Shamanism is a general term used to cover similar activities in different  parts of the world. It is a connection with spirit, with the Earth, with all life. It is a spiritual way of thinking, a way of living in tune with the earth and the universe in one web of life. It is an understanding of energy, of spirit and also an ability to communicate with spirit and of healing.

The general term 'Shaman' or 'Saman', was a name originally given to the Siberian 'Kam' by the Russians.

The Native American word for Shaman is `Spirit Caller'.

In many cultures the Shaman was a person who had survived a life-threatening illness or a traumatic event. This traumatic experience would give them a connection with other realities, where they could gain wisdom which would allow them to heal themselves of this trauma or illness. Once they had healed themselves, and made themselves whole once again, they then had the ability to heal others. To gain further wisdom and knowledge needed for personal growth and the healing of others, both of which come hand in hand, the Shaman travels in spirit to other dimensions of reality.

Shamanism is a solitary path, one that cannot be formed or moulded by others perceptions. One may be guided and influenced along that path, but nothing can be set in stone. It is always a personal journey, but one that gains knowledge and wisdom in order to help and heal others. What is leaned on this path is found within oneself during journeying, not something that can be given by others views and manipulation through following their ways.

There are many healers today, and their numbers increase daily, all seeing the need to heal the world and bring Earth and her inhabitants to a higher level of being. Many of these healers see Shamanism as a way towards that goal. Through personal growth, many people now have the capacity to heal others and the Earth herself.

SHAMANIC HEALING

Shamanic Healing addresses illnesses of the spirit, which in effect cause the physical manifestation of the illness. It is the soul of the person which needs healing, or retrieving, to make one whole again. Through spiritual guidance many imbalances can be corrected. Shamanic healing can transform your life, helping to create change and so restore good health and personal spiritual power.

Soul Retrieval is one of the techniques used in which disassociated or fragmented parts of ourselves are retrieved with the help of spirit guides. Once reunited with this lost part of ourselves we feel whole again, and more able to cope with the stresses of daily life.

The power to do Shamanic Healing comes from within and can be realised through `journeying' or visiting the `dream lodge' where answers to your questions are found, and as such knowledge is gained.

In Shamanic Healing various techniques are used, giving the client a unique, personal healing experience.

During the healing session spirit helpers are called on to bring their healing energies and guidance. They can be either human or animal spirit guides.

Rattles are used to raise vibrational energy and increase the bodies healing energy. The use of sound or chanting may also be used.

Crystals are used to balance the auric body and energise area of dis-ease.

Animal Spirits may be called upon to bring their healing powers to the individual. They will stay close to the patient during the whole length of the healing process, which continues after the healing session.

A Soul retrieval may also be required.

SOUL RETRIEVAL

The Shaman sees sickness as a loss of power, or a loss of ones soul. When we have a whole soul, our whole power, we are power-ful, and are able to repel negative energies and bad spirits. When our soul is fragmented, and we only have part of our soul, negative energies or bad spirits can invade our bodies, causing illness and dis-ease.

Soul loss usually occurs at times of our lives when we have suffered a traumatic event. Part of us cannot cope with the event and wishes desperately to leave the earth plane for a while. When part of our soul leaves us we are left feeling fragmented, and can be described as feeling ‘beside ourselves’, ‘spaced out’, ‘down hearted’, ‘dis-spirited’ or ‘not all there’.

The soul fragment may hide itself away or may become attached to another person, perhaps the person that caused the traumatic experience.

Soul fragments may also be given away freely, albeit without conscious knowledge, or exchanged with another person. This could be with someone who we are really close to, or someone that we are in love with. Although this exchange of soul can strengthen bonds and attachments, it can also cause problems, especially when it is time for the relationship to end. It would then be hard for a person to move on and they might feel forever tied to their ex-partner.

Through Soul Retrieval, these lost, fragmented soul parts can be reunited with their main soul, making the person feel whole again.

The White Light Protection Meditation

First, find somewhere quiet where you will not be disturbed for a few minutes.

As you sit quietly, close your eyes and take a few slow, deep breaths. Begin to still your mind and relax your body. Say to yourself, ‘I quiet my mind, I quiet my body’.

When you feel relaxed, say to yourself, ‘I call upon my Guardian Angels and Spirit Guides to surround me with White Light to keep me safe and protected, so that any negative energy can never penetrate this protection’. Imagine this White Light showering all around you, surrounding you in a protective cocoon. Feel the energy filling your body until you glow with this wonderful White Light. Feel the cocoon of light that surrounds you forming a protective shield that will allow only loving and positive influences to enter. All negative energy is repelled by the shield, and reflected back to its source, transformed into positive loving energy.

Continue this for around three-five minutes, then bring yourself back by taking a deep breath, and then open your eyes.

The more you practice this meditation the stronger the protection will become, and the stronger you will become.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you do not have time for a full meditation but feel that you need some protection quickly, you may say the following prayer:

The Light of God surrounds me.

The Love of God enfolds me.

The Power of God protects me.

The Presence of God watches over me.

Wherever I am, God is.

NB. You may substitute the word 'God' for any other which is more appropriate to your own belief system.

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Out of the mouths of babes! ...

"When you are afraid of bad things,

  then the good goes out of you and the bad can get in,

  but if you only think of good things,

  then only good things are in you and come from you."

Adam Delamere, 1994, age 6

My daughter once said to me;

" If you still lived with your Mother, then I wouldn't be here.

I would still be a part of God's Great Spirit."  

Kitty Delamere, 1994, age 8.

Smudging

The Native American smudging ceremony adds ritual and respect for Creation.

Smudging is an ancient cleansing technique used by many peoples throughout the world. By burning herbs and incense, the smoke and aroma produced takes us into a deeper part of ourselves, a different state of mind, allowing us to release negative energies from ourselves, or from our environment.

By releasing these negative energies we are in effect cleansing ourselves, objects or places. It is good to smudge before other ceremonies, including simple ceremonies such as meditation, and others including healing and journeying.

(On a scientific level, the positive ions to which negative energies are attracted, attach themselves to the smoke. The smoke can then be drawn out of the room through an open door or window, removing all negative energies from the room.)

There are certain plants which have agreed with the two-legged, the human race, that if we treat them with respect they will give up their lives in order that we may use their purifying smoke to cleanse with and to pray with, so that we may stay in balance, keeping our walk sacred. When the plants are gathered we must first ask permission and then give thanks taking only what we need without damaging the plant, allowing it to continue its growth.

To burn the herbs you need a vessel to place them in such as a bowl or an abalone shell. The abalone shell  helps to call in the element of Water, and connect with the origins of life, balancing all four elements during the smudging ceremony. As the abalone shell grows in a spiral, it connects us to the first spiral that started all life.

You will also need a fan or a single feather to waft the smoke, allowing it to disperse fully. The feather is the connection with Air, acknowledging the winged ones who dwell in the sky.

Place the abalone shell in front of you and thank it for the life that created it and for helping you in the ceremony. Place the herbs in the shell, thanking each one you use, as they have died so that you could have this smoke. Gratitude should always be shown for any sacrifice. As you make the flame to light the herbs thank Father Sun, who gives us fire, and the spirit of Fire for helping you in this ceremony. Gently fan the fire with your feather until the herbs begin to burn enough to provide enough smoke for the ceremony.

Using both your hands, catch some smoke and bring it into your heart. Do this three times. Draw some more smoke with your hands and pass it over your head and then with one hand pass the smoke along your opposite arm and hand, and then again with the other hand. Then, again using both hands, draw smoke into your navel and down your legs to your feet and the ground. Alternatively, another person may help smudge you. After you have drawn the smoke into your heart, the other person may use the feather to waft smoke around you, starting at one hand, moving up your arm and over your head, and down the other arm to your hand. Then it can be wafted down your legs to the ground.

This process cleanses our hearts, minds and bodies and helps us to be grounded.

The smoke will carry away any cares or physical injuries.

Smudging can be used to cleanse any objects by passing them through the smoke from the four directions, starting with the East, or by wafting the smoke over them with the feather.

You can also cleanse a house or room by smudging. Go around the room with the burning smudge, and using your feather, push any negative energies out through an open door or window. It is good to do this from time to time to clear out any stagnant or any accumulated negative energy.

After the ceremony when the ashes are cool, give them back to the Earth where they become soil from where new life will grow. Empty the ashes with ceremony, again thanking the herbs and the fire.

Smudging can be used for any occasion, particularly if you want to change the energies, making them lighter, and making the day go better.

Using this ceremony you must realise that it is a sacred intent of the two-leggeds to open the door for these powers to work with us.

Note: Burn the gum resins (pinon pine, copal, frankincense, myrrh, amber and sandalwood) on charcoal tablets. A ceramic bowl with a layer of sand in the bottom can be used in preference to an abalone shell as the shell may crack with the extra heat. Charcoal is a gift of high energy from Earth Mother. The black of the charcoal helps to absorb negativity. Light the charcoal at the edge of the tablet, and once lit, sprinkle a few grains of resin in the centre.

The Sun Ceremony

Greeting the morning sun