Being Stretched

During our February 6th conference call, we had a discussion around how one would switch from the victim mind set to the mindset of one going through initiation when faced with challenges. How would one then handle a situation differently? I gave great thought to this question and it has come up quite often for me since then in the face of challenge.

This concept was further driven home for me in reading Mutant Down Under. There were several parts of the book that I found quite helpful in assisting me in some real times of difficulty as of late. It provided me with a shift in perspective to assist me in walking through emotions and states of being that are very difficult and emotionally excruciating for me to hold.

In chapter 3, the story describes how the mutant had to walk through the desert on spinifex, with blades and thorns entering and cutting her feet. The learning was to go deeper and focus one’s attention else where, each step going farther. Eventually, her feet developed enough toughness that she acquired the ability to withstand walking on such surfaces without such pain. Chapter 9 described how when the Real People sense the bush flies approaching, they immediately stop, close their eyes, stand still, arms hanging limply at the side. They surrender to the experience. To them, everything has a purpose. In the case of the flies, they assisted in cleansing the body and eliminating toxins. The real people believed that humans cannot exist if everything that is unpleasant is eliminated rather than understood.

The concept of walking through my challenge as an initiation and the concepts and imagery provided in the book really assisted me through that difficult time. I found that when I perceived my experience as an initiation, I was unwilling to participate in old fixes to alleviate my discomfort. I was willing to go the distance. Rather than trying to fight the feelings, I surrendered to them on a deeper level than I had previously been able to when faced with these emotions. Although difficult, I moved my focus and my attention to a deeper place within me where I could just be the observer. I was observing my own cleansing and hollowing out; in a way, experiencing an undoing to make room for more of me and being ok with it! I asked to understand and learn from what was happening. I imagined myself as the tree limb that was being hollowed out by termites and used to make a didgeridoo that would play great music in chapter 17. I was giving thanks to the healing that was already taking place. These shifts in perspective assisted me in going deeper and father than ever before. I was definitely stretched. Definitely something to celebrate!

Glad to have the space to share,

She Who Remembers

Tribal Life

So... My Tribe meter is low. As I thought about what this meant to me and what actions I was taking I realized that I was just sitting back and waiting for the tribe to form into this nice, tight knit family. So I guess I owe everyone a little bit of an apology!!

This path is huge to all of us and unless we clone Robin several times over.. there's not enough of her to go around :-) My thought is that as we're each experiencing our own paths, it would be nice to reach out to our tribe (yes, that' s all of you!) and gain insight and other views as to what Spirit might be presenting. If I'm off here, please just let me know. It's amazing to me to think that our tribe consists of some amazing people! what better group to share with :-)

I will be doing my best, moving forward, to reach out to each of you in an attempt to get to know you better. After all, 4 or 5 weekends this year (although awesome!) just isn't enough to really get to know everyone. I would even throw out there that we arrange some gatherings on our own.. either to practice/discuss our path or to just enjoy the presence of each other.

When I think of our group after the year.. I think that we're building life long friendships that we can reach back on in the future. Well, we're already half way through February.. the year will be done before we know it!

So, I know this is an odd post.. but one that I feel is important.

~ Still Waters

Shamanic Code of Ethics

As we begin our year of apprenticeship in shamanism, there are many practical issues that arise. A shaman works as an agent between the spirtual realm and the real world in the behalf of their client. The nature of shamanic work itself requires the practioner to employ often unorthodox methods, however are there particulare guidelines we should be adhering to in order to ensure the best interest of our clients? And not only are we dealing with the boundaries of our clients, but the boundaries of ourselves as healers, and the boundaries of Spirit. Are there standards of practice for shamans and what would should be including in a shamanic code of ethics?

Many professions dealing with the personal health, whether physical, mental or social health require a Code of Ethics. Professions that are licensed or require state certification have written requirements that can cause a person to be prohibited from further practice of the profession if that code is violated. However, certain practitioners in the healing arts, such as those who engage in practicing shamanism and some other spiritual leaderships, may not necessarily be licensed or certified by any legal entity, yet they are still expected to adhere to a code of ethics whether it be a legal requirement or not.

According to Rev. Peggy Mott, Doctor of Shamanism for the Universal Life Church, a shamanic code of ethics can be summed up in 3 words, "DO NO HARM." Mott says, the Shaman must not do anything that in any way would cause the person needing spiritual guidance any harm . NO HARM means no spiritual, physical mental or social harm. An addition to that NO HARM requirement is that the practitioner of spiritual guidance should guarantee complete confidentiality to the person with whom they are dealing. This means that not only must the Shaman make that guarantee but that she/he must not violate it in any way."

In doing a little bit more digging around on the Internet, I came across the Unified Code of Ethics for Healers on the Council for Healing's website. The Council for Healing breaks downs their Code of Ethics under five major headings: The Healer's Purpose, Commitment to Client, Qualifications of Healer, Professional Behavior, and Conduct in a Professional Enviroment. I strongly encourage all apprenticing shamans (as well as anyone in the healing arts) to read over this code and consider how they apply to their own perceived notion of a code of ethics for shamans.

I think it was important that the Council for Healing also addressed honoring diversity and indigenous healing. "Just as there are many perspectives on the mission and purpose of healing, likewise there will be many perspectives on what constitutes appropriate conduct and behavior for different healing modalities in various social contexts and cultures. " Indigenous healers typically adhere the traditions, rules and regulations of their individual tribe and are held accountable by their community. Therefore tribal or indigenous shaman are less likely to have use for a standardized professional code. But as "western" shamans bridging that gap and interacting in a society full of professional regulations, there is definitely a need for some guidelines to ensure the best interests of both the practicioner and client.

The Council for Healing's Unified Code of Ethics for Healers addresses the role of healers and the individuals they are providing their service for, but does not address the relationship to Spirit. In dealing with the spiritual realm, what would a Code of Ethics look like when doing our work "on the other side"? What are the boundaries we are not allowed to cross, how much flirtation with Spirit and the gods are we allowed to do to affect change for our clients? I'd love to get imput from everyone on this topic, as well as your thoughts on the Council of Healing's Code of Ethics. And how does that differ from a code of ehtics you may already be bound to if you are in a healing profession?

Links to Videos

I found these shamanic videos you might enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NZpOXj6u78&NR=1

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Kxdqjn1sFM8&feature=related

Center Of The Circle Excercise

Each one of you has the task of sitting, in some way, in a modern version of Pritchel's (Secrets Of The Talking Jaguar) circle. He sat for 12 hours, looking only within the circle. He came alive to his present moment (time) and area (space). Let us know how you have done this, and what you noticed about 1) the space 2) the time and 3) the process/you. Hugs!

What is a Shape-Shifter? A Shaman?

A few of you have as your "assignment" to answer this question when someone asks: "What will a soul retrieval do for me?" You must all be able to answer this, and also "what is a shaman." Let's start a thread here to ask this question and bring our answers. Below are a few answers found in a book, but you don't want to sound academic...Imagine you are in the grocery line or at a coctail party and someone says..."your bumper sticker says you'd rather be shapeshifting...what's that?" Hugs to all.

"Shape shifter" is a modern-day term for shaman who is: "a healed healer who has retrieved the broken pieces of his or her body and psyche and, through a personal rite of transformation, has integrated many planes of life experience: the body and the spirit, the ordinary and the non-ordinary, the individual and the community, nature and super-nature, the mythic and the historical, the past, the present and the future." Shamanic Voices, by Joan Halifax, Penguin Books 1979, p.18

"The shaman's work entails maintaining the balance in the human community as well as between the community and the gods or divine forces that direct the life of the culture. When these various domains of existence are out of balance, it is the shaman's responsibility to restore the lost harmony." (ibid p.21)

Nature, Rhythms and Synchronicity

All around us and within us are the rhythms and synchronicities of nature. I seem to become more clearly aware of this as I immerse deeper into myself and experience my interconnectiveness with the universe.
During our shamanic apprenticeship phone conference last week, the topic regarding the "calling in" of an animal in nature was discussed.
Ever since I can remember, I have had a strong relationship with the natural world. Years ago, during endurance training and long runs, it seemed that I was a magnet for the four legged, winged ones and water beings. The encounters were both enchanting and fascinating.
Since that time of calling in the eagles, fish, fox, deer and others, I was asked to take a pause and experience the natural world at a slower pace. The encounters continued and brought me many reassuring and comforting messages.
Recently, I have been graced with a new breath of life and find my self running once again to the familiar rhythm that connects me with the heartbeat of the earth. In the past several weeks, I have called in the fish at the dawn of the day with my yoga routine and a hawk during a mid day run.
Last week, during a morning run, just after tuning in with the drum-like rhythm of my foot strikes, I thought to myself, "Perhaps I will see a woodpecker today". Approximately two minutes later, I was presented with a close encounter of the most beautiful woodpecker I have ever seen! I believe it was a Pileated woodpecker, the one that Woody is fashioned after, not your small downy variety. It swooped and dived several times about 12 feet in front of me, then landed on a branch for a moment, then flew out of sight.
This all took place at the same spot on the trail which I had closely encountered a hawk years ago and a fox this past fall during a run. Perhaps a magical spot?
Now that I look back on these wonder-full encounters, I notice that I have created a portal in nature. Whether on the path of my run or in the setting of my intention, with the drum beat of life, I am able to call in and meet with one of my greatest teachers, deeply stirring the rhythms within.

Shungo,
AncientWindRunner

Shamanic Videos

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Kxdqjn1sFM8&feature=related
(Inuit)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=tW6pVFOpE6Q&feature=related
shaman levitation

http://youtube.com/watch?v=47pRIniVg1Y&feature=related
Chris angel levitation--I think this could be for real...how, and why not?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ddee2gt5_3U

http://youtube.com/watch?v=woA1uCb0pjE&feature=related

Support Siberia Ancient Tribal Lands

Dear friends and family,
I have an urgent appeal for your support of the indigenous people of the Altai Republic in Southern Siberia. They are at great risk. Unprecedented new Russian land laws have suddenly required the Altai people to survey and register their ancient tribal lands. To not do so makes their communal lands vulnerable to division and purchase by private individuals and corporations. This would begin the slow displacement and annihilation of their livelihood, culture, and communities. These indigenous people do not have the resources to have their lands surveyed and have turned to the non-profit Altai Mir University for help. I volunteer for Altai Mir, and I can tell you that all the money we raise is going to this survey effort.
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH A DONATION OF ONLY $10. Help us win a $50,000 Challenge Grant from the Case Foundation. The top 4 organizations in NUMBERS of donations - NOT DOLLARS - will win. We need 1000 people (each from a different credit card) to donate by 3:00pm EST on January 31st. 100% of this money will go toward surveying and registering the Altai people's lands. With your help, we will succeed.
Please rush to http://givingchallenge.globalgiving.com/dy/registry/ag.html?cmd=prevfund&regid=1267&RF=fundraiserwidget1267 and donate today! By forwarding this appeal to your networks, friends, and families immediately, we can reach out to folks so much faster. That is one of the reasons for this grant, to activate online donations for small organizations.
Thank you for protecting this land. As concerned global citizens, we cannot change what happened to the lands of the indigenous peoples of North America, who share much in tradition and ceremony with the Altai people. But we can make a difference in Altai.
Peace to you and those you love,
Susan Q

Welcome Apprentices!

Hello to all the new apprentices...this is our blog space! So, by now you have found your way in, and probably had to get a password...hopefully it was not too big of a challenge...but you know, initiations abound. So, this is our "professional site" where we want to list shamanic happenings (in the world and in OUR worlds), strange things that go bleep in the night, ideas about books, questions, experiences using your cards, journeys, all that. I will start a few threads here in the next day or so. Be sure to check back here at LEAST once a week (I think you can be notified about postings, but I'm not sure how--anyone else know?) as this is our community service. We want to give back to the Spirits, and the world, and this is one way. Hugs to you! Robin

The Contemporary Shaman

When I first published my book, A Hundred Ways To Sunday, I had to think about my "title" in the author description. I was wary of using "shaman" because I knew very well that a shaman does not call herself a shaman. At least not the old shaman, working for the tribe in the old ways. It would be like calling oneself holy, or great, or revered—tooting your own horn and beating your chest in pride. Not good. Better to let the other tribe members call you shaman, if you are worth your salt, which they will know.

Yet in our modern tribal setting (i.e. the city), we don't have anyone else to call us shamans. If we don't hang some sort of shingle, no one knows where to find us, let alone what to expect.

I was also concerned because I have not been taught for 14 years by a master shaman in the jungle under threat of deathly risk and then handed the mantle of a specific lineage. In fact, I don't have any kind of linage, though I have studied with shamans from around the world. (I have no problem admitting this—either my work works or it doesn't.) I know I was spirit taught, which I'm told by the Old Ones is really the best anyway, but who is going to go for that in a culture where the initials after your name are the only legitimate proof of your worth?

Tuning in to my guides, I was told to call myself a "contemporary shaman." I was still a little uncertain, and knew I would get some flack. But it seemed the best solution. We need more shamans to be "out there" (maybe not in the yellow pages, but able to be found). And we need to be able to let people in our community know that shamans are around and available for shamanic work.

As for people asking me who I was trained by, today I simply tell the truth: Death. Death was my advisor from the earliest ages, and living with so much death in my life, I began to see things others don't notice. Then, when the teachings started to come, especially in dreams, I started following. I still just follow.

Since then, the term "contemporary shaman" has come to mean much more to me. Because today I have become a bridge from the old ways to the new people. I translate the old ways, ideas, and rituals in such a way that the contemporary people I serve don't get too weirded out. When I am preaching to the choir, which is to say those who would not get weirded out anyway, I fall into more of the old ways. But I can shapeshift as needed...a contemporary shaman, doing shamanic work in the deepest of old ways, and translated to the public that needs the bridge. It works for me...and my clients...how does it work for you?

What Is Shamanic Living?

Are you a shaman in disguise—perhaps even from yourself? Are you a nurse wanting to be a shamanic nurse, a web designer wanting to be a shamanic web designer? Is there a shamanic element to your healing practice that is still a mystery to you? Are you (or is someone in your community) going through a dark night of the soul that seems to be beyond what “consensus reality” can attend to? If so, this blog is for you.

This is not an all-inclusive education in a specific shamanic school that will allow you to become a practicing shaman—as that could take years. More, it is words of insight about a way of living that allows anyone to learn to walk in two worlds simultaneously. It is an "Education In A Box, er, Blog" that will better equip you to live your own current “city” life in a more indigenous and shamanic way. It also helps you with typical shamanic “problems” such as coming to understand what of your troubles are really “yours” and what you might have taken on for your community, how to help your community by working with the community spirits, and more.

In this blog, I will work first from the amazing text (what I call my shamanic bible) The Shaman's Body by Arnold Mindell. You can get a copy at amazon.com or order from your local bookstore. It is well worth the read, as it continues to be a mystery even as it unfolds very practical truths.

I'm glad you have decided to join me, and please, post often. To have a community is essential.

Shungo (my heart to yours), Robin