my first shamanic journey

February 4, 2020

Shamanism. I am deeply drawn to shamanism. I love the earthiness of it. I love that there is no talking needed. I love the spirit guides and spirit animals. I love that it integrates whole body healing.

It seems to be the latest thing in spiritualism. Particularly ayahasca and other hallucinagenic plant medicines associated with it. Those ceremonies can be very profound, and deeply healing. But it’s also a very novel experience. When something becomes novel, does it take the sacredness out of it? Does the authenticity diminish? Us humans tend to flit from fad to fad. Shamanism is ancient, and I imagine it’s being watered down and adulterated here in the west. Whatever the case, I’m going to join the throngs and see what comes of it.

My first experience with shamanism was after my Mom died 3 years ago. I had numerous spiritual extractions, and a soul retreival done without knowing anything of what was going on. I trusted the person I was working with and it changed me radically. Shamanism was one of 2 things that provided deep healing that has led me to where I am today. At the new year, I was looking for books on Native American Spiritualism and came across a book called Spirit Walking by Linda C. Rysdyk. I’ve been working on the first few chapters for 7 weeks now, and I already feel transformation taking place deep inside myself.

Shamanism is based on journeying to non-ordinary realities. There are 3 of them, the upper, middle and lower worlds. In these worlds, you meet up with spirit animals, spirit guides, ancestors etc and interact with them to have questions answered. Because I have a hard time with humans, but I am a healer, this seems to be a good fit for me. I have no idea where this will take me, but I am already seeing the benefits of being more emotionally stable, and of having a support system in Mother Nature that I can readily access. I’m not as lonely, and have started to enjoy myself and the days I spend alone in the forest.

Spirit Walking is a book of that teaches you how to journey. The first exerise was to pick a sacred place in my life and journey to it. A place where I feel/felt safe. A magical place. I chose the gravel pits where I used to swim when I lived near Shittown. Journeying consists of laying down in a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. You get ready by going deep into gratitude. Then a track of drumming is played and you go on your journey.

This is the journey:
I walked down the gravel drive, a narrow finger of water to the east, below me. A windrow of tall trees to the west. Peaceful. An oasis in the midst of hardcore farming country. I walked past the rows and rows of round bales that were stored there the last summer I visited. Then I came to the crest of my private beach. I stood at the top and looked down at the water. I walked down the beach and sat down on the fine gravel, with my finger I traced designs, I made a tiny mandala with pebbles.

I went into the water, floating on my back, gazing up at the blue skies, the fluffy white clouds. Feeling the cleansing heat of the sun on my face. On my body.

I was in a canoe exploring where I had never been able to go before just by swimming. I paddled to the north, and got out by another natural beach. I walked to a large tree where for many years, only corn had been grown. The area was now reclaimed and was a grassland. I’d only every ventured to the tree a couple of times in real life, so it was interesting that I would be drawn there. I lit a sacred fire and danced.

I felt myself sliding into the ground. It’s hard to explain. I went from human form, to a something like a puddle, but I was the earth. I was the ground. I heard foot falls of a man going past. I asked him if he had anything to say, and he said no, so I went back to exploring the perspective of being earth. The grass waving above me.

I was then the tree. It’s a tall tree, standing alone above the gravel pits. Who ever made the feild didn’t cut down that one tree, but left it standing. I had a completely different perspective as the tree. I saw people, a tribe, a village working around the waters edge, living life. The night before, I had gotten the message, “Be still and know that I am.” So as the tree, I was still, standing firm, standing tall. Simply observing all around me. Being.

Charles, a spirit eagle who has been hanging around for the past year, lit on one of my branches and just observed with me. With that, it felt like the journey was over. So I walked back down the drive, and entered reality again.

That journey lasted about 10 minutes.

What did you see? What did you smell?
As far as the senses go, I did not smell anything. I usually don’t have a lot of bodily sensations when I have visualizations. I somewhat felt the sun on my face. I definitely felt myself sliding into the earth. I did not hear any sounds other than the foot falls. I saw things. This sounds strange, but I don’t know if I can tell the difference between a thought and seeing something. Do I think of the tree or do I actually see it?

Was there any particularly striking features about your special place?
The tree stood out.

Think about who you met and what you experienced while there, and write down your impressions.
I interacted with the man who passed by. I only heard his footfalls. I did not see him. I’ve been being careful with reaching out with a soul to soul contact because there have been some troubling incidences. So while I was curious about who he was, I let him go when he said he had nothing for me.

I saw the people down by the water. They were not a modern people. They were doing everyday life. Primal. I wondered if people had ever lived on this peice of land before it was inhabited by us white folk.

Charles came by for a sit. There were no words exchanged.

Did any part of the experience have a special significance to you?
Sliding into the earth was very interesting. I have no concept of what it means to journey to non-ordinary realities. Part of me knows that a lot of us have this capability. Just like most of us are healers of some sort, but we have shut it down. Or have never accessed it because it’s not safe, we haven’t been taught how, it’s considered evil, etc.… Can I really teach myself how to do this on my own? I don’t know. I have no desire to get myself into sticky situations in the energetic realm because I foolishly tried to teach myself something that is considered sacred and should only be passed on by a teacher.

I really get frustrated with this aspect of western culture. The way reiki/any healing modality is taught, the exorbitant amounts of money that are being charged for teachings/healings. It’s quick, it’s easy, there is nothing sacred about it. There is no deep dive, no exploration, no sitting with it to see how it resonates with you. After a workshop, you can be a master of anything. It’s part of our throw away culture. I personally find it deeply troubling. I don’t have a teacher, a wise woman/man, or even a mentor in my life at this point. I’m following my heart. Well… that was a rabbit trail, back to the question.

Sliding into the earth was something I could not have made up, and it was something way out of the ordinary reality.

Seeing the village was very comforting. The land that has been desecrated for so many years by relatives of mine was finally back to it’s natural state. In a way that I want to live. Simply. In a tribe. Living on the land, off the land. With the seasons. As a healthy culture.

Look up the attributes of the animal/bird that you met in your Middle World Sacred Place.

You are free to choose your own path, and to respect the freedom of others. -Eagle

Eagle Meaning, and Messages

In most cases, the appearance of eagle symbolism in your life, means that it is time to reconnect with your spiritual path. You must listen to and heed your spiritual directives as well as your heart. In other words, eagle symbolism reminds you to allow them both to lead the way for you at this time. When you can find yourself in this state of flight, then all the doors will open. Like a beacon – your heart will follow the light. Alternatively, eagle meaning also brings about powerful connections and messages from the source of creation. This bird’s presence brings you closer to your true self. Also, you must now be ready to take advantage of any opportunities that come to you, as they will bear abundant fruit. Moreover, this is a time that will require strength and courage as well as your leadership skills

Eagle symbolism can also mean that there are opportunities available to you and that you must snatch them up while they last. These opportunities are most likely ones that you have overlooked in the past or have bypassed as impossible. Additionally, the eagle meaning can also be symbolic of a renewed sense of purpose in your life. As you sift through these new opportunities, your goals will become more apparent to you. Focus on the goals that are closest to your heart.
https://www.spirit-animals.com/eagle-symbolism/