofMiskayanifortheretobesomanyofthemTheustasJuanexplainedtomeappearedtoDonManuelasverysexyyoungnubilefemalesthereforethebigsmile.ThemythofMiskayanihassofarbeenfoundonlyinQeros.ItwasJuansfatheranthropologistOscarNuezdelPradowhorediscoveredtheQeroandrecognizedthemasaremnantoftheInkasduringhisfirstexpeditionin1955.Miskayaniwasandstillisspokenofasanethericcityofhighly-spiritually-evolvedfemaleswhoareverybeautifulandverysexy.ThismythoftheQeroandIhaveheardtheQerospeakwist-fullyaboutitsaysthatonlysomeonewhoisverypureofheartwillbeallowedtoenterMiskayani.AlternatelyapersonwouldhavetoliveaverygoodlifetobereborninMiskayani.Thiscommentisgenerallyfollowedbyanudgeandawink.Amongsomeoftheoldergen-erationstheverypowerfulpaqosweresaidtohavebeendescendedfrompaqoswhosewivescamefromMiskayani.MiskayaniisconsideredthefemalecounterpartofPaititibutismuchmoreenigmatic.PaititiorElDoradothemysteriouslostcityofInkagoldwassosoughtafterbytheSpanishduringandaftertheconquestthatgreatnumbersofsoldierswerelostintheAmazonjunglelustingafterit.Apparentlythesearchcontinueseventoday.ForMiskayaniandtheustashoweverthesearchhasonlyjustbegun.Endnotes1.JenkinsElizabethB.TheReturnoftheInkaAJourneyofInkaInitiationProphecies.NaalehuHawaiiPuumakaaPress2009.OriginallypublishedasInitiationAWomansSpiritualAdventureintheHeartoftheAndes.Putnam1997.TheHatunQarpayinitiationisdescribedindetailinthisbook.2.JenkinsElizabethB.TheFourthLevelNatureWisdomTeachingsoftheInka.NaalehuHawaii3.PuumakaaPress2013.ThisJenkinslatestbookisastep-by-stepexperientialguidetolearninglikeaQero.ABOUTTHEAUTHORElizabethB.JenkinsMAMFTfounderdirectorofWiraqochaFoundationforthePreservationofIndigenousWisdomalicensedpsychotherapistandinternationalbestsellingauthorofthreebooksontheInkatraditionTheReturnoftheInkaJourneytoQerosandherlatestworkTheFourthLevelNatureWisdomTeachingsOfTheInkaisanorganicfarmerinHawaiiandteacherofInkanEnergyHealingworkingwiththeQeroandleadingtripstoPeruforover25years.www.thefourthlevel.org 28AJournalofContemporaryShamanismVOLUME7ISSUE1SPRING2014SHAMANICPRACTICEImmramaJourneysinIndigenousCelticShamanicPracticeBySharonPaiceMacLeodMemoryoftheAncestorsTheCeltsoriginallyinhabitedmostofancientEuropefromIrelandandBritainintheWesteastwardintoFranceSpainPortugalAustriaSwitzerlandCentralEuropenorthernItalyandpartsofTurkey.OvertimeCelticcultureslanguagesandspiritualtraditionsweremarginalizedanddismembereduntilonlyremnantsofthisonce-flourishingtraditionremained.FormanyoftheirdescendantsCelticbeliefsandtraditionsrunlikewildfireinthebloodwithtraditionalsongsandstoriesopeningadeeppoolofremembering.LikeotherindigenousculturesmanyCelticpeopleslosttheirtraditionslanguageandancientconnectiontotheDivine.Fosteringspiritualconnectionandculturalsoulretrievalisanenormoustaskaroundtheglobe.Byhealingourownancestralwayswemaybemoreabletohelpourbrothersandsistersinshamaniccultureswherevertheyarefound.Therearethreeprimarywaysinwhichadismemberedcul-turecanbegintorememberitswisdomtraditions.Thefirstisthroughphysicalsourcesthearchaeologyofdomesticsettingsandritualsitessacredobjectsandartworkandthetestimonyoflivingtraditionbearers.Thesecondisthroughwrittensourcespreferablybymembersofthatculturebutalsoincludingre-portsofthoseoutside.Thethirdofcourseisgoingdirectlytothespiritsforinformationguidanceandcounsel.SeveralyearsagoIwasteachingCelticreligionandshaman-ismatalargeholisticlearningcenter.ManyofthestudentswereofCelticancestryorfeltaconnectiontothetraditionthroughpastlivesreincarnationisanelementofthenativeCelticbeliefsystem.OnewomanofAfricanandScottishdescentknewnothingaboutherScottishheritage.AnotherwomanfromIndiabecamefascinatedwiththesoundofinvocationsinCelticlanguagesonceshelearnedSanskritandOldIrishwererelated.AnindigenousTainowomanfromPuertoRicotoldmeherpeo-pleweretryingtorevivetheirtraditionsthroughthesamethreemethodsarchaeologywrittenaccountsandinformationfromeldersallofwhichwerescarce.Shehadcometotheworkshoptolearnshamanicjourneyingtohelpherinthatquest.KeepersofKnowledgeOriginallytherewerethreeclassesofholypeopleinCelticculturedruidsbardsandseerswiththedruidsapparentlyfulfillingmanyofthetraditionalrolesoftheshaman.InGauldruidstrainedforuptotwentyyearsintheologymythol-ogydivinationhealingceremonytribalandculturalhistorymedicineandlaw.Druidsservedasteachersjudgesandhealerspresidingoverceremoniesandpreservingandrecitingtradi-tionalwisdom.TheywereexpertsinthenatureoftheDivineandspecialistsincommunicatingwiththesacredrealmsabletoseewhatotherscouldnot.InfacttheworddruidOldIrishdruMiddleWelshderwyddcomesfromtwoIndo-Eu-ropeanrootwordsmeaningStrongorSteadfastandToSee.ThereforetheworddruidmeantStrongSeerorOneStronginVision.TragicallythedruidsinGaulandsouthernBritainweredrivenoutorexterminatedbytheRomaninvasions.HoweverdruidsstillexistedinScotlandaswellasinIrelanduntilatleasttheninthcentury.Eventuallyasaresultoftheincreasingpowerofthechurchandotherchangesinmedievalculturetheirpowerandinfluencewaned.Anewclassofpoet-seersemergedknownasthefilidsing.filiinIrelandandScotlandwhoserolesmaybeparalleledinWalesbynativeseersknownasawenyddion.Thefilidtrainedinspecialschoolsforseventotwelveyearsandalmostcertainlypreservedsomeaspectsoftheoriginaldruidicshamanicwisdom.Theyservedaspoetshistoriansandstorytellersandwerealsohighlytrainedseers.Infactafilicouldnotbecomeanollamormasterpoetuntilheorshehadmasteredthreetypesofnativedivinatorypracticeimbasforosnaigreatwisdomofilluminationteinmlaedacrackingopenofsongspoemsanddichetaldichennaibspontaneousincantation.Thesetrainingschoolsexisteduntilabout1600inIrelandandinScotlanduntilalmost1750.TrainingmanualsandwisdomtextsassociatedwiththefilidpreserveinformationabouthowindigenousCelticpracticessurvivedchangedandpersevered.1Oneofthemostperplexingquestionsisexactlyhowthedruidsorfilidconnectedwiththeirgodsorspirits.What www.shamansociety.org29practicesortechniquesdidtheyuseTherearemanydescriptionsofpeopletravelingtotheOtherworldeatingspe-cialfoodschantingsingingorrecitingsacredloreandtextsandsoforth.ButhowwerethesethingsaccomplishedWeretheyjourneying-asweunderstandthatterm-orusingotherindigenousCelticmethodsVisionoftheBull-SleepAlthoughthewrittenrecordsarefarfromperfecttherearefascinatingaccountsoftraditionalmethodswhichappeartobeshamanicinnature.OneoftheearliestcomesfromancientIrelandandisknownasthetarb-feisbull-sleeporbull-feast.ItisdescribedinanearlyIrishtalecalledTheDestructionofDaDergasHosteltohelpthecommunitychooseaworthyleaderaftertheoldkingorchiefhaddiedThemenofIrelandgatheredtogetherforthebull-feastAbullwaskilledonaccountofitandheateofitanddrankitsbrothandanincantationoftruthwaschantedoverhimwhilehewaslyingdown.Whoeverthismansawinhissleepitishethatwouldbekingandifhespeaksaliehedies2Asimilarversionofthetarb-feisispro-videdinthemythTheWastingSicknessofCChulainnoneofmyfavouriteearlyIrishtalesandastoryfullofshamaniccontent.3Abulloroxskinappearsinthethir-teenth-centuryWelshtaleRhonabwysDream.Rhonabwyisgrantedavisionwhenhesleepsonayellowoxskin.InthevisionheandhistwocompanionstravelacrossthelandandencounteramanonahorsewhogivesthemaccesstovisionsoftheArthurianpast.AttheendofthevisionRhonabwyawakensontheyellowoxskinandrealizeshehasbeenasleepforthreedaysandthreenights.4GeoffreyKeatingsearlyseventeenth-centuryMiddleIrishworkForasFeasaaririnnwhilenotentirelyreliableoffersdetaileddescriptionsofsimilarritualswecanexamineforcomparativepurposes.Gessasg.geisareinjunctionsortaboosAsforthedruidsthisistheservicetheymadeofthehidesofbullsinsacri-ficialofferingsforkeepinginfrontofthemwhilemakingconjurationsorwhileputtingspiritsliterallydemonsundergessai.e.todothedruidsbiddingandmanyaretheproceduresbywhichtheyputgessauponthemsuchastobegazingforavisionatonesownimageinwaterorbylookingatthecloudsoftheheavensorbylisteningtothesoundofthewindorthevoiceofbirdswhenevereachofthesemethodsfailedthemwhattheydidwastomakeroundwattlesoftherowantreeandspreadthehidesofthebullsgiveninsacrificeuponthemandthesidethatwasnexttothefleshwasputontheirchestsandinthiswaytheyhadrecoursetoageistocallthespiritstogaininformationfromthem5Therearemanysimilarritualpracticesdescribedintheseandotheraccounts.TheseincludetheofferingofabulleatingofaritualmealthechantingofdruidsinOldIrishoverthepropheticdreamerdivinatorysleepuseofabullshidelayingonsticksofrowanatreeassoci-atedwithmagicanddivinationHerewehavethefoundationofanactualnativeCelticshamanicritualtocallupontheGodsforinformationorguidance.Inamodernversionofthetarbfeisagroupofthreetofivepeopleormoregathertogetheratanappointedtimeandplace.Whilewenolongerengageindirectanimalsacrificetheofferingofsomethingofvalueisimportantincompletingthecircleofreciprocityanddemonstratinggratitudetothespirits.InCelticculturebullswereasignofwealth.Soweshouldoffersomethingofvaluesuchasavesselofcookedmeatorastewoforganicvegetables.InmypracticeIhavehadprofoundexperiencesof-feringthefleshofasacredanimalsuchasthesalmonwhichsymbolizesdivinewisdomasthespiritoftheanimalwhichshouldalsobethankedispresentattheceremony.Partoftheritualinvolvesthecelebrantspartakingofthesacredmealalongwiththespiritsingestingwisdomfromthesourceitself.Thedreamerliesonaritualbedofrowanbranchesandwrapshim-orherselfinawhiteorlight-colouredcattlehide.Thisobjectmayhavebeenchosentoconnectthepersonwiththespiritoftheanimalwhosefleshisbeingof-fered.Oritmayhavebeenusedsimplybecauseitislargeenoughtowrapthepersoninside.Ihavejourneyedoveraperiodofseveraldaysinachestnut-colouredhorsehidedeeplyconnect-ingwithmyprimarypoweranimal.Journeyingandboundinsidetheanimalskinthespiritanimalspresenceisfeltempoweringthejourneyandprotectingthedreameraswell.NexttwotofourchantersorArdaghchalicesymbolicofavesselofdivinewisdomArdMachaIreland 30AJournalofContemporaryShamanismVOLUME7ISSUE1SPRING2014druidsstrongseerschantprayersoverthedreameruntilheorsheachievesanalteredstateofconsciousness.Weareworkingtorejuvenatethistraditionbycombingtheancienttextsforprayersandinvocationstobringforwardalongthespiraloftime.AsOldIrishisdifficultchantersmaywishtomakeseparateof-feringstothespiritsexplainingtheyareusinganotherlanguagetoconnectwiththeOtherworldandempowertheritual.Theimportantthingisthatthelanguageisrespectfulsacredandheartfeltandprayerschantedforasufficienttime.Inadditiontheimagesandwordsthathavebeenchosenshouldhelpthedreamerconnectwithspiritandobtaintheneededinformation.InvokingtheAncientSpiritsOtherreferencestodruidicdivina-tionritesincludelookingatcloudsnladorachtandlisteningtothevoicesofbirdswhichthedruidsweresaidtounderstand.Thewordusedtorefertothecallingorsummoningofthespiritsistoghairm.ThisderivesfromtheOldIrishverbdo-gairmeaningcallinvokepetitionconjureawordthatisattestedasearlyastheninthcentury.6Thisverywordinalaterform-Scot-tishGaelictaghairm-ismentionedinanumberoffolkloreaccountsfromearlyScotland.AvisionaryritualisdescribedbutnotnamedinanearlyeighteenthcenturyaccountoftheScottishHigh-landswrittenbyMartinMartinADe-scriptionoftheWesternIslesofScotland1703.TherewereseveralvariantsoftheriteincludingSummonsbyWaterandSummonsbyCowsHide.Thewaterritualwasusedbythosewishingtoinquireaboutthefateoffamiliesbattlesandsoforth.Atnightagroupofmengatheredtogetherandonepersonwaschosenfromamongthembycastinglots.Fourmencarriedhimtoariverthatservedastheboundarybetweentwovillages.Theyswunghimbackandforthandstruckhishipswithsomeforceagainstthebankoftheriverostensiblytousehiminbodilyformtoattracttheattentionofthewaterspirits.OneofthemencriedoutWhatisityouhavegotthereandanotheransweredAlogofbirchwood.ThefirstmanthencriedoutagainsayingLethisinvisiblefriendsappearfromallquartersandrelievehimbygivingananswertoourpresentdemands.Withinafewminutesanumberoflittlecreaturescamefromthewaterwhoansweredthequestionsometimesratherambiguouslyandthendisappearedverysuddenly.Themanwhoservedasthelogofbirchwoodwasthensetfreeandthemenreturnedtotheirhomes.BirchisusedindivinationritesinanumberofEuropeansettingsandthemansubsti-tutingforthelogofbirchmayrepresentanoriginalsacrificethatwasgiventothespiritsinexchangefortheirassistanceortheuseofbirchstavesorwandsinvision-arysettings.7MartinssecondaccountSummonsbyCowsHideisreminiscentoftheIrishrituals.Agroupofmengatheredatasolitarynaturalsiteawayfromanydwellings.Theysingledoutonemanfortheriteandwrappedhiminalargecowshidesohisentirebodywascoveredexceptforhishead.Hewasleftinthispositionallnightlonguntilhisinvisiblefriendsrelievedhimbygivingaproperanswertothequestioninhandwhichhereceivedfromseveralpersonshefoundabouthimallthetime.Hiscompan-ionsreturnedatdaybreakandtheseercommunicatedtothemwhatevernewsorinformationhadbeenobtained.8ThomasPennantwitnessedasimilarritualinhis1772tourofScotlandandtheHebrides.Herethedivinationritualisdirectlyreferredtoasthetaghairm.IntheregionofTrotternesslivedafamilyrenownedforpracticingaceremonyusedtoobtainoracularknowledge.Therewasahugewaterfallnearbywhichfellfromahighrockwhosewatersjettedoutsofarastoformadryhollowbetweenthewa-terfallandtheprecipice.Onememberofthefamilywassewnupinthehideofanoxandplacedinthedarkhollowbehindtheroaringwaterfall.Aquestionwasputtothedivinerwrappedintheoxhidetowhichthepracticeofthetaghairmprovidedananswer.9JohnRamseyofOchtertyrealsodescribedaScottishritualthattookplaceinthelate1700sorearly1800swhichinvolvedtheuseofacowshideandawaterfall.HedescribesthepracticeoftaghairmanuisgetaghairmbywaterwhichwasmaintainedbyafarmingfamilywholivedontheIsleofSkyenearabeautifulwaterfallcalledEas-bhereraig.Whentheywishedtoconsultthespiritsonanymatterofimportanceamanfromthatfamilywouldcoverhisentirebodywithacowshideandplacehimselfbetweenthewatersofthecascadeandtherockbehindit.Anothermanassistedusingapoleorsticktogiverepeatedstrokestothewa-terfallandtothemanconcealedbehindit.EverynowandthenhewouldcryoutinGaelicAnmaidefearnasoIsthisastockofalder.Hereagainthemanisperceivedaspieceofwoodfromatree.Theprocesscontinueduntilthemaninthecowshidewaseitherfuriousorfran-tic.IndeedadegreeoffrenzywasoftenreportedtohavebeenexperiencedbytheHighlandseers.Atthispointthemanwasbelievedtobeinapropercondi-tiontoanswerimportantquestions.Hisresponseswerebelievedtocomefromsomethingmorethanhuman.MembersBird-headfguresholdinghumanheadseatothesoulancientScotland www.shamansociety.org31ofthisfamilywerefrequentlyconsultedabouteventsinthefuture.10Otherlateeighteenthcenturyaccountsofthetaghairmmentionasimilarsetofritualelements.ReverendMcQueenfromKilmuirwroteaboutafamilywhosehereditaryofficeinvolvedtheuseofthetaghairm.Alargedrycrev-icewhichcouldholdfourorfivepeoplewasresortedtointheriteandoneofthemenlaydowncoveredinacowshide.Oneofthemeninthefamilylaidmanyblowsuponthemanpossiblywithastickofhazeltheaccountisalittleunclearwhichseemedtoalmostdrivehimoutofhissensesinapropheticfury.Hiswordsandgroanswerelistenedtocarefullyforanswerstothequestionsposedbyeachperson.Thosewhocon-sultedtheoraclepaidhimasheepforhisefforts.TheritualwascensuredbythechurchaftertheReformationlikemanynativepractices.11TherearemanycommonelementsbetweentheseearlymodernScottishtaghairmceremoniesandtheearlierIrishaccountsofthebull-sleepdivinationtakingplacenearabodyofwaterariverorwaterfallchoosingonepersontoactasaseeronbehalfofthecommunitywrappingtheseerinacoworoxhidesolitaryconfinementinanaturalset-tingritualtakingplaceforanentirenightuseofsacredwoodbirchalderhazelseerperceivedaspieceofsacredtreesensoryoverloadsoundofrushingwaterbeatingwithwandsorrodsbeliefinappearanceofspiritbeingstoprovideinformationInamodernversionoftheScottishtaghairmritualthedreamerisonceagainwrappedinabullshide.Inthiscasehowevertheyarenotchantedoverasinthebullsleepbutareleftovernightinanaturalsettingnexttoarushingriverorbehindawaterfall.Inthisritualthesoundsofnaturewhicharerichinover-tonesprovidetheauralinputneededtoputthedreamerintoanalteredstateofawareness.Inthetarbfeisthedreamerlaysuponbranchesofsacredwood.Inthetaghairmhoweversticksorwandsofsa-credwoodcanbeusedtobeatupontheoutsideofthehideinordertointensifytheordealandinvokethefrenzyoftheseer.Thisrepetitivesoundandactiontogetherwiththenoiseoftherushingwaterandthedarknessofthesettingallintensifytheshamanicexperience.Whilealloftheseaspectsmaybechallengingformodernpractitionerstoenactasinmanyotherculturesstayingovernightinanaturalsettingisapower-fulwayofconnectingwithSpirit.Thedreamerhimherselfappearstobetheofferinginthisritualboundinasacredhideandbeatenwithwandsofsacredwood.Manyhavehaddeepshamanicandpropheticexperiencesnearasacredriverorjourneyingtothesoundofawaterfall.InCeltictraditionriversandwaterfallswereassociatedwiththequestfordivinewisdomandwereunderstoodtobeinhabitedbyspirits.12TheSoundoftheSpiritsThroughouttheCeltictraditionthereisanenormousfocusontheuseofsacredsound.Inearlytimespeopleusedflutesmadeofbirdbonesquitesimilartothemoderntinwhistleorpenny-whistlebutwithalightermorebreathysound.WedonothaveanyevidencefortheuseofthedruminCeltictraditionandtheIrishbodhrnorframedrumisnotattesteduntiltheearlytwentiethcen-tury.Howeverwedohaveritualrattlesfromaveryearlyperiod.Theseweremadeofmetalandwereegg-shapedwithasmallringatthetopforholdingthem.Insideweresmallpiecesofmetalorclaytoproducealightairychuffingsound.13Therewerealsomanykindsofhornsoftenshapedlikeacowshornwhichproducedavarietyofsounds.Somewouldhavebeenusedtoannouncethearrivalofakingorholypersoninalargecommunityceremonyorproces-sion.Othersweremoremelodyorientedwhileanothertypewasplayedexactlylikeadidgeridoo.Thistypeofhorncouldhavebeenplayedduringritualsorceremoniestohelpinduceanalteredstate.14Therearealsoreferencestodru-idsorpoetscarryingorusingsomethingcalledaCraobhSdefairybranchwhichappearstohavebeenawoodormetalbranchedorforkedobjectwithsmallbellshangingfromit.Inthecaseofthefilidthecolourofthemetalusedinthebranchsymbolizedtheirlevelofexpertiseandknowledge.15Themostcommonmethoddescribedthroughouttheentiretraditionistheuseofthehumanvoice.Druidsandpoet-seerschantsingintoneandrecitesacredwordsorphraseswisdomtextsspellssongpoemsincantationsandinvocationsinavarietyofritualsettings.Thereisveryspecializedterminologyforthesetypeofpracticessuchasthewordfor-cainwhichmeanstosingoverteachorinstructorpredictorprophecy.Modernpractitionerscanuseboneflutesorpennywhistlesegg-shapedrattlesandbranchesofsacredwoodhungwithsmallbellstocreateanau-thenticsonicritualspacefornativeCelticshamanicceremonies.Youmightalsowishtoexperimentwithsoundrecord-ingsofdidgeridoosriversorwaterfalls.WisdomoftheShamaninEverydayLifeOmegaInstituteNYJuly1318EnergyClearingPortlandOROct1012LASTMASKCENTERFORSHAMANICHEALINGExplorethemedicineoftheHealerandDeathintimacywithspiritandfaithinyourcalling.YearOneprogressesfromlearningshamanicskillstotheirdirectapplicationinactualenergyclearingworkingeffectivelywithpowerobjectsandsacredspaceandtrueintimacywithyourhelpingspirits.TheCyclegivesyouaccesstomentorshipteleseminarsandayni-basedmembershipinLastMaskCommunity.August20252014StillMeadowRetreatCenterDamascusORpresentsTheCycleTeachingsShamanismfortheNewWorldwithshamanauthorteacherChristinaPrattForregistrationandmoreinformationvisitlastmaskcenter.orgcalendar 32AJournalofContemporaryShamanismVOLUME7ISSUE1SPRING2014TheImmramaProjectdescribedbelowisworkingtocollectandrecordauthenticCelticsongsprayerschantandmusicforuseinmodernsettings.Wewillbeworkingwithexperiencedshamanicpractitionerstorecoverandrestorenativetypesofpracticelikeimbasforosnaiandotherritualsmentionedabove.Oneevocativenativetermweareexploringisesnadwhichcanrefertoamusicalsoundincludingaroaringmoaningordron-ingsoundlikethatofthewindaswellasthesingingofcertainbirdsoraparticularkindofhumansingingorhumming.Othertermssuggestthatovertonesingingwasinvolved.AsthereareotherinterestingsimilaritiesbetweenaspectsofCelticspiritualsymbolismandelementsofSiberianandMon-golianshamanismthiscouldbeadistinctpossibility.IoncehadthehonourofhostingthemembersoftheTuvanthroatsinginggroupHuunHuurTuatmyhome.TheyenjoyedlookingattheCelticsymbolsandartworkandexperimentedwiththemusicalinstrumentsonhand.Someofthesetheycouldplayalthoughtheharpandthebodhrntheyfoundconfusing.GazingatareplicaofthefamousGundestrupcauldrononeofthemenaskedmeaboutafigurerepresentedinoneofthepanels.ThiswastheGaulishandBritishdeityknownasCer-nunnostheHornedorAntleredGodwhowasassociatedwiththeLowerWorldanimalsregenerationandanumberofotherattributes.AfterIhaddescribedthisspiritualbeingtohimhetranslatedfortheotherswhonoddedtheirheads.ThesingerwhosegrandfatherwasashamanturnedtomeandsaidYeswehaveoneofthose.TheBreathofLifeInmanyculturessoundandbreatharerelatedandoftenassociatedwithspiritualpractice.Inanumberofearlytextsdruidsaresaidtoutilizetheanldruidechtdruidicbreathtoperformmagicalorspiritualfeats.Thelegendaryarch-druidMugRoithanextremelyshamanicfigureusedthehideofahornlessbrownbullandaspeckledbirdmaskwithbillowingwings.HewassaidtohavebeentrainedintheOtherworldandwasassistedbythesonofhisdivineteacherayoungmanwhoworeagrey-brownmantlehungwithtalonsbonesandhorns.MugRoithutilizedthedruidicbreathtotransformpeopleandobjectscreatemagiccloudsmistfireorwindrepeldarkmagicandempowertherecitationofsacredwords.16Thereisalsoapossiblereferencetotheuseofbreathinadescriptionofthetrainingschoolsofthefilid.InIrelandpoet-seercandidateswenttoschoolduringthedarkhalfoftheyearandtaughttocomposepoemsinthedarkness.Theyweregivenatraditionalsubjectandmeterandleftlyingontheirbedsthroughoutthedayincompletedarkness.Atnighttheyemergedandrecitedtheircreationsfortheirteachers.Manypoetsweresaidtoonlycomposeinthedarknessatraditionalpractice.InScotlandthestudentswrappedtheirplaidsaroundtheirheadtoblockoutthelight.Theyalsoputastoneontheirbel-lypresumablytohelpregulatethebreathapracticeknowninotherculturestohelpfacilitateanalteredstateofconscious-ness.17Thepotentiallyshamanicnatureofthesepracticesissupportedbythefactthatamasterpoetearnedtherighttowearthetuigenafeatheredcloakmadefromthefeathersofmallardsfromthewaistupandwhiteandmulti-colouredfeathersfromthewaistdown.InatrainingmanualassociatedwiththeschoolsofthefilidthestudentsaregiveninstructioninthetraditionofsisanativeIrishwordthatsignifiesmusicandmelodyaswellasorderingandarrangementpoeticcompositionandmanyotherlayersofmeaning.ThistexthasneverbeforebeentranslatedintoEnglishandIwouldliketoshareasenseofshamanicwisdomintheindigenousCeltictradition.Thisnativevisionarytextcouldbeusedinyourpersonalpracticeorinserviceofrestoringthetarbfeisortaghairmrituals.ThebreathwhichisafemininewordisdescribedassupportingstreamsofknowledgewindsofsongsamagicmistandthewellofwisdomandaboveallilluminatingandrestoringancientknowledgeBreathoftheSoulBreathofFireTranslatedfromOldIrishbySharonPaiceMacLeodCopyright2014IgatherbreaththefoundationofsongsAdeclarationofthesoulanemblemoflifeItpoursinitdepartsitentersandexitsastreamAskilledartificerseeksoutrefinedwindsAfoster-motherwhonursesthebodiesofhumanbeingsProclamationspourforthfrombodiesofskillWhichisbitterwhichispleasantwhichiscoldwhichisferventWhichisthick.WhichisthinwhichisheavywhichispowerfulItisseenitisnotseenduringmyexistenceItisnottoucheditevadesformitdisappearsItsustainsavoicemaintainingconfidenceSetinmotionthroughapowerfulfocusItisthemotherofvowelswhichisfreshwhichisclearWhichisbrightwhichisthebreathoffireAgloriouscurrentwhichrunsrestoringknowledgeFrombodiesonaccountofitsilluminationAwaveofoutpouringfromawellaplaceoforiginAprotectionasteadfastabodeVeryslownogreateremptyingnodistinctmantleAshrineoflifewhichissecureineveryfoundationandheightThroughmagicmistsitdisappearsAnenduringfurnaceoflifeThebreathofthesoulinbodiesOnaccountofitsbrightness.18 www.shamansociety.org33TheImmramaProjectInCelticmythspeoplesetoutonpersonalorspiritualjourneysknownasechtraejourneysoradventuresorimmramaliterallyarowingaroundtodifferentOtherworldislandsandloca-tions.InmanycasestheyareguidedorluredawayfromtheknownworldandintotheunknownrealmsoftheDivineinaveryshamanicexperience.TheyencounterOtherworldbeingsspiritsinhumanoranimalformaretestedandsometimesgivengiftsofwisdomorskill.Insomecasesthespiritsformallianceswithhumanbeings.ThisisoneofthemostimportantaspectsofCelticreligion.TheOldIrishwordsdisoftentranslatedasfairybutreallymeanspertainingtotheCelticOtherworldparticularlyasitwasaccessedthroughancientmoundsorbodiesofwater.Itcomesfromarootwordmeaningseatasintheseatorabodeofthegods.ItwasalsousedtorefertotheinhabitantsofthespiritworldtheSabhratheoldestwordwehavefortheSpiritsinCeltictraditionortheAsSdepeopleoftheSdrealmsOtherworld.Butinaddi-tiontoreferringtotheOtherworldandtothespiritswholivetherethewordalsohasathirdmeaningpeace.ThisisnotaguaranteedorperpetualconditionbutreferstothepeacethatcanresultfromestablishingandmaintainingrightrelationshipwiththeOtherworld.Thisisthefocusofanewresearchprojectandprogramforshamanicprac-ticewhichseekstostudypreserveandtransmitauthenticaspectsofCelticprac-ticeandbeliefliketheexamplesgivenabove.TheImmramaProjectwillexploreanumberofjourneysintotraditionalCelticspiritualandshamanicbeliefsandtechniquestakendirectlyfromwisdomtextsintheoriginallanguageswhichisnecessaryforanyculturallyspecifictraditionaswellaslivingtraditionbearers.Itsgoalistorestorethisrichindigenoustraditionintoanaccessibleformformodernpractice.Afterstudy-ingthehistoryandcultureoftheCeltswhichisstandardpracticeforexplor-inganyculturalformofshamanismpractitionerswillexplorenativeCelticformsofpracticesymbolsandtraditionsincludinglearningthebasicsofOldIrishandMiddleWelshtoexploretheuseofchantingintheoriginalnativelan-guagesforinducingalteredstatesofconsciousnessexploringtherelatedconceptsofpo-etryprophecyanddarknesssleepdreamingusingcoreshamanictechniquestore-trievenativepracticeslikethetarbfeisandthevisionarypracticesoftheawe-nyddionrestoringthethreetypesofdivinationlearnedbythefilidlearningmodernCelticlanguagestounderstandandmakeproperuseofprayersandcharmsfromthefolktra-ditionforhealingguidanceandotherpurposesmaintainingfolkformsofshamanismincludingthetaghairmthefrithandelasjourneyingtodruidsandfilidtounder-standcomplexnativeconceptsrelatedtodivineknowledgeandvisionlikeimbasdnawennatrcoireintheirculturalcontextTheprojectisalsofocusedonorga-nizinggrantresourcesinordertomeetwithCeltic-languagespeakingeldersandtraditionbearersintheCelticcountries.Theyarethelastflamesofthistraditionandexistwithinsmallcommunitiesaprivateworldofhealersandseerswhodonotadvertiseandarenotvisibletopeopleoutsidetheircommunities.Therearestillalsosometraditionalpoetssingersandstorytellersaswellaslittle-knownguard-iansofsacredsiteslikeholywells.SomeofthesepracticesarealreadybeingrestoredandincorporatedintothedailylivesandpracticesofCelticshamanicpractitioners.Forexamplethereareseveral8th-centuryprayersinOldIrishbelievedbyscholarstoincludeaspectsofdruidicbeliefandinvocation.Newandupdatedtranslationsoftheprayershavebeenprovidedtoworkinggroupswhousethemintheirpracticeandreporttheirexperiences.Oneoftheprayersisforlonglifeandissopowerfulthatwehavestoppedusingitforthetimebeingmorejourneyingtothespiritsisneededtoascertainunderwhatcircum-stancestheprayershouldbeusedandifanyofferingsorprecautionsareneeded.Theotherprayerhowevercallsupontheelementsofthenaturalworldtoprotectthepersonusingitandpractitionersreportfeelingmorestrengthintheirphysicalandenergybodieswhentheymaintainthispracticeonadailybasis.Theyallreportamarkedshiftintheenergyoftheroomandtheritualandaprofounddeepeningofspiritualexperi-encewhenrecitingtheprayersintheoriginallanguage.AnotherrewardingaspectisweavingGoldmodelofaboatIrelandearlymedievalperiod 34AJournalofContemporaryShamanismVOLUME7ISSUE1SPRING2014togetherknownritualelementsfromCelticsettings.ForexampleweknowtheCeltsperformedceremonyinasun-wisedirectionandoftenwalkedaroundasacredsiteorobjectthreetimes.Of-feringstothespiritsoftheLowerWorldwerecommonjewelrycoinsandmetalobjectsreplicasofcauldronsswordsandtoolsusedinonesprofessionaretraditionallygivenintobodiesofwater.Thoseinneedofhealingoffercarvedwoodenimagesofthemselvesorofthebodypartinneedofhealingandofferedthoseintopoolsorrivers.Onceagaingivingsomethingofvalueintensifiestheprayerandtheexperience.AstheobjectvanishesbeneaththesurfaceofthewaterwecanseetheripplingspiralsofenergyextendingoutwardssignifyingtheeffectouractionhasinthisworldandtheOth-erworld.Salmonhazelnutsandapplesweretraditionallyassociatedwiththequestfordivineknowledgeandtheseareusedasofferingsandritualmealswithveryevocativeandtangibleresults.Someoftheteachingtextsassociatedwiththefilidhaveprovenveryusefulinmodernsettings.AnuntitledmedievaltextcalledbyscholarsTheCaldronofPoesyreferstobeliefsassociatedwiththepoet-seers.Inthistextthreecaul-dronsorvesselsaresaidtoexistineverypersonCoireGoiriathTheCauldronofWarmingCoireErmaTheCauldronofMotionandCoireSoisTheCauldronofGreatKnowledge.Eachcauldronhasspecificattributesandthepositionofthevesselssymbolizesthespiritualprog-ressoftheperson.Newtranslationshavebeenrecitedtoworkinggroupswhoinsomecasesarethefirstpeopletohearorusethesewordsinoverathousandyears.Shamanicjourneyingprovidesinformationabouthowtoworkwiththecauldronsandisespeciallypotentwhenlisteningtothesacredwordsofthetext.ChantingintothecauldronsisaverypowerfultoolforgroundingcenteringandconnectingwithSpirit.ItishopedthatwiththecombinationofhistoricalstudyshamanicpracticeandrespectfulreconnectionwitheldertraditionsthevibrantworldoftheCelticshamanandseercancometolifeoncemore.WalkingthepathoftheStrongSeersisavisionthatcanbecomearealityformodernpractitionersifwededicateourselvestotheauthenticpracticesofthewisdom-keepersoftheCeltic-worlds.References1PaiceMacLeodSharon.CelticMythandReligionAStudyofTraditionalBelief.JeffersonNCandLondonMacFarlandPublishers2012.PiggottStuart.TheDruids.NewYorkThamesandHudson1975.KellyFergus.AGuidetoEarlyIrishLaw.DublinDublinInstituteforAdvancedStudies1998.Caerwyn-WilliamsJ.E.andFordPatrickK.TheIrishLiteraryTradition.CardiffUniversityofWalesPress1992.2BestR.I.andBerginOsborn.LebornahUidre-BookoftheDunCow.DublinDublinInstituteforAdvancedStudies1992207-245.TranslationfromOldIrishbySharonPaiceMacLeod.3DillonMylesed.SergligeConCulainnDublinDublinInstituteforAdvancedStudies1975.TranslationfromOldIrishbySharonPaiceMacLeod.4DaviesSionedtr.TheMabinogionOxfordOxfordUniversityPress2007214-226.5KeatingGeoffrey.TheHistoryofIreland.LondonIrishTextsSociety24-25.TranslationfromMiddleIrishbySharonPaiceMacLeod.6QuinE.G.ed.DictionaryoftheIrishLanguage.DublinRoyalIrishAcademy1983.7MartinMartin.ADescriptionoftheWesternIslandsofScotland.EdinburghBirlinn1999172.8Martin173.9PennantThomas.ATourinScotlandandVoyagetotheHebrides.EdinburghBirlinn1999.10WisemanAndrewE.M.CaterwaulingandDemonRaisingTheAncientRiteofTaghairmScottishStudiesVolume352007-2010174-208.11Wiseman174-208.12PaiceMacLeodSharon.AConfluenceofWisdomTheSymbolismofWellsWhirlpoolsWaterfallsandRiversinEarlyCelticSources.ProceedingsoftheHarvardCelticColloquiumVol.XXVII2007.13ODwyerSimon.PrehistoricMusicofIreland.StroudTempus2004.14ODwyer.15Quincraeb.16PaiceMacLeod201273-74.17PaiceMacLeod201271.18GwynnE.J.AnOldIrishTractonthePrivilegesandResponsibilitiesofPoets.riuXIII19401-60.Theauthorrequeststhatthistranslationbeusedrespectfullybypractitionersintheirprivateorsmallgrouppracticesandnotbereproducedinprintoron-linewithoutpermission.ABOUTTHEAUTHORSharonPaiceMacLeodisaCanadianwriterteacherandsingerofScottishIrishandWelshancestryadirectdescendantofFairyClanMacLeod.ShetrainedinCelticStudiesthroughHarvardUniversityandpresentedattheUniversityofEdinburghUniversityCollegeCorkandFordFoundationLectureSeries.Ms.MacLeodservedasFacultyinCelticShamanismattheOmegaInstituteandistheauthorofCelticMythandReligionandTheDivineFeminineinAncientEuropeMcFarland.Sheisamesa-bearerintheAndeantraditionandPipeCarrierinLakotatradition.Emailcelticwisdomymail.com. www.shamansociety.org35SHAMANICPRACTICEBackyardSpiritHousebyJaimeMeyerImnervousaboutthishealingceremony.Afewdaysagothespiritstoldmewhatwasneededforthisyoungmanwasashakingouthealingandthathemayverywellhavealoudandflailingexperience.Itworriesme.ItseveningearlyautumnweareintheHouseofSpiritMedicineadomedstructuremadeofbentwillowbranchescrisscrossedandtiedtogetherwithstripsofwillowbark.Eventhoughthehouseiscoveredonlyincanvaswhenweareinsidethereisaprofoundfeelingofotherworldlyseparationandprivacy.Itsacosmicwombandeachtimeweworkinthishousewearemadenewagaininsomemysteriousyetpalpableway.ButIstillworryaboutonething.Ivedoneallthepreparationprayersofpermissiongrati-tudeandprotectiontothelandsurroundingtheHousetothetreesthecrowsthefiretheancestorsthewindstotheoldmothersandfatherstomyhumanteachersandmyotherworldhelpers.IsangandrattledinsidethehouseforanhourbeforetheyoungmanandmytwoassistantsarrivedtomakesurethehousewaswarmedandfilledwiththepowerofyearningforabetterlifeandtoshowtheninewillowsisterswhoinhabittheHousemydedicationtotheworkIwasabouttodo.NowaswebegintheceremonyIfeelsolidmyconstantinsecuritieshavebeensuccessfullyputasideIminthezonetodothework.Ionlyhaveoneworry.Theyoungmanislyingswaddledunderseveralblanketsinabetween-the-worldsstateofconsciousnessaftermytwoassistantsandIhavesungoverhimfortwentyminutesorso.Ibendcloseandwhispertohimthatthetwowomenwillbegintoscrapehimwiththedeerribbonesthatweharvestedfromthedeergraveyardinthewoodsnearbyandthatwhateverhap-pensinhimwhateverbeginstobereleasedfeelfreeandsafetoletithappen.IfeelalittlepanickygivinghimthatpermissionandImhopinglikemadthathewilljustliequiet.Buthedoesnt.Soonheisshakingcoughingshoutingmoaning.Thespritswererightheneedsthis.Itellthewomentokeepbreathingdeeplykeepsingingthesongsteadilyandkeepscrapingandflingingthescraped-offenergiesintothefire.Theycanseetheenergiestheyaregoodatthiswork.Irattleandholdthespacewatchforunwel-comevisitorsfromtheotherworldandtrytoquellthatoneworrythatthistimetheneighborsoneithersideorrightbehindusaregoingtocall9-1-1.TheSpiritHouseisinmybackyardinamiddleclassurbanneighborhoodofMinneapolis.WhenwebuiltitthatMayafternoontwoyearsagowehadnoideathelessonsitwouldcontinuallyteachusandwhatitwoulddemandofmeasitskeeper.IntwoyearsIveonlyreceivedonemildcomplaintfromneighborsafterthesummersolsticehealingceremonyinwhichthetwelveofusintheSpirithousedrummedforfourhoursstraightandmadethatHBOmoviehardtopayattentionto.WithoutadoubtthehardestchallengeiswhenIneedtostepoutsidethehouseduringaceremonytosingtothespirits.Myformerin-lawsliverightbehindmeandittakesamightyefforttoputawaytheimagesofthemclickingtheirtonguesandmutteringhowtheyneverknewIwasquitethisweird.TheHousebeganasasimpleefforttotakeseriouslywhatitmeanstodourbanshamanismtohaveawildspaceaspacededicatedtospritandownedbyitseparatefromthehousethatthehumanslivein.Somepeoplecanbuyaspotoflandoutsidethecitybuildtheperfectyurtonitandinvitepeopletodrivethereforspecialandprofoundexperiences.Imnotthatperson.ForreasonseconomicandtheologicalIfeltcalledtomakeaspacethatmypeoplecouldgettoquicklyanddidntrequirealongdriveawayfromthecity.AplacethatproclaimsthecoreofshamanictheologyasIunderstanditthesacredisrighthererightnownotsomewhereelsesomewhere 36AJournalofContemporaryShamanismVOLUME7ISSUE1SPRING2014unmarred.ThelandIliveonissacredlandnotbecauseitsidyllicbutbecauseitallowsmetoliveinthisspottofeedmychildrenheretodomyworkhere.Ibelongtothislandandamgrateful.Ineedtotendtothehouseasalivingbeing.Ineedtofeeditwithceremonyandofferingswithsongandweeping.AndIneedtotendtotheWillowSistersandlistentowhattheywantfromme.ThisincludeswhentheytellmetogetoutastheydidwhenIwasdoingthepreparatoryworkforasoulretrievalandaverydodgyancestoroftheclientshowedupandtheytoldmeformyowngoodIdbetterleavewhiletheyworkedonhim.OrlikeafewdaysagowhenIwentintomakeofferingsafternotvisitingfortwoweeksandtheysaidtoleavethemalonebecausetheyweresleepingforthewinter.Imnotsurewhentheywillletmeinagain.ThefirsttimeIdidagroupceremonyinthehouseIhadaprofoundvisionofallkindsofspiritvisitorspokingtheirheadsinthroughthesmokeholecheck-ingusoutinwonderandastonishedgleethatwewerebringingthisworkrightheretothisurbanspotwherethebusesrumblepastamidstthesirensandjetenginesandleafblowers.WiththishousewesayYesspiritiseverywhereyesweseeyouandnowweaskforyourhelp.Andtheyhelpusrighthereinthebackyard.SoIendedupwiththisflimsyhalf-crookedcanvasblobinmyyardasseenfromtheoutsidebutwhichcarriesenor-mousspiritualPresenceforthosewhoenterit.WhenIteachstudentsinthereitsclearthattheteachingcomesfromwellbeyondme.WhenmystudentsandIdohealingceremoniesinthereevenpeoplewhohavelittleexperiencewithshamanicpracticefeelinstantlysafeandcalm.IfeelprotectedcaredforandguidedwhenIminsideitbuttomysurpriseIalsofeelprotectedbyitwhenIminmyhouse.Ifeelitoutthereallthetime.Iseeitoutthewindowadozentimesaday.IthasmadethisspotofbusycityaspeciallychargedpieceoflandatemenosasetapartplacededicatedtotheGreatMys-terytheplacewheretheworkmattersmorethanwhatmyneighborsthinkofme.AtnightwhenIminbedIcanfeeltheSpritHouseouttherequietlysecuringthethresholdbetweentheworldsacon-stantreminderoftheagreementbetweenmeandthespiritsthataslongasIkeepmyheadonstraightaslongasIkeepmypermissionandprotectioninproperordertheywillhelpmetheywillkeepmesafeandtheywillallowmetodothisbeautifulwork.TheSpiritHousesinksintopeoplesconsciousnessindifferentways.Some-timesIwontseethemforayearandthentheypopupataweekenddrumcirclefacesallaglow.Sometimestheybecomemystudentsorapprentices.SometimesIsensethatIllneverseethemagainliketheyoungmanwhoshookoutsomethingprofoundinthehouse.Ioftendontknowthelong-termoutcomesofthiswork.SoIsimplyrestonatrustoftheworktrustinthewillowsistersandtrustintheSpiritandIjustdowhatImcalledtodo.SidebarHowtobuildaspirithouseIhonormycolleagueandteacherTe-resaRileyBaeckerforteachingushowtobuildthefirsthouse.WhatwecallRedWillowgrowswildbypondsorlakes.Cuttingitinspringtimeisgoodbecausetheyarefullofwaterandveryflexible.Aftermanyofferingsandprayersandwhenwefeltwehadpermissionwecut32stalkseachaboutfifteenfeettallandalittlesmallerthanthesizeofourwrists.Westrippedthebarkofftouseasties.Weburied12ofthelongeststalksabouttwofeetintotheearthinacirclewithadiameterofthetwotallestpeoplestretchedoutonthegroundabout12feet.WemadeanarcheddoorwayfacingeastinmyCelticshamanictraditionthedirectionofnewliferebirthandthegoddessofhealingandspringtimeBrigit.IcovereditwithheavycanvaspaintersdropclothsfromHomeDepot.Iplacedscoresofgrommetsinthecanvastomakeholesfortyingthecanvastothestructure.Weendedupwithastructurethatcouldseat12peopleinacircleinside.Iaddedtheuprightpoleinthemiddleayearlaterafterheavysnowcol-lapsedthehousethefirstwinter.ABOUTTHEAUTHORJaimeMeyerafathertotwosonsisthewriterof20playsandonebookandleaderofhundredsofshamanicdrumcircleshealingceremoniesandworkshops.HeworksprimarilyfromaCelticperspective.Hetriesashardashecantobathepeoplesstrainedfacesinthejuiceoftheraspberrythemilkofthestarsandthejoyinsideofalljoyousthings. www.shamansociety.org37REVIEWTheGoodRedRoadareviewofNewWasichuCrossingbyGaryLindorffbyTomCowanPhD.Intheglobalizedworldoftodaywearewitnessingthemassmigrationofpeoples.IntheMiddleEastmillionsofpeopleareexilesandrefugeesfromIraqSyriaandotherwar-torncoun-tries.Thesameistrueinsub-SaharanAfrica.ManyWesternEuropeansarehostiletowardimmigrantsfromEasternEurope.IntheUnitedStatestherearemovementstostopimmigrationfromMexicoandreturnundocu-mentedMexicansandMexican-Americanswhoarealreadyhere.Therewasneveratimewhenhu-manbeingshaventbeenmovingfromoneregionoftheEarthtoanother.Inmanyoftheseplacespeopleintheso-calledhostcoun-triesobjecttothenewcomerswithsimilarcomplaints.Theyaredifferentfromus.Theywilldestroyourwayoflife.Wedonotwantthemhere.WeheardthesecomplaintsandignoredthemoverthelastfivehundredyearswhentheywereexpressedbynativepeoplehereonTurtleIsland.Whenthenew-comersfromwhommanyofusaredescendedreachedtheGreatPlainstheLakotapeoplehadanameforthemWasichu.IntheLakotalanguageWasichumeansthosewhotakethefat.SpecificallyitreferredtothegrowingAmeri-canculturethatsentthemilitarypioneersandthrill-seekerstotheGreatPlainswheretheyproceededsometimesjustforfuntoslaughterthebuffalothefatthatprovidedawayoflifeforNativeAmericansonthePlains.IamnotsurewhetheranyofmyancestorswereliterallyWasichuorevenhadconflictswithNativeAmericans.ButasadescendantofEuropean-AmericansandarepresentativeofmainstreamAmericancultureIknowthatIcarryWasichuenergytheenergythatdestroyedthetradi-tionallifestylesofNativeAmericans.IcanlookbehindmeandseethelongWasichushadowstretchingoutandbackthroughthegenerationswhoprecededme.Icanfeelthatkarmainmybones.IknowthattheWasichulegacyispartoftheculturalbaggageIcarryfromthepast.InhisbookNewWasichuCrossingGaryLindorffisbettingonmenottocarryitintothefuture.LindorffstitlechallengesustobenewWasichusandtocrossover.Hisbookisathoughtfulinspiringandintelligentac-countofwhatthismightmean.LindorffhasponderedlongandhardaboutourpresencehereonTurtleIsland.Becausehepracticesshamanismwritespoetryrecordsandfollowshisdreamsandreadsvoraciouslysomeofthebestthinkerspastandpresentaboutthehumanconditionherealizeshisandourmoralobligationtouseourheritageusewhat-we-areusewhatwecannotdenytomakeabetterworld.ThroughoutthebookhekeepsinclosetouchwiththewisdomteachingsbequeathedusbythegreatLakotavisionaryBlackElkandhisgreat-nephewWallaceBlackElk.InadditionLindoffpersonalizeshistextwithhisownpoetryandthatofothershisdreamscruciallifeexperiencesandsynchronicitiesthatstartlehimoutofordinaryconscious-nesssothatwhenhewritesabouttheWasichuheritageheseesitandfeelsitwithinhimself.Asyoureadyouknowyouareinthepresenceofamanwhomaintainsarunningdialoguewiththewriterswhohaveinspiredhimaswellasthepeopleheknowsinhisownlifeandevenwithhimself.Youfeelheisnotjustspeakingtoyoubutwithyou.HewantsyoutobecomeanewWasichu. 38AJournalofContemporaryShamanismVOLUME7ISSUE1SPRING2014TheRedandBlackRoadsTheNewWasichumustcross.WemustboldlystepforwardtocrosstheblackroadthatBlackElkcallsafear-fulroadaroadoftroublesandofwar.Wemustcrosstothegoodredroadwherepeoplefeelaclosenesstospiritandthesacrednessofalllife.WherethetworoadscrossgrowstheTreeofLife.LindorffaskswewhohaveshamanicskillstomakethatcrossingtocrossovertheblackroadtotheredroadtoleavethesquarecultureofmodernAmericaandenterintothecircularworldofna-tivepeople.AsBlackElksaysYouhavenoticedthateverythinganIndiandoesisinacircleandthatisbecausethePoweroftheWorldalwaysworksincirclesandeverythingtriestoberound.Buttocrossisakindofdeath.LindorffwritesCrossingisaformofdeathnomatterwhatonethinks.ButhehasgreathopefortheshamaniccommunitiesbecauseasheputsitAshamanisonewhodiestohimherself...whohassurvivedsomelife-changingexperience...andproceedstoliveintwoworldsthemiddleworldandthesacredbetweenwhichheshetravelsatwill.Practitionersofshamanismwillknowhowtocrossovertomeetthisdeath.AnditispreciselywewhoarenotNativeAmericanswhosepres-enceisneededonthegoodredroad.SomeNativeAmericansrecognizethis.Lindorffnotesthatthereisamove-mentafootamongNativeAmericansthatembracestherainbowspiritofthenewageandpromotestheideathatitistimetopassalongthenativewisdom.HeremindsusthatBlackElkgaveJohnNeihardtthemedicinenameFlamingRainbowanimagehehadinhisfirstgreatvision.LindorffseesthisnameasacknowledgingNeihardtsheroismforhewasnotonlyBlackElkstranslatorbutalsohischampion.Andsoitisagooddaytocross.Itisagooddaytodie.Notonlygoodbutnecessary.BlackElkknewthatmendingtheHoopsofLifeandnurturingtheTreeofLifecannotbedonebyanyonepeople.Itisahumanendeavor.TheNewWasichuarenotanyonecolorbutcanbefoundamongallofthem.AndtheglobalmovementsofpeoplesculturesandknowledgebothsecularandsacredisneededtobringusbackintoharmonywiththeEarth.Wemustdietoouroldwaysandbebornassomethingnew.AreWeHomeownersOncewhileLindorffwasbusywrit-inghewasinterruptedbyatelemarketerwhoaskedifhewasahomeownerheisandifhishomehadasepticitdoesbutheliedtogetridofthetelemarketer.Goingbacktohisworkhewasstruckbytheomenofthisinterruption.Hereal-izedthathomeownershiptapsintothecoreissueofmylifethemoralityofown-ingapieceofarapidlyshrinkingplanet.Itledhimtoreflectonthesacredindebtednesstothespiritofaplacethatwecanchoosetohonorornot.ThisispreciselywhattheNewWasichumustcometorealizethatpossessinglandshouldleadusintothelandsdreamingsothatweareessentiallybeingpossessedbythelandinthesenseofbeingchosenbythelandtopossessit.Theremaybedeedsandtitlesbuthomeownershipisalsoasacredcovenantwithspirit.Indig-enouspeopleeverywhereknowthis.TheNewWasichumustlearnit.TheNewWasichumustfindwaystobeathometoliveasLindorffsaysinaplacethatIlovethatIcallhome.HeremindsusthatWallaceBlackElksayswemustalwayshaveaspiritguideforthensomeoneiswatchingyou.Watchinghowwewalkonourlandwatchingifwetreatitinasacredmannerwatchingusprayaswebeginlifeeachday.EverymorningWallaceBlackElksgrandfatherlifteduphisarmstopraytothemorningstaranpowie.WhenyoudothathesaiditisliketouchingthefaceofTunkashilatheCre-ator.Whereverwelivewearewatchedbythemorningstar.HealingourBrokenCultureAspiritiswatchingusstruggletofindanalternativetothedualisticthinkingthatseparatesusfromtherestoftheworldthatplacesusinpoweroverit.DualismhasbeentheWasichuheritageourmodusoperandiandourlegacy.OfcoursedualityisrealasLindorffacknowledgesbuthesuggeststhatwere-listentoBobDylansadvicetoDontThinkTwiceItsAllRight.Poweritselfisnotdualisticanditsallright.NativeAmericansdonotquestiontheexistenceofpowerbuttheycriticizethewayWasichususeittoconquertoexploittodestroytodepriveEarthofitsLifeForce.LindorffbelievesasmanyofusdothatourcultureisbrokenbutinhisviewitsasacredbrokennessIfwecanseethathewritesthenwecanbetouchedbythepathosofitallandthenNothingisdullanymoreabsolutelynothingistwo-dimensional.Everythingcanbeseeninitsrightnessinitsconnectiontospiritandwewillnolongerhavetothinktwice.Wecanliveintheexcit-ingunityofallthingsandthushealthebrokenness.Eventhetworoadsarenotreallyaformofdualityforwemustwalkbothroadsblackandredsimultaneously.BlackElkhimselfwastoldtodothis.Wecannotdenythattheblackroadisourheritagealbeittroubled.Itempow-ersusanditcontinuestocreateaswellasdestroy.Butourchallengeonthisroadistoavoidtheecologicaldisasterthatawaitsus.LindorffquotesanotherLakotavisionaryLameDeerwhowarnsOnlyhumanbeingshavecometoapointwheretheynolongerknowwhytheyexist....theystumblealongblindlyontheroadtonowhereapavedhigh-waywhichtheythemselvesbulldozeandmakesmoothsothattheycangetfastertothebigemptyholewhichtheyllfindattheendwaitingtoswallowthemup.BlackElkputitsimplytheWasichuhadforgottenthattheearthwastheirmother.InawaythisiswhyGaryLindorffbecameapoettofindmeaningandavoidthehole.HewritesMeaningiselusivebutunlessourlivesaremeaning-fulwearegoingtocareonlyenoughtolimpalongbutnotenoughtoreinvent www.shamansociety.org39ourselveswhichiswhatwearebeingchallengedtodo.Poetsareamongthosewhocanhelppeoplereinventthem-selves.TheyhelpusbecomepeoplewhorememberthatEarthisourmother.AdoreorDieTheNewWasichuwillre-discoverordiscoverforthefirsttimethatalllifeissacredholyfilledwithspirit.LindorffquotesthegreatJesuitpaleontologistandgeologistTeilharddeChardinwhowroteinthemiddleofthetwentiethcenturythatthedayisnotdistantwhenhuman-itywillrealizethatitisfacedwithachoicebetweensuicideandadoration.IfwecontinuetobuildthosesmoothroadstonowhereEarthwillswallowusup.Itisaformofsuicide.Butifwecrossovertowalkthegoodredroadwewillliftupourhandsandeyesandvoicesandbowourheadstocelebratethebeautyoftheworldwewilladorethelandbecausewehavefalleninlovewithit.Theredroadbeginsatthestonepeopleslodgethesweatlodgewherewefallonourkneestoenterandsitrev-erentlywiththefourelementsandpraytothemandwiththem.HereweseethestonesthemselvesglowingredwiththefireofLife.WallaceBlackElkremindsusEverylivingthingisred.Mybloodmylifeisred.Allwingedfour-leggedcreeping-crawlersmammalsfish-peopleandtwo-leggedtheirbloodisred.AndifwecanseethatrednessthesacredforceoflifethenasGaryLindorffcon-cludesitdoesntmatterwherewewalkonthisplanetaslongwearewalkingasifeachdayisholyandallthingsaresacred.Thenweareontheredpathwiththesuninourfacesandifwearewalk-inginourpowerthenthemorningstarwillalwaysberisinginoursoulsAndthisofcourseisthepointWewillredeemourpainfulheritageandwalkintothefutureastheNewWasichu.BonesofFireResidentialShamanicConferenceGatheringSamishIslandCampBowIslandWashingtonUSAOctober22nd26th2014AGatheringtomarkthebeginningoftheseasonofthedarknightsandwintersnowsthemomentsbreathbetweenlifeanddeathastheMoonofFarewellflowsintotheMoonoftheDead.ThetimeofseedfallandtheFirstFiresTheseFiresthatcallustogathertakestockcommitreleaseandtobethemomentbetweenAncestorsDescendantTheseFireswereandwillbebeaconsinthedarknessbeaconsoftrustandsurrender.TheconferenceGatheringwillbeafull4dayswithworkshopslabyrinthShamanMarketandceremoniestoguidetransportallpresentinajourneyofourancientsouls.TeachersfromCanadaUSUKEuropeIncludingChristinaPrattRobMurphyDr.EveBruceJeffStocktonCharlesLightwalkerChristianaHarleJosephineHydeLauriShainskyJohn-LukeEdwardsAllesonJonnLanselMelTomlinsonStephanieMillsKateLynchFormoreinformationandtoregisterEmailusascgmssgmail.comVisithttpcircleofgreatmystery.org2013-first-fire-of-the-ancestorsBonesofFireResidentialShamanicConferenceGatheringSamishIslandCampBowIslandWashingtonUSAOctober22nd26th2014AGatheringtomarkthebeginningoftheseasonofthedarknightsandwintersnowsthemomentsbreathbetweenlifeanddeathastheMoonofFarewellflowsintotheMoonoftheDead.ThetimeofseedfallandtheFirstFiresTheseFiresthatcallustogathertakestockcommitreleaseandtobethemomentbetweenAncestorsDescendantTheseFireswereandwillbebeaconsinthedarknessbeaconsoftrustandsurrender.TheconferenceGatheringwillbeafull4dayswithworkshopslabyrinthShamanMarketandceremoniestoguidetransportallpresentinajourneyofourancientsouls.TeachersfromCanadaUSUKEuropeIncludingChristinaPrattRobMurphyDr.EveBruceJeffStocktonCharlesLightwalkerChristianaHarleJosephineHydeLauriShainskyJohn-LukeEdwardsAllesonJonnLanselMelTomlinsonStephanieMillsKateLynchFormoreinformationandtoregisterEmailusascmssmail.comVisithttcircleofreatmster.or2013-first-fire-of-the-ancestors 40AJournalofContemporaryShamanismVOLUME7ISSUE1SPRING2014REVIEWAwakentheInnerShamanAGuidetothePowerPathoftheHeartbyJosL.StevensPhD.ReviewbyTerriMonroeEd.D.M.Div.SoundsTrueBoulderCO2014ThehighestcomplimentIcanpayJosStevensAwakentheInnerShamanAGuidetothePowerPathoftheHeartistorevealthatithasjustclaimedaspotonmyDesertIslandlistthefivebooksIwouldwantifIwereshipwrecked.Oneofmycriteriafortheseisthatabookshouldpointthewaytowardtheultimategoalofhumandesireforfulfillmentthegoalofallspiritualsearchingunconditionalawarenessandlovenotjustideasanddescriptionsofitbutexercisesandpracticesthatbearfruitandcanbereturnedtoagainandagain.WhatotherkindofbookcouldprovidemorevaluetoadesertislanddwellerAwakeningtheIn-nerShamanbyJosStevensfitsthecriteria.AsignificantsignofourtimesIthinkisthequesttomakeamoreexplicitleapofconsciousnessfromshamanicideologytoadeeperspiritualconsciousnessandprac-ticefromshamanictechniquestosomethingresemblingamorefull-heartedwayoflife.Thisbookisamajorcontributiontotheemerginginterfaceofshamanismsciencepowerhumandevelopmentevolu-tionandthewisdomcontainedintheworldsgreatreligiousandspiritualtraditions.Assuchitisasomewhatdenselycompactedworkofexpansiveintegrativescholar-shipwoventhroughwithheartandspiritthatisfullofvitalinforma-tionthatremainsasyettoolittleknown.Stevenssapproachinthisbookisinclusiveanditbor-rowsfreelyfrommanytraditionsandteachers.Itisprofoundlyshapedbytheauthorsdecades-longapprenticeshipswithShip-ibocuranderosandQeropaqosinPeruandHuicholmaracamesincentralMexico.Butitalsodrawsontheage-oldwisdomofthegreatreligionsandphilosophiesoftheworldgleanedfromhisyearsofstudyofwithJesuitscholarsKoreanZenMastersTibetanBuddhistlamasmetaphysicalteachersandNativeAmericanelders.Ahelpfulacknowledgmentofmanyofthesesourcescanbefoundinthebibliographyatthebackofthebook.Atthecoreofallthemajorspiritualtraditionsisthemystichearttheseatofourdivineessence.Diversenamesfrommanyspiritualtraditionsareusedtorefertothisrealitypureaware-nessnon-dualawarenesstheTrueSelfthegroundofbeingBuddhanatureChristconsciousnessandenlightenmenttonameafew.StevensusesthetermInnerShamantosignifythisinde-scribablebutdefinitelyrecognizablereality.Muchofthebookisdevotedtohelpingthereaderperceiveandopentothistransparentawarenessatthecenterofourbeing.HeexplainshowthisInnerShamanconnectsustotheheartoftheCosmosenablesustoaccessandworkcreativelywiththequantumfieldevolvetowardamaximumpotentialforthekindofworldwewishtoinhabitandperhapsmostimportantlyuncon-ditionallyembraceallwithloveandcompassion.Iespeciallyappreciatethewayheexploresthedirectrecognitionofnon-dualawarenessthroughthelensofshamanicpracticeusingavarietyofstoriesandstylesofexpression.ThepureawarenessassociatedwiththeInnerShamanisourbirthrightbutmostofusexperienceagapbetweenthiskindofpureconsciousnessandourordinaryawarenesswhichisfullofcontentconditionsandemotionsgeneratedbytheego.Furthermostofushaveinheritedthesensereinforcedbymostreligionsthatenlightenmentisatoo-far-offpossibilityforus.StevenshoweverproposesthatnowistimefortheInnerShamantobelitupinmanyofourheartsandbringstogethermyriadstrandsofwisdomthatcouldhastentheprocess.Whilenoteveryindividualwilllikelybeabletoaccessunityconsciousnessatthismomentitiswhereweareallheadedsoonerorlatersowemightaswellgoinamoreinformedmanner. www.shamansociety.org41Oneoftheprimaryaimsofthisbookistohelpshakeloosetheas-sumptionsandfixationsthatkeepusattachedtoourparticularidentityasapersonalmeandthatcauseuntolddissatisfactionandsuffering.ChapterswithtitlessuchasTearingDowntheRetainingWallsoftheMindandInterferenceandBlockstoExperienc-ingtheInnerShamanoffernumerousexercisesandpracticesdesignedtoeliminatetheenergyleaksinourlifeclearoutthecontentsofthesubcon-sciousmindandseethroughtheconditioningandbeliefsthatleadustobelieveinourmanufacturedstoriesaboutwhoweareandwhatisreal.Somepeoplereadingthismayal-readyhavehadexperiencesoftheInnerShamanandwillbeparticularlyinter-estedinthelaterchaptersespeciallyAdvancedWorkwiththeInnerSha-manwhichoffersexercisesdesignedtostrengthenandsustaintheexperienceofSelf-realization.Ifyouarelikemeitisoftentemptingtoskipoversuchexercisesvowingtogettothemlateroryouconvinceyourselfthatyoucangettheideasimplybyreadingthroughthem.Thesearentthesameoldself-helpexerciseshoweverandmanyhaveaninvitingalmostplayfulqualityasopposedtoaknuckledownandgettoworkone.Ithinkitispossiblethatthisbookcouldchangethediscourseonsha-manismandspiritualitybyofferinganinitialspiritualtemplateforinnerexplorationorientedtowardseeingwiththeeyesoftheheartthroughthelensofshamanism.Ifyouareinterestedinsuchamapcombinedwithspiritualpracticestosupportitthisisagreatplacetobegin.ABOUTTHEAUTHORTerriMonroeEd.D.M.Div.istheAssociateDirectoroftheLeadershipInstituteandanAssociateProfessorofLeadershipStudiesattheUniversityofSanDiego.WhileherdoctorateisinAdministrationPlanningandSocialPolicyshealsoholdsgraduatedegreesintheologyandspirituality.OverthelastdecadeshehashadextensivecontactwithshamansinPeruandMexicoandconsidersherselftobeanadherentontheshamanicpathaswellasamemberoftheCatholicorderoftheSacredHeart. 42AJournalofContemporaryShamanismVOLUME7ISSUE1SPRING2014ARTTOOLSSUPPLIESARTICULATSTUDIOGALLERYShamanicFineArtSuzanneDeSylvawww.articulat.cainfoarticulat.caSeeadonpage41CEDARMOUNTAINDRUMSDrumsRattlesFlutesKitsAccessoriesHerbsRawhideHoopsMore.www.cedarmountaindrums.com503-235-6345CICADACREATIONSJewelrycreatedwith4themesPowerIntuitionGroundingProtectionusinggemstonesAustinTexaskarenkarenciada.comRONSHORTSTUDIOSRonaldAllenShortMA-ArtTherapyBFAShamanicArtIllustrationBookDesignEditingProductionSantaFeNM505-954-1050coyoteronshortstudios.comwww.ronshortstudios.comORGANIZATIONSSHAMANPORTAL.ORGTheglobalshamaniccommunitysmostcomprehensivewebsite.FindhealersteachersworkshopstripsshareknowledgeandkeepupwiththeShamanicNews.Getinvolved.Seeadonpage20SOCIETYFORSHAMANICPRACTITIONERSAnallianceofpeoplecommittedtothere-emergenceofshamanismwww.shamansociety.orgSeeadonpage45PUBLICATIONSBOOKSAJOURNALOFCONTEMPORARYSHAMANISMadminshamansociety.orgwww.shamansociety.orgSeeadonpage45SACREDHOOPMAGAZINEAleadinginternationalmagazineofshamanicwisdomwww.sacredhoop.orgSeeadonpage44ANENCYCLOPEDIAOFSHAMANISM2VolsetessaysshamanicconceptsandpeoplesAvailableineBookpaperbackhardcoverwww.lastmaskcenter.orgSeeadonpage31SHAMANISMWITHOUTBORDERSAGuidetoShamanicTendingforTraumaandDisastersASocietyforShamanicPractitionersHandbookExperiencedpractitionersexplaintechniquesandprinciplesusedthroughouttimetodealwithtraumaanddisastersandhowthesepracticesarestillappliedtoday.httpwww.shamansociety.orgswb.htmlSeeadonbackcoverTRAVELRETREATCENTERSSPIRITWALKERSRETREATOntheslopesofMountShastahidellaaol.comwww.spiritwalkersretreat.comEVENTSANDCONFERENCESBonesofFireResidentialShamaicConferenceGatheringSamisIslandCampBowIslandWashingtonUSAOctober22262014Seeadonpage39PowerPathSchoolofShamanismWomensCreativityRetreatJuly10-142014InnerShamanRetreatJuly24-282014Seeadonpage2SocietyforShamanicPractitionersInternationalWildernessRetreatFeaturingaThreeDaySoloAugust13-172014Seeadpage23SHAMANICSERVICESANCESTRALVOICECenterforIndigenousLifewaysPhillipScottFounderDirector415-897-7991www.AncestralVoice.orgSeeadonpage41PAULADENHAMCSCShamanicHealingCounselingSpiritualSupport916-863-1383www.sacshamanic.orgPETERCLARKpeterclark13gmail.comHealingCounselingEducationDistanceworkviaSkypewww.shamansflame.com802-456-8735AMANDAFOULGERHeartMedicineWorkshopsPrivateClientsFSSFacultyMemberTopangaCAafoulgeraol.comamandafoulger.comMARIAGHARAKHANIANShamanichealingextractionsoulretrievalcompassionatedepossessionandenergyhealing.Reikiattunementsandmonthlydrummingcircles.MesacarrieroftheQeroIndiansofPeru.RichmondVA804-749-4191sunsmoonswithingmail.comsites.google.comsitesunsandmoonswithinSUSANGRIMALDIM.Ed.Treatmentforhealthconcernsrelationshipissuesemotionaltraumagriefanxietyanger.InofficeorbytelephoneMontpelierVT802-223-2972www.susangrimaldi.comMARYPHYLLISHORNM.EdMetaphysicalInterfaithMinisterCT.AncestralLinesClearingKarmicMatrixClearingSoulRetrievalAuraCleansingShamanicHealingPast-LivesPittsboroNCwww.soulshaman.comSeeadonpage13SPRING2014RESOURCES www.shamansociety.org43LASTMASKCENTERShamanicHealingDistancehealingIntegrationBasicAdvancedClasses4-YearTrainingProgramandCommunitywww.lastmaskcenter.org800-927-2527ext02586PracticalapplicationofshamanicskillsLiveInternetRadioPodcastArchivewww.whyshamanismnow.comSeeadonpage31GAELAMORRISONForcersofNatureDesignGeomancyFengShuiClearingsSacredSitesToursArtCommissionsGaelaForcesofNatureDesign.comForcesofNatureDesign.comORENDAHEALINGINTERNATIONALHealingthepersonhealingtheplanetSantaFebasednonprofitorganiationpromotinghealthandwell-beingthroughinnovativecommunityprogramsforyouthandadultsorendaorenda-arts.orgwww.orenda-arts.orgWholebeingWellnessIndividualFamilyCounselingShamanicTrainingsinSantaFeDistanceCounselingShamanicTrainingsOnlineValentineMcKay-RiddellPhDMACP505-780-5990510-277-2518wholebeingorenda-arts.orghttpwholebeingupdates.wordpress.comKEVINSACHSPhDSafeJourneysHomeLLCTranspersonalExperientialSpiritualCounselorspecializinginnon-ordinarystatesworklifetransitionpsycho-spiritualcrisisandshadowworkforspiritualpractitioners.HolotropicBreathworkguidedFocusingsessionsandshamaniccounseling.646-415-6721SafeJourneysHomegmail.comSeeadonpage2SACREDHOOPMINISTRYHelpingPeopleHealThemselvesUsingTheAncientTechniquesoftheShamansIndigenousCultures.ForPersonalEmpowermentThroughTheSpiritualAspectsofHealing.WoodlandParkCO719687-4335www.SacredHoopMinistry.org_CANADIANCENTREFORSHAMANICSTUDIESWhereShamanicPractitionersgatherintheWayoftheCircleco-creatinganewdreamfortheEarth.shamanismcanadagmail.comwww.shamanismcanada.com888-383-8320Seeadonpage39KATHERINESKAGGSVisionaryArtistPainterofSoulPortraitsShamanicPractitionerSpeakerTeacherAuthorSoulGuidetoYouBeingAllYouAre.970372-0136katherinekatherineskaggs.comwww.katherineskaggs.comSeeadonpage10LYNDASKEENSoulRetrievalSpiritReleaseExtractionPowerAnimalRetrievalJourneyworkReikiLosAngeles323-363-2040lyndalyndaskeen.comwww.lyndaskeen.comSOULRETRIEVALEXTRACTIONDEPOSSESSIONRecoveryourlostsoulpartsRestoreyourtrueselfintheenergeticpresenceofMt.Shasta530-859-3499www.shastashaman.comwww.BeTheMedicine.comEMILYTOWNSENDEnvironmentalShamanismworkstohealbuiltandnaturalplaces.AsanarchitectIcanhelpyoucreateahealthysupportivemoresustainableenvironment.httpwww.etstudio.netshamanism.htmlemily.townsendatgmail.comWHYSHAMANISMNOW.COMPracticalapplicationofshamanicskillsLiveInternetRadioandPodcastArchivewww.whyshaminismnow.comTRAININGFOUNDATIONFORSHAMANICSTUDIESMichaelHarnerTrainingincoreshamanismadvancedshamanichealinginfoshamanism.orgwww.shamanism.orgSeeadoninsidefrontcoverTHEHOLLOWBONEShamanicworkshopsaddressingShamanicHealingModalitiesandEarthChangeswww.thehollowbone.comAnaLarramendiLASTMASKCENTER4-YearTraininginshamanicpracticefortheNewWorld.AdvclassesAncestralHealingandClearingwww.lastmaskcenter.orgSeeadonpage31POWERPATHSCHOOLOFSHAMANISMProvidingPracticalToolsforConsciousLivingSantaFeNMwww.thepowerpath.comSeeadonpage2RIVERDRUMTomCowanCelticvisionaryhealingtechniqueswww.riverdrum.comSeeadoninsidefrontcover.SHAMANICTEACHERSShamanicteachersandpractitionerstrainedbySandraIngermanwww.shamanicteachers.comSeeadpage3WOLFINDARKDr.John-LukeEdwardsLionsBayBCCanadawww.wolfindark.comSeeadonpage39SPRING2014RESOURCES 44AJournalofContemporaryShamanismVOLUME7ISSUE1SPRING2014EDITORIALBOARDJeanneAchterbergPhDSaybrookGraduateSchoolResearchInstituteSanFranciscoCADavidJ.BakerMDProfessorEmeritusofMedicineCanadianCollegeofAcupunctureandOrientalMedicineVictoriaBCCanadaStephanV.BeyerPhDJDPeacemakerServicesChicagoILPatrickCurryPhDLecturerReligiousStudiesUniversityofKentLondonUKJeannineDavis-KimballPhDCenterfortheStudyofEurasianNomadsVenturaCAStuartR.HarropPhDDurrellInstituteofConservationandEcologyDepartmentofAnthropologyUniversityofKentCanterburyUKRobinJuneHoodPhDAdjunctProfessorSchoolofEnvironmentalEducationandCommunicationsRoyalRoadsUniversityVictoriaBCMihalyHoppalPhDDirectorofInstituteofEthnologyHungarianAcademyofSciencesBudapestHungarySandraIngermanwww.SandraIngerman.comSantaFeNMStanleyKrippnerPhDSaybrookGraduateSchoolSanFranciscoCAMaryPatLynchPhDBloomingtonINMarjorieMandelstamBalzerPhDResearchProfessorDepartmentofSociologyAnthropologyInterculturalCenterGeorgetownUniversityWashingtonDCRobertMossMAFounderTeSchoolofActiveDreamingAlbanyNYDavidMussinaMAMedfordMAPhilipM.PeekPhDProfessorEmeritusDept.ofAnthropologyDrewUniversitySanborntonNHLarryPetersPhDNepalSpiritualExcursionsopangaCAStephenProskauerMDSanctuaryforHealingandIntegrationSaltLakeCityUEvelynC.RysdykSpiritPassagesYarmouthMEPatriciaShawPhDPhoenixPsychologicalGroupInc.St.LouisMOSarahSifersPhDLCSWIndigenousLensesSaltLakeCityUFarrellSilverbergPhDNCPsyAPsychologistPhiladelphiaPASharonVanRaalteMAMississippiStationONCanadaAlbertoVilloldoPhDFounderandCEOTeFourWindsSocietyParkCityUMarilynWalkerPhDAssociateProfessorofAnthropologyMountAllisonUniversitySackvilleNewBrunswickCanadaRobertJ.WallisFRAIFSAProfessorofVisualCultureDirectorofMAinArtHistoryVisualCultureRichmondTeAmericanInternationalUniversityinLondonUKKyoimYunPhDAssistantProfessorDepartmentofEastAsianLanguagesandCulturesUniversityofKansasLawrenceKS www.shamansociety.org45AJournalofContemporaryShamanismSubmitanarticlebecomeamemberwithawebsitelistingorjustsubscribeTheSocietyforShamanicPractitionersDedicatedtothereemergenceofshamanicpracticesinmodernsocietyespeciallythosethatpromotehealthyindividualsandviablecommunities...Weareartistseducatorshealersinmultipledisciplinestherapy-dogownersnonprofitprofessionalseditorsandmanymore.WeliveinItalyIdahotheUKCaliforniaCanadaandIceland.Whatbindsusisourbeliefinthepracticeofshamanismasoneofhealingthatremindsusofandsupportsourconnectionwithallthatis.Ifyouwouldliketosubmitanarticlejoinasamemberwithawebsitelistingsubscribeandorderbackissuesorcometooneofourregionalorinternationalconferencespleasevisitusatwww.shamansociety.orgPleasejoinusaswemakeshamanicpracticesandwisdommoreavailabletoallVOLUME7ISSUE1SPRING2014AustralianAboriginalWisdomBackyardSpiritHouseFirebird-WorkingShamanicallyWithCancerPatientsThePlaceofReconciliationImmramaJourneysinIndigenousCelticShamanicPracticeNUSTASTheHealingForcesofNatureTheSacredPlantAJournalofContemporaryShamanismGoingSoloinNatureTheAncientShamanicPracticeForAwakeningToSpiritAugust13August172014SSPINTERNATIONALWILDERNESSGATHERINGFEATURINGATHREENIGHTSOLOThisSSPinternationalgatheringwillofferavaluableanduniqueopportunitytoexperienceshamanicliving....Thewell-knownNativeAmericanVisionQuestisanexampleofceremonialtimealonededicatedtoseekinginnerknowledgeanddirectionfromthespiritworld.Saintsandmysticsfromallreligionsareequallyknownfortheirlongstaysinnatureisolatedfromthebusinessofeverydaylife.JosLuisStevensJoinyourfellowSSPmembersfromaroundtheworldatthisuniqueve-daywildernessgatheringintheSangredeCristoRangeoftheRockyMountainsinNorthernNewMexico.WewillgatherontwothousandacresofwildlandwithmixedpineforestandawidevarietyofterrainincludingmeadowsforestandrockyridgeswithviewsofthesurroundingRock-iesandtheGreatPlainsthatstretcheastwardtowardtheTexasandOklahomapanhandles.ThisincredibleopportunityisbroughttoyoubySSPfor375whichincludes5mealsandcompletesupportforthe5days.Travelandequipmentarenotincluded.3solonights5deliciousmealsinanoutdoorkitchenbeforeandafterthesoloCompletesupportinpreparationguidelinesandwhattoexpectpriortoarrivalinNewMexicoSupportwhileonsoloincludingwateranddailycheck-insOpportunitytomeetwithallparticipantsinintegrationandsharingafterthesoloexperienceGotohttpwww.shamansociety.orgssp-international.htmlformoreinformationorcontactSarashamansociety.org.SocietyforShamanicPractitioners AJournalofContemporaryShamanismSocietyorShamanicPractitionersP.O.Box100007DenverCO80250RETURNSERVICEREQUESTEDNonproftU.S.PostagePAIDPermitNo.173SantaFeNM87501SHAMANISMWITHOUTBORDERSAGuidetoShamanicTendingforTraumaandDisastersASOCIETYFORSHAMANICPRACTITIONERSHANDBOOKInthisbookexperiencedpractitionersexplaintechniquesandprinciplesusedbyshamansthroughouttimetodealwithtraumaanddisastersandhowthesepracticesarestillappliedtoday.ORDERTODAYUS15.5012plus3.50shippingCanada16.5012plus4.50shippingOverseas20.5012plus8.50shippingwww.shamansociety.org