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Shamanic Journeying by Kate Durda
SHAMANIC JOURNEYING…
Definitions
Ordinary reality (OR):
Our everyday life
Non Ordinary Reality (NOR):
The realm of SPIRIT/GOD/etc. this is a save and beneficial
place to be , if in the Upper or Lower Worlds
Lower World(LW):
That realm of Spirit where Power Animals and other helping Spirits
exist, to give us strength, protect us, help us to heal, give us
guidance.
Upper World (UW):
That realm of Spirit where Teachers, Allies, Guardian Angels, and
other helping Spirits exist, to provide us with guidance of a
spiritual nature, aligned with our Highest Self and for our Highest
Good.
Power Animal, Totem,etc
Spirit animal, tree, mountain, element, that exists in the lower
world Spirit
plane to help us stay strong and healthy, and balanced on our
Earth Walk, and to assist us with healing questions and information
in the Lower World.
Teachers/Allies/Guardian Spirits
Spirit allies that exists in the upper world Spirit plane to
help us realize the true nature of our SOUL and to assist us with
spiritual guidance, healing questions and information in the upper
world.
THE SHAMANIC JOURNEY:
The Shamanic Journey is the method by
which you can access the realm of spiritual guidance and knowledge…
used for over 40,000 years by people on this Earth!
For the actual Shamanic Journey, and
how to do it, refer to your handouts… brief reminder notes to Upper
World/Lower World Journeying.
Before you Journey, be sure you have
turned OFF PHONE, and that other things like pets, people etc, will
not disturb you. Get relaxed, comfortable, and warm. Next put the CD
ON ….state your intention, and enter into the Journey!
Brief Notes on Shamanic Journeying by Kate Durda
JOURNEY to the LOWER
WORLD
THE SHAMANIC JOURNEY:
The Shamanic Journey is the method by which
you can access the realm of spiritual guidance and knowledge… used
for over 40,000 years by people on this Earth
Find a comfortable place in the real world
/nature to start your journey… like tree roots, or an animal
burrow, or an artesian well, a spring, a cave in a mountain side,
etc. It is better if it is a place you have
actually been to, or seen.
Be sure you have turned OFF PHONE, and that
other things like pets, people etc, will not disturb you…Get
relaxed, comfortable, warm. Next put the CD ON ….
State your intention THREE times
Your intention could be any of these…
"I am going to the Lower World (L.W.) to explore, meet with my power
animal, and explore further what the L.W. is like
or…
explore further what your Power Animal is there to help you
with
or…
ask Power Animal what to do next,
or… what is most important
to focus on,
or… how to protect yourself,
or… how to stay empowered,
or… to
seek help with specific question
or… to ask for specific or
non-specific (i.e. whatever is needed at this time) healing
or… your own question_____________________________________________
START your journey to Non-ordinary Reality of the Lower World.
You will start at your place in nature, and
imagine a way to enter the earth’s surface, and
immediately imagine a tunnel that is descending into the
earth. Follow the tunnel until you see the light
at the end, and once there, enter into the landscape of the LOWER
WORLD.
(Remember that you are co-creating your
experience, and understand these principles that follow):
Energy follows thought.
What you give love to (or attention to) you
give Life to.
The more passionate and clear you are with
intention, the more Spirit hears and responds to your soul's need
and request.
ENTER the LOWER WORLD
In the beginning of the journey, and usually
especially for beginners, you are imagining and actively
working to use all your senses (to see, hear , smell, touch,
taste,) and your intuition and intention to fully engage in this
Lower World.
As the drum beat works its’ trance effect upon
your brainwaves (taking you from Beta to Alpha and even deeper with
practice), you will know that you are NOT imagining anymore, and it
is Spirit that is guiding you. Just trust this,
it WILL happen, and it is both miraculous, and a natural part of our
abilities.
Remember to CO-CREATE, or ACTIVELY ENGAGE in your JOURNEY
By following your intuition to move thru the landscape or
engage in activities
By talking or otherwise communicating with the beings,
helpers, guides you encounter
By pursuing the fulfillment of your intention
SUSPEND ordinary judgement, fear, comparisons, and
mind-talk. Anything goes in Non-ordinary reality.
You might fly, you might be born, or die, you might
experience what it is like to be a tree, an animal or your spiritual
teacher, and more.
Remember that SPIRIT sometimes speaks to us
in symbolism, analogy, etc. So PAY ATTENTION to symbolic things,
including directions N,S,W,E you or others are traveling in colors,
numbers, gestures, intuitions, etc.
Come to learn the mode of communication you
operate in, in non-ordinary reality.
Some folks see, some only hear, some just have a ‘knowing’ of
the answers they seek, and usually it is some combination of these,
and more. You will learn this thru practice.
OF significant importance is THEN FOLLOW,
when back in Ordinary Reality (OR) and HONOR what you are told.
If it’s advice or teaching, consider it and incorporate
it into your life as you can. If you are given a gift, like a
crystal, or a necklace, or an object, either find one in real life
to keep around as a talisman or power object, or draw an image of
it, and hang somewhere as reminder in your home, etc. Whatever way
you are drawn to honor the gifts of Spirit, please do so.
RETURN to Ordinary Reality when Drum Call
back happens (or earlier if you must). Every time
you return from a journey, remember to thank those
who have helped you, retrace your steps (more or less, don’t have to
do everything) and come to tunnel. Ascend the tunnel, and come back
to your starting place.
TAKE NOTES ON JOURNEY…Highly recommended!
GROUND YOURSELF - before doing any
ordinary activities. It’s helpful to eat something, and/or breathe,
move, whatever, before driving car, or machinery, etc.
REMEMBER …. This is a spiritual activity, and
should be honored as such. Do not use the CD for
background music, to fall asleep to, etc.
Remember this is a disciplined spiritual technique, – you want to do
it the same way every time. This helps your mind /ego to “get it”
quicker, and to be clear about what you are doing, and why you are
coming to Spirit!
Copyright: do not share
without Author’s permission.
JOURNEY to the UPPER WORLD
MOST STEPS ARE IDENTICAL TO THE LOWER WORLD
JOURNEY
Find a comfortable place in the real world
/nature to start your journey… like a tree, mountain top, smoke
from a campfire, flying as a bird, etc. It
is better if it is a place you have actually been to, or seen.
State your intention THREE times
Your intention could be any of these…
"I am going to the Upper World to explore, meet a teacher and…..
... explore further what the
U.W. is like
or…
to explore further what your Teacher is there to help you
with
or…
to ask your teacher what to do next,
or… to find out what is most important to focus on,
or… how to protect yourself ,
or… how to stay empowered.. .
or… to seek help with specific question
or… to ask for specific or non-specific
(i.e. whatever is needed at this time) healing
or… your own question
here_________________________________________
START your journey to Non-ordinary Reality
of the Upper World.
You will start at your place in nature, and
imagine a way to move upward, and immediately
imagine a membrane, like a skin, or drum head, that
you see stretching across the sky above you. If
you can find a “thin place’, meld or merge right through it, or just
pierce or slip thru any pore or spot that you can.
(Remember that you are co-creating your
experience, and understand these principles that follow:
Energy follows thought.
What you give love to (or attention to) you
give Life to.
The more passionate and clear you are with
intention, the more Spirit hears and responds
to your soul's need and request.
ENTER the UPPER WORLD
Note the differences between the U.W and the
L.W. over time as you gain experience
In the beginning of the journey, and usually
especially for beginners, you are imagining and actively
working to use all your senses (to see, hear, smell, touch,
taste,) and your intuition and intention to fully engage in this
Upper World.
As the drum beat works its trance effect upon
your brainwaves (taking you from Beta to Alpha and even deeper with
practice), you will know that you are NOT imagining anymore, and it
is Spirit that is guiding you. Just trust this,
it WILL happen, and it is both miraculous, and a natural part of our
abilities.
Continue exploring, and experiencing what you
came to the Upper World for. Let anything that suggests itself
happen, go with the FLOW. You are completely safe
here, all that happens is for your highest good, and you will be
getting exactly what you need, just TRUST THIS. Over time, with
experience, you will come to KNOW THIS.
By following your intuition to move thru the landscape or
engage in activities
By talking or otherwise communicating with the beings,
helpers, guides you encounter
By pursuing the fulfillment of your intention
SUSPEND ordinary judgement, fear, comparisons, and
mind-talk. Anything goes in Non-ordinary reality. You
might fly, you might be born, or die, you might experience what it
is like to be a tree, an animal or your spiritual teacher, and more.
Remember that SPIRIT sometimes speaks to us
in symbolism, analogy, etc. So PAY ATTENTION to symbolic things,
including directions N,S,W,E you or others are traveling in colors,
numbers, gestures, intuitions, etc.
Come to learn the mode of communication you
operate in, in non-ordinary reality.
Some folks see, some only hear, some just have a ‘knowing’ of
the answers they seek, and usually it is some combination of these,
and more. You will learn this thru practice.
BE appreciative of the gifts /teachings you
receive. Thank those in NOR who help you.
OF significant importance is THEN FOLLOW,
when back in Ordinary Reality (OR) and HONOR what you are told.
If it is advice or teaching, consider it and incorporate
it into your life as you can. If you are given a gift, like a
crystal, or a necklace, or an object... either find one in real life
to keep around as a talisman or power object, or draw an image of
it, and hang somewhere as reminder in your home, etc. Whatever way
you are drawn to honor the gifts of Spirit, do so.
RETURN to Ordinary Reality when Drum Call
back happens (or earlier if you must).
Every time you return from a journey, remember
to thank those who have helped you, retrace your steps (more or
less, don’t have to do everything) and descend back to your place in
ordinary reality, to your starting place.
TAKE NOTES ON JOURNEY…Highly recommended!
GROUND YOURSELF -
before doing any OR activities. It’s helpful to
eat something, and/or breathe, move, whatever, before driving car,
or machinery, etc.
REMEMBER …. This is a
spiritual activity, and should be honored as such. Do not use
the CD for background music, to fall asleep to, etc. Remember
this is a disciplined spiritual technique, – you want to do it the
same way every time. This helps your mind /ego to “get it” quicker,
and to be clear about what you are doing, and why you are coming to
Spirit!
Shamanism, Power Animals and the Stretched Mind. Click here. Above link provided courtesy of the Crazy Wisdom Community Journal. This essay was first pubished in Issue #52; September-December 2012.
Earth Day 2001: A Prayer for a Better World, (Teach Your Children Well)
Shamanic Healing and Spiritual Practice (Parts I and II)
Shamanism: Path of Healing and Empowerment
Medicine for the Earth - Research Study Results!! 4/4/2006
"On Imagination" by Sandra Ingerman 1/2006
The Role of Shamanism in Contemporary Culture
Shamanic Extraction and Healing
Spiritual Cost of the Iraqi War