Shaman's Blog

The Hollow Bone Teaching

2012-01-12T19:55:00.000-08:00

I'm reposting this wonderful blog from a friend, Michael Drake. We met Michael many years ago at a shamanic drumming workshop. He has some interesting books and CDs on his website - shamanicdrumming.com. He also has a wonderful blog that I highly recommend subscribing to (http://shamanicdrumming.blogspot.com).

Many of you have heard Gary and I talk about being the "Hollow Bone". Here is some info on how you too can become that "Hollow Bone" for Spirit.

Shamanic Drumming: The Hollow Bone Teaching

Frank Fools Crow was a revered Lakota Holy Man who taught that you must become like a "hollow bone" to be a great healer. He believed that to become a conduit for the source of all creation fulfills the destiny of the human spirit: to sustain the order of existence. According to Fools Crow, "We are called to become hollow bones for our people, and anyone else we can help. We are not supposed to seek power for our personal use and honor. What we bones really become is the pipeline that connects Wakan Tanka, the helpers and the community together." In his becoming a hollow bone, Fools Crow believed that he went through four stages:

1. First, he called in Wakan Tanka (Great Mystery) to rid himself of anything that would impede him in any way, such as doubt, questions or reluctance.

2. Then he recognized himself as a clean tube, ready to be filled with hope, possibilities, and anxious to be filled with power.

3. He experienced the power as it comes surging into him.

4. Finally, giving the power away to others, knowing that as he is emptied out, the Higher Powers will keep filling him with even greater power to be given away.

Becoming a Hollow Bone

Close your eyes and breathe slowly and deeply seven times. Let your abdomen rise and fall as you breathe. Inhale for a count of four, hold for a count of four, and then exhale for a count of four. Focus on the breath as it enters the nose and fills your lungs, and then gently exhale any tension you might feel, clearing the energy channels of your body. Release all of your worldly concerns, doubts, and fears, allowing them to drift off on the air of the wind, on the breath of life. Feel yourself relaxing with each breath.

When you are fully relaxed, ask the "Higher Powers" to remove any blockages that prevent you from functioning as a hollow bone. Repeat the affirmation, "I choose to be a clean, hollow bone." Visualize yourself as a hollow bone or tube that is all shiny on the inside and empty. The cleaner the bone, the more energy you can channel through it, and the faster it will flow.

Now begin drumming a steady tempo of about 3 beats per second and imagine the power of spirit flowing through you. You may feel it, see it, sense it, or simply imagine it. As you focus on it, it will occur, for all energy follows thought. If your mind wanders, bring the focus of your attention back to the beat of the drum. Drumming opens portals to the spirit world, draws spirit in, and opens you up to receive it.

Posted by Rhythm Keeper

Until Next time...
Mitakuye Oyasin (A Lakota prayer reminding us we are all related)
Debbie & Gary

Preparing for the new year

2011-12-30T12:27:00.000-08:00

I have a daily meditation book called The Celtic Spirit - Daily Meditations for the Turning Year by Caitlin Matthews. I would highly recommend this book for some daily readings and good food for thought from a Celtic perspective. It cycles through the Celtic Year beginning on November 1 through Samhain on October 31.

The reading for today was quite fitting to what I might suggest, so instead of recreating the wheel, here is today's reading:

~30 DECEMBER ~
Gathering in the Year
It is at the years end that the fisherman tells of his fishing. -Scots Gaelic proverb

The end of the calendar year is the time when we traditionally look forward and make good resolutions for the coming year. But before can do that, we need also to make a summation of the past achievements and mistakes so that we have a sense of the years shape. It may be helpful to wind the year backward, retracing our steps from November back to January. As we go backward, month by month, we can consider the, following questions: What was the major theme of this month? Which events made the greatest impression on my life? What did I achieve? What mistakes do I regret? The point is not to indulge in blame and guilt but to neutrally survey our findings.

Now look back over the year as a whole and make a summation of its overall pattern and effect upon you. What has this year meant in real terms to you? How has it changed the world? Which new figures and influences have come into your life?

Now for the third part of this review. Looking at the year just past, move forward from January to December, asking these questions about each month: What seeds were sown in this month that affect me now? What wisdom have I learned? Which patterns and connections are poised to continue unfolding in the year ahead? Which obstructing or unhelpful aspects of my own behavior need to change? Having made our review, we can now consider the year ahead and lay down pathways of resolution and intention that will help guide our steps.

Make your review of the year as suggested above.

Have a safe and happy new year.

Until Next time...
Mitakuye Oyasin (A Lakota prayer reminding us we are all related)
Debbie & Gary

A Shaman's Yule Journey

2011-12-20T12:15:00.000-08:00

Grab your egg nog and cookies, snuggle up in a blanket and get ready for story time...

A Shaman’s Yule Journey
By Debbie Gent
With a little help from Clement Clarke Moore and The Night Before Christmas

Debbie, Gary & Mother

T’was Yule Eve and in circle we sat.
Everyone positioned on their journey mat.

Gary and I were perched at the drum,
Echoing the rhythm of Mother Earth’s hum.

The World Tree before us, we followed the threads
As altered states visions danced through our heads.

I had just settled down to let myself go,
When way out ahead I saw a red glow.

Then the sound of bells rang and made such a sound,
I focused my “vision” to see what was around.

Siberian Shaman

When what to my altered state eyes did appear,
But a little old man and his crew of reindeer.

Closer and closer and closer he came,
And when he got nearer he called out my name.

“Debbie, come on and join in the fun.
Come join my travels to see the birth of the sun.”

I was astonished, there was no doubt,
But my guides pushed me forward, no chickening out.

In the chariot of gold I came and sat,
Next to this spirit so happy and fat.

Questions were running so fast through my head,
“The birth of the sun, is that what you said?”

“The Goddess is ready, the Sun to bring forth”
He called to his reindeer to head east by north.

There in the east was a crowd up ahead
He grabbed my hand, through the crowd he lead.

Before me sat the Goddess, her belly so large
She was ready to push and asked me to take charge.

Without a thought I took her hand
And the song of “push” rang through the land.

“Push Goddess, Push Mother” the encouragement rang
As the voice of her people around her sang.

And with one last push the Sun was born,
With His light, the world to adorn.

Angelic voices announced the birth of the Sun.
I moved slowly back, my job being done.

And as I moved slowly from sight,
The Goddess smiled at me this night.

To the chariot I returned,
As tonight there was still more to be learned.


Shaman Flight by Amanda Clark

Up to Spirit we quickly flew

To finish our work without further ado.

We gathered gifts of love and prophecy
To carry back to our community.

Our chariot full, we headed back
To distribute the gifts from within our pack.

Mother Drum played the call back sound
And I started down the World Tree to return to the ground.

With our job done, we said our good nights
And my guide and his reindeer quickly took flight.

And I heard him exclaim as he flew out of sight…
Merry Yule to all and Welcome the Light!

Image Acknowledgements:

Siberian Shaman Image Courtesy of www.miraclesandinspiration.com
original artist unknown

Millenial Gaia Image Courtesy of www.whitemagic.com.au

Shaman Flight with permission- by Amanda Clark
http://earthangelsart.blogspot.com and
http://www.earthangelsart.com

Winter Solstice Sunrise Photo Courtesy of
Shiningwaters at www.photobucket.com

Happy Holidays to all our friends. Be safe and may the peace and joy of the season remain with you through out the year.

Until Next time...

Mitakuye Oyasin (A Lakota prayer reminding us we are all related)
Debbie & Gary

The Void and the Empty Chalice

2011-12-15T16:23:00.000-08:00

Winter has joined us here in Oregon and nightly covering us with her blanket of deep white frost. If there was any moisture in the air, we’d certainly have snow. Since the beginning of Samhain (right after Halloween), I have been slowly moving deeper into my personal cave, covering up with warm blankets preparing to hibernate for winter. For me it’s just instinctive… weather turns cold… hibernate! Give me a snuggly blanket, a book and a pair of knitting needles and I’m one happy bear!

As Yule approached quite a few years back, a teacher of mine, Patricia Ballentine (www.TheCreativeFlame.com), explained this to me with the idea of the Empty Cup or Challice.

“Long ago and far away in the land of my Scottish ancestors this time of the year was recognized as the end of Smahian (SOW-en) and the beginning of Yule. It was the season when we had completed our harvest, drawn our animals in from summer pastures, stocked our pantries, piled the wood, and we snuggled in for the winter. Our time was purposefully spent pausing from so much ‘in the world DOing’ and focused more on BEing connected to those in our homes and ourselves.

In the lives of those of us today who still embrace a relationship in a spiritual sense to the seasons of the year and the ‘old traditions’ this is the time of the void (the empty chalice)…the very holy pause from which new life will be birthed from the divine spark of inspiration when Spring draws near. It’s not a time for DOing things and going places, but a time for BEing with our selves, nurturing our integrated aspects of body, mind and spirit and WAITING with a deep sense of trust for what will surely come in due time.”

Yup, I’m convinced, hibernating is hard wired in our DNA! Hibernating is entering the void…But how many of us avoid this yearly draw into the void, into the depths of ourselves and the Great Mystery and spiral into the frenzy that has become the “Holiday Season”? Not only is all the DOing activity exhausting, but we are going against our true nature! It’s like paddling upstream! No wonder we get so exhausted this time of year!

What keeps us from stepping into the void, into the emptiness? Is it fear? Or guilt? Or…? Fear is a pretty big deterrent for most of us humans. But what is it we fear in the void? If you’re reading this, you’re grown up and most likely not afraid of the dark (and who says the void is dark?). Oh yes, there it is…I see it…it’s the fear of CHANGE. Change requires letting go of what we’ve always known and done to allow in something new. It’s unknown and uncomfortable! But with like anything, the more time we spend being “uncomfortable” the more “comfortable” it gets. We learn to trust ourselves and Spirit to unfold a new reality for us. We learn to welcome the gifts and new opportunities that the void brings to us. It is only in emptiness of the void can meaning, intuitive guidance and our truth arise.

Certainly our modern work ethic doesn’t recognize, let alone honor, the idea of rest. We are taught to feel guilt or shame if we are not DOing. BEing, is slacking, lazy and unproductive. Boy do they have it wrong! If we don’t have a place to BE, we can’t dream and grow and invent. These seeds of creation all begin in darkness, in the womb, taking in the energy that they need to grow. The void is that place of silence, calm and rest that we need to grow.

We want to invite you to begin making an annual pilgrimage to the void beginning this winter. You may not want to stay long at first, but it’s okay to take baby steps. Journey to the open doorway of the void if that’s where you need to start. Ask your Animal Guide or other Spiritual Guides to accompany you. Explore that place of potential, the place with no expectations.

If you are working with your Aspects, check and see if you have an aspect that is driving your DOing. Do you have an “Energizer Bunny”, or the “Over Achiever” somewhere? If so, move them to your heart center and let your other Aspects teach them the ropes and how to play well with your group. Then, take your journey into the void.

What seeds are being charged for you? Experience the peace of reconnecting to the Great Mystery, of simply BEing. Allow yourself to be that empty chalice that is simply waiting to become filled with your dreams...The dreams that are ready to burst forth with life as spring approaches. For now, let your cup remain empty and ready to receive them. And don’t forget to return each winter when you hear the void’s call.

So, as we prepare the altar for our Yule celebrations, my chalice remains empty, upside down, with a candle to represent the spark of inspiration that will come through the void. May your chalice also be empty and at rest this Yule.

See you in the void!

Mitakuye Oyasin (A Lakota prayer reminding us we are all related)
Debbie & Gary

PS- If you're looking for a special celebration for the Winter Solstice (Yule) check out last December's post.

Thanksgiving Blessings

2011-11-21T08:35:00.000-08:00

As Thanksgiving rapidly approaches and we begin to prepare for our holiday meal, no matter how big or small, we sometimes get lost in the preparation and forget that this is a day of gratitude.

I've been reading a lot of grumbling on some blogs and Facebook about not celebrating Thanksgiving because of the poor treatment of our Native American ancestors ... But, no matter how it started out centuries ago, Thanksgiving is a day that has been set aside to offer thanks and gratitude to Spirit for all that has been provided to us. So, forget about the Pilgrim stories and focus on the present. Remember, we live in the now.

I know it's been a tough few years for many of us and some days it's a struggle to find something to be grateful for. I always think of a friend who when she was going through a really though time, the only thing she could find to be grateful for that day was the garbage man who picked up the trash. There is always so little kernel to be found each day. So, for at least this day, we invite you to search your heart and find at least one thing to be grateful for. Hmm... maybe we should have a Thanksgiving more often... without the turkey and stuffing of course :-)

So, as we prepare and sit down to eat our holiday meal, no matter whether we are enjoying our own company or the company of friends and/or family, we're offering a few non-traditional blessings for your meal.

My standard, short, sweet and to the point daily blessing -
"We thank the spirits that gave their lives that we may eat and thrive - Aho"

A Thanksgiving Blessing from a Druidic feed this morning -
"Bless the Earth for delivering this food
Bless the Sun for nourishing its growth
Bless the Rain for assuring its survival.

Thanks to the hands that helped raise this food
Thanks to the backs that helped harvest it
Thanks to the hearts that helped prepare this fare.

Let it nourish our minds, bodies and spirits
Let it nurture our thoughts, deeds and creativity
Let it hearten our wisdom, kindness and love.

May our friends, families and loved ones be healthy
May those that are not present and missed be well
May the future be prosperous and happy."

The Blessing of the Stranger -
This blessing is handed down through a friend and it always touches my heart.

Since ancient times it has been a tradition to welcome the Stranger who approached our threshold or crossed our path. The Stranger was seen as the potential bringer of a great gift or lesson…and we recognized that we could well be such to them. Fear was not the foundation of the meeting…rather Love. Perhaps we had completed the harvest and the Stranger was a bard or great storyteller who would provide countless hours of enjoyment for our family as we sat gathered round the fire on cold winter nights. Perhaps they were simply without a meal for the evening and we could add a bowl of soup for them at our own table. And, perhaps we were the Stranger at the door of another seeking a warm hearth and open heart.

Countless Strangers impact our lives every single day…let us pause for a moment and offer to them…our blessings:

"The Blessing of the Stranger:

For all of the hands
That tilled the soil
And planted the seeds
And harvested the crops
And cared for the livestock…
For all of these hands, Strangers to us
We give thanks and we offer blessings.

For all of the hands
That packaged the products
And prepared the livestock
And brought all to market
And stocked the shelves…
For all of these hands, Strangers to us
We give thanks and we offer blessings.

For all of the hands
That are gathered ‘round this table or
That reach out to us from the distance…
Many Strangers once, but friends and family now…
For all of these hands…
We give thanks and we offer blessings.

May we use this food and the energy of
Love and grace
To nourish ourselves and each other
In Body, Mind and Spirit…

Blessed Be and Amen"

If you have a traditional non-traditional blessing, email it to me and I'll post it for others to share, or use to create their own blessing.

We wish you peace and joy on this Thanksgiving Day. Every day, we are blessed and thankful to count you among our friends.

Until next time -

Mitakuye Oyasin (A Lakota prayer reminding us we are all related),
Debbie & Gary

Honoring Our Ancestors

2011-10-30T10:14:00.000-07:00

Samhain (sah-win or sow-een) is the fourth and final fire festival (or cross-quarter holiday) in the Celtic Wheel of the Year. The veil between the worlds grows thin, as the portal opens into the Celtic New Year, and we begin our decent into the dreamtime. It is a time of releasing the old, planting seeds for the coming year, deep visioning, receiving transmissions of wisdom, and communing with ancestors, faeries, and the spirit world. We are reminded of the importance of the season of bone that follows the harvest and precludes the spring – a time of silence, of resting, of the death of all that is completed, and the incubation of that which is to come.

This is also a time for remembering all our ancestors and loved ones who have passed into the world beyond. Many traditions honor their ancestors at this time. For the Celts, the celebration is Samhian, in the Hispanic traditions it is known as Dia de los Muertos or “Day of the Dead”. The Christian Church incorporated these festivals into a festival known as “All Souls Day”.

In the homes of our Celtic ancestors, storytelling abounded during the long, dark, winter nights; many of these tales were ghost stories about the Otherworld. At Samhain, the gates to the Otherworld stood wide open, allowing the spirits of the ancestors and the Sidhe to walk among the living. Only those in disguise would venture out on this night to confuse the Sidhe, the Faerie kind and the feared, though revered ancestors; a custom which has been passed down to us as Mischief Night, Halloween and 'trick or treat'.

Respect for the ancestors is still practiced at Samhain in the Celtic world, when the doors between the worlds are open. This is an excellent time to re-connect with our ancestors.

You may consider having a Samhain celebration for your ancestors. Have a meal with their favorite food and beverages. Be sure to set a place at the table for the ancestors. (Don’t dispose of the food at the end of the meal, but offer it to the nature spirits and animals.) Sing, dance and drum for them. And don’t forget to tell stories about your ancestors and highlight their conquests and achievements. Or simply take some time to get to know your ancestors through a shamanic journey, meditation or other form of trance travel and celebrate with them in the Otherworld.

Here are some suggested journeys from a playshop I recently facilitated at the local Druid Grove’s Samhain celebration. Remember, you should travel with the blessings and the protection and guidance of your spirit guide or totem animal.

Just a note, ancestors may include those of our bloodlines, those of the land where we live, and those of our spiritual kin in a broader sense. Remember, our soul has had many paths and bloodlines along its path.

1st journey – Visit the ancestral grove where ancestors meet in the Otherworld. Ask to be met by one of your ancestors who you knew in this lifetime. This ancestor will be your guide for these journeys. Your clan will be celebrating Samhain – help rekindle bon fires that have been let go dark in preparation for this celebration. Join in fun – sing, dance and enjoy the food and ale. Have your ancestor guide take you around and introduce you to other ancestors in the grove. Talk to anyone you wish… ask about information on family history or bloodlines. Hear the stories the elders have to tell. Their stories were meant for both pleasure and instruction. They tell us of the Otherworld, this world, our culture and about ourselves. Enjoy the celebration.

2nd journey – Return to the grove and ask your ancestor guide to take you to the ancestor or group of ancestors who you need to meet most at this time. Ask what words of wisdom they have to offer you. If you need advice in some area or some problem in your life, ask and they will be happy to share their insight and experience. Remember, they are repositories for ancient wisdom and they can be consulted about matters to do with you as an individual, with the land, with families and issues of Spirit. Be sure to thank your ancestor for their words of wisdom. If it feels appropriate, offer a healing to this ancestor before returning to your current reality.

Honoring the ancestors is also very important, and can be done in a number of ways. Simply thinking of your own family can be important. You can also make a small ancestral shrine, including a photo of your own ancestors, or use a picture of a site which has strong ancestral associations. The shrine can contain other objects which strike you as particularly symbolic: a flat stone on which you can write messages to the ancestors, a basket of stones or shells taken from many different places. An offering dish of honey, sweet-cake or beer can be placed there also (but make sure you replenish it regularly!)

At your ancestral shrine, make offerings, have conversations, tell jokes (the ancestors like news, gossip and humor) and ask advice. The important thing is to establish a feeling of friendship and rapport across the divide of time and place, not only at Samhain, but throughout the year.

Quiet Before the Storm?

2011-09-27T15:30:00.000-07:00

Recently we were talking with a friend who is also shamanic practitioner, just catching up and staying in touch. Our discussion turned to how we were all doing in our practices, and strangely, we discovered that the month of September for us, her and others that we know, it has been 'quiet'. Even though there is daily life activity, the pervading energy feels like a 'waiting'. A waiting for what? It is almost like the collective whole is holding it's breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop, the door to open, the planets to align?

To me, this waiting energy feels more connected with the collective fear of what is coming. There have been years of opinions published and discussion on the year 2012 in every media available and has created this waiting fear or anticipation through the collective. This in effect has every individual holding their breath on some level. Unknown fear is stopping movement in the person’s life.

That very old saying of 'we have nothing to fear except fear its self' is very correct in this case. We really don't know what may or may not happen next year. We won't know until whatever it is shows up on our individual doorstep. Then and only then can we, as individuals or a collective, respond or react to what is presented.

So, for me, I am not holding my breath (or energy) and will play with whatever is presented....only when it is presented. I hope others can approach our changing times with the same ease, because we can only hold our breath for so long.

Until Next Time:

Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),
Gary

10 Billion Beats - Drumming with global intention

2011-09-14T17:58:00.000-07:00

Sorry I'm so late getting this out. Have had computer "gremlins". I think they are all pretty well under control now. As long as they don't multiply I may be okay.

We have always participated in this event as a drum circle, but this year will just be going it "a deux". Join the energy and spend a hour drumming. For more information: http://www.10billionbeats.com/ and http://www.10billionbeats.spruz.com/events.htm to see if there is a group drumming in your area.

We hope to see you at that etheric drum circle!

Until next time -

Mitakuye Oyasin (A Lakota prayer reminding us we are all related),
Debbie & Gary

10 Billion Beats
If you don't know what you can't do, maybe you can do anything!

“Are you crazy enough to change the world?” began the first newsletter for 10 Billion Beats in 2009. Since then thousands of people have participated. You are the stars on this map. Crazy!

It’s easy to leave big changes up to “spiritual masters” or “super beings” with powers greater than our own. They have changed the world. Then there are ordinary humans; King, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and Mandela, who so completely committed their selves to right human relations that extraordinary acts followed. They too changed the world. That may be asked of us should we face extraordinary times.

Change that which your eyes perceive and behold a different world. Change the words you speak and hear more truth around you. Change the intentions of your heart, and change the world.

If big changes happen to come in the next months as many have predicted, I am very grateful to be part of this group. Carry the positive intent within your heart, listen for the truth around you, and watch for a path of service to those in need.

If nothing happens as predicted, I remain grateful that as we walk the next miles in the same pair of shoes we do so together. With each footstep I will imprint my blessing upon our planet and my fellow beings knowing that I have never walked alone. It’s simply time to be the change we’ve been waiting for.

Just a few hours now until we send our wave of rhythm around the planet infusing the beat with our positive intent. Please post your local event on our social network site at http://www.10billionbeats.spruz.com/events.htm. You will have to register on that site (if you haven’t already) to be able to enter your data.

Goodwill ON Livingkind

Remember:
4 beats per second (or as close as you can come to it) for at least one hour.
Send the intention out to everything on the tone of your drum.
Keep the buzz going. There is still time to tell the world.
Photos and videos after the fact are very welcome.

Thanks,

Carlisle, Geralyn and Brent.

*************** http://www.10billionbeats.com/

PeaceWeek 2011 - A Free Global Telesummit for Building a Culture of Peace

2011-09-14T17:34:00.000-07:00

Today we're forwarding some wonderful information for upcoming events, so there will be 2 posts today.

PeaceWeek 2011

A Free Global Telesummit for Building a Culture of Peace

September 15 - September 21, 2011

Wednesday, September 21st, 5:00pm to 6:00pm PDT

Prayers From The Grandmothers,

PeaceWeek Closing Ceremony

with Grandmothers Beatrice Long Visitor Holy Dance and Mona Pollaca

PeaceWeek 2011 - A Free Global Telesummit

Dear Friend,

I'm writing to invite you to celebrate peace with a truly amazing line-up of inspiring leaders and peacebuilders such as Grandmother Beatrice Long- Visitor Holy Dance, Grandmother Mona Polacca, , Alice Walker, Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Arun Gandhi, Michael Bernard Beckwith, Daniel Goleman, Jane Velez-Mitchell and many more.

It's all part of PeaceWeek 2011, a global telesummit featuring dozens of inspiring peacebuilders -- and it's all for free!

This extraordinary event, coming up September 15-21, is the largest virtual peace summit ever created - last year more than 20,000 people registered from 152 countries. This year's leaders will offer profound insights for you to create peace in your life, your family, your community and our world. You'll also gain access to the full library of recordings from last year's summit.

When you sign up, you'll hear about groundbreaking global work from Israel and India to China and many places in between.

Join me and thousands of others from around the world - all of whom deeply care about the future of our planet and the potential for humanity to make a profound shift from a culture of violence to a culture of peace.

I look forward to seeing you at PeaceWeek. And please do share this invitation with friends and colleagues - all are warmly welcome

to participate!

In Peace,
Center for Sacred Studies

P.S. PeaceWeek gives you personal access to manyinspiring leaders:

Alice Walker, Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Arun Gandhi, Michael Bernard Beckwith, Daniel Goleman, Jane Velez-Mitchell, James O'Dea, Barbara Marx Hubbard, Avon Mattison, Kimmie Weeks, Grandmother Mona Polacca, Grandmother Beatrice Long- Visitor Holy Dance, David Korten, Aqeela Sherrills, Dot Maver, Stephen Dinan, Derrick Ashonoran Pandey, Chip Hauss, Hiu Ng, Miki Kashtan, Rev. Bob Chase,g, Steve Killelea, Sister Jenna, Dena Merriam, Rob Fersh, Rita Marie Johnson, Paul Chappell, Brother Anilananda, Kevin Quigley, Devaa Haley Mitchell, Andy Barker, Jenn Lim, Captain Richard O'Neill, Michael Furdyk, PoNurah Amat'ullah, Rabbi Justus Baird, Mary Stata, Sahar Nafal Kordahi, Tzvia Shelef, Orland Bishop, Guy Burgess, Heidi Burgess, Dr. Rick Levy, Julia Bacha, Nick Stuart, David Nicol, Belvie Rooks, Matthew Albracht, Emily Hine, Philip Hellmich.

Series Co-Sponsors:
The Shift Network, The Peace Alliance, Pathways to Peace, Culture of Peace Initiative, Summer of Peace 2012, PeaceDay.TV, TakingItGlobal, The Hendricks Institute, Council for the Parliament of World Religions, Humanity's Team, Alliance for Peacebuilding, Peace X Peace,International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers, Times Foundation/The Times Group, Student Peace Alliance, National Peace Academy, The Shift Movie, University of Colorado's Conflict Information Consortium, International Cities of Peace, One the Event, Global Peace Initiative of Women, Intersections, Brahma Kumaris, United Religions Initiative, Praxis Peace Institute, YES!, Just Vision, We, the World, Compassionate Action Network, Rasur Foundation, World Peace Prayer Society, Peace on Earth Film Festival, BayNVC, Center for Sacred Studies.

To see the full email Click here.

Lughnasadh - First Harvest

2011-08-01T15:52:00.000-07:00

Wow, can’t believe it’s August 1 already. This year is flying by. Fall will be here sooner than we think.

August first is the beginning of Lughnasadh (or Lammas). This is the celebration of the first harvest. Depending on your traditions, Lughnasadh is celebrated from August 1 – August 15.

The name of this festival is Irish Gaelic for "Commemoration of Lugh". Lugh is associated with the power of sun and light, and so fires were burned in honor of him on this day. In addition to his associations with light, Lugh is a God of Skill and Craft, a master of all human skills.

Lughnasadh is the first of three harvest festivals, Lughnasadh, Mabon and Samhain. The Earth offers up her first fruits to us ... a blessing from the Mother and the product of our own hands. It is a time to celebrate the fruitfulness of Mother Earth and enjoy the fruits of our labors.

The celebration of Lughnasadh included the ritual first cutting grain and making it into bread for the harvest feast. Fruits and vegetables were ripe and ready preserving. It was a time to celebrate and enjoy the fullness of the Earth while beginning to make provision for the cold months ahead. The people lit fires, sang and held uproarious sporting contests and races.

So, I invite you to join in the harvest celebrations. If you have your own garden, revel in the bounty that Mother Earth has provided and feast. No garden, find a you-pick and pick something decadent, like raspberries, and enjoy. Or offer up some time to a gleaning group to help with their harvests.

Take a hike in nature and the “difficult” trail. Or do something that would push your boundaries. Challenge yourself in the nature of the God, Lugh.

Or spend some quite time in the shade of a welcoming tree and take a shamanic journey. Have a meeting with your Guides and reflect on the inner meanings of your personal harvest of the seeds that you have sown in the spring. Which things or projects are ripe and waiting for us to harvest them? What needs more time to ripen? What new projects would you like to start? And, what (if anything) do you need to do to prepare for completing your harvest?

It is also a time to reflect on the many talents we have. Like Lugh, we are multi-talented. Unlike him, many of us are not so confident about these talents. So this is also a time to ask yourself: “What are my talents and skills? How do I express my creativity? How do I use my abilities to craft my world ... to add beauty .... color ... richness? Our skills may include woodworking, designing, creating, sewing and needlecraft, art, music, dance, sports or communication, organizing, healing, parenting, problem solving etc. Whatever our talents or abilities, this is a time to recognize them and honor them, and to share our recognition of the talents and abilities of others around us. If you have had an interest or urge to develop a particular skill or creative outlet, now might be the time to make commitment to yourself to pursue your interest. By offering our skills back to the Universe we enrich both ourselves and our world.

And of course Lughnasadh is a very good time to express gratitude to the Goddess, God and the Earth Spirits for their blessings and gifts.

Blessed Lughnasadh. Enjoy your harvest!

Until Next Time:

Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),

Debbie

Aspects of the Self – Who’s Driving Your Bus Today?

2011-07-03T08:29:00.000-07:00

How many times have we done something totally marvelous, or dumb, rude, mean or off the wall and then looked back and said “Did I REALLY do that? It’s not like me to behave or do…” We treat these actions like someone else is responsible for them, and to be truthful, there is, but that “someone else” a part of you, a personality aspects or archetype. But in these cases, just one aspect is acting (or acting out) in a manor that is not representative of you as a whole.

Through our work assisting others with shamanic journeys and retrieving soul pieces, we have found a group of aspects or archetypes each person carries that have been ignored, stuffed or abandoned along the way. And like a child that is being ignored, they tend to struggle for control so that they can be seen or heard. This is sometimes not in our best interest.

Picture this situation… You’re in a meeting with your boss reviewing a report that you have prepared. The boss is asking questions, courteously, but asking questions about your train of though or information source. How are you responding or reacting?

That’s really going to depend on “who’s driving the bus”. If you are coming from a position of balance, your place of center and empowerment, you will respond courteously and logically to his or her questions.

But… if your Emotional Self is in charge, you could react with anger or feel tears welling in your eyes. Your Critic could kick in and you then begin the old self-talk patterns of “not being good enough”, “can’t do anything right”.

Or maybe your Ego may take over with the “Who does he/she think he is? Who is he/she to question my work?”

Oh, and what about the Shadow? I can picture papers flying around the room as well as some unpleasant words as you stomp out the door. The outcome of that meeting totally depends on “who’s driving your bus today”.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have all your aspects working together in a cohesive group, so you can respond to life from a position of balance and empowerment?

These aspects are similar to Jung’s archetypes. Psychologist Carl Jung described several archetypes based in repeating patterns of thought and action that re-appear time and again across people, countries and continents. Jung believed that we each have all four main forms of archetypes within us, the Shadow, the Anima, the Animus, and the Self. Jung also considered other archetypes, including family archetypes such as father, mother, child and story archetypes like the hero, the witch, the magician, the wise old man and the earth mother.

Medical intuitive and author, Carolyn Myss, identified over 70 common archetypes in her book, Sacred Contracts. She believes we were encoded prior to birth with 12 of these archetypes to fulfill contracts for experiences in this lifetime.

As we work with clients we are finding that there are about 12 or 13 aspects that each of us has hidden somewhere in our energy body. They have been hidden, abandoned or simply ignored. They include the Divine Masculine, Divine Feminine, Mental Self, Wounded Child, The Ego, The Shadow, and The Critic. Each person may have other personalized aspects hidden away as well. By retrieving and integrating these aspects, we become more balanced and whole.

We like to look at this group of aspects as a corporate board of directors working together for the good of the company (the Conscious Self). They are brought together as a cohesive group with the Heart Self operating as Chairman of the Board. But, in this board, each Aspect has a voice in how the “company” is run, with the Heart making the best choices for the conscious Self. Everyone is heard and no one is acting independently or “going rogue”. Now you begin to respond to life from a place of balance and empowerment.

Sound good? Are you ready to retrieve your Aspects and build your board of directors? We offer this work as part of our Five Day Shamanic Intensive Retreat, as weekend playshops or you can join us for our upcoming webinar “Aspects of Self” beginning in September. Just click on the links to find out more about the playshops and webinar.

So, back to our original question… “Who’s driving your bus today?”

Earth Day 2011

2011-04-20T09:39:00.000-07:00

It's funny how we need to pick a day to celebrate the earth... particularly when our ancestors celebrated and honored "The Mother" every moment. They literally "worshiped the ground they walked on".

But let's thank Senator Gaylord Nelson, for beginning the celebration of Earth Day on April 22nd back in 1970. The government set aside another day for us to honor our "Mother". This was, according to Senator Nelson, a way to "put the environment into the political 'limelight' once and for all" (his words). Now, Earth Day, is celebrated in most countries of the world.

As we humans have "evolved", we've completely lost our connection to the planet we live on and the world that we live in. We "think" we're individuals or separate beings.

It's a ridiculous thought when you break it down. Just like our bodies have different cells, fluids and functions... We have a similar relationship with the earth. We are a part of a whole. The slugs, the dirt, the whales, the rivers all are essential cogs, just like red blood cells, neurons and fat cells are a necessary part of your body. If all your red blood cells were to suddenly disappear, you would have a big problem. So what if the all the bees disappeared from the earth?

As shaman, or those who walk a nature based path, we understand that everything has life force or energy and everything is a part of the web of life. As the Lakota say "Mitakuye Oyasin - All My Relations". This prayer is a reminder that we are all connected, all part of that web, each strand connected to the other, forming the whole. You have often heard us refer to the "Standing Ones", "Stone People", "Four-Footed", "Winged Ones", "Plant Divas" etc. They all have life force or energy and offer us support and wisdom.

Many of the "Two-footeds" on this plant simply take the natural world for granted. It simply is and is there for their use and/or abuse. They have the idea that the "Two-footeds" are superior. What a wonderful mind game we have created for ourselves! It's like a video game where on the computer we have "mastered" all. But, Gaia is telling us otherwise, and unlike our video game world, there are no do overs.

But, before I give you some ideas to help you reconnect into the web of life and celebrate Earth Day, let's talk about permission and gifting. Have you ever asked the grass for permission to walk on it or a flower to pick it? Most likely you just assumed that all grass is for walking and flowers are yours for the taking (unless they are the neighbors). Remember that everything has life force or energy. The grass may not feel like being walked on today or that tree may not want to be hugged today. If we honor nature, we must ask permission of the nature spirits and not just blunder in and use or take what is around us.

Next, in the world of the “Two-footeds”, when someone offers us a gift, kindness or piece of wisdom, we have been taught to say "thank you". When someone in the natural world offers a gift or wisdom, we should also say "thank you". Many folks who walk a nature centered path carry with them something to give back to Nature, whether its tobacco, corn meal, stones or herbs. (We have bags of gifting herbs available at Shaman's Marketplace.)

• If on your walk you find a stone, plant or feather that is calling you and you accept the gift, it is only appropriate to place an offering where you have taken the gift.

• One should always make an offering and ask permission before harvesting from any plant or tree.

• If you find a tall shady tree or a sunny rock to sit with and hear its wisdom, make and offering and ask permission to sit. Then leave an offering for the wisdom when your visit is complete.

• Ask permission to enter a sacred space just like you would knock on someone's door before you enter their home. Be sure to leave a “hostess gift”.

Nature has much to teach us if we approach her with honor and respect. Gifting is our way of saying "thank you".

So, on Earth Day (and every day), here are some things you can do to reconnect.

• Take your shoes off and walk around outside. It's simple and you can do it right now. Your flesh to soil connection will ground you to the earth and re-balance your electrical channels.

• Smell the plants. Go into a park or the woods and just pick (with permission) a few plants and smell them. See which ones smell amazing and which ones smell not as good to you. Your connection to instinct will be revived just slightly.

• Hug a tree. Throw your arm around it and press your heart up to it and feel its life force with your heart. Let your heart beat sync with the tree. Now, let your "roots" flow from your feet, deep into Mother Earth. Then, let your "branches" reach from the top of your head up into Father Sky and reach for the sun. Feel that energy and share in the tree's wisdom.

• Have a conversation with a "Stone Person". Find a rock outside to sit on/with and open your energy body and your mind. Ask what wisdom or message this Stone Person has to share with you. If you don't have a rock outside to sit on, hold a stone in your hand and converse with it. These Stone People have been around for a very long time and contain much knowledge that they are willing to share.

• Look into an animal's eyes. If you have a pet or if you don't... Find an animal, maybe at a pasture or at the animal shelter and look into its eyes. You'll see a wisdom no human would ever be able to rationalize (And that doesn't ever need to be humanized).

• Sit on Mother Earth and drum. Feel her heart beat and drum to that rhythm. (This works indoors too if your weather isn’t up for outdoor activities.)

• Lay face down with your heart and your ear on Mother Earth and hear her song. Allow that song to move into you and become part of you. (This works indoors too if your weather isn’t up for outdoor activities.)

• Make Earth Day a "Gifting Day" - use the idea of gifting to the Nature Spirits with tobacco, corn meal, stones or herbs. Walk around and give these gifts to everything in nature to simply say "thanks".

Just these simple things can help reawaken your awareness and consciousness. That is powerful enough to help make Earth Day celebrations every day celebrations. (And who doesn't like to celebrate?)

Please be sure to forward this blog along to those who could use a "reconnect."

Until next time -

Mitakuye Oyasin (A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),
Debbie

Helping Our Animal Companions

2011-03-21T11:26:00.000-07:00

Okay, I admit, I'm not the best at blogging. To be perfectly honest, I've had a horrible case of "blog block". (Hmm... this must be the tech update of writer's block.) Gary hasn't been much help either as far as suggestions so I get 100% responsibility for the blog (or lack there of). And, like I've mentioned before on this blog, you don't really want to hear the ramblings in my head... But, if you have something shamanically related you'd like to know or hear about, please pop me an email. I'm open to suggestions. I'm actually writing down a list of ideas when I get them, if I can remember them by the time I get to the computer :-) So, we should be on top of things for a while.

I just completed our spring newsletter so if you want to follow up on the newsy stuff, here's the link. I'm going to repeat the article on Helping Our Animal Companions here.

Also, we're stepping into more current technology and doing our first webinar in May with The Healing Ways of the Shaman -- Shamanism and Soul Recovery. This is an introductory webinar that explains shamanism, soul recovery and the shamanic journey process. It is open to everyone. So, if you, your family or friends would like to be introduced to shamanism, this is a great way for them to find out more. There will be no charge for this webinar, but we always appreciate offerings. I will send out the email link a few days before the webinar. If all goes well, we will be offering more by webinars in the future. For more on the other activities we have on the schedule or a list of playshops we offer, check out our calendar.

If you haven't checked out our online store -- Shaman's Marketplace, now is a good time. Since you've been so patient with my blog block, I'm offering our blog readers the same special as our clients and regular customers. Spring Special and receive a FREE bag of gifting herbs with orders over $20 (playshops not included). Special ends 5/30/11. Enter the code SPRING in the discount/coupon box and we will include your herbs with your order.We've added a couple new items and there are some new, hand made smudging bowls in the works from a friend in Phoenix who throws pottery. And, I have some new Shaman's Potions™ in the planning phases. So look for them with our next newsletter.

Okay, now that apologies are made and amends offered, here's some info about soul retrieval and our animal friends.

Helping Our Animal Companions

Many of us have at least one fuzzy, furry, feathered, leathered or finned companion that share our home and heart space. They are our friend, confidant, support, healer and even our "kids" and "significant other". They are simply a part of our family. And, like any other family member, they pick up on our life's situations and can become stressed and strained and acquire physical and/or emotional issues, just like any other member living in a group situation. Things like illness, divorce, death and financial stress affect our animal companions just like they would our children or partners.

Animals also have a soul path of their own they must traverse. Like us, they have specific lessons that their soul must learn in this lifetime. And, like us, some of their paths are not easy. They experience trauma that cause their soul to fracture or split.
So, when we're asked about doing soul recovery for animals the answer is a resounding "yes". We do a soul recovery just like we would do for you. We contact their guides for permission and return what soul pieces are appropriate. Then if required, we are guided through an extraction to clean up their energy system. The only difference is that they don't have to do "the homework". The soul pieces automatically integrate. They don't play the mind games with themselves or have the resistance we do as humans.

It has been our experience that in general, dogs tend to take on the physical or emotional issues of "their people". We have a client with a long term illness that creates a lot of toxicity. Her dog that she had for many years was depressed and had no energy. During his journey, we found him lying next to her in bed and he had merged his energy with hers. He told me that it was "his duty" to take on her illness. We explained that this was not helping her and was even causing more stress because she worried about her beloved friend. He then agreed to separate and we returned this soul piece to him. During extraction we also found energetic cords that he was using to absorb her energy. These were cut and he continued to improve. Releasing him from absorbing all the toxic energies had no effect on our client.

Recently, I was asked to assist another dog who was blind and had developed a cough. Sometimes he would begin to cough so hard he would not be able to breathe. They had visited many a vet, traditional and holistic, and the dog was on medications and an inhaler. In our extraction, we found little green gremlins in his lungs, producing a gas and tickling his bronchial tubes, that was causing him to cough. There really wasn't much change after the journey. After talking further with his people, we found out that this was happening if they were not paying as much attention to him as he felt they should, such as if he didn't get fed when he wanted, and other times he felt ignored. Much like a two year old throwing a temper tantrum. We returned to journey space and my guides gave him a very stern talking to and that he was to "quit pulling their chain". They were going out of their way to accommodate his blindness and that his family was being made aware of his manipulations and they would not work any more. It took a while for the situation to improve because it had become a learned behavior that needed to be modified, but he did improve slowly and there was less attention getting behavior.

One of my favorite "miracle" cases comes from our own household. Back in 2002 our cat, Pharaoh, decided to have an altercation with a car. When I picked him up from the hospital at the Humane Society where he was taken, they weren't expecting him to live. Around his eye was pretty cut up, but there didn't appear to be any broken bones. My vet sent me to a specialist for head trauma. The prognosis wasn't good, but he stayed in ICU. Gary was out of town and I called and his guides began the process of taking care of Pharaoh's injuries. We would get call after call from the vet, telling us that he had fluid in his lungs or that he wasn't recovering. And journey after journey, and extraction after extraction, we would get the "It seems that he's now doing fine" call. After a week, he was allowed to come home. The vet was still shaking his head wondering how this guy survived and was walking. The after effects were minimal and he lived a long and happy life.

Miracles can happen thanks to Spirit and the willing spirit of the animal. Another was 12 year old mare who was having liver and kidney issues and was not eating. She was lying down and would not get up to move. Not eating she had no energy. She was also having some foot issues. Her extraction included removing a coating that was preventing her from eliminating toxins from her system and cleaning her whole digestive system which had hardened. We were then directed to a soul piece that was stuck. Her feet were literally stuck almost like they were glued to the ground and she couldn't move. She wanted to "go home" but wasn't sure of the direction. For her this meant her spirit home. We released her and once she was again able to move, her guides asked her to decide if she wanted to return home to Spirit or to her people in this worldly plane. She decided to stay. When my client returned home from work that evening, before she even called in for the report, she found the horse standing at the food trough eating. She continued to eat and regained her strength. She languished and revived over a nine month period as her soul completed its journey and chose to return Home.

Sometimes though, the healing comes in the form of helping the animal's spirit to leave. Another one of my horses was a rescue with a facial deformity. This was causing problems with his breathing and causing seizures. When we approached the horse for soul recovery he ran. He was confused and said that he didn't want healing. We asked if we could make him comfortable and were allowed to do some extraction work to ease the seizures. We cleaned and reconnected broken energy pathways as we were allowed. Within a few weeks we were informed that the horse had made his transition. The path that he chose for healing was to return to Spirit.

I could go on and on with the many cases we've worked with over the years, from physical issues and illnesses, to "acting out" or other behavioral upsets, to helping someone's companion to complete their earth walk and return to the Mother. From the dog and cat, to the lizard and rat and every pet in between, a soul recovery can help your companion to be at his or her best.

Until next time –

Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),
Debbie

Announcing our Grand Expansion Sale

2011-01-17T12:09:00.000-08:00

We are pleased to announce our Grand Expansion Sale.

You have been asking us "Where can I get....?" So, now you can one stop shop for your shaman's tools and toys and get 10% off to boot!

Check out our sale flyer at this link -

http://www.icontact-archive.com/QkQ6e9vuzWA4voj_26OSuiVqY4nais_S?w=2&sms_ss=blogger&at_xt=4d34a089826bb829%2C0

Mitakuye Oyasin (A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),

Debbie

Winter Solstice Celebrations

2010-12-20T15:25:00.000-08:00

For many years, since our children moved through the Santa Claus phase, we have gathered with family and friends to celebrate the Winter Solstice or Yule. Like our ancestors of old, following the rhythms of Mother Earth’s cycles, we gather to celebrate the end of the darkness and the return of the light.

Our ancestors lived in harmony with Mother Earth, Father Sun and Grandmother Moon, recognizing their cycles and living their lives within these rhythms, and celebrating the turning of the year and its cycles. The year's shortest day and longest night, the Winter Solstice, is still celebrated in many traditions around the globe, celebrating the triumph of light over darkness… the return of the Sun.

In the land of our Celtic ancestors, this was the time between Samhain (Halloween) and Yule, the time when we had completed the harvest, the animals were brought in from the summer pasture, our pantries were full, the wood was piled and we had hunkered down for the winter. This is the time when the earth went dormant once more, sleeping until Spring returned. Our ancestors knew that despite the darkness of this night, soon the light would return to the earth, bringing with it life. On this night, the Winter Solstice, they welcomed back the Sun, the ultimate giver of light with giant bonfires on the hilltops. The people sought to keep the darkness at bay with these fires and with the next new dawn, they were again shown that the Sun had triumphed over darkness and was born anew. Some would drum throughout the night, lending their energy to mid-wife the Sun’s birth. The time of growing light had come, and spring would soon be here. However cold and dark the days remained, a glimmer of hope had arrived. Feasting, storytelling and dancing abounded. (Check out this story for the young and young at heart-- http://community-2.webtv.net/stormlght/APaganYuleTale/)

Many Native American traditions also honor the winter solstice. The Hopi festival of Soyal honors the Spider Woman and the Hawk Maiden, and celebrates the sun's victory over winter's darkness.

While some of our ancestors celebrated this special time with feasts, for others it was a time of dreaming. Rather than staying up all night to celebrate the dawn, some turned in early, to sleep and to dream. As Mother Night reigned supreme, they walked between the worlds of light and darkness, gathering great meaning from what The Great Mystery illuminated for them. At first light, they would gather and relate what visions they saw on this special night.
Our personal celebration over the years has been a ceremony lighting the Yule candle to welcome the return of the Sun and asking that the seeds of our wishes and dreams be planted so that they may take root in the spring. Our candle is lit on the longest night and remains lit until the next day when the Sun has again returned and Darkness begins to wane. Then in typical pagan tradition, we feast and share gifts. Like so many traditions, this has shifted and changed over the years and this year will again transform as it is just Gary and I sharing our Yule celebration together this year. We will be able to share part of our celebration with our children thanks to technology and Skype.

We invite you to join us for this time of celebration. No matter what your cultural or religious beliefs, you can begin your own Winter Solstice traditions. There are so many ways to celebrate and different forms of ceremonies that I suggest you search to web to find a beginning for a ceremony or ritual that you can create for you alone, or to share with friends and family. Here are a few ideas to get you started on short notice.

Many of us have at least heard of the Yule Log. Decorate a good-sized log (traditionally oak, also traditionally not purchased but found) with a few sprigs of evergreen tied in ribbon (probably red) and place it in your fireplace. For a ritual touch, write wishes for the new year on slips of paper and tuck them under the ribbon. The full tradition requires that the log be lit on Yule (winter solstice or Christmas Eve, or both! your choice) along with a piece of the previous year's Yule log, then extinguished before burning out fully, to save a portion to light with the following year's log, hence completing the cycle of the year.

For those without fireplaces or for a different take on the tradition, you can create a candle version by taking a smallish log, sawing a flattened side as the base, then drilling holes fat enough to hold candles for a tabletop decoration.

If you’re not up to the Yule Log, use a Yule Candle. A Yule Candle is simply a large red or white candle set among seasonal greenery. Anoint the candle with seasonal oils or herbs, focusing your intentions for the new year into the candle as you anoint it. Light the candle at dark on the longest night and allow it to burn through the following morning. (Be sure you have something under it to catch the wax as it burns. I have ruined a heritage table cloth that way.) Wishes can also be written on paper and lit from the candle, then placed in a burning bowl, to release your prayers to the spirit realm.

Another simple tradition is a meditation in the dark, then lighting candles and turning on the lights to symbolize the return of the Sun. Here is a simple meditation courtesy of Zaratyst to help you focus your intention.

The old solar year has run its course and completed its cycle. So to have some of our habits or traits completed their cycles and outlived their usefulness.

This is a time for shedding that which is no longer needed.

Take a few moments now to consider which things you would leave behind as you go into the coming year. (pause)

As the old year dies away so to will these old ways will fade into memory.

In the beginning we came from the darkness of the womb. There we were created, nourished and prepared for our birth into the light. Within us, we still carry that fertile darkness. there we hold the seeds of hopes and dreams to come. There we nourish are hopes for love, joy and peace for all. We shield these tender roots until they are strong enough to come forth and flourish in the light. Spend a little time now tending these creations to come. Name them, nurture them for they will grow with you and bloom in the coming year. (pause)

As the sun strengthens above, so will our new ways grow.

Another way to plant the seeds for the new year is be creating prayer bundles. Cut small pieces of cloth (usually red) and fill them with tobacco or other herbs as an offering to the spirits. As you fill each bundle, focus your intention on what you need to acknowledge or honor from the dark of your soul that could only have been brought forth in the darkness. Acknowledge them and thank them for their presence and the gifts they have brought into your life. Tie each bundle with a string. Now, repeat the process focusing your intention on what seeds you wish to plant for the next year, your wishes and desire. When you have completed your bundles, take them to the fire with your love and intention for celebrating what is in the dark now, and what is planted for times to come. The fire will take your prayers to spirit.

Yule is a celebration of light, so simply lighting a fire and sitting either by your self or with others to enjoy the dance of the Fire Spirits is a celebration. Share the wassail or egg nog and a cookie or two. Pick up a drum and make some joyous music to help mid-wife the Sun’s birth. Remember, as Gary and I both say, “However you choose to do it is right for you. There is no right or wrong way.” So, go forth and celebrate the Longest Night and Return of the Light.

And don’t forget the Elementals… share some of those wassail and cookies with the Nature Spirits outdoors!

Wishing you a blessed Yule. Having you in our lives is what keeps the Light shining in our hearts. We hope the seeds you plant at Yule grow fields of blessings in the year to come.

Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),
Gary & Debbie Gent

The Shaman, The Spirit Healer & the Earth

2010-11-07T12:09:00.001-08:00

Talk about coincidences (and yes, I know there really aren't any)...On Friday, I was forwarded the video links and this announcement from Global Spirit and asked if I would post it. Then last night we happened to be in Grants Pass and had the honor of attending a screening of the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers' movie "For the Next 7 Generations" (more on this next blog). Flordemayo, who is one of the speakers in this event is one of the 13 Grandmothers.

Syncronicity at play!

Hopefully you'll get the opportunity to tune in.

Until next time---

Mitakuye Oyasin (A
Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),

Debbie

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Global Spirit on Link TV Premieres New Show and Live Video Chat

The Shaman, The Spirit Healer & The Earth

Conversation with Flordemayo, a Mayan Spirit Healer and Angaangaq,an Eskimo-Kalaalit Shaman from Greenland

SAN FRANCISCO,CA – November 2, 2010 -- Global Spirit, a unique “internal travel series,” launches a new show and live video chat on Sunday, Nov. 14th at 6pm PST/ 9pm EST.

Join host Phil Cousineau as he engages in conversation and practice with Flordemayo, a Mayan spirit healer and one of the 13 Indigenous Grandmothers and Angaangaq, an Eskimo-Kalaalit Shaman from Greenland. Meeting for the first time, these two indigenous guests share their ancient wisdom and knowledge about the human relationship to nature,as well as the profound sacredness of all life—including sacred healing practices from the world of spirits, animals and plants.

Join us for the premiere of -- The Shaman, The Spirit Healer & the EarthLive Video Chat to Directly Follow Première

Flordemayo,
a Mayan Spirit Healer and Angaangaq, an Eskimo-Kalaalit Shaman from Greenland

If you could talk directly to these great traditional healers, what wouldyou ask?

What should our true relationship to nature be?

How does healing occur within the world of spirits, animals and plants?

What is the land saying about our current climate conditions? What does she (the earth) need from us?

Please watch the shows online and participate in the live chat by adding your insight, experiences or asking a question at: www.linktv.org/globalspirit?

Details:

· The Shaman, The Spirit Healer & The Earth streaming online and on Satellite at 6pm PST/9pm EST at: www.linktv.org/globalspirit

· Live video chat with Angaangaq from Germany at 6:55-7:15 pm PST

· Live video chat with Flordemayo from New Mexico 7:15-7:35 pm PST
Check out these video clips:

About Global Spirit
Global Spirit is a unique “internal travel series,” bringing to light the various practices – spiritual,mental and physical – that help us define who we are as human beings and explore how this affects our relationships to our families, our communities, ourselves and the world at large. Global Spirit examines the relationships between mind and spirit, science and metaphysics, and mental and physical well-being as approached by the world’s ancient wisdom traditions and modern science. Through this series, we aim to foster a global spirit of acceptance and mutual understanding and encourage viewer’s “internal journey” towards personal and social transformation. http://www.globalspirit.tv/

Bios:

Flordemayo is a curandera espirtu, or traditional healer, who was born in Nicaragua and has Mayan ancestors. Flordemayo is a member of the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers and co-founder of the Institute of Natural and Traditional Knowledge. She received the Martin de La Cruz Award for Alternative Healer, given by the International Congress of Traditional Medicine.

“Uncle” Angaangaq is an Eskimo-Kalaalit shaman, healer, and carrier of the Qilaut drum. He travels world-wide sharing teachings that are deeply rooted in the oral healing traditions of his people. He has also been a speaker at many international conferences on climate change, environmental and indigenous issues.

Phil Cousineau, the series host, is a writer, teacher, editor, independent scholar, travel leader, and storyteller. He lectures frequently on a wide range of topics—from mythology,film, and writing, to beauty, travel, sports, and creativity. He has more than 25 non-fiction books and 15 scriptwriting credits to his name.

Stephen Olsson, the series creator, is a filmmaker, television producer and spiritual seeker whose work has been screened in festivals and broadcast on national television networks throughout the world. He has won numerous national and international awards including the National Emmy Award for Outstanding Director, the Du-Pont Columbia Award for Excellence in broadcast journalism and the George Foster Peabody Award.

Link TV is available as basic service on DIRECTV channel 375 and DISH Network channel 9410, and on more than 50 urban cable systems, reaching a total of more than 47 million U.S. homes. For complete background information, program schedule and Internet streaming of Link TV’s original programs, music videos, documentary clips and artist interviews, visit www.linktv.org.

Lions and Tigers and Bears – Oh My ... Animal Guides

2010-09-24T14:59:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm behind AGAIN... Can I say I've been busy harvesting and preserving the fruits of the summer's labor? Someone at the farmer's market yesterday was buying zucchini... I've been trying to GIVE them away! (Hey... maybe zucchini should be our Fall Harvest Give Away!) I have also been working on developing and acquiring some new product for our website at www.shamansmarketplace.com.

And, besides, you don't want to just hear me ramble. I'm sure you all have someone in your life who can fill that role if you need it. I'm not a rambler. Gary and I can ride in the car together for hours and hardley say a word. Just knowing we're together and sharing the time together is heavenly.

Those of you who have worked with Gary and I over the years have heard us constantly referring to “we” when talking about your journeys. It sounds like we’re pregnant or have a mouse in our pocket, right? Well, we’re definitely NOT pregnant, but could possibly have that mouse in our pocket. An animal guide mouse that is.

As shaman, we have a lot of help in the other world. We have helpers, guides and teachers that come in all shapes and forms—human, animal, spirit, energy and some that are indescribable. Some of these guides will be with us as our soul progresses, some are here for this earth walk, and others come and go as they are needed. We have some that help us specifically with shamanic journeys and others who assist us in our personal lives.

Sometimes during journeys we are instructed to retrieve a spirit guide for the individual we are journeying for and some of you have asked to have your guide brought in to help you. Although these guides generally appear in animal form, they may sometimes come in the form of angels, elementals, mythical beings, and faeries.

All societies believe animals have played and do play a special role in our spiritual and physical lives. From the Far East, to Native Americans, a sacred Cow from Hinduism and the Dove of Peace that plays a key role as a guide in Christian literature. People throughout the world believe animals are our spiritual teachers and guides.

When we bring an animal guide back for you as part of a journey, it’s not just a guide that we found hanging around with nothing to do and brought him/her home like a lost puppy. This guide has been waiting for you. We had ‘imaginary friends’ as children who were pretty amazing. We talked and played with them until the age that society told us that it was time to ‘grow up’. It was then that our friend and guide went away. Gary likes to say it’s like they’ve been waiting at the Starbucks in the Meadow all this time for you to come back. This guide has come back to teach you more about the intimate details of your personality, character traits and your spirit and spiritual gifts. It helps guide you along your spiritual path, offers answers to questions, and can even protect you on the spiritual as well as the physical plane. Guides are even helpful with the mundane, every day activities such as finding a parking place in a crowded parking lot, escorting your bags through airline chaos, getting you to the gas station ‘on fumes’ and protecting your gardens from interlopers.

Animal guides are usually a reflection of your deepest self and represent qualities which you need in this world, but which are hidden or to balance more outward characteristics. Just because you really like a certain animal, such as a lion, doesn’t necessarily mean that it will is you guide. Your guide chooses you. Sometimes people seem to be disappointed when they find that their guide isn’t that powerful lion, but is a small animal like a mouse. We tend to think that a mouse is not very powerful - that it is meek and afraid. We forget that spirits are not limited to physical reality and that size is irrelevant. Your guide may be a tiny mouse, like the one in our pockets, but in times of need this mouse can and will “grow” to fit the occasion. There is nothing weak or meek about a 50-foot tall mouse! I personally know a faerie that can be pretty big and scary!

Okay, you have a mouse in your pocket too. It’s been hanging out at Starbucks in the Meadow and you had no clue, so now what? The first thing we tell people when they get their guides is to ask this guide to protect you from ‘this moment forward in this and all lifetimes’. One of the major roles of the guides is to protect you, so why do you need to ask them to do it? Well, before a guide can come back, it has to agree to only do what you ask it to do. In other words, it can’t do anything on its own accord. This keeps you from acquiring some unwanted karma since you are responsible for all action the guide takes. So, you want to ask him/her to protect you, and doing it in one big general statement keeps you from forgetting and getting stuck in a not so nice situation. (Ask us how we know…)

With protection in place, it’s time to get down to developing a relationship with your guide. Like any relationship this takes communication, time and patience. Talk to your guide regularly, even if you don’t hear any replies. Eventually you will begin to understand your guide’s language. Now you may not hear it like you’re talking to Joe next door, but you may possibly ‘hear voices in your head’. (Do not rush to your nearest mental institution and have yourself committed, call us first. It’s probably just your friendly guide saying hello.) Most likely you will begin to sense the responses or see them by being shown something in nature. Sometimes your guides will speak to you during Dreamtime. Just remember, it takes time and patience.

Treat your guide like your best friend. Talk to him/her often and about anything and everything. We differ here than a lot of people who help others work with their guides. Some tend place the guides on a pedestal above us and put us in a position of subservience. We treat our guides with honor and respect, just like we would our best friend or partner. We also play and joke with them, but heed their wisdom, and love and honor them deeply. Remember to play with your guide. They aren’t all about work and wisdom. All work and no play makes for a pretty irritable guide.

Next, learn about the characteristics of your guide. Understanding the physical and behavioral characteristics of your guide can point out strengths or weaknesses in you on your physical, emotional or spiritual levels. The more you study and learn about your guide the easier it will be to call on its energy whenever you need it. There are many books and websites that talk about the physical and spiritual characteristics of animals and plants. One of our favorites happens to be Animal Speak—The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small by Ted Andrews.

The last thing to remember is to ask your guide things. He/She has a vast amount wisdom and knowledge to draw on. You may not always like your guide’s answers, but it’s always good advice whether you choose to follow it or not. Remember, you still have free will and your guide will be around to help you out of a mess if he/she needs to. Ask your guide to assist you with projects or to find those parking spots. You have to ask. Remember they guide has agreed to not take any action on its own. So, put him/her to work.

(Don’t know your guide? It can be retrieved for you though a journey, or Debbie is recording a guided meditation for retrieving your guide that will be available through our website at www.shamansmarketplace.com around October 15.)

We have our Fall Harvest Give Away going on now for a the guided journey CD - "Meeting Your Animal Spirit Guide" mentioned above. You can enter through the drawing tab on our Facebook page. In fact, if you send me an e-mail when you become a new fan, I'll even put an extra entry in the basket for you. How about that...an extra opportunity just for joining us on Facebook!
Here’s wishing you and your guide many pleasant journeys.

Until next time –

Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),

Debbie

Book Review - Awakening to the Spirit World - The Shamanic Path of Direct Revelation

2010-08-02T19:42:00.023-07:00

Not long before our move, we were asked by the wonderful folks at Sounds True to review Sandra Ingerman and Hank Wesselman’s new book, AWAKENING TO THE SPIRIT WORLD:The Shamanic Path of Direct Revelation. Ingerman and Wesselman have are joined by Tom Cowan, Carol Proudfoot-Edgar, Jose Luis Stevens, and Alberto Villoldo in this book. I’m always interested in hearing what other practitioners have to say about shamanic practice.

The book arrived just in time to find its way into a packing box headed for Oregon. Once the book found its way out of the packing paper, I began reading.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I have read several books recently purporting to be introductory books on shamanism that left me wondering who their audience was. They were dry, clinical and confusing. Awakening to the Spirit World is an enjoyable and easy read. It’s a great book for those new to the shamanic path, but it is not a “how to book”.

Reading the first three chapters, “What Is Shamanism?”, “The Shamanic Journey” and “Reconnecting with Nature”, I had to pinch myself because the information sounded like Gary and I talking about shamanism. Chapter 1 starts out saying “Shamanism is the most ancient spiritual practice known to humankind. As a method, it is a form of meditation combined with a focused intention. As a spiritual practice, shamanism can become a way of life that may utterly transform the one who practices it.” Gary and I have always explained shamanism as “not just a series of practices, but a way of life, living in connection with Spirit”.

One of my favorite parts of the book was the section on the shaman’s toolbox – gratitude, seeing and blessing. Here is the excerpt from AWAKENING TO THE SPIRIT WORLD: The Shamanic Path of Direct Revelation by Sandra Ingerman and Hank Wesselman Published by Sounds True (Reprinted with Permission)

"Three Tools of the Shaman"
by Sandra Ingerman and Hank Wesselman

~ Gratitude ~

The first shamanic tool in your toolbox is gratitude, an attitude and an orientation designed to open the heart. Gratitude is a high-level amplitude that is designed to open portals, windows, and doorways into the spirit world.

Shamanically speaking, in everyday reality (what a shaman considers a consensus dream), Spirit is not apparent to the naked eye. In fact this ordinary world of stone, flesh, and fiber is often quite depressing because it involves frustration, pain, and frightening circumstances and events. The pleasures are more often than not offset by the everyday survival and the constant mind chatter that is enough to drive even the most stable person crazy.

Yet a shaman knows that just behind the movie set that makes up the world, Spirit lies camouflaged, bursting with light and freedom, waiting to be recognized and resourced. Spirit has cleverly arranged portals in strategic places that if opened, lead directly past the everyday outer world into the power of the inner reality where all answers lie and where all problems are revealed to be the illusions that they are.

These portals are literally everywhere, but there are primary ones that are so close to us that they are practically impossible to miss. The one most accessible is the heart, which lies smack in the middle of your chest just below your chin, and it is so accessible that you can easily reach your heart with your hands. When you speak it vibrates, and when you breathe it is massaged all around. It is hard to comprehend how you would miss it, yet we do ignore it every day unless we should have the misfortune of a heart attack.

Shamans "see" through their hearts. Shamanic tribes like the Maori of New Zealand believe that the physical world we experience is actually a projection coming from each individual heart. The Mayans and the Q'ero tribe in the Peruvian Andes have their own versions of this basic understanding. Their shamans know that self-importance, created by the ego, is dedicated to keeping the powerful heart portal closed off enough to prevent Spirit from shining through.

The ego accomplishes this by shutting down the heart to the point where the portal remains closed to the spirit world. The portals pop open only when a certain amplitude is reached, so keeping it below a certain level prevents opening. What keeps amplitude low are all the familiar maladies: fear, hostility, self-importance, depression, self-doubt, cynicism, and frustration. Because of these, most people's hearts are shut down most of the time, which feels bad in the chest and cuts off the main avenue of escape from pain and suffering -- an open heart.

Gratitude counters these ploys by the parasitical false personality and raises the amplitude high enough to begin the heart-opening process.

~ Seeing ~

The second great shamanic tool in your toolbox is seeing. For a shaman, "to see" is to cut through the veils of ignorance, the false appearance of the world, in order to see clearly into the true nature of Spirit as it manifests through all of reality. In other traditions, it is known as forgiveness or compassion. Seeing is the post powerful method of releasing blame, guilt, and shame.

Seeing ends the war within us just as it resolves conflicts with externals and paves the way for our cooperation and extension. The false personality tries to convince you that forgiving or having compassion is a weakness, that you are setting yourself up to be taken advantage of again. It also tries to get you to believe that you and the others have no value and therefore deserve ill treatment or self-loathing. Seeing makes these terrible perceptions impossible. Seeing the truth provides relief from the terrible stress or guilt, and this results in shifting our energy in a way that allows us to open the heart and other portals to the world of spirit.

When shamans speak of "seeing," they are actually talking about clearing away the projections and distorted thoughts of the conscious mind onto the world at large and all its forms.

Shamans and visionaries know that these projections are blinding and the source of endless misunderstandings and assumptions based on fear of the unknown.

Seeing means that we are perceiving the truth, and therefore there is no room for hostility, blame, fear, or set decrees. How does this take place? When we really see in the shamanic or visionary way, we know that we are Spirit and that we have simply become confused and are lost in appearances for awhile. The false personality is only a delusional construct created by the egoic self; in dealing with the world, it tends to create lies in which we and others take refuge.

Shamans say that when people learn to see they are able to access almost limitless power because they realize they are intimately connected to the vast web of life. For the shaman, seeing into the true nature of reality and the self is a great power; it is a required skill for self-realization and ultimately enlightenment.

~ Blessing ~

Now we come to the third great power tool in that shamanic toolbox that everyone has from birth -- the ability to bless.

In general, people do not know their function as human beings, and it never occurs to them that their job is actually to bless the world. Many people have been taught to bless their food; they consider a blessing to be a few words mumbled over a meal that lacks heart and meaning. This is hardly what shamans mean by blessing.

Blessing is the act of recognizing that Spirit is coming through what we are witnessing or experiencing. It is recognizing and acknowledging the grand flow of Beingness that is present as what we eat or what we see as the landscape, through our bodies, through each moment of now and gives it indescribable vitality and life force. Yet the physical plane appears to most as a camouflage universe where Spirit does not appear to exist.

Shamanically speaking, many of us respond to the physical world by assuming a deep hypnosis, a deep sleep where we no longer recognize that Spirit is present. Not only do we go to sleep, but large parts of the world may temporarily go to sleep as well. So it is our job to wake up and to awaken all that is around us. This act of waking up could be called "blessing the world."

Many of us have been taught to believe that only people who have gone to seminary or special training programs to become ministers, rabbis, priests, imams, or shamans have the right to bless. We invite the ordained individuals to come before us and bless ceremonies, fields, businesses, projects, meetings, and banquets, and we bow our heads while they talk to Spirit for us.

This is not a bad practice, but it is extraordinarily limiting. Many of those we invite to do the blessing for us are the most asleep of all, revealing that no one can do the work of blessing for us. Each human comes with that capacity, with that ability, and with the responsibility to bless.

So what happens when we bless, and how do we go about blessing in an effective way?

To bless means that you become conscious that you are alive and that Spirit is flowing through you. This realization allows you to see that Spirit is flowing all around and that what is coming through you is coming through everything and that it is all the same. When you see or feel this you merely say something like, "I am Spirit. Let us awake. Let us awake Spirit in everything I see."

While saying this you can look around and bless with your hands and arms outstretched, waking everything up to the incredible power of Spirit that flows through everything with great passion and peace. In response, everything receives a boost, everything celebrates, everything is grateful, and everything forgives its slumber. There are few practices as powerful as this awakening. If you want to add a little something else to your blessing, you may bestow upon everything that you are experiencing or witnessing the gift of well-being from the bottom of your heart.

You might say, "I give you great happiness and love. May all who come here or pass this way be blessed with joy, abundance, and wellness." What you give is what you get, so make sure you give the best you can imagine.

Blessing is incomprehensibly powerful and is perhaps the greatest tool of all because it is the pathway back to Spirit. Yet it is hard to bless if you have no gratitude and you have not seen the need to forgive. These three tools work together as a powerhouse trio. They are all important characteristics of the physical universe: Truth, Love, and Energy -- or Yachay, Munay, and Llankay, the three Andean shamanic principles of living. Each tool works with all three components. Gratitude recognizes truth, transmits love, and enhances energy. Seeing tells the truth, radiates love, and release phenomenal energy.

Always remember that you have shamanic tools resting in your toolbox. They require deliberate use to become effective. These three tools, when used regularly, are all that is needed to become liberated and self-realized and to gain mastery over life. Why wait?

~ Exercise: For Blessing ~

First thing in the morning, go outside and practice blessing the sky, the Earth, the trees, or whatever elements are most visible. Then go on to bless your family, your colleagues, your students, your teachers, and all of their communities as well. Bless all their relations and on and on until everything and everyone has been included. Bless Spirit and don't forget to bless yourself. Now experience how you feel. Do you feel more expansive, more powerful, more happy, more on the right path? This is the true shamanic way -- and the way of the visionary.

The information in the book was clear and gives the reader a deeper understanding of the shamanic way of life with exercises that invite the reader to join in and experience shamanism. As an added bonus there is a shamanic drumming CD included.

Even after almost twenty years of walking the shamanic path, I found myself drawn into the chapters on dreams, creative art and working with sound and light. I was also drawn deep into the chapters on death and dying. Reading one night, I even had a soul piece return that was holding me back from fully embracing my role as a “death walker”. Although I have done a good piece of psycho pomp work, I knew there was a block holding me back and my reading that evening awoke the soul piece that needed returning. What an unexpected outcome!

I would definitely recommend this book for you if you are interested in shamanism and how to apply in your daily life. It’s a great introductory book, and as you can see, it can be of benefit to a more experienced practitioner.

Until next time – Happy Reading

Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),

Debbie

Greeting from our new Oregon location!

2010-05-11T11:50:00.000-07:00

WE HAVE ARRIVED IN OREGON!!!

May 1 was moving day. We picked up this 26' Uhaul truck and a trailer for Gary's motorcycle mistress and began packing. Our daughter, Kimberly, arrived early along with Gary's sister, Eileen along with her "Dollie. Then our shamanic family, Keith, Jennifer and Deb showed up. Kimberly called some of her big buff guy friends to help us coercer the hot tub into the Uhaul, and then we really got down to it. Lots of others showed up during the day to lend a hand and say goodbye.

For a while it looked like things were going okay and we'd have plenty of room, until we started packing in the furniture. Now mind you, we don't have much as we live pretty simply, but next thing we knew the truck was full and there were still pieces of furniture and boxes on the lawn! We had even gone to Ikea and bought new desks to assemble and left them in the boxes so they wouldn't take up so much room. We loaded up my truck like the Beverly Hillbillies and donated the brand new cat pole and storage cabinet to Kimberly and her cat as well as leaving some additional things behind for Brian, our son, to move into his apartment. Plus our tenants got to keep our lawn mover (which probably wouldn't have worked here, we're on 1.5 acres and it was electric!) By the time we were done, we were too pooped to pop. We headed to the hotel for a shower and then Kimberly's for our last family dinner for a while. After that, we had to go back and collect our cats who were enjoying the yard one last time and stuffed them in their crates to head north.

Sunday morning bright and early, we hopped in the trucks and headed northwest. We were a good 22 hours on the road over 2 days. We arrived in Medford early Monday evening, got a good meal and a good night's sleep before we began the unpacking process. Gary had the forethought to hire a couple of young men here to help us unload. That was the best investment we made! They had the truck all unloaded, including the hot tub, in about 2 hours! Mother Nature even cooperated with us and gave us lovely days for both packing and unpacking.

We are currently renting a house in Central Point, which is just a few miles north of Medford. We are renting about 1.5 acre of a larger parcel. Our new home is a large double wide mobile home, with plenty of room for our offices. We have a big barn/shop and a greenhouse in the back, and lots of garden space. Debbie is really looking forward playing in the garden once we get settled. There was even a pad right by the back door waiting for our hot tub!

We now have our offices unpacked, computers hooked up, and internet and phones connected. So, we are back in business again after a short break (notice we didn't say "vacation"). For Gary it's business as usual. For Debbie, she is now moving into a full time shamanic practice as well as maintaining our websites (and developing a new one - not quite ready yet).

The only thing that has changed for us is our physical address. All our contact information stays the same. Yes, even our phone numbers, thanks to Vonage. So, no need to change how you contact us. We kept it easy for you (and us... now we don't have to remember new numbers when we have "senior moments").

So, keep in touch. We will begin regluar posts again.
Thanks to all who sent their thoughts, prayers and hard working hands to support our move. This is the first step toward building our retreat.

Mitakuye Oyasin, (a Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related)

Gary & Debbie

Moving Day at Shamanic Connection

2010-04-17T08:18:00.000-07:00

I know I said I wouldn't post until after the move, but I caught a few minutes between boxes, so I thought I would let everyone know how things are progressing for the trek to Oregon.

I just returned from the house hunting trip and have found us a wonderful place in a town called Central Point. It is a suburb of Medford, so we are only about 15 minutes away. Medford is a town of about 75k, so, not too big or too small. We were actually looking a little farther north toward Grants Pass, but I couldn't find a country home there, so we migrated south.

We decided to rent for a while since we love the whole Rogue River Valley. We can now take our time and find the perfect place for the retreat.

The property we found is about 1.5 acres out of a larger parcel. The whole parcel is about 6 acres and has a creek behind the barn and an orchard. There is a lake within walking distance, and our street dead ends into the Rogue River. Our nearest neighbor is a large city lot away on the side and a good half mile behind us. So we will have quiet. Off to the north east is a large table mesa that overlooks the property.

We have a large 3 bedroom mobile home with lots of space to work and rattle about, since it will be just Gary and I, plus 2 cats. The property has a large barn shaped shop with an office, a huge green house (yes, I'm in heaven), gazebo, lots of garden space, a huge front yard and even a pad already set up for our hot tub.

Before we rented the property, I made an offering to the land spirits. I journeyed to the land to make my offering and was met by 3 spirits. The guardian of the mesa was an ancient male spirit, as was the river spirit. The spirit of the land was an ancient but beautiful female. When I made my request and offering, I was told by each that they would consider my offer. I thanked them and left. The next day the property was ours. I look forward to doing our first ceremony and offering thanks again to the spirits for welcoming us.

While I was gone, we rented our house here in Phoenix and have been finishing up the "I''ll get to that later list". It is now "later" and I'm amazed at how much we left on that list.

So, the next couple of weeks are invested in packing. After 12 years in this house, we have a lot of "stuff". I'm not a collecter, but we have several boxes of drums and back jacks and tons of business stuff to move. Then there is a garage full to tools and garden stuff, besides household things. You don't realize what you have until you try to pack it all!

We will be picking up our truck on May 1 and will be heading north bright and early on May 2. So, if you see a big U-Haul with a yellow motorcycle on a trailer, followed by a silver Tundra heading north, that's us. Gary get's the drive the U-Haul an I get to haul the cats :-( -- I'm thinking a trip to the vet for something to help them with the ride is in order.

Our next blog will be from Oregon.

Until then -

Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),
Debbie

Everything is Sacred

2010-03-16T23:41:00.000-07:00

Well everyone, I know I’m way behind on updating the blog, but life is such a whirlwind right now that it’s hard to keep upright.
We are busy preparing for our big move to Oregon the end of next month, so we are working diligently preparing our house to be rented, including the final piece of remodeling and lots of small repairs that we seem to not notice except when the rental agent is pointing them out.

I will be leaving my part-time job the end of this month and have started training my replacement. Can you imagine trying to pass along 4 ½ years of job experience in two weeks?? I see many margarita nights coming….

And we haven’t even started thinking about packing yet….

So, I hope we have your sympathy and that you’ll bear with us until we are settled and can start writing on a regular routine.

So, on to our story….

Sometimes we tend to get caught up in the trappings of the world and forget that everything is sacred, especially when it comes to spiritual endeavors including ceremony. We have to have the right stone or candle or incense or the ceremony won’t be right. Or we have to craft an item to perfection. “The right tool for the right job.”

I touched on this quite a few blogs back with the Popcorn and M&M ceremony, that even the most mundane item can hold a spiritual purpose. We often employ the “Sacred Bic” that Gary carries in his pocket and the “sacred hair dryer” for tightening up a drum head when the weather is too damp. Like a dear friend use to tell us, “If the Indians would have had a Bic or a glue gun, they’d have used them.” Indigenous people are VERY practical!

This leads to the shiny silver emergency blanket that I have draped over my altar as an altar cloth. Yup, the $2.37 Wal-Mart special that you carry in your trunk for emergencies.

You see, we travel with many Spirit Guides and one of mine happens to be a raven. Well, ravens are known for loving shiny things ... like silver emergency blankets.

For quite some time I have been seeing my dear friend and shamanic practitioner who is also a Chinese Medicine person and acupuncturist. When you are on the table looking like a pin cushion, you can’t very well cover up with a blanket if you’re cold, so she uses these emergency blankets to cover her patients. The first time she covered me, Raven appeared and sat at the top of the table fawning over the blanket. Of course my friend is aware of his presence and we both had a good laugh.

My next treatment brought the same, strange behavior. Again, good for a giggle. Well, Raven began “staying after” to coo at the blanket. Then Raven started showing up to the treatment room before I arrived, sitting outside the cabinet admiring the blanket and telling my friend how pretty it was. She would remind him I wasn’t coming for several hours and he insisted he’d wait, reciting the mantra of “Oh how pretty" and "Ooh, shiny.”

This went on for months. He was absolutely shameless when it came to that blanket! Finally he and I agreed that maybe an aluminum foil ball would work to keep his attention at home. So off I went to the back closet where I kept the camping gear to find the aluminum foil (I don’t use it to cook at home). I sat and made a nice big foil ball and placed it prominently on my altar.

Shortly thereafter I had another acupuncture appointment and guess who preceded my arrival? Yup, there he was, big as day in front of the cabinet in the treatment room!

Okay, so the foil ball didn’t hold his attention. A few days later I pulled into Wal-Mart’s parking lot and there sat Raven with several other smaller black birds in the parking lot! I spoke and when I got out he began singing to me and held his song for quite some time. It wasn’t the usual crow like caw, it was a song. When we were done with our conversation, I followed his marching orders, straight to the sporting goods department and paid my $2.37 to get the shiny silver emergency blanket which is now draped over my altar under my regular altar cloth.

And, every time I have to explain the “unusual altar cloth” to clients, we all get a good laugh and a reminder that even shiny silver emergency blankets are sacred. Remember, it’s all about the “intent”.

So, I’m signing off until sometime in May when we will be home again in Oregon among the trees and mountains and rivers. And I can get my hands and feet in the dirt once again to see my plants (and myself) bloom.

Until then –

Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),

Debbie

A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee... and Shamanism.

2010-01-31T15:13:00.001-08:00

This delicious email came to me through friends yesterday. They didn’t know where it came from, but that they too had received it by email. I searched the web and have found this posted many places, and some clear back from 2005, but no references or sources. But the Mom that originally coined this wisdom is extremely wise indeed. So, I pass this along to you as food for thought.

“A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee...

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up, She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, ' Tell me what you see.'

'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

So now; ask yourself: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? “

Okay, so how does this relate to a shamanic blog??? My answer is that in my opinion, this is one of the core tenants of shamanic healing. Through the process of shamanic healing and soul retrieval that we get to CHOOSE how we RESPOND to the hand that life deals us. We are the only ones responsible for the outcome.

Sometimes personal responsibility sucks. It would be so much easier to blame someone or something for our present situation, but it truly comes down to whether we react like we always do or make the choice to respond from a place of strength.

Sometimes people I work with have difficulty understanding the difference between reacting and responding. But the difference is huge and once you get the “aha moment” it becomes perfectly clear. When we react, we are simply following the patterns that we have set up over the years, repeating the same behavior. No thought, just action. How many times have we done the “open mouth, insert foot” scenario? This is reacting… speaking or acting without thinking about it. The patterns are so deeply ingrained that we are on autopilot. The worst part is we are acting the same, but always expect the results to be different. Someone told me somewhere along the line that this is the definition of insanity… and I believe it.

So, let’s talk about “responding”. When you respond to a situation, you are making a CHOICE. You are not being triggered by old wounds and patterns and are choosing what to do to achieve the outcome that is most beneficial at the time. Sounds pretty simple, huh? You are acting from a position of strength or from your center, instead of “having your buttons pushed”. Amazingly these choices can come in an instant when we have done our work and are connected to ourselves. Of course, when we choose, then we are then responsible for the outcome. Yup, back to that being responsible for our choices, actions and their outcomes!

Big deep stuff and I honor those who step up to the plate and choose this path.

But to finish quoting that very wise mother …

“When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.”

May we all learn to be COFFEE!!!!!!!

Until next time….

Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),

Debbie

P.S. Don’t forget, March 15 is the drawing for the book Joyce Sequichie Hifler's book, A Cherokee Feast of Days: Daily Meditations.

You can enter the drawing in one of two ways. First you can simply send an email to me at
debbie@shamanicconnection.com or become a fan on our Facebook Fan page (our Facebook fans are automatically entered in our drawings each quarter.)

Winter Giveaway

2010-01-09T09:13:00.002-08:00

It's time to announce the winner of our Fall Harvest Giveaway and ring in the winter drawing.

So, let's begin with our Winter Giveaway...

The Winter Giveaway relates to the North quadrant of the Medicine Wheel (see the Medicine Wheel information in our quarterly newsletters).

One of the major elements of the North quadrant is widsom. So to help access the wisdom of the Ancestors and the North quadrant, we are giving away a copy of Joyce Sequichie Hifler's book, A Cherokee Feast of Days: Daily Meditations.

You can enter the drawing in one of two ways. First you can simply send an email to me at
debbie@shamanicconnection.com or become a fan on our Facebook Fan page (our Facebook fans are automatically entered in our drawings each quarter.)

The drawing will be held on March 15.

And now.... a drum roll please....

The bear rattle from the Fall Harvest Give Away went to Fabio Fina of Boulder, CO. Fabio was excited to receive the rattle and said that it came at a good time in his life. Only the head of the rattle was completed when Gary drew Fabio's name from the hat, so the rest of the rattle was co-created with my guides for Fabio. The rattle was made of elk hide, with a willow handle (left over from sweat lodge poles we gathered along the Verde River). It was filled with juniper berries that I gathered on a trip to Northern Arizona. Then the rattle was trimmed with bear fur at the base of the rattle.

Congratulations Fabio. We hope your rattle carries your prayers swiftly to Spirit .

Until next time…

Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),
Debbie

Stories from the Time of Magic

2009-12-27T11:42:00.000-08:00

Imagine stepping back into the rhythm of the past... into the days of vast forests, sacred groves and fires at twilight... of circles of three... women, priestesses, druids, healers... drumming and drawing stories of wisdom from the Otherworld to bless and heal the community. See yourself gathered around the sacred flame, see the faces of Maiden, Mother and Crone, and hearing their stories of wisdom and healing for the earth, the community and you...

As some of you know, my explorations of shamanism have brought me to a deep connection with Celtic shamanism, which is my heritage and spiritual connection through many, many lifetimes. It is through this connection that I have had the honor and opportunity to be a part of this circle of healing this past year. It has been a phenomenal healing and growth experience.

We came together as a circle of four women, to build on the idea of returning this tradition of story telling and healing to the community, to once again,hear the ancestors speak and share their wisdom. Our journey began to bring this ceremony to the community as a form of shamanic theater, to larger groups in a theatrical setting. But, our director was directed elsewhere as often happens with Spirit. So we were left with three. As we noted the power of three, we also noted that we each of us represented a different face of the Goddess. We truly represented the Triple Goddess as maiden, mother and crone!

Over the months we had come together to sit in circle to develop our rhythm,as well as offering healing to the earth and community at large as the stories were told to us through our shamanic journeys. The stories came forth from the depths of our souls, with the voices of the Ancestors, the Earth and the Elements. And one day we heard the voice that said we were ready to take the ceremony out to the community.

So, last month we invited family and friends to join us as a circle of community,around a circle of three, around a circle of fire to listen to the wisdom offered by the Ancestors. Last night, we opened the circle to the community and had a wonderfully full group, ready to experience this ancient ceremony.

Just imagine walking into a darkened room where only candles flickered, dancing along the walls. An in the center, around a sacred flame, sit three women as Maiden, Mother and Crone, ready to begin an ancient ceremony. You are immediately transported back to the "Time of Magic", when we gathered around the fire as a community to listen to the wisdom of the Ancestors, offered through shamanic ceremony to our heal hearts, souls and community.

After setting a sacred circle, we begin with all three of us women drumming a rhythmic beat to begin to take us into a shamanic trance state, feeling the energy of the Ancestors and the community, waiting to be shown what healing needs to take place this night, what story needs to be heard. Then in turn,we each stop drumming, enter altered state to journey, and return to tell the story that is gifted through us. One by one, we journey and tell the stories,some pin pointed to an individual in the community that needs a certain piece of wisdom (although we don't know who that may be) and some to the community as a whole and some stories are offered for the global community and the Earth. When the last story has ended the drum moves into a rhythm to call us back from our journeys to return to a waking state of consciousness.

Once back in our reality, the community joins hands in a circle, around the circle of three, around the circle of fire. Thanks and blessings are offered to the Ancestors, other spirits present and the elements and the circle is closed.

The circle is closed, but the stories still reverberate in the souls of each person who gathered, rekindling that spark of magic that whispers … "Remember".

Each circle leaves me deeply moved and awestruck (even after all these years of shamanic journeying), and humbled to be chosen as a tool for Spirit.

If you would like to know more about the circle, you can contact me at debbie@shamanicconnection.com. We are beginning to discuss the idea of traveling to other communities, so we may possibly be able to bring this powerful healing experience to your community.

Until next time…

Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),

Debbie

A Coyote's Tale

2009-11-18T22:21:00.000-08:00

My deepest apologies to those who follow our blog. Hopefully some of our readers have not quit checking in thinking we’d abandon everyone. Like each of you, sometimes life gets really crazy. Shamans are not exempt for the worldly chaos. We reside physically in this plane and experience it to it’s fullest – ups and downs.

Over a year ago, we decided we would be returning to Oregon soon. Well, soon is rapidly arriving and there is a lot to be done here to make that transition. We are finishing some much needed upgrades in our house to prepare it for renting, and that always takes a lot longer than we plan. So, if ever we’re away for a long period, you will likely find us under a pile of sawdust or covered in paint :-)

A couple of blogs ago, I told you the story of the coyote’s tail and promised to fill you in on the coyote’s “tale”. It wasn’t a very big or exciting story, but here is the Coyote’s Tale.

When I prepared for the journey, I removed the tail and fur tufts from the freezer where I had placed them for safe keeping until I could do what ever processing is necessary. (When we get to Oregon, I’ll need another freezer or bigger one, as it often contains a healthy dose of “road kill” awaiting processing.) To my surprise, the tail was pretty well disintegrated. Maybe I hadn’t checked it closely in all my excitement, as it appeared intact, but the bone was actually gone, but the fur was still placed exactly as if it still surrounded the bone. So, this coyote tail certainly isn’t going to embellish my south shield that was in the planning.

I gathered a piece of the fur and stepped into journey space. I was immediately taken to the meadow where I found the tail and was introduced to a young coyote pup. His name was Chip (strange for a coyote, but probably easier to pronounce). We spent some time just romping and playing in the meadow with him and the other pups. It was really a pleasant and fun time. No particular messages, just lots of fun and play.

Month’s past and Chip was now an adolescent coyote. We got to spend “a day in the life of a coyote”, searching for food, enjoying the hunt and spending time enjoying the rays of Grandfather Sun. The next thing I knew, I heard a shot and Chip’s yelp as he fell to the ground. My guides and I surrounded him, and knowing there was nothing we could do on the physical, we assisted him in making his transition.

It was here I found myself back in the meadow, standing over the remains that I had found. As I was gathering the offerings Chip had left for me, and said my prayers, I asked that his spirit be guided home. When I did this, one of the elders from his pack came forward and thanked me for assisting Chip and seeing that his spirit reached a place of rest. The elder said I would always be one of the coyote family and I was welcomed into the clan with a rollicking howl.

At this point, Chips entered as a spirit guide, and under took some personal level work with me. He did some very deep digging in both my navel and throat chakras. This had to do with unearthing some of my buried creativity and clearing the communication channels. From our conversations, it seems I have some writing and teaching in my future. This also cleared my ability to howl. So, if you hear a strange sounding coyote howling off pitch, it's probably me :-)

Once I returned to this reality, I remembered back to when I discovered Chip in the field. When I had completed my offering, we heard the coyotes howling off in the distance and Gary and I felt I was being thanked for clearing the space and healing the animal's spirit.

So, now I get to run with the coyotes. Sounds like fun! I wonder where it will take me???

Don’t forget our Fall Harvest Give Away for a bear rattle. To enter this drawing, send me an email to admin@shamanicconnection.com with the word "drawing" in the subject line. Or better yet, become our "fan" on Facebook and automatically be entered in the drawing.

On December 1, we'll pull a name from the basket!

Until next time (and I promise it won’t be so long).

Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),

Debbie

Announcing the Fall Harvest Give Away

2009-09-24T16:10:00.000-07:00

The Give Away

The Give Away ceremony is a Native American Tradition. In Native American cultures, the give away ceremony is the ultimate act of selfless giving. Rather than expect the community to shower a person with gifts on a special occasion, the reverse occurs: the honored individual presents everyone else with something special. Another underlying value of the give away held over from the nomadic days is keeping one's belongings to a minimum and sharing abundance with all those around. Once something is given away, all strings to that gift are broken and the gift is given with no expectations. There is a high value placed on giving away and sharing what is ours. We all know the saying "It is better to give than receive". This is the give away ceremony.

So, we want to share a gift with you because we are honored to count you among our friends.

The Winner Of The Summer Give Away

Congratulations to DeAnn Thompson of Phoenix -- DeAnn's name just jumped out of the basket into Gary's hand. She received a lovely abolone shell, turkey feather fan and white sage we ceremonially gathered for smudging. Since DeAnn lives in the Phoenix Metro area, we even got to hand deliver her winnings and chat over a glass of iced tea.

The Fall Harvest Give Away

This fall's give away will come from the abundance of raw hide we have lurking in our attic. We will be creating a bear rattle to remind you of your journeys through the West Gate (check out our fall newsletter for more info on the West Gate of the Medicine Wheel.)

To enter this drawing, send me an email to admin@shamanicconnection.com with the word "drawing" in the subject line. Or better yet, become our "fan" on Facebook and automatically be entered in the drawing.

On December 1, we'll pull a name from the basket!

A Coyote's Tail

2009-08-31T20:13:00.000-07:00

Back at the beginning of the month, I required a “mental health weekend”. I was nearing a point of completion with a shamanic death and restructuring process that began with the full moon and lunar eclipse in July and was due for the final integration at the full moon and lunar eclipse in August. This was a intensely deep process that completely picked my bones clean, disintegrated me down to my DNA and slowly began the process of recreating me. Needless to say, this certainly rattled my cage and shifted many things in and around me, much to the dismay of some people and situations that no longer fit into the new me. But, that’s another story. Verging on the point of explosion, I called for a “mental health weekend”.

Often I’ll tell Gary “I need a vacation” and we both agree and that’s where it gets left. Not this time. Immediately after I made my declaration, I returned and asked just where we were going camping. I needed to spend time with Mother Earth and the Elementals. So, we packed up the Taj Mahal (our roomy tent), air mattress and the rest of our camping gear and headed toward north eastern Arizona.

We found a lovely primitive place to camp, amidst the noise of several families with little ones. And, in spite of the screaming babies, we reveled in the cooler weather, journeyed to the moon and stars, danced with the fire spirits and played with the Elementals and ravens that happened by, and just sat and did NOTHING!

On Sunday we did take a trip along an old Forest Service road. The road had markers along the way pointing out special points of interest from the 1800’s and early 1900’s. We had headed out to see the petro glyphs and the Apache cliff dwelling along the route, which by the way were fabulous. I don’t do well with heights and the trails were rocky and steep. I kept reminding myself the whole way “I am a goat, I must be a goat, I’m climbing these rocky trails”. The cliff dwelling and petro glyphs were well worth shape shifting into a goat. I have visited other rock art sights before, and these were extremely clear and protected from the elements, as you can see. The energy at the cliff dwelling was sublime. We had left our pipe in camp and proceeded to offer a pipe ceremony to the ancestors from journey space. The ancestors were happy to be recognized and honored in this way. It was one of those “way cool” experiences.

For me, the highlight of the trip happened before we reached the cliffs. We had stopped at the first marker that was one of the original ranger stations in the area. We got out and read the marker, and I decided I had to pee. So I headed off to a stand of trees to take care of nature’s call. On my way I heard an “over hear”. I looked around and there was another stand of trees off to my right that was calling me. Now, I’m pretty equal opportunity when it comes to peeing in the woods, as long as there’s no one around, so I headed for that stand of trees. As I reached the group of standing ones, I was informed to “pay attention and look”. As I looked down, right at my feet was a decayed coyote carcass!

The carcass was pretty clean, no meat and the bones were somewhat scattered. But, directly in front of me was a fully intact coyote tail! The tail was perfect, with a couple of vertebrae still attached. I squealed with delight and called Gary over to the sight. What a find! I gathered my medicine bag from the truck and returned to the coyote. We checked over the carcass looking to see if any more parts were usable. The leg bones were still intact as well and I thought they may be good for rattle handles for my upcoming rattle making class, but they were too small. The skull had been crushed, but the tail… the tail was so perfect and waiting just for me.

I made my offering and blessed the coyote’s spirit and sent it on its way, gathered my tail and a nice tuft of fur into my “road kill bag” and stuck it in the truck. During this time, you could hear the coyotes off in the distance, bidding farewell to their clan member.

Now mind you, I still had to pee! (I can get side tracked pretty easy sometimes). So off I went to finally water the forest floor. When I returned and walked past the coyote sight, right at my feet was a hawk feather!

Coyote and Hawk medicine all in one day! This was a very special find. It’s not often one finds a tail perfectly intact like this. When we returned home, we placed my little tail (it looked like a pup as the tail was small) in the freezer to be sure to kill any critters. Don’t want to bring them into the house. So, right now, the tail sits in the freezer, awaiting the full moon on Friday. It will be time to journey with my coyote tail to find out the “coyote’s tale” and see what medicine and message it brings.

So, next time… the Coyote’s Tale.

Until then,

Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),

Debbie

Stepping into the Medicine Wheel - The South Gate

2009-07-11T09:27:00.000-07:00

I just got our summer newsletter published and am finally getting the info into this blog as well... only 3 weeks into summer! I'm beginning to think that being behind is my normal state of affairs as I move through this mid portion of my life. One of these days I'll move into those elder years and being behind won't matter :-)

Here is Phoenix, we are entering the "belly of the monssons" as of weather guesser put it last night. So, we are fully in the throws of summer here. It's time for indoor activities or slow roasting outdoors. So, maybe I'm not so behind as I thought to discuss the south gate of the medicine wheel. (Hey, we can rationalize anything... right?)

In the winter we began our journey around the medicine wheel. You can read this information in the introduction to the medicine wheel in our spring newseltter. Although we usually enter the medicine wheel from the east gate you can enter anywhere that feels appropriate. So I invite you to begin your explorations here in the south gate.

The South Gate - Transformation and Passion

Summer is finally upon us as we move from the stirring of spring energy into the fiery flow of the south. It is in the south that what we planted in the spring is growing rapidly, reaching toward our goals so quickly that we are learning to trust the path that Spirit has laid out for us. South is a great place to learn to "Go with the flow."

South energy also teaches us about love and relationships. Through the heated passion of the south, we learn to bloom, like the plants, and be vulnerable. This is the place to come to when you want to heal your heart, or learn how to love, unconditionally. South teaches us about trust, vulnerability and to have an open heart with a discerning mind.

One of the spirit guardians of the south is Coyote. Coyote is the both the keeper of wisdom and the trickster, the sacred clown, who shows us how to see life from different perspectives, to find the possible in the seemingly impossible and to laugh at ourselves. Coyote teaches us the balance of wisdom and folly and how they go hand in hand.

We encourage you to "go with the flow" during summer, run through the sprinklers, laugh (AT yourself and WITH others) and spend plenty of time playing with Coyote.

Our Summer Give Away

An underlying value of the give away is to keep one's belongings to a minimum, sharing abundance with all those around. So, we would like to share with you.

Since summer is about fire and purification, this give away will be a smudging package, inlcuding a bowl, sacred white sage sticks we harvested and tied and a feather. You'll be all ready to smudge yourself, your space and others.

To enter this drawing, simply send us an email with the word "drawing" in the subject line or join our newsletter mailing list. On September 1, we'll pull a name from the basket to receive this give away!

Until next time, let your inner child out to enjoy the summer and have a popcicle for me too!

Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),

Debbie

Moving from the bottom of "The List"

2009-06-08T16:32:00.000-07:00

Over the years, working at a deeply personal level with clients, we have become acutely aware of how much people undervalue themselves. During our debriefing after a soul retrieval, we discuss the soul pieces that have returned to be integrated and how they may shift and change a person’s life. One of the toughest changes for most people to embrace is when they are challenged to take time or do something for themselves on a routine basis.

We both seem to always be amazed at how our domestication and socio-religious training teaches the individual to have close to zero value of self. We see this most clearly in a large share of the women we work with. Their pattern is to “do” for everyone else and spend no time taking care of themselves. They have been well trained to place themselves at the bottom of "The List”. They see their personal value based on how much they are able to DO for others. This is how they determine if they are a good friend, wife, mother, employee etc. The question of “So Joan, what do you do to take care of Joan?” is often met by stammering or simply silence as they ponder and respond with “Well, nothing. By the time I take work and take care of ______ there’s no time for left in my day for me.” And the conversation moves on to “Okay, but who takes care of Joan?” followed by more silence. One of the simplest reminders we use is that we are human BEings not human DOings. Another common reminder is “if you keep doing __________ for them, how are they ever going to learn to handle it for themselves?” followed by “I never thought of it that way.”

Men or not immune to this pattern, but generally have a more material pattern for determining their self worth. We’ve all seen the bumper sticker “He who dies with the most toys wins”. In our consumer society, we are saturated with continuous messages to buy “things” whether we need them or not. Today’s advertising is mainly geared around ego and sex appeal. Almost all advertising is designed to show you just how good you will look and/or feel if you own ________. The general population is so trained to buy “things” then buy new “things” to replace the old “things” that this pattern puts into place the cycle of having to spend more time working to pay for all the “things” they have bought and buy more “things”. All these “things” make them stand out and feel more important, but leave few resources of both money, time or energy to invest in themselves. They fall into that human DOing, with not time left for BEing. They fall prey to patterns excesses, of unhealthy eating and drinking, as well as lack of rest and not knowing who they truly are. Then, when something happens, like our current economic situation, and some of the “things” go away, they totally lose their sense of value along with their "things". Now, women are not exempt from this pattern. We see a lot of cross over in both areas.

So, today we offer you a challenge ... to move YOU toward the top of your “List”. We won’t say “to the top” yet, as that would scare off many from this important challenge. Take as big a leap or as small a step as you choose (just remember to step just outside your comfort zone). Learn to become “self-ish” (for self) in a positive way. This can be a real challenge as those around you will certainly let you know that they are not getting their usual share of your attention or resources, but persist. Change is tough on all who are affected but the rewards are great. Whether it’s for five minutes or five days, keep moving toward the top of your “List”. You can always see things more clearly from the top….

Your new mantra is “I am a human BEing, not a human DOing.” And the final and most important reminder…. HAVE FUN!!!

Until next time....

Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),

Gary & Debbie

Sedona and a Hopi Blessing

2009-05-06T16:48:00.000-07:00

After over eleven years of living in Arizona and many trips to Sedona, Gary and I decided it was high time to take one of the vortex tours in Sedona. I have started work on a new set of guided journey CDs and am collecting medicine wheel photos to use for cover art. So we decided that a medicine wheel and vortex tour would be fun.

A good friend recommended Earth Wisdom Tours (www.earthwisdomtours.com) to us, so I called and arranged the tour. Gary and I made an overnight trip and spent Friday evening enjoying some quiet time together and window shopping in Sedona (town closes down between 5 and 6 pm).

Saturday morning we met up with our tour guide, Clint, to begin the day’s adventures. When we introduced ourselves, we discussed our reason for the tour, and Clint commented that just last week someone had asked him to do a voice recording of a medicine wheel ceremony. Spirit had certainly aligned us with the right guide, as would be expected.

We hopped into the open jeep and set out for a journey. Riding in the jeep was like riding in the back of the pickup as a kid. It was a whole different perspective from our other trips to Sedona. Throughout the day, I was able to see and chat with the guardians who protect this sacred area of Mother Earth.

Gary, Clint and I chatted about our work on the way to pick up the other couple who was going on the tour. Clint, Gary and I were all on the same page and bonded well. We had lived and travelled in many of the same places throughout the years. Turns out, he also does guide work (http://sedonasacredearth.com/) and also follows a very shamanic path as well as his “Sweetie” (as he says) leads shamanic tours in South America. It’s always so much fun to meet other travelers along the road. And, we know our paths will cross again.

Our first stop for the day was at an overlook where we were given a geology lesson. Along the way, we all talked about the importance of this area to the Hopi. They see this as the birthplace of the People. Then, off to Red Rock Creek Park and the vortex area around Cathedral Rock. Here we crossed the creek and after a discussion of the vortexes for the uninitiated, we went off to experience the energy, which for us meant “journey time”. What follows is my journey with the Hopi that day.

As I laid on the rock in the beautifully Arizona sunshine, I called upon my guides to ask for guidance on my medicine wheel CD project. I found myself at the walls of Cathedral Rock, being drawn in by the energy, like a tractor beam from Star Trek. As I stood looking at the wall, an entry way appeared, and before I entered, I found I had shape shifted into Bear. Bear is one of my animal spirit guides or totems. Now, in bear form, I was permitted entry into the vast cavern inside Cathedral Rock. Inside this huge room, I was greeted by many Hopi Elders. I made my way around the circle introducing myself to each elder as I went along. Once the greetings were complete, I was asked to step into the center of the circle and asked why I had come.

I stated that I had come to ask for their guidance and blessing on the project that I was birthing and also seek permission to photograph the medicine wheel that is under their stewardship. As soon as my purpose was stated, I found myself again in human form, standing in the center of the circle, naked as the day I was born. (What I find when working in journey space is that nakedness symbolizes vulnerability and lack of protection. In this case the lack of protection had more to do with my own defenses.)

As I stood there naked, the Elders examined me, looking deep into my soul…what was my intention, was I pure of heart, why was I engaging in this work, checking my integrity. Each answer stripped away layers of my being, until all that was left was my pure essence, kneeling in the center of the circle. (This was dismemberment from a totally different level … but this is the subject of another Blog). I must have passed all their tests. At this point, each Elder came forward, placed their hand on my head or shoulder and each bestowed me with a different blessing. When they were done, they moved, silently and in single file, deeper into the vastness of the cavern.

My essence rekindled, I dressed and moved through the door, out into the sunshine of the canyon, back to the physical plane, changed and renewed by the blessings of the Hopi.

I invite you to check out Clint’s website and look him up when you are in Sedona for a fun and informative jaunt into Arizona.

Until next time –

Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),

Debbie

When Children Won’t Sleep – The Monster Under the Bed

2009-04-08T08:38:00.000-07:00

It’s bedtime, Mom and Dad are exhausted, and little Billy refuses to go to sleep. He throws this huge tantrum each and every night, giving you all sorts of excuses as to why he can’t go to sleep. “There’s a monster under my bed”, “I’m scared”, “There’s something in my room”… Every parent has been through this at least a few times in their parenting career. Sometimes it is simply an excuse for Billy to stay up and play longer, but what about when this goes on night after night after night?

From the shamanic perspective, there may truly be an interloper in Billy’s room or in his dreams. Children are more open to experiencing the energies that surround them and have clear connections to their spiritual guides. As parents we see them talking to their “imaginary friends” and tease about the Boogey Man, but to the children, they are very real. The younger the child, the more closely they are still connected to the spiritual realm.

As a shaman, I have been called more than once to clean a child’s room and have quite literally removed the monster from under the bed. How or why it was there is anyone’s guess. Entities are often drawn to the light, and children are pure light. Other entities simply remain on the land or in the premises when they should be crossed over. Every shaman carries their own bottle of “Monster Spray” and once the entities are removed the child relaxes and is able to sleep.

Helping on the physical plane with the bottle of “Monster Repellant” is also helpful, especially when the bottle contains flower essences to cleanse and protect the room. I have used these successfully over the years to energetically clear the room and relax the babies to sleep. “Monster Repel” is available through www.shamansmarketplace.com.

But, what about when the child refuses to sleep ALL THE TIME? Is there more going on? This was a recent case that was brought to me. The child was about 18 months old and getting him to sleep was a constant struggle. Other than bedtime, he was a very peaceful, happy child. Mom and Dad were at wit’s end. Grandpa was one of my regular clients and called to ask me to check out his room for any unwelcome energies or to assist him in any way.

My guides and I began our “critter hunt” by visiting the child’s house and found the house was clear. There were no monsters in the closets anywhere. So I asked if he had any soul pieces that needed to be returned relating to this issue. We were immediately taken to a past life somewhere around 500 AD. The infant was swaddled and placed in a cave at the beginning of spring as a sacrifice to the awakening animals. Here, he was left to be devoured by these animals in the dark. My guides entered the cave and removed the little guy and brought him out to safety. We unwrapped him and returned the soul piece home.

No wonder this little guy didn’t want to go into a crib in a dark room!!! This lost soul piece created an intense fear of the dark that he had been carrying with him for many lifetimes. Thanks to this very savvy Grandpa, this fear is now released and he no longer has to carry it with him. And, when they checked in, I was told the little guy was now sleeping peacefully at night and Mom and Dad were getting some over due rest.

Ah, the power of soul retrieval… It certainly makes me grateful every day to be able to serve as a tool for Spirit to assist people in making their lives more _________ (Fill in the blank. This could be peaceful, happy, healthy… or simply MORE.).

Until Next Time ----

Mitakuye Oyasin (A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),

Debbie

Spirit Timing

2009-03-08T18:56:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had one of those projects where you get going great guns and then boom, every step you take forward you take three back or come to a complete halt? When this happens to me, I call it “Spirit Timing”. There is something going on out of my sight that just isn’t ready for what I think I’m ready for. Usually it’s just a few days and all is in rhythm again.

Well, I told you a few blogs back about the DVD we were working on putting together called The Healing Ways of the Shaman – Shamanism and Soul Recovery. Well, now that it’s complete, I can look back and “smile and nod” as Gary would say, at the process, but at times it felt like we were mating llamas (it takes a lot of patience and they are what’s called “forced breeders” – they don’t just naturally “hook up”. But that’s another l-o-n-g story from our past).

The longer I walk the shamanic path, the more closely I find myself living in balance with the natural cycles of the seasons and the energy that it manifests. This is all part of my “Spirit Timing”. We began working on the DVDs around September and thought they would take about a month to get together. Well, we had to get the audio enhanced which meant going to an outside vender. Then there was the cover art, a new intro to record and a few other aspects that took us smack dab into November … right into my winter cycle. And as you know from my last blog, that’s hibernation time! What I get accomplished during the winter season is s-l-o-w. So, every time I would start on the completion of the DVD project, I would move ahead a step or two and then back two or three. Finally in frustration, I asked my guides what was the issue (just like everyone else, it takes me some head banging against the wall before I ask for help). I kept hearing "Wait for Imbolc. Wait for Imbolc."

For those who are not familiar, Imbolc is the threshold to spring (see Spring and the Sacred Garden blog 3/08). This is the time when the Earth begins to wake and the new energies of life begin to flow. So, I finally got to relax and turn the rest of my hibernation over to Spirit.

February 2 and Imbolc arrived and there was a flurry of activity. We had to record the new introduction (in the shadow of a Mercury Retrograde – so all the audio equipment was still giving up fits) AND I had a drum that had been waiting for Imbolc that was to be birthed that day. Imbolc was a long and busy day and I finally collapsed into my nice warm bed still warm from hibernation VERY early then next morning.

So, the lesson here is that next time you do the one step forward two steps back dance, STOP and listen. Ask you guidance what’s going on. More than likely somewhere you are out of sync with your cycle, whether it be personal or nature’s cycle. We really don’t need to wear bangs to cover up the head banging bruises!

On the up side, the DVD is done and available on our website and at the Shaman's Marketplace. We are currently offering an introductory special AND for our blog readers, if you enter the coupon code “blog” at check out your will receive a free 17 minute shamanic drumming CD! Check out The Healing Ways of the Shaman – Shamanism and Soul Recovery.

Until Next Time –

Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),
Debbie

Welcome to Winter!

2008-12-18T07:23:00.000-08:00

Welcome to winter and the North quadrant of the medicine wheel. Depending on our cultural practices, some of us have been in the winter of the wheel since the beginning of November. Other cultures see the upcoming winter solstice as the beginning of winter.

Do you feel yourself turning inward as winter approaches, wanting (needing) more sleep or just wanting to curl up with a good book by the fire? Do you sometimes feel like you want the world to go away and leave you alone or growly as a bear woken from hibernation? No, this isn’t the flu or the winter blahs. It’s a natural part of Circle of Life. That’s right, it’s just part of our natural rhythms. So, relax and enjoy it. Personally, my cycle begins November 1 when I tend to want to hibernate. I carry bear energy, so it's no suprise.

We each travel through the Medicine Wheel or Circle of Life many times. These wheels represent the natural cycles of life, the cycles of the earth, star and all that is. They are cycles of the dark-light, death-rebirth, masculine and feminine. We travel these cycles on many levels – for each life time, each year, each day and right down to each breath we take. Most often we are unaware of these cycles, but as we become more connected with All That Is, we feel the power of these cycles in our lives.

Winter or North in the Medicine Wheel is most often represented by the buffalo. It is associated with the element of earth and the color white. North is the place of endings and beginnings, the time of both the elder and newborns. It is a place is grounding, physical healing, patience and acceptance. North also represents the place of reminiscing, acknowledgment and abundance. North is also the time of the Mother (feminine) and the place of the quiet darkness.

North is a time of slowing down, a time when things seem to be sleeping. Yet, during this quiet time is when the deepest growth occurs. This is the time in the earth when the seeds take in the energy of Mother Earth that allows them to grow when spring approaches. It is the time when Mother Earth takes a rest for life-giving and nurturing. Covered by the blanket of snow, gifted to her by Father Sky, she uses this time to reconnect to the Great Mystery.

Just like for Mother Earth, winter is a time for us to slow down and go within. We have worked all year and the harvest of what was planted last spring has been completed. This is a time to dream. It is during this time that Spirit gifts each of us with a dream that brings promises of new beginnings for spring. Now is the time to nurture the dream like a child in our womb.

I invite you to join me in embracing the quiet of winter. Curl up in a blanket, envelope yourself like Mother Earth and welcome and nurture the dream that Spirit has brought for you this cycle.

Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),
Debbie

Holiday Survival

2008-11-21T16:41:00.000-08:00

Now is a great time to introduce you to flower essences. They are wonderful little tools I have in my tool box and that each of you can use as well. In fact some should be in your bathroom cabinet for year round use.

We all look forward to the holiday season with varying emotions. We can swing from the innocent excitement of childhood to the absolute dread of the upcoming family gathering on a moment’s notice. Add to that all the push from advertisers to buy more than we feel comfortable with and the flurry of social obligations at this time of year, and it’s not a wonder we often end up anxious, depressed and stuffing our faces with food (and stuffing those emotions). This year, let flower essences come to your rescue.

What are flower essences? Flower essences are exquisite gifts from nature that act as messengers of inner health and harmony. They are liquid infusions of individual plants . Through the infusion process, the liquid picks up the specific imprinting of the substance that responds to balancing, repairing and rebuilding imbalances on our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels. They are potentized, vibrational remedies that derive their beneficial powers from the inherent life forces of the plant. Flower essences act as catalysts in the healing process rather than suppressing or controlling symptoms.Flower essences work on a vibrational level. Each flower has a distinct signature described by its color, smell, shape and when, where and how it grows and blooms. This signature defines the flower's particular therapeutic value. Each flower has a unique energy pattern associated with its signature that directly corresponds to our body's electrical and nervous systems. The plant's energy patterns travel to the parts of our system that are out of balance, overloaded, short circuited or in need of life force energy. The flower essences have the ability to balance and change our energy patterns, opening the door to a new, positive and expanded outlook. For more info on flower essences go to: www.shamanicconnection.com/flower.htm

Let’s look into the holiday survival kit. The first remedy that one should always have available is either Bach’s Rescue Remedy or FES’s Five Flower Formula. This is my “Don’t leave home without it” formula. I literally carry it in my purse and glove box. This remedy is extremely effective for any type of stress, trauma or emergency. I have used this in so many cases with people, animals and plants.

So, what kind of stress, trauma or emergency might we encounter during the holidays? Hmm… let’s see. There’s the third grade class play that your child (or you) is stressing over, the family disagreements that always seem to arise when loving families gather, screaming kids, barking dogs. It’s the first holiday meal you are preparing for your in-laws, being dragged along to carry bags on Black Friday. Maybe being at the receiving end of dear Auntie’s criticism or the family member that has had one too many and wants to drag up all the ill will since you were two and your inner child is screaming and having it’s own tantrum. These are all good applications for Rescue Remedy or Five Flower Formula. A few quick drops under your tongue and you can relax and let it all slide off your back like a duck with rain.

I don’t want to put any attention on the major things that may call for the use of Rescue Remedy, Law of Attraction being what it is. Let’s just suffice it to say, the this remedy is extremely helpful in emergency situations to keep a person or a pet from going into shock until they can acquire medical treatment.

There are other great remedies for use during the holidays. Chamomile is great for emotional overwhelm. And Dill is great when the kids are in total overwhelm from all that is going on around them. And for the Night Before Christmas when you’re trying to get the little ones to sleep, a combo of Chamomile and White Chestnut with a little Lavender should lull them to sleep or my Sweet Dreams formula. And of course this combo will help Mom in her kerchief and Dad in his cap, relax as well.

For those who take on too many responsibilities during the holidays there is Hornbeam and Centaury. Hornbeam is for taking on of too many tasks and Centaury is what I call my “Just say NO” remedy. And to draw this to a close, for those who seem to feel bombarded with everyone else’s stuff, from Uncle Fred to the masses in the mall, I suggest my Aura Bubble formula. Aura Bubble and Sweet Dreams are available at http://www.shamansmarketplace.com/.

I'd be happy to assist you with your flower essence needs. Just email me at debbie@shamanicconnection.com.

Here’s wishing everyone a calm and joyous holiday season.

Mitakuye Oyasin (A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),
Debbie

Computers, Hypnosis and Shamanism

2008-11-01T10:58:00.000-07:00

Sorry it's been so long since the last post. Sometimes the shaman gets redirected to the real world of work. I have been revamping our website and expect to have our new shopping cart active by the end of this coming week. The shopping cart had a major trauma and lost several soul pieces that the programmers could not retrieve. Even the shaman we called in threw up her hands and said "No way!" So, we had to start from scratch with a new program and it has been taking a very large amount of my time over the last month or so. You know programs never work the way they tell you they will. (Now that's a perfect segway into today's topic.)

Since we're talking about computers... let's talk about yours. Do you know you each own the most powerful computer available? No, not the one on your desk, the one in your head! That’s right. Your mind is the most powerful computer there is. It stores EVERYTHING you have ever heard, read, saw or experienced. It’s all stored in your personal hard drive.

Throughout your life, your subconscious mind receives and retains, neither accepting nor rejecting, all the messages you receive from your background, plus all the conflicts (little or big) that enter your life daily. When, for whatever reason, the conscious becomes overloaded, the subconscious prepares you for what it considers appropriate action. However, since the subconscious mind does not analyze and accepts all messages in the literal sense, this action may not really be correct for you now. Foot stomping tantrums don't help much when you're 40!

Hypnosis is a tool to help you change your life to what you want it to be. Like your computer, you want to install software that meets your needs. Hypnosis helps remove the old software that no longer functions effectively and install new programs designed to help you create the life you choose.

Habits, such as smoking and food choices, stresses, anxieties, attitudes, or perceived deficiencies take root in the subconscious, creating unstable icons on your mental computer’s desktop. To change these patterns, you have to un-install the old software and icons and replace them with new links that are attached to the new programs designed to meet for your current goals and desires.

The subconscious is also the place where all memory is stored. Traumatic events can be buried or suppressed in the directories of the subconscious. Hypnotherapy and shamanic journeys can help to uncover and bring into the light of understanding the buried information or experience which may be the cause of behaviors that you would like to change. I like to use a shamanic journey to recover the soul piece that was lost during the trauma, then use hypnosis to reprogram the behaviors or unhealthy patterns that have developed to cope with the feelings and emotions surrounding the experience.

Hypnosis is a simply a form of communication that coordinates your conscious and subconscious minds. Once you have agreement between the two parts of your mind, you can visualize and change your reality. It’s like getting new custom designed software for your computer, software that is designed to help you quickly and easily achieve your dreams, goals and full potential.

I do offer both shamanic journeys and hypnosis sessions by telephone, so you don't have to be in Phoenix for a session. Both in-person and long-distance sessions work equally well. We just get to smile at each other face to face and share a hug if you're in my office. So, don't hesitate to call for a long distance session. For more on my hypno-shaman practice go to http://www.hypno-shaman.com/.

The next blog will announce the new website and shopping cart with some exciting new products coming your way in the Shaman's Marketplace. And maybe a Blogger special!

Until next time.

Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),
Debbie

Just Smile and Nod

2008-09-07T12:19:00.000-07:00

Wow! This is all I’m able to say or express at the conclusion of doing a Five Day Shamanic Individual Retreat with a client. I have performed shamanic journeys for others for years and am still amazed by the results….but what is gained and accomplished by an individual in this Five Day Retreat takes the shamanic journey several orders of magnitude deeper or higher or just …WOW! (It’s the only descriptive term I have left!)

Client’s responses ranged from; “This is the first time in my life that I have and feel freedom; this is way more than I expected.” (repeated through out the five days) to “Way cool”, as well as several other attempts at expressing. But a stutter effect just took over and we both just smiled and nodded, as language simply could not describe what was experienced.

The focus of the Five Day Shamanic Intensive-Individual Retreat is to identify and resolve fears, blocks and resistances. The week begins by learning the shamanic journey process and connecting the participant with their personal guidance group. Then the participant performs shamanic journeys on themselves to clear their fears, blocks and recover missing parts of their self. They also identify, clarify and bring into balance various aspects of themselves. Other ceremonies and tools are used throughout the retreat as directed by Spirit. And, as expected by those who know my coyote nature, the retreat also includes a healthy dose of fun and laughter!

At the conclusion of the five days, I ask what the client thinks and feels about their experience. Often I am met a glazed look in their eyes, or their mouth opening and closing…but no words coming out, or a perplexed expression as they mentally try to finds words of expression that do not exist. Clients have expressed: “I have clarity of self!” “I feel so powerful doing this myself!” “I feel myself for the first time in my life!” “I had no idea that I carried that!” “This is so much more that I expected! This is worth 100,000 times the cost! This is priceless!”

So as I conclude a Five Day Shamanic Intensive-Individual Retreat and witness the vibrant, whole spirit in front of me, I am humbled, honored, exhilarated and WOWed!

I am looking forward to the next “5 day” and again being a part of assisting and supporting another person into themselves…after which we just Smile and Nod…Smile and Nod.

So until next time --- Just smile and nod.... smile and nod.

Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),

Gary

The Popcorn and M&Ms Ceremony

2008-08-02T14:22:00.000-07:00

We are often reminded that “It’s all sacred” and this small but very powerful ceremony certainly gave credence to that statement recently.

For several weeks I had been doing some energetic housecleaning and was working (yes, in the truest sense) at releasing some of the limitations I’ve been carrying around for over half a century. I was getting tired of bouncing off the same force fields time and time again. It was time to let this junk go!

Now, it’s not like I haven’t tried before. We all know what that’s like. We release one thing and it just shows back up in a slightly different form – so we rationalize that we’ve let one go and this is a new road block. So, I informed my guides that I wanted these gone for once and for all. And, I asked for help.

Well, after a few nights of strange dreams, that weren’t so strange once I really looked at them, I did some housecleaning in my chakras. Like with housecleaning, the first thing that needs to be done is things need to be picked up. So, like diligent homemakers, my guides paid a visit to my solar plexus area with their trash bags and begin cleaning up the junk I had collected over the years. But, instead of disposing of it, they handed me a trash bag full of stuff for me to take care of.

Of course, being the rebel I am, I asked what I was suppose to do with the trash. Their reply was a vision of popcorn popping. Okay, that’s great, but maybe I’m a little obtuse. Eventually I got it.

Later in this growth expedition, I was shown a red M&M connected to my root chakra. Hmm… maybe I’m just hungry.

Well soon it all came clear and I had my marching orders. The next night was the full moon and the simple ceremony was laid out.

That evening I built a fire in the back yard in our medicine wheel fire pit. It was nice to have company that evening for the ceremony. I had forgotten a friend was coming in from the Tucson area for the night. She was also on a healing journey that day, so we shared the ceremony and bore witness to each other’s process.

Once some nice coals developed the ceremony began. I took my red M&M from the bowl and cracked the hard shell gently between my fingers. This was that shell that I had carried – the boundaries that I kept in place that held me in and kept me from expanding. Once this shell was cracked, it allowed room for movement and exposed the sweetness and richness within. Now mind you, we didn’t remove the shell or destroy it, as some boundaries are necessary, we just wanted and needed more expansion room. After saying our blessings and thanks, we both tossed our M&Ms into the fire.

Next it was popcorn time. We each took our first handful of popcorn. This represented all the limitations that others had offered us over time that we accepted as our own. With blessings, we thanked them and released them to the fire. The second handful represented all our own limits, the ones that we place on our self as we go through life, the certainties of our own inadequacies. Again, with blessings and thanks they were released to the fire.

We then stood back and watched, as the corn began to pop. Some of the kernels didn’t pop. They were simply consumed by the fire, these were those things that probably should have been left by the wayside many years or life times ago. Ideas that were spoiled and had no life. Others broke free and popped their way across the fire pit with great exuberance – bursting free of the limits of the shell and transforming into something totally new and digestible for the souls we are becoming.

When the excitement settled, we thanked Grandmother Moon for holding space for us and witnessing our journey. It was a fulfilling and powerful ceremony. The results are just beginning to unfold for me and there is a tremendous feeling of freedom (as well as a tad of fear) having been released from the limits I have carried for so many years.

Ceremonies can be big and elaborate or as simple as a fire and popcorn and M&Ms. It's all about what works for you. But, never underestimate the power of the mundane things in life when it comes to ceremony, they can often be the greatest tools for transformation.

Until next time --

Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),
Debbie

Our Ritual Journey to Sage Canyon

2008-05-26T11:28:00.000-07:00

This weekend we headed for California for our bi-annual sage gathering expedition. It was a fun trip and I remembered to bring the camera to share some photos.

If you check out our blogs from June of 2007, I discussed smudging ceremonies and sacred herbs. Everyone finds the herb(s) that is the most pleasing and effective for them for cleaning and purifying. Our personal “herb of choice” is White Sage (Salvia apiana). We lovingly call it “California White” (sounds like pot doesn’t it… smells somewhat like it too). White sage is the preference of many due to sweeter aroma it has and that it burns well. We also like the fact that it will go out when its job is complete.

Over the years on our treks to Southern California, we have found that white sage grows wild in the south side of the mountains there. As we have sought it out, we found a lovely canyon where we return every couple of years to gather what we need for ceremonial purposes.

The sage is usually mature in mid to late May. After that is tends to get dry and spindly. This year we were right on time. The plants had completed their bloom and were full and sweet.

We always begin by finding the Grandmother plant in the area and asking permission to gather. (Here is a Grandmother plant in the area I was gathering.) When asking permission, we give an offering to the plant. Offerings can be many things, but Gary smokes a pipe so we always have tobacco at hand (the traditional masculine offering) and I carry a bag of blue corn meal (traditional female offering) when we are out visiting Mother Nature. Once that permission is given, we begin to “tune in” to the plants and ask who would like to join us. There is usually a lot of clatter as many of the plants are excited about participating with us for ceremonial purposes. Some plants are excited and happy to give. Others are grumpy or stingy. We just thank the grumpy ones and move on. As we choose and break off the stems we may again give an offering to that particular plant of simply thank it for its gift. This is fun and exciting as the plants are so happy and excited to have us there and to be acknowledged and chosen to full fill their agreement as sacred herbs.

In our gathering we take only what we need for ceremony and give-away over the next two years. And, as we ceremonially gather these sacred plants we are careful not to take too much from each plant, being aware of it’s health and life force. Sometimes plant will want to participate that are not mature enough. We thank them and acknowledge them anyway and ask them to wait until we return.

Once we had determined we had what we needed we began our trip back to the truck. This part is the most fun. All along the way, the sage plants begin calling to us, telling us they want to go too. Sometimes they just yell the “Hey You – Over here!”. If we try to ignore them on our walk they can get pretty loud with the “Hey stupid – I’m talking to you” type thing. Sometimes we will simply acknowledge and thank the plant for wanting to participate, especially if they are up a hillside somewhere. I don’t do mountain goat :) Other times we will stop and take a stalk or two from the plant to add to our sack. I actually had one plant this time almost reach out and grab my ankle as I walked past. I stumbled and returned to the plant to accept its offering.

Here we stopped for one of the "Excited Ones". I gladly collected the offering.

Gary caught my best side as usual!!

We finally made it to the truck and packed our treasure into a tub in the back of the truck and headed for warmer climes in Phoenix, leaving an odorous trail of sage behind us.

From home base, the work/play began. We wrapped each branch of sage with red cotton thread to gather and form it while it drys. After about three hours of wrapping we had a lovely stash of sage bundles. We are fortunate here as our garage has a full attic. Today we laid it all out to dry. It won’t take long with our summer approaching. The attic gets very hot and with the low humidity we have dried sage in no time.

So, our ritual is complete for the next two years when we return to “Sage Canyon” to full fill our promise to the plants that were too small to gather from on this journey.

Until next time –

Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),

Debbie & Gary

Drum making from Tales from Echo Canyon

2008-05-06T09:02:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Shaman's Blog.

Back in April, we facilitated another drum making playshop. This time Gary's sister, Eileen, was in attendance. Besides being our shamanic teacher, she is also a writer, photographer, homeopath and astorloger. Yes -- she wears many hats :)

So, besides birthing her drum, she took many pictures and added this wonderful blog to her blog at Tales from Echo Canyon. You may want to check out some of her photography - lots of great nature pics!

Today, we're plagerizing her blog to send you all the great photos. I've added a couple comments in purple. Thanks Sis for doing all the work for me today -- although I had to upload all the pics to the blog anyway. Thought I'd just get by with cut and paste. Hah - I didn't get any pictures that way! So, I still had to work for it.

For a detailed description of the drum birthing process, see our blog "Birthing the Sacred Drum" from 4/23/07.

It was a wonderful day for April. The nature gods cooperated fully with us that day. It was below 90 and no gusty winds which we get so much of here in the spring.

So, enjoy the photo essay and until next time.

Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),

Debbie

Hi Everyone,

My brother Gary Gent and his wife Debbie teach people how to make a sacred drum. I got to finally go to his class (he lives down in Phoenix, Arizona, but travels the world teaching this class--and many other classes). I went down with my good friends, Yolande Grille, Debbie Noah and Linda Haggard. Here's a running commentary on drum making, should you be interested. It was a great way to spend a day from 10am to 5pm. The fun we had, the laughter, the work, was all wonderful.

Here are some of the participants in the Drum Making Class that I was in. We are listening to Gary and Debbie give an introduction to drum making--what it is and is not.

Here is Debbie Gent, who is Gary's wife and partner. They make a dynamic team and are great teachers. They also have fantastic sense of humor and so we were laughing often.

Here Gary is explaining the cedar wooden 'round' that is where the rawhide Elk skin is placed over it.

Here, Gary is showing what a finished hand made elk rawhide drum looks like. This is what we call a four direction tie. The lace is gathered in four groups and tied off, representing the four cardinal directions.

Here, Gary is showing us a drum that has 'died.' You can see the cracks in it. He said every drum eventually will give out. The life span of a sacred drum can be very long or very short. Gary's cat drum you see here has been with him for many years. I recently brithed a bear drum and it split on me last weekend. I have yet to journey and find out what the purpose of such a short life was.

Gary and Debbie gathered us out under a nice, shady tent. Here, we chose the elk skin we wanted to create our drum out of. The "Mother Drum" that Gary is playing is for the purpose of us journeying to see if there was trauma to the elk hide. And if there was, to ask for a healing of it before we cut out our circle to create our drum.

Here, Gary is showing all of us how to use a metal device (leather punch) to hammer holes into the wet hide.

Eileen is holding up the circle of elk skin she just cut with a pair of scissors. It is kept wet with water so that it is pliable and holes can be made into the skin.

And here is Linda Haggard cutting a piece of cow rawhide to make the 'string' for her drum. Fun! Everyone had to do it. This group had the lovely experience of cutting their own lace thanks to a fubar by our lace supplier. No one will fess up to who needed this experience, but they were all good sports and made it fun.

Here is Yolande Grill watching as Gary shows her how to wrap and make a handle out of the rawhide to her drum

Here Debbie Noah is allowing Myron to help her with the twenty foot of rawhide 'string' and getting it laced into the holes.

Debbie Gent is leaning down to help Linda and Eric Haggard with their drums. Thanks Sis - you always get my best side :)

Gary is showing Debbie Noah's sister from Texas how to create a handle for her drum.

Here is Anthony and Eric and Linda Haggard in the process of stuffing their beater head with cotton balls. Eventually,this will become a drum beater.

And here I am with my new beater and drum. What a great day and so much fun!

And here's the happy crew with their newly birthed drums and beaters.

And here's Gary proudly beaming at us and showing us a drum that he had made. His cougar shield is behind him.

For those who are interested in Gary and Debbie coming to create a drum making workshop for you, just contact them at: mailto:gary@shamanicconnection.com

And be sure to visit their website at: http://www.shamanicconnection.com/

This is a wonderful family affair, too. Anyone who loves a drum, young or old, male or female, can make one. And Debbie and Gary are wonderful teachers. We sure had a lot of fun on that day :-)

In Spirit, Eileen

--Posted By Eileen Nauman to Tales from Echo Canyon at 5/03/2008 08:08:00 PM

Celebrate Mother Earth

2008-04-16T10:28:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a while since I posted. Sometimes life happens and sometimes I run out of ideas of something relevant to post. Believe me, you don't want to hear my mind's ramblings :) If you have something you would like to hear about, please feel free to drop me any email at mailto:debbie@shamanicconnection.com.

It's been a busy few weeks here in Phoenix, and life is good. The weather is warming up and we hit 98 Monday. We should be cooling back to the 80’s tomorrow. I know, many of you are just beginning to see the snow melt. But, summer in Phoenix, is like winter in the colder climates. We are not as active outdoors during the heat, and spend more time indoors during the intense days of monsoon season when we hit over 110. So, it’s not much different than the winter cold, except we don’t have any white stuff to shovel and the intense heat only lasts about 4 weeks!!

Today I want to chat about Earth Day coming up on Tuesday, April 22. It is sort of humorous in my mind that people have set aside a WHOLE day, to focus on Mother Earth and give one day’s time and effort to undoing how many hundreds of years of mistreatment. At least having the one day, may bring a small change into people’s lives that they will carry with them for then next 364. Every small bit helps.To a shaman, EVERY day is Earth Day. Every day is a time to honor our mother. Mama Earth is our source of life and support, all that is. She literally is the ground we stand on, the food we use to nourish our bodies (note that’s the REAL food we eat), the source of the plants that provide the oxygen that we breathe and the water that we drink. Without her life giving support we, as a species, would not survive. We humans have become like spoiled children, and unfortunately, Mama is now giving to her children until it hurts.

As I am writing, the quote from Chief Seattle came to mind... “The earth does not belong to man. The man belongs to the earth.” In about 1852, the United States Government inquired about buying the tribal lands for the arriving people of the United States, & Chief Seattle, of the Suquamish Tribe, in the Pacific Northwest, wrote a marvelous letter in reply. (Joseph Campbell, 'The Power of Myth') I have quoted the whole letter here, as it is very powerful. It embodies the shaman’s connection with Mother Earth and the connection which most have lost, believing it archaic or blasphemous, but re-connecting to the earth is definitely one of the solutions to the problems we are creating for ourselves.

"Every part of this earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every meadow, every humming insect. All are holy in the memory and experience of my people.

We know the sap which courses through the trees as we know the blood that courses through our veins. We are part of the earth and it is part of us. The perfumed flowers are our sisters. The bear, the deer, the great eagle, these are our brothers. The rocky crests, the juices in the meadow, the body heat of the pony, and man, all belong to the same family.

The shining water that moves in the streams and rivers is not just water, but the blood of our ancestors. If we sell you our land, you must remember that it is sacred. Each ghostly reflection in the clear waters of the lakes tells of events and memories in the life of my people. The water's murmur is the voice of my father's father.

The rivers are our brothers. They quench our thirst. They carry our canoes and feed our children. So you must give to the rivers the kindness you would given any brother.

If we sell you our land, remember that the air is precious to us, that the air shares its spirit with all the life it supports. The wind that gave our grandfather his first breath also receives his last sigh. The wind also gives our children the spirit of life. So if we sell you our land, you must keep it apart and sacred, as a place where man can go to taste the wind that is sweetened by the meadow flowers.

Will you teach your children what we have taught our children? That the earth is our mother? What befalls the earth befalls all the sons of the earth. This we know: the earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood that unites us all. Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does it to himself

"One thing we know: our god is also your god. The earth is precious to him and to harm the earth is to heap contempt on its creator. Your destiny is a mystery to us. What will happen when the buffalo are all slaughtered? The wild horses tamed? What will happen when the secret corners of the forest are heavy with the scent of many men and the view of the ripe hills is blotted by talking wires? Where will the thicket be? Gone! Where will the eagle be? Gone! And what is it to say goodbye to the swift pony and the hunt? The end of living and the beginning of survival.

When the last Red Man has vanished with this wilderness and his memory is only the shadow of a cloud moving across the prairie, will these shores and forests still be here? Will there be any of the spirit of my people left? We love this earth as a newborn loves its mother's heartbeat. So, if we sell you our land, love it as we have loved it. Care for it as we have cared for it. Hold in your mind the memory of the land as it is when you receive it. Preserve the land for all children and love it, as God loves us all

As we are part of the land, you too are part of the land. This earth is precious to us. It is also precious to you. One thing we know: there is only one God. No man, be he Red Man or White Man, can be apart. We are brothers after all."

Re-reading this letter always gives me what I call “truth bumps”. So, I am going to invite each of you who read this to begin to re-establish your connection with Mother Earth and invite others to do the same. Choose some regular times, like at the new or full moons, the changes of seasons or just any regular time to do healing ceremonies or journey for Mother. If you have not yet met her, during a meditation or journey, go deep within the earth and ask to be introduced to Mother Earth. Allow your mind to flow and observe the awesomeness of her realm. Once you meet her, introduce yourself and ask about her realm. Ask what you can offer in the way of a healing for her. Then ask her what one thing you can take out into the world, as an example, to help re-establish that connection that most of her children have lost. Thank her and let her know that you will be back and continue to help.

This may seems like a drop in the bucket. But, if each of us helps heal our dear Mama Earth in one or two ways, soon the bucket will be overflowing and our Mama will be flourishing.

Happy Journeys!

Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),

Debbie

Spring and The Sacred Garden

2008-03-31T09:21:00.000-07:00

Well, we are a week into the spring and here in Arizona the temps are beginning to rise and the world (and allergies) is in full bloom. For many of you in the colder climes, the snow is beginning to melt and the earth is starting to warm up and even begins to show the beauty that has been hidden all winter. It is a time of excitement and anticipation as the days grow longer and we welcome the return to all the activities we enjoy in the warmer days.

I am keenly aware of coming out of hibernation. It feels good to feel the spring sun on my body as I work in my sacred gardens in my back yard as well as my spiritual Sacred Garden.

In the Celtic traditions, your Sacred Garden is a place in the spirit realm that "belongs" to you. It is a place to rest, recharge, store shamanic gifts, meet with Spiritual Guides and Teachers, etc. Only those who you invite can enter your Sacred Garden. Your Sacred Garden is an inner representation of what you choose to create in your outer reality.

With the arrival of spring, it may be a good time to tend to your spiritual Sacred Garden ... spring cleaning you know. I invite you to take a few minutes to journey to your garden or slip into a meditative space and ask to be taken to you garden, or take a few minutes to visualize your Sacred Garden. Look around and see if you need to do a spring clean up. Are there weeds that need to be pulled or dead plants in your garden? Some may need to stay as they are not ready to be removed yet. Think about creating a compost pile with these weeds. After you remove them, pay close attention to how things change in your life. Maybe some of those things that no longer serve you will just disappear. After you clean up, be sure to plant new plants or seeds for those things you wish to cultivate in your physical reality. Remember the fertalizer you created in your compost pile and fertalize well, for it is from these lessons and weeds that we are able to create a new.

Remember to routinely take the time to return to your Sacred Garden to tend your plants, rest and simply enjoy the peace and beauty of this inner space. As you tend this garden, take time to enjoy the peace and beauty you are creating in your every day life.

Happy Spring.

Debbie

Shaman as Deathwalkers – Part II

2008-03-17T09:34:00.000-07:00

As promised, we’ll continue where we left off before we were so rudely interrupted by Life. We were discussing the role of the shaman as a “Deathwalker” assisting those who are preparing to make their transition to Spirit or those who have already transitioned.

Sometimes when a death occurs, the Soul is caught unprepared. Sometimes the Soul may not understand what happened or that they are dead. This Soul's natural journey back to its spiritual home, is then interrupted. The Soul needs help, it cannot continue the journey on its own. This is where a shaman can assist the Soul to continue it’s journey home.

Recently, I had a co-worker cross over suddenly. It was an unusual incident that had left both his life partner and business partner devastated. They were feeling his presence around the house and being disturbed by this. I asked permission to journey for him and see if he had completed his transition, and he had not. We found him standing in his garage where he had died, looking totally confused. He was glad to see me and asked in his usual fashion what was going on. I explained that he had died and asked if we could assist him to get out of the garage and go Home. He agreed and we asked that any soul pieces that he needed be returned. At this point, we could see the light tunnel being opened and my friend became a happy go lucky young boy again. We asked if he had any soul pieces to return to others before he left. He emptied the pockets of his shorts and asked that We return some specific packages and a bunch of things came from his pockets typical of a little boy. My guides quickly collected the pieces and returned them to whom they belonged. At this point, my friend thanked us and said he was ready. He dove into the light tunnel like he was diving into a pond. He was met there by his guides and light beings and escorted to the upper world.

My most memorable Deathwalking case was right after 9/11. I was asked to journey for someone who had died in the World Trade Center. They had not found her body, but knew she was dead. I entered journey space and asked to be taken back to the towers (We had spent MANY hours there already). We called out the name of the person we were looking for and heard a faint response. We found her buried under some rubble in a stairwell. We busied ourselves to free her and she asked if she was dead. We told her yes and explained what had happened. She broke down and cried and we comforted her for some time. As we began to move out of the towers there were many souls asking if they could come along. Everyone was holding on to each other to follow them out and pretty soon my client in the front began to conga. The whole group became a conga line of souls returning home! As they came along they were each given a basket with their soul pieces and they carried their baskets in the conga line right up to the light world! Believe me it was quite a sight. Everyone was happy and singing like they were at a party, and it truly was a birthday party, as they were all re-born to Spirit. No somber occasion - hmm—I wonder if my client was an Irishman??? Certainly a reminder of Spirit’s humor.

For more on shamanism and death and dying read the article on our website “Death and Dying – A Change”.

Until next week.

Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),
Debbie

Life "Happens"

2008-03-07T08:14:00.000-08:00

Wow, I’m so embarrassed that we have had to let this blog slip. But as the title states “Live Happens”. Actually, it’s more like a carnival. There’s the Merry-Go-Round that whirls too fast, the world’s largest and most treacherous roller coaster, bumper cars (as a friend reminded me yesterday) and the I think they call it “The Hammer” – that ride that takes you up way high and drops you from the top. And they best part is we all signed up to get into this crazy place!

My last communication was about death and dying. We have been experiencing this journey over a year of ups and downs with Gary’s mom as she traversed her death path toward re-birth. It was a long, hard journey for the whole family. There was such a mix of emotions as we could only bear witness to her journey. This long journey came to an end on February 28, 2008. Fortunately, with our shamanic experiences we have a very positive outlook on the death of the physical being, but that doesn’t change the fact that we will no longer have our Mom to talk to or hug. The whole family will now begin to relax and grieve after holding vigil for so long.

Besides holding constant vigil for the last eight months, we’ve had the usual mix of life – the "j-o-b" that tends to overtake the time allotted, kids with trauma/drama, tooth issues, and the routine holiday bouts of the flu (mine has lasted two months!). Then there is our shamanic work/play that for me personally gets pushed aside until life settles a little and I can devote my attention to assisting my clients. I like to give them my undivided attention.

If anyone thinks that being a “shaman” exempts one from all the crap life can throw our way – guess again! As you can see, we play same dramas as everyone else. We simply have tools to help us respond instead of react (at least most of the time). This is the goal of our shamanic coaching – to empower our clients to experience life from a different perspective. Soul Recovery helps to bring back parts of our vital energy that allow us to see our world differently. We are able to clear long term patterns in our lives and heal ourselves of our emotional wounds (and physical) that trigger our emotions. We begin to recover our true self and become whole again.

As for the blog, I am committing to making a conscious effort to post weekly. I think I will keep them shorter so that I can keep up when "life happens".

Thanks to everyone for your support and understanding during these trying months for us.

Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),
Debbie

Shaman as Deathwalkers – Part I.

2007-09-17T22:17:00.001-07:00

To follow up on our topic of a shamanic view of death and dying, we move on to the role of the shaman as a “Deathwalker” or “Psychopomp” (from the Greek word psychopompos, literally meaning the "guide of souls").

As a shaman, we may be called to assist those who are making their spiritual transitions or those who have already left the physical body that need help completing their transition and returning to their spiritual home.

The shaman may wait with and comfort the soul of a person who is dying and guide them across at the moment of death. Or they can also be with a person who is dying, when they lose consciousness and communicate with them. This is the time when the person who is about to leave the dying body is mostly on the spiritual side but is still anchored to the body. The shaman can ask the soul where it wants to go, then show them where this place is, so they have an idea about which way to go after death.

Most often, in today’s spread out society, we are called upon by a family member and are able to attend to the person making their transition from the spiritual plane. We come to help to soul to prepare for his or her rebirth. We can usually assess how close the physical death process is by the location of “Light Beings” present in the room. These beings actually help the person to cross into the spiritual realm. The closer they are to dying person, the closer the actual time of physical death.

So, just how do we assist the person to release from the physical body? One of the important things we do is to retrieve any energy or soul pieces that the person is missing. It is important to have these back to make an easy transition. And, often the person who is dying will want to return any soul pieces of others that they may be holding. In a recent case, I was called to the hospital room of a client who was extremely ill and was positioned with one foot in each world. The Light Beings were present in the and when I entered the room in altered state, Rose (name changed) sat up in the bed. She immediately started handing me all these little gift wrapped boxes and asked me to return them to their owners. There were many small boxes and my guides collected them all and immediately distributed them (we don’t ask who they belong to, the guides know where they go). She smiled and relaxed and drifted back to sleep.

In another case, a client asked me to journey for her Mother who was approaching her crossing over point. The client stated the doctor gave her Mother approximately three weeks to live. When I journeyed to her, the Light Being’s were in the room, about one half way to her bed, indicating about 3 to 6 weeks before crossing over. With permission for the Mother’s Spirit Self, a soul recovery was done to bring what she was missing and return what she was holding that belong to others. We then specifically cleaned up her chakra’s which were binding her to the physical body, then had a chat with her Spirit Self explaining the process she was in. We also assisted her to become aware of the Light Being’s and her Ancestors which were present to assist and greet her when she choose to make her transition. We then left her in a very relaxed state in the company of ancestors and Light Being’s.

The following morning, the client called to inform me that her Mother had passed around 3AM, very peacefully and with no struggle. This is the beauty of assisting a person at the end of their earth walk, so that leaving of the physical body is as normal as closing your eyes to go to sleep. Working shamanically with someone who is getting ready to make their physical transition can help them to eliminate the fear of leaving the physical and the struggle of clinging to a physical body that no longer can support living.

The final installment on death and dying will cover helping those who are stuck to complete their transition.

Until then….

Mitakuye Oyasin ( A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),
Gary & Debbie

2007-08-17T11:09:00.000-07:00

First, to those of you who keep checking out BLOG and finding that we’ve been out of touch for almost two months, we apologize. Life has been extremely busy. Gary’s wonderful 90 year-old mom took ill and we spent many days away from home assisting his sister and brother-in-law with her care. We were caring for her around the clock in her home as she stood at the doorway of death and decided it was not her time to pass through. It has been a tiring but enlightening time for us.

But, this brings us to the subject of today’s BLOG – Shamanism, Death and Rebirth.

To quote Jose & Lena Stevens book Secrets of Shamanism, “Every shaman knows that in order to create something new, something must first be destroyed. The old form is taken apart and from its energetic source, something new arises.” This is the power of transformation. And, death is simply put, a transformation. It is the change from the physical form back to a spiritual form.

From our perspective (Gary’s and mine), death of the physical body is a time of celebration. It is the time when our friend or loved one gets released from this earth walk and is re-born to Spirit. We feel we are spiritual beings living in a physical body, we are being released from our post and get to return home. This is time for celebration.

Now, this doesn’t mean that we don’t mourn the loss of the friend or loved one, as we will miss their physical presence. But it is a time of great joy that they have the opportunity to return home once again.

We were blessed with the opportunity to share this experience when my mother made her transition over six years ago. We were able to be present and witness the Light Beings or Angels and family members who were already on the other side coming to assist Mom. It was certainly a mixed bag of emotions, as through my tears over losing “Mommy” and knowing she wouldn’t be there to physically hug me again, there was a tremendous sense of awe and wonderment as she finally overcome her fear of leaving the physical and transformed into her spiritual self right before our eyes. The closest I can say that I ever came close to such extreme joy was with the birth of our children.

As a shaman, we are often called to assist those who are making their spiritual transitions or those who have already left the physical body that need help completing their transition. This will be our topic next time.

Death and dying is such a taboo subject in our culture here in the U.S.. People generally perceive death as a negative or something to be fearful of, not something to be embraced. There is much to be gained from examining our thoughts, ideas and feelings about death and dying. I encourage you to sit with those feelings and thoughts and try to separate your true feelings from those that have been programmed by society, religion or family. This takes courage. We wish you the courage to explore.

Until next time,
Debbie

Sumdging Ceremony Part II - Sacred Herbs

2007-06-14T09:56:00.000-07:00

In my last BLOG we discussed in detail the smudging ceremony.

Smudging is used by all indigenous cultures and in many metaphysical practices. Today, we have a wide variety of herbs readily available to us from around the world. But, before the time of mass transportation, each culture and locale used the sacred plants that were readily available to them. Today I’ve listed some of the plants that are commonly used for smudging along with their spiritual properties.

This first group of herbs are commonly used for cleansing and purifying:

White Sage (Salvia apiana) - This plant will drive out negative energies, spirits and influences. Use this as a smudge to purify people, places and tools before any sacred ceremony. Many people prefer white sage because of the sweeter aroma it gives off. White sage is usually found in the higher mountain areas of the south west. This is our personal “herb of choice” and we lovingly call it “California White” as we harvest for personal use in the mountains of Southern California.

Desert Sage (Artemesia tridentata) - Desert sage has the same properties as white sage. Desert sage is what grows in the deserts as its name implies. This is what we wild craft here in Arizona and we have also found in the deserts throughout the southwest all the way to the high deserts of Oregon. The plant itself is spindlier and it has much smaller leaves. It does not have the pungent smell that white sage has. As a friend so gently put it the other day, “it smells like burning stuff”. But, remember, the smell isn’t what we’re after here. It’s the purifying smoke.

Cedar (Libocedrus descurrens, Thuja occidentalis) - Cedar is also used to purify, especially for negative emotions. Cedar is commonly used in the northern regions where the cedar trees grow. A couple years ago, I was at a sacred ceremony in northern Wisconsin and cedar was what we used for a smudge as it was local to the community. It gives off a wonderful smoke and does smell nice.

Juniper (Juniperus ssp.) - Juniper is also used to purify and to create a safe and sacred space. Juniper was often carried in a medicine pouch or a pocket for protection.

Smudging is not strictly for use in cleansing and purifying. It can be used to draw in positive energies or as a means of creating smoke to carry your prayers to Great Spirit.

Sweetgrass (Hierochole odarata) Sweetgrass is probably one of my favorite smudging herbs. It is also one of the most sacred herbs used for smudging. This herb is used to bring positive energy in after you have cleansed with sage. Sweetgrass is indigenous to the plains regions of the United States. It grows tall and is harvested and woven together in braids. Although it always seems like I can never keep it lit enough to make a good smoke, it is worth the effort. The smell lives up to its name and is a very powerful and sweet aroma. Ah, such a wonderful smell.

Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon californicus) Yerba Santa can be used to purify and to set and protect boundaries. Its name tells you exactly what this plant is - Yerba Santa means sacred herb.

Lavender (Lavandula officianalis) Lavender restores balance and creates a peaceful atmosphere. It will also draws loving energy and spirits.

Mugwort (Atemesia vulgarus) Mugwort is used to stimulate psychic awareness and prophetic dreams. The Lakota also believe that when Mugwort is burned it "makes the bad spirits sick”.

Copal (Bereseru microphylla) Copal is a resin used by the Mayans as a food for the Gods. They believe that as the smoke of the Copal would rise, it would carry their prayers to the ears of the Gods. Copal is used in divination and in purification ceremonies. We use Copal in the Inipi Ceremony (Sweat Lodge) to carry our prayers to Great Spirit. Copal is the Frankincense of the Western Hemisphere.

Red Willow bark (S. lasiandra) – Red Willow bark is an important herb used in sacred smudging ceremonies (and again within the Inipi Ceremony). It's woody aroma surrounds you with a sense of soothing calm, like being “surrounded by a huge Medicine Blanket”. Red willow an ideal herb for use with clearing purposes and during quiet sessions of meditation. The Red Willow is a tall tree that can grow to fifty feet, mainly along streams in western North America.

Osha (Ligusticum porteri) Osha Root or Bear Root can be burned as an incense or carried for good luck and protection from bad influences. Osha is also a preferred gift for Native American elders.

Don’t be afraid to “mix and match” herbs to suit your particular ceremony. I have a lovely blend I use frequently called Sweet Medicine Smudge Mix that contains White Sage, Cedar and Lavender which cleanses, balances and brings in blessings. It makes a lovely aroma. Also, smudge sticks are available in a combination of herbs.

If you find this all too confusing or simply too much work, check out my Sacred Space Spray. It is an aromatherapy spray made of the sacred herbs of cedar, sage, and lavender with vibrational essences of several of the sacred herbs and gems. The aroma is light and clean. Make creating sacred space short and sweet!

Until next time –

Mitakuye Oyasin (A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),

Debbie

Smudging Ceremonies - Part 1

2007-05-27T11:26:00.000-07:00

Throughout our blog, we will explain some of the tools we commonly use as we live in connection with “All Our Relations”, walking a Shamanic path.

One of the very common ceremonies we (and many others in the metaphysical practices) use is smudging.

Smudging is a simple ceremony used to cleanse a person, place or an object. The smudging ceremony involves the burning of sacred plants and herbal resins, then, either fanning the smoke around a person or place or passing an object through the smoke. The smoke from the sacred plants, then cleanses the person, place or object of unwanted energies, spirits or influences. Pretty simple, huh?

Smudging is like taking a shower for your energy system. Just like in the physical, we get dirty in our energy bodies too. Smudging cleans out all the junk we pick up as we move through our day. Just like the air, the energy in the world is polluted and simply collects on us and in our space. Not good or bad. It just IS. But, I shower routinely, on the physical and energetic levels!

We also use a smudging ceremony before we begin doing any sacred work, like a ritual bath. Also, before we start any classes or circle work, we smudge everyone just to be sure we are all in a good space to start our work. We also smudge the room before (and sometimes after) doing classes or healing ceremonies to remove any unwanted energies that are hanging around.

The easiest way to smudge is to use a smudge stick. These can be found in most metaphysical stores and in some health food stores. A smudge stick is a wand made of the leaves of a plant(s) tied together and dried. You simply light the end of the wand and extinguish the flame by waving it around once it has a smoldering end. It is best to have some kind of pottery bowl or an abalone shell under the smudge stick to keep from dropping ash. (It can leave ugly burns in the carpet, believe me!) Loose herbs can also be placed on self-igniting or incense charcoal or simply lit together in the bowl to produce smoke. Either way is effective. Find the one that works best for you.

So, what about when you can’t have smoke or if someone is sensitive to smoke? It works the same. You simply don’t light the smudge stick. You are working with the plant’s ENERGY. Wafting the energy around someone or an area will have the same effect. If you want something more physical though, check out my Sacred Space Spray. It is an aromatherapy spray made of the sacred herbs of cedar, sage, and lavender with vibrational essences of several of the sacred herbs and gems.

If you are cleansing person have them stand facing you and pass the wand back and forth in their energy field starting at their feet and moving upwards. You can also use a feather to direct the smoke. They can also use their hands to move the smoke close to them and into their energy field. When you reach their head, have them turn, clockwise and pass the smudge down their back. Sometimes it's a good idea to pay close attention to the heart area. Remember, when you smudge, you are asking the spirit of sacred plants for assistance and you must honor their healing power.

To cleanse a room or outside area, simply carry the smudge stick or bowl, sunwise (clockwise) around the area, making sure to smudge in the corners and behind doors.

When you have completed the smudging ceremony, thank the sacred herb spirits and simply leave your smudge stick or herbs in the bowl and let them go out naturally. These sacred plant spirits work as long as they need to clean the space. Allow them to work until the smudge goes out. Putting out the smudge is like interrupting someone’s conversation. It’s not an open flame so it won’t catch fire, but don’t leave it next to the newspaper or curtains, as there are ashes. If for some reason you must put out the smudge stick, thank the herbs and simply break it off just above the smoldering tip and allow the end to burn out or simply tamp it out.

Well, enough for today. Off to the store with you to pick up your smudge sticks. Next time we will discuss some of the sacred plants and their specific uses.

Mitakuye Oyasin (A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related),

Debbie

Birthing the Sacred Drum

2007-04-23T22:32:00.000-07:00

This Sunday was the eighth month of a shamanic study group that Gary and I are facilitating. We were really looking forward to this segment of the class as we get to be "midwives" again to the birth of new drum spirits for our "shaman's in training". This is a powerfully spiritual and healing experience for all involved.

Follow us in the creation process and see if it doesn't make you want to give birth to your own drum. If you are not near Phoenix, AZ, we will travel to do drum birthing classes. Please feel free to contact us.

We were all born with a drum – our heartbeat. We hear the heartbeat of our mother in her womb, and the drum is the heartbeat of our Earth Mother and our Ancestors. Making contact with a drum awakens our sacred, awakens our soul.

The drum is a powerful tool for a Shaman. The Shaman uses the drum beat to access an altered state of consciousness to perform journeys for self, others and the earth and universe. We follow the drum beat to other dimensions and other worlds, travelling where no time and space exist. The drum beat also acts like bread crumbs being left along the trail that we can follow to return home to this reality.

I use the term “birthing” in relation to creating a drum, because it is truly a process of creation. Like human procreation, the drum is the combination of two individual spirits - the tree spirit and the spirit of the animal that contributed the hide. Bring the two together in ceremony with intent and a new spirit is conceived. Much like our human children, this new “drum child” has chosen you as a parent, to be your friend, teacher, mentor and healer. Each drum is unique and brings its own character to our lives. This group of participants have spent time over the last month journeying to meet the spirit that was to be born into their drums as part of their training exercises.

Before we begin the process, the hides and hoops, which we have purchased must be ceremonially prepared. We always take time to honor both the animal and tree spirits for their gift. Each are smudged (cleansed with the smoke of sage) and we journey with each piece to remove any trauma that may have occurred to the tree or animal and to negativity that may have been invested during the preparation process.

After “conception”, the process begins by actually cutting the head of the drum from a full animal hide, which is the easy part. The second stage involves punching sixteen holes evenly around the drum head using leather punches and hammers. Fortunately, everyone we've worked with has played nice :) We really get to test our participant's perfectionism patterns here. There are sixteen holes as we do a four direction tie of four groups of four gathered together like a medicine wheel in the back.

Next comes the lacing. There is approximately sixty feet of lace to be strung in a particular pattern across the drum – this is what I would call “third trimester” – slightly cumbersome and awkward. Throughout this time you are connected to the spirit of the drum, feeling it developing and growing within the circle.

Then, with great anticipation and expectation, “labor” begins. People laugh when I tell them they will spend a considerable amount of time in labor. Later they fully understand. The lace needs to be tightened to pull the head of the drum taunt. This is truly a labor of love as you pull and straighten the wet, slimy, lace across the drum, pulling and tugging, with sweat running down your face until you can pull no more. This usually takes several passes until you tie off the ends, cut the "umbilical cord" and thump this new spirit to hear its first cry. And then, like any proud parent, you sigh with relief. We all whoop and holler as each new "drum baby" emerges.

As the“drum child” is welcomed into this world with ceremony, tears of joy are shed, each person knowing that their journey has just begun.

(Click here to view pictures of some of our drum birthing classes)

The drum takes your prayers to Spirit. It contains within it's circle, all that is, was and will be. All the answers can be found within it's circle. As you awaken to and honor your rhythm through the drum, you awaken to inner growth and healing which manifests outwardly to heal the planet.

We are one voice. Mitakuye Oyasin (A Lakota prayer as a reminder that we are all related).

Until next time -
Debbie

A Little About Gary & Debbie Gent & Shamanic Connection

2007-04-12T11:57:00.000-07:00

Gary and Debbie Gent a.k.a. Shamanic Connection are Shamanic Facilitators from Phoenix, Arizona. Their mission to help people to reconnect with themselves, Spirit and Mother Earth through Shamanic and other healing practices. They view their role as two-fold -- to assist our clients in re-acquiring the tools for their growth and then to hold a safe space for them to do their work. It is by using these new tools that growth and healing happen.

Gary and Debbie came together as life partners almost three decades ago, neither seeing the journey on which they had embarked.

Gary Gent is a traditionally trained Shaman of Cherokee/Irish descent. Gary began his shamanic training at the age of six. His father was one-quarter Eastern Cherokee of the Wolf Clan and what Gary calls a "Closet Shaman". As is typical with traditional training, Gary's training began without explanation spending many hours on focus and concentration exercises, as well learning to work with Spirit, animals, and nature. After experiencing "life" for a time, Gary was called to finish his training.

As Gary returned to his shamanic studies, Debbie began refining the psychic and healing abilities that were forbidden throughout her childhood. Her close connection with Mother Earth and the Elemental realm assisted her in the teachings of their two children and raising them in a shamanic household, as well as taught her much about plants and animals. She has also re-learned a number of body/mind/soul therapies including shamanic training, hypnosis, flower essences, Reiki, aromatherapy, and energy balancing.

Together, they began walking the shamanic path and helping others re-gain their connections with Spirit and Mother Earth. Their journeys have taken them many places in the U.S., Canada and Europe. They currently reside in Phoenix, Arizona. Although they live in the city, they continue to walk the shamanic path in their daily lives.

Gary works full-time as a Shamanic Facilitator, doing journeys or shamanic healings, both in-person or by phone consultations. He conducts workshops on soul recovery, energy work and connecting with self, spirit and nature -- walking a shamanic path.

Debbie Gent currently works as a Shamanic Coach, Hypnotherapist, and EFT Practitioner. She has studied a number of body/mind/soul therapies and draws on these many skills and blends these disciplines into her nurturing style. She also conducts self-empowerment workshops such as Reclaiming the Goddess Within, shadow work, and Past Life Regression, as well as facilitating group hypnosis programs and performing Comedy Hypnosis shows (Laughter is the best medicine!).

Gary and Debbie co-create workshops and conduct ceremonies such as sweat lodges, naming ceremonies and weddings. Both are Ministers and Diplomats of Earth Stewardship of The International Assembly of Spiritual Healers and Earth Stewards.