ShamanWeaver Shiela Baker, MA
A journey may seem like an individual adventure however; everyone who reads this journey will benefit because the lessons and healings are for each other. As I learn and heal so you can. There is much insight for you from my journeys as Shamanic journeying is a powerful therapeutic tool giving you an opportunity to travel into the timeless, pathless land of non-ordinary reality. I hope it will bring you healing and enjoyment! Happy Summer! My shamanic journeys begin in a Spirit canoe at the edge of a river with my Male Ancestor on my right and my Female Ancestor on the left. In the bow in front of the canoe is my Guide and behind me is my Protection. Once I have this sacred group in place I set my intention and the journey begins. A monotonous drumbeat shifts the brain into a Theta state where we have access to non-ordinary reality. And so it begins. This time in my journey Bear, my Male Ancestor, is making pancakes for his cubs; my Female Ancestor, a Native American Grandmother is sleeping; Hawk is in the bow as my guide and my Protection, the Crystals Formation, is in the stern behind me. The canoe slips into the water and is carried along in the current. As we pass by a large tree on the bank of the river I shape shift into a Blue Jay. As I fly a long way over the water I notice that there are many more Jays just like me. On a small island there is a tall tree with a red ribbon tied to the uppermost branch. In order to reach the ribbon I become a Squirrel who climbs the tree and gets the ribbon but I am too heavy and the branch snaps. Down I tumble through the branches. Unharmed upon reaching the ground I bury the ribbon. Bear who has been meandering along notices where the ribbon is buried and digs it up. He wanders down a path to a cabin where he lies down to fall asleep. While sleeping he is bitten by a bee. The bee sting wakes the bear rudely and the journey ends abruptly. I thank my guides. All Shamanic journeys have lessons, healing and actions to be taken. I have developed a way of interpreting journeys using five Archetypes. By focusing on these five aspects we have a framework for interpreting and using this important information. The Visionary is you, the person who goes on the journey. The Enlightened Spiritual Warrior takes action in the journey or must wait to achieve the intention. The Teacher pays attention to the lessons of the journey. The Healer listens for the healing in the journey. The Magician brings the healing and lessons back to ordinary reality and then takes actions based on insights gained from the journey. This is the practical application of the information in the shamanic journey. As the Visionary I use all my senses and my body to be aware in the journey but I did not state an intention. In the role of the Enlightened Spiritual Warrior I do not have a set direction nor do I know what I am seeking. In the role of the Teacher I shape shifting from one creature to another as necessary. In the role of the Healer I come back from the journey when it becomes dangerous. As the Magician to concretize this experience I can ask for guidance rather than setting out without a direction. I can climb a tree, dig in the dirt, and observe squirrel and jays in my environment. Some journeys are long and involved and some are sketchy and simple. This is a complex journey with shape shifting, flying, burying things, digging them up, getting bitten and with an abrupt ending. In this journey I notice that I explore all the elements of air, earth and water but not fire. Because my intention was not clearly stated (did you notice that?) I have a random journey seemingly without focus. One of my ancestors is sleeping at the beginning of the journey and the other sleeps during the journey. The Hawk, my guide, does not participate in this journey at all. So it seems that if I do not remember to set an intention my ancestors sleep and my guide does not guide. One comforting thought is that there are many jays as I fly along the water. However, Jay does not get the ribbon and a heavy Squirrel obtains the ribbon but the branch breaks and he tumbles down the tree. Once I bury the booty it is dug up by Bear who is stung by a bee. The consequences for behavior are swiftly and somewhat painfully dealt out. According to Ted Andrews in his book Animal Speak Blue Jay medicine is about right use of power. Where is too much power being used and where too little? Would I have been better off remaining a Jay and retrieving the ribbon? Clearly, I gave up my power when I didn’t state an intention. The word Jay comes from the Latin “Gaia”; the Jay flies in the air and connects heaven and earth. Squirrel is about activity and preparedness. The Squirrel repeatedly tries things until successful. Even though the Squirrel was too heavy for the branch it did not give up but got the prized ribbon and as Squirrels will it buries it. Each person experiencing a journey gains a unique perspective and insight. Look at the metaphors in this journey. What do you find relevant for your life in this journey? Where are able to make use of the metaphors in this journey for your life? Shamanic journeys are easy to learn and the lessons enhance your life in profound ways. If you want to learn to journey I can help, or I can journey for you. Bliss, Shiela www.shamanweaver.com |
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