There’s a fairly standard definition of
The Imperative of Delight
Everyday Practice; Walking with the Earth and Animals
The Word Shaman and the Work : Use and Mis-use, a prologue...
The Word Shaman and the Work: Use and mis-use... a prologue
This is a contentious topic in some circles and I tread here with some hesitation. But I am asked about this a lot and so I like to approach it with respect for all of us and our many different perspectives, backgrounds and understandings as well as respect for both the benefits and failings of language and the varied cultures from which this all arises.
There have always been medicine people in every culture we know of. The names given to these people befitted the culture and conveyed among their people what was needed. In present time, all over the world we still have medicine people who are now often called by the singular term shaman, especially by those outside the specific culture.
(Art: “White Hummingbird” in memory of great southwestern artist Frank Howell who featured beautiful images of original peoples and their great dignity. www.frankhowell.art)
What Is Shamanism?
How Do We Begin?.....
What does it mean to live a shamanic life? This is an inquiry I'll be approaching in many different ways throughout my blogs and podcasts. For me, it's akin to asking what does it mean to be fully human. Through these writings, navigating both the opportunities as well as limits of language, I invite you to explore a state of consciousness and way of being in the world that has been fundamental to humans living in sane balance across the planet for many tens of thousands of years.
The core of shamanism: the helping spirits
Shamanism is based on the ability of someone to go into an altered state, form reciprocal relationships with beings of spirit, and gain guidance about how to embody greater balance in life and the best ways to maintain that balance, either for self or other. It is also a way to provide a conduit for the helping spirits to effect direct healing either personally or within the collective by moving energies in the direction of harmony. This is somewhat simplistic.. but will do for now.
Liminal Spaces
In the now seemingly never-ending wake of violence and tragedy we currently witness and experience, I find my body moving spontaneously out of the pounding glare of description, fact, comment and opinion and into a repose of stillness and merging with the heart of the Earth. After petition signing, phone-calls, protests and protections, sending aid, tending hurts, there comes a subtle, oceanic movement guided by my body intelligence to turn from the polarized world of event histories --for awhile-- and enter the subjective, timeless mystery of the Dreamtime.
Shamanic Initiation: Dismemberment
Shamanic initiations aren't usually what one focuses on in an early exploration of shamanic practice. However, it seems more people are experiencing initiations that they often are unprepared for and do not understand; hence there is more difficulty with integration and making good use of such a profound event. One such initiation that can be disorienting is that of dismemberment, especially when it is full-blown. As a companion to you on this path of direct revelation, I'm sharing one early part of my own on-going initiation.