We Are All Shamans: Interview with Itzhak Beery

I found this podcast about Itzhak Beery. Born in Israel, Beery was initiated into the family tradition of a powerful Quechuan Yachak from Ecuador and has studied under the Brazilian elder Ipupiara and Peruvian curandera Cleicha.

He speaks of his apprenticeship and experience in becoming a Shaman. I found some of it insightful. He also speaks of the candle and egg healing/readings which we just learned.

The podcast can be found at:

http://www.realitysandwich.com/interview_itzhak_beery#comments

Connected

Last week, I felt a desperate need to shut down. I wanted to do nothing more than breath and partake in deeply nourishing activities. Thinking, feeling, analyzing, discussing...all those activities felt extremely exauhsting and irritating to me.

Tuesday morning, I woke up with the message that I should just call in and take the day off from work and allow myself the space and opportunity to do just that. Stop my world for a while. Upon contemplation,I was filled with reminders of all my responsibilities and the fact that I had no vacation or sick time available to me. I pushed through it and went to work. After having arrived, I found that I could not continue. I stated that I was not feeling well and that I had made the choice to leave for the day. Despite their dismay, I left and went home and spent the day in peace. Doing only that which nourished me.

The next day I got a call from two good friends of mine. They both individually informed me that they had the exact same experience, the same intuition, both pushed through it went to work only to leave at the same time I did using the same excuse. In addition to that, they also participated in most of the same nourishing activities.

It shows me once again, my illusion of control and how truly connected we are only appearing to be living separate lives and responding to that which is only our own.

Anyone have any similar experiences last week?

Sacrificing Convenience

As I think back on our past weekend and the experiences and messages that were shared a few things stand out in my mind. We are a society of convenience.. I know that I try to push myself to do the right things and constantly know myself so that I can improve. I also know that those that I’ve called to surround me in my life all have aspects or lessons that I need to draw from.

We’ve all talked about sacrifice and giving back to Spirit as a way of honoring Spirit for helping us on our path. As I look at me.. what do I sacrifice or give back for Spirit’s wisdom? I could list many things that I’ve thrown in the “here’s what I’m doing” column.. but as I really look at it closely I’ve noticed that it also has a nice flavor of convenience about it. Don’t get me wrong, it still is a sacrifice and does have meaning to me.. but it seems to stop just short of stepping outside of my box.. It’s a “convenient” sacrifice.. the message that jumps out at me is “to show my thanks I’m willing to give back… just enough to not put me out”.

Well, that’s an eye opener.

Noticing this about myself obviously didn’t make me jump up and down :-) What it did do is flash back many many conversations I’ve had with those around me on that topic… as Spirit was presenting me with this message for quite a while now and I just got it. It seems that I was able to convince myself or put a nice wrapper on what I was “sacrificing” so that it seemed that I was giving a lot… but in reality what was it at all?

I had a hard time stepping back into Muggle-ville as I just couldn’t understand why we would create this reality. Well, I still don’t get that but have come to the understanding that maybe I’m not supposed to know that right now. What I do know is that I’m here and that there is a lot of work to do.

We all come from different backgrounds and have experienced many different things. We are all the same energy but different beings in this world. I think the message that we have to give is the same message.. but we’re all presenting it in our own unique way. Many times we don’t realize that others are hearing that message.. I think it’s our responsibility to listen to Spirit and get our message out there.. even if we think that no one is listening. Be it by teaching others, writing, creating, counseling; whatever the method is really doesn’t matter. For those of you who want to push outside the box, please let me know. I would like to help get our messages out there!

I am going to work on taking the pressure cooker and putting the world in it. I feel it's time to take the fight to the enemy. I would ask each of you for your wisdom, guidance, and kick in the ass along the way. I also want to again thank each of you (and Spirit) for the messages you have passed on.. knowingly or unknowingly!! They all seem to be floating up and slapping me in the face :-)

Love to all!

Still Waters

All At Once

I've been a fan of Jack Johnson for quite a few years now. There's something about his insightful lyrics and overall vibe of his music that I connect heavily with. Here are the lyrics and a video link to one of my favorite songs off his latest album.

All at Once - Sleep Through the Static

All at once
The world can overwhelm me
There’s almost nothing that you could tell me
That could ease my mind

Which way will you run?
When it’s always all around you
And the feeling lost and found you again
A feeling that we have no control

Around the sun
Some say it’s going to be the new hell
Some say it’s still too early to tell
Some say it really ain’t no myth at all

We keep asking ourselves
Are we really strong enough?
There’re so many things
That we got too proud of

I want to take the preconceived
Out from underneath your feet
We could shake it off
And instead we’ll plant some seeds
We’ll watch them as they grow
And with each new beat
From your heart the roots grow deeper
The branches, well they reach for what?

Nobody really knows
But underneath it all
There’s this heart all alone
What about when it’s gone?
It really won’t be so long
Sometimes it feels like a heart
Is no place to be singing from at all

There’s a world we’ve never seen
There’s still hope between the dreams
The weight of it all could blow away with a breeze
But if you’re waiting on the wind
Don’t forget to breathe
Because as the darkness gets deeper
We’re sinking so we reach for love

At least something we can hold
But I’ll reach to you
From where time just can’t go
What about when it’s gone?
It really won’t be so long
Sometimes it feels like a heart
Is no place to be singing from at all

World Peace Day, September 21st

This video was inspiring and it felt right to share. I wonder if there is something we can do as a tribe to "lift the consciousness around the most fundamental issue: protection of each other"?

What a Year Can Bring

I entered this apprenticeship with the idea of spending much, if not most, of my non-work time studying, as I realized that it was a rare opportunity. I did not plan on my mental illness kicking up to a new phase. I knew that I was frequently depressed, and that medications helped; what I had not seen was that I cycle within the depressive phase and that the cycling itself is very debilitating. One moment everything is fine, the next for no reason I'm in the absolute pits of existence and questioning whethe it's worth it. No reson, no logic, just whammy. With the new understanding - new meds. Lifestyle changes can't deal iwth this one. With the new meds - new side effects; I'll spare you the details, they're nasty and debilitating. With meds and side feects, my resolve and abilities went out the window. BUT, life happens. For me certainly, I should have known that life wouldn't stop for the program, and that what counts ultimately is that I'm learning despite the pains, fungi, mood swings, lapses of judgment, impulsiveness, etc. I may not be following Robin through the jungle, but I've got my own jungle in my head, and the struggle makes what I learn all the sweeter.

Stealing Fire and Telling Stories

Here's a link to a James Bonnet interview I came across. But this youtube segment captures a much more interesting interview with NPR's Ira Glass on the craft of storytelling--He is the host of "This American Life". He says, "The whole shape of the story is that you're throwing out questions to keep people watching and listening, and answering them along the way."