Heart of Shamanism

Pulses of Purification

admin — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 19:09:20 +0000

Have you noticed how the energies of purification seem to come in pulses both personally and collectively? Like tornadoes and wildfires and floods that sweep through in minutes leaving wakes of destruction and death. Ultimately they cause changes whether it’s upheaval in someone’s life, burning away dead wood or altering the landscape. Since we are living on a Planet in the midst of deep purification, we also have the opportunity to choose to cleanse ourselves physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. To resist this process only brings suffering and mis-alignment with Earth energies. Everything changes, we cannot escape that truth. Why not choose to move gracefully through these changes, to accept what is and surrender to the flow. Easier said than done when perhaps we are dealing with a physical disability, loss of a job or loved one, a barrage of emotions or a spiritual crisis. Whatever it is we are dealing with, we are usually better off stepping right into the pain or fear or sorrow or confusion rather than avoiding it through addictions and distractions. That takes courage and determination. If you feel lacking in those qualities, how about trying to cultivate them or practicing with lesser issues before you tackle the major ones. Our work right now is to heal ourselves, to be honest about who we are, the choices we’ve made, what has happened to us, how we operate in our relationships, our careers and our families. Bringing awareness to ourselves and our lives is key, not judgement or criticism or blame or regret, just pure awareness. There may always be aspects of our behavior or thoughts that we like or dislike, but we can soften around them, have compassion for ourselves and others and realize that we are human beings, perfect at the center but imperfect around the edges.

So, back to the pulses. Stars and the Universe pulse, the Earth pulses, our heart pulses. Our breath flows in and out, flowers bloom and die, fireflies emit pulses of light. How can we expect anything to remain the same when there is all this pulsing going on around us. It might be useful to notice how we pulse, how we may have bursts of creativity and inspiration followed by seemingly long periods of inactivity. How we have tons of energy one day and feel tired the next. How we can’t wait to see friends and socialize at one time and then feel a need to be alone and do nothing. These are pulses and natural cycles. If we push ourselves to be a certain way that it is not truly aligned with where we are, then we become imbalanced.
So how do we know where we are in this cycle of pulsing? That takes practice and the willingness to be quiet and listen and feel. Perhaps to ask the question, what is that I really need and want right now and waiting for the answer or an image or a feeling or a nudge in a particular direction. It takes getting to know ourselves in a deeper way, how we are feeling emotionally or what our body needs. It means being receptive and learning how to tune into yourself and creating space free of distractions, to just be. This is radical behavior which contradicts the dominant paradigm of constantly doing and achieving and working hard and exerting one’s will over the body needs and the inner worlds. Let’s engage in radical beingness.
We also see in the world now the dissolution of structures and governments and regimes and systems we thought would never budge. What a great time to dethrone our inner dictators, collapse our inner structures built on fear or greed or that serve to imprison us. How about creating a new inner economy based on the wealth and abundance of who we really are. As we begin to do this work, we see how the inner and outer are not all that dissimilar. In fact the world as we see it is an outpicturing of these long-held personal and collective beliefs. Hence the saying, “Change Yourself, Change the World”.
So, as we pulse our way into greater expansion, let’s enjoy the journey, feel excited by the unknown and keep our focus on what we want to create. Perhaps we’ll see that these pulses of purification emanating from Earth and Stars support the expansion and contraction of the birth of a New Earth and New Humanity.
Blessings on Your Journey!

Lessons From Owl and Swan

admin — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:04:42 +0000

There are moments in life, or I should say my life, that signs from Spirit and lessons stop me in my tracks. The element of surprise is a great way to get my attention. So, the story begins on a warm (well warm for New England, 40 degrees) early January day before the heavy snows came. I took my beloved bicycle out for one last ride before winter really hit. It was a difficult day for me as I had to cancel my shamanic training due to start in a month for lack of enough participants. This would be the first year in nine years that I would not have a training and I was very sad and worried. Not only did it mean not doing the work that I love so much but it meant an absence of a significant part of my income. Thoughts like, “what does this mean for the future of my work”, “will I have to get a “real” job”, “what will I do without the work that feeds me”, “how am I ever going to pay my bills” ran circles in my head. So I did what I usually do when this happens, go outside.

As I pedaled through these thoughts, I continually tried to bring myself into the present moment and notice what was around me; blue sky, bright sun, hemlock, beaver pond, pine. As I neared the top of a small hill, a large bird flew across the road right in front of me and landed in a nearby tree. I stopped immediately and straddled my bike as I stared into the eyes of a barred owl. We looked at each other for 5 minutes or so and I was awash with love and gratitude for this bird. What a gift that came when I so needed it. That morning I prayed to my guides to help me feel their support and here it was in this majestic owl. The bird flew a bit deeper into the forest when a car passed, but we continued to hold each others gaze. I felt a softening happen in me, some fear melt away, and I heard the words “honor yourself” and “don’t be afraid to let go.” I calmed down considerably and gave great thanks to this ally and messenger for coming to me.

After Owl flew deeper into the woods, I came out of my transfixed state feeling humbled and happy for this sign of support. As I mounted my bike, I looked down at the spot where I had stopped and there lying on the side of the road was a small stuffed animal swan. I stared at it a few seconds, not quite believing what I was seeing, then picked it up. It was relatively clean for being on the road, had shimmery pink wings with lace. long black eyelashes and a cute face. My logical mind tried to figure out how in the world this got here. Meanwhile, the little girl in me was elated knowing this was proof that Magic Happens and that she had another stuffed animal to add to her collection.

As I rode home, I could not help but think of the choreography and perfect timing of the Universe that led to these events. I pictured a small child in a stroller dropping the swan hours or perhaps days before I got there, and marveled at the instinct in me to stop at that exact spot. If these forces were at play, what else might manifest in my life. I felt the power of magic and manifestation in that one moment, and my faith in the Divine Plan and in myself was restored.

I knew that Swan symbolized Grace in the Medicine Cards* and I looked to see what else was written about her. It seems worth repeating here. “Swan was not so sure she wanted to enter the black hole. She asked Dragonfly what was necessary for her to earn entry. Dragonfly replied, ‘You must be willing to accept whatever the future holds as it is presented, without trying to change Great Spirit’s plan’. Swan looked at her ugly duckling body and then answered, ‘I will be happy to abide by Great Spirit’s plan. I won’t fight the currents of the black hole. I will surrender to the flow of the spiral and trust what I am shown.’ Swan reappeared many days later, but now was graceful and white and long-necked. Dragonfly was stunned! ‘Swan, what happened to you!’ he exclaimed. Swan smiled and said, ‘Dragonfly, I learned to surrender my body to the power of Great Spirit and was taken to where the future lives. I saw many wonders high on Sacred Mountain and because of my faith and my acceptance I have been changed. I have learned to accept the state of grace.”

Well, I can’t say that I am as evolved as swan in completely accepting the state of grace but I am moving in that direction. Little Swan sits on my desk, she is next to me now as I write. I can’t tell you how many times I have looked at her and smiled and grabbed onto a chunk of faith I didn’t know I had. She is a blatant reminder to me that I am supported, that I don’t need to know what’s next and that I am floating in a pond of Grace.

The gift of Owl and Swan that day and the lessons they transmitted still resonate within me. Owl visited me again several days ago in a tree very close to where I live. It was yet another timely visit and reminder to let go, to trust my inner wisdom and to see through the illusion. I spent 20 minutes or so watching this very large and beautiful barred owl who allowed me to photograph him or her. I share these photos with you here as well as those of Little Swan. I wish you the power to Let Go and Trust and the Faith to Surrender to Grace.

*Medicine Cards. The Discovery of Power Through The Ways of Animals. Jamie Sams & David Carson.

2011 – Surrender to What Is

admin — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:42:44 +0000

On January 2, I asked my Guides if they had any words of wisdom for me about the year ahead. Surrender was the word I heard, to my highest Self and to my highest good. More specific advice came, but the word Surrender was lit up in neon lights. I couldn’t help but flash back to the Wizard Of Oz, when “Surrender Dorothy” was written in cloud words in the sky. Hopefully, flying monkeys would not soon be coming to get me. But, as I soon realized, I had my own version of nasty chimps that imprisoned me.

As I mulled over their words, I begin to understand that Surrender can be both a practice and a state of being. Years ago, I learned that surrender does not mean submission. It is not a complete giving over of your will to someone or something else. But it involves a willingness to let go, to lean back and float and trust that you will carried on the river of your own flow. Surrender requires patience to not know what’s next or even where you are going, faith that you will be taken care of and awareness of the gifts that come along the way. This practice involves opening our receptive channels and really taking in the abundance that is our birthright, and knowing that we ARE worthy to receive. The wisdom of surrender knows that we are held in a state of Grace, with a capital G, and that the timing of the Universe is usually just right.

As the days progressed, I saw that my willingness to surrender invited in some guests to be entertained for awhile. One was named Scarcity Consciousness and another Unworthiness. These are energies that have lived within me for a long time. Their origins are ancestral, cultural, familial, personal and on a soul level. I find that as we experience expansion in consciousness, it can be followed by contraction. This movement is what births babies and ourselves. As we spiral through our “issues”, we often meet these guests again even after we have done much work to contradict their negative influences. So, here was my next inner project; to be with these energies, understand their origins, unravel the cords that still limit me, monitor my thoughts, focus on what I want to create, and pray for freedom. And so we go, and so we grow.

I have already had many opportunities this year to “Surrender to What Is” as I have had to release what I thought my life should look like and accept what’s happening now. It doesn’t mean that I don’t put energy into what I want to create, but it means I am less attached to the particular form in which it manifests. We have already witnessed massive external shifts happening in the world; structures, systems, regimes breaking down and personal will rising up. Perhaps this is an outpicturing of what has been happening inside so many of us who are shifting our own internal structures so we can align more solidly with our personal truth.

The Great Purification is happening on so many levels. It’s easy to get caught up in the outer worlds and all there is to do to affect change, but it’s also essential to clean up our own backyard and take out our own personal trash. As we see and feel solidarity blooming all over the planet, can we extend that to ourselves and the many parts of self that are craving support and alliance. As we navigate these waters of change, whether running the rapids with fear and exhilaration, or resting peacefully in calm waters, may we have the wisdom of discernment and the Grace to Surrender to What Is.

Welcome To My Blog!

admin — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:38:52 +0000

When I first heard the word “blog”, it was not something I ever imagined I would be involved in. But, like many things in my life, here I am, doing the unexpected. Many moons ago I had a reading in which I was told that in the future I would be merging ancient wisdom with modern technology. At the time, I looked at the woman with a confused expression, similar to what you get when you ask a dog a question, and continued on my merry way. For years I have been doing what she predicted, and now here is another opportunity.

I have recently felt a nudge from my Guides (ok, more like a kick) to get my work out in the world in a bigger way and become more visible. Part of me has been definitely wanting this for awhile and part of me has been cowering in the corner avoiding it at all costs. Why would the prospect of being “out there” as a spiritual teacher, healer and Earth lover terrify me? Oh for more reasons than I can list. Let’s just say somewhere tucked neatly away in my subconscious is a collective memory of being crucified, burned at the stake, hung, drowned, humiliated, imprisoned and shot. Let’s add to that mix some personal experiences in this life of early childhood trauma and Catholic school upbringing, and there you have it, enough insecurity and fear to stop a herd of buffalo. But, as many of us “lightworkers” knew when we incarnated, it was not going to be a complete joy ride, at least until we reached a certain stage in the evolution of our consciousness.

So, after spending much of my adult life doing deep inner work through the shamanic path and other vehicles for transformation, I am here today as a living testimony to the power of love over fear and hope over despair. We live in a world where there are tremendous resources to heal ourselves and with persistence, diligence and faith, we can do just that. There are amazing examples of courageous people who have overcome adversity and emerged from their darkness with strong spirits and kind hearts. Life does become a joy ride as we learn to love ourselves and each other, to create from our deepest desires, to be in the present moment, have gratitude and feel we are part of a Power and Presence that is ever-expanding.

So, I will be using this blog to teach through my own personal experiences, to explain my work in the world, to value myself and what I have to say, and to channel the wisdom of my Guides who have been communicating with me for the past 25 years. So, there you have it, my first blog…I did it….kind of fun…thanks for listening…more to come!