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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.