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Spirit Realm

I have had the opportunity lead and host many drumming circles, events and ceremonies. In doing so I learned that to study shamanism is one dimension, to practice it, adds another dimension. Exercises to practice what you have learned, do not need to be super complicated. There are many straight forward and simple ways to incorporate shamanic knowledge into your life.

I enjoy celebrating the equinoxes and solstices. Sometimes, I like my stones to absorb the energy of the quarters of the Medicine Wheel. You may need a mesh bag (like onions or oranges come in) to put your stones and other shiny objects in to protect them from thieving Magpies or other opportunistic creatures. Leave the objects outside for seven days prior to the solstice, to be basked in the change of seasons.

full moon water

New and Full Moon – I use water created at different moon cycles to aid in different healing work I do.  For an Extraction, I use Full Moon water, for a Soul Retrieval I use New Moon water.  There are two ways to make moon water, leave it out the night before or leave it out for three consecutive nights, remembering to bring it in during the day.  I also add moon water into my drinking water, for an extra boost of the natural energy of change.

Spirit of the Place (geni loci or genus locus) has been recognized as a being to honor by many peoples spanning the globe. In my practice, I have a very specific set of beliefs when it comes to what and who the Spirit of the Place is. These spirits may once have been persons of great mythic qualities who had achieved status in the Spirit Realm.  Or these spirits may have emerged directly from the Spirit Realm with the task of aiding and empowering humans, and to inspire, regulate and cooperate with the Elementals.  We must keep in mind that the land is the mundane reflection or the essential manifestation in which ALL DIMENSIONS meet.

I am very careful to contact the Spirit of the Place before I do any spirit work because Spirits are much more likely to cooperate with us when we work on the land. The first time you enter into a place to do Spirit Work it is advisable to take an offering, such as cornmeal, tobacco, silver and if all else fails a piece of your hair. Most people I have talked to do not have a problem with offerings for Spirit, some however do. We have grown so accustomed to doing what we wish on land that we automatically assume whatever we do is our own and we have no need or use to connect with the Spirits of the Place.  Offerings are gestures of respect and also show that we understand that we are NOT in control of the world around us, rather the natural world around us operates independent of us and we are fairly powerless to do much without their cooperation… whew that feels like a mouthful.

Begin simply ~ Journey to the Spirit of your house, and find out who lives with you.  If you have already done that, journey back and find out if you can do anything further for them. This is a middle world journey, depending on where your anchor spot is, will determine how you get to the middle world.

I like to shake things up a bit and rattle all through my house to awaken the energy. I follow this with an appropriate smudge (I love getting creative with house cleansing smudges) to cleanse it and heal it.  Some weeks are particularly worse than others, try this after a particularly difficult time and see if you can sense the difference. Or better yet, invite an unsuspecting friend over and see if they notice anything different. It can be very validating for an outside source to comment on your “abstract” practice!

It is a challenge, for some of us, to get out of our heads and into our bodies. To get off the train of “I should” and get on the other track “next time I will”. Practice alert awareness. Keep in mind, all that is perceiving is being perceived. And lastly, don’t forget to breathe and stand present.

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Long Snows Moon and Elk

The Long Snows Moon whose guardian is Elk is the last moon on the Medicine Wheel and which places special significance on the importance of the Guardian Spirit. North on the wheel is the place of the four-leggeds, and for me, it is also the Place where the Crystal People dwell.  The four-leggeds are the runners, the double receivers.  I view them as one foot in each quarter of the wheel, as well as two legs in the Spirit World and two legs in the Human World, that is my interpretation of a double receiver.

Elk cow and bull
Elk Cow & Bull (click to enlarge)

The Elk has told me that he is one of the most sacred four-leggeds. He is regarded in some cultures as the Guardian of the Thunder Beings.  The Thunder Beings are usually associated with the evening (darkness, the unknown), and although for some they can be very terrifying, they test our strength and endurance.  They help us to realize how really very small and insignificant we are compared to the great powers of The Universe. Thunder Beings are the Lightening which strikes the horns of the Elk, he helps it to flow through and transform the energy.  He is the greatest receiver of energy; the energy magician, changing and moving the appearance, feel and effect of energy. Elk is the Keeper of Thunder and Lightening. [Read more…]

Butterfly

We have arrived at the last stone in the Centre of the Medicine Wheel – Butterfly. This stone is the Air Clan, with the Spiritual Face of the Butterfly. They rarely stay in one place for very long. Air is the element of change, transformation, illumination and beginnings. This stone in the Centre is a reminder to each of us, we shift through many layers of transformation and change, as we emerge from our womb, until our last transformation death and decay.

Peleides Blue Morpho
Peleides Blue Morpho

Not surprising Sun Bear chose the Butterfly Weed, in my world, I know it as Milkweed, for the Plant Totem. There are many varieties of Milkweed. Common milkweed is slightly toxic, but not to the Monarch butterfly! By feeding almost exclusively on milkweed leaves, they are able to accumulate enough of the poison in their bodies to make them distasteful to predators.

Milkweed has a long history of medicinal uses. The milky white sap was applied topically to remove warts, and the roots were chewed to cure dysentery, not a common ailment in North America now, but it had to have been common enough for our Ancestors to chat with the plants and find out which one was best. The leaves were taken to suppress coughs, as well as being used to treat typhus fever and asthma.

Butterflies have been represented in art, painting and glyphs left for us by our Ancestors. Butterflies are viewed as an emblem of the soul and of unconscious attraction towards light. During my Christian days I recall an image, from Gnostic teachings, of the Angel of Death as a winged foot crushing a butterfly. Perhaps we can draw from that, is the butterfly was equated with life rather than with the soul, in the sense of the spirit or transcendent being. Perhaps this also explains the butterfly as a symbol of rebirth.

Butterflies and Butterfly Weed
Butterflies and Butterfly Weed

The stone to represent the Butterfly on the Medicine Wheel is Azurite. Azurite, is a beautiful blue color, ranging from pale to an almost purple hue. It, too, can aid in transformation, especially the Mental part of your being. I love the color and feel of this stone. It reminds me of changing hues of Blue we see in our Skies. I have placed the stone in my hand, using the drum track on shaman’s way, and journeyed to the Spirit of the Stone. I encountered an old and wise blue Lady. She told me to hold the stone to my third eye (which I did during the journey) to experience union with the skies and my body. It was transcendent and unforgettable. I felt transported from this physical plane, through all the worlds, and floated in the Great Abyss. I felt as though, no matter what I asked, or what I thought, there would be an answer to my question – asked or unasked.

The Color for Element of Air is a clear translucent with a hint of blue. This color bespeaks and teaches gentleness, faith, tenderness, love, and peace. It is good for inner child work and “especially good for healing the spirit.

Azurite
Azurite

The animal totems influenced by the Butterfly Clan are Deer, Raven, and Otter. These souls are the harbingers of messages from the Ancestors and will focus their attention on conveying the express wishes of the Elders so that the plan of the Great Spirit can unfold itself upon all that is Living.

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Thunderbird

Thunderbird, the seventh Stone in the Centre of the Medicine Wheel, and is the Spirit Keeper for the element Fire. If we think of Fire, we may call to mind different colors, but for our discussion, Red is the color we will use for this stone position. The plant spirit chosen to represent Thunderbird is Fireweed. The stone we use to hold this position is Lava Rock.

Haida Double Thunderbird
Haida Double Thunderbird

Fireweed, also known as willow-herb, may be found in every Canadian province and territory, as well as the northern United States. It is usually one of the first plants to grow and bloom on land devastated by a forest fire – or even by a volcanic eruption. Which may be one of the reasons Sun Bear chose to put Lava stone and Fireweed together, to further the lessons of Thunderbird. Fireweed was a very common plant for me to see in and around the farm I grew up on. It has an extensive root system, which helps the earth to heal after the devastation of fire. It is a perennial plant, [Read more…]

Ripe Berries Moon

Keywords: 

Full moon in the night skyContinuing our exploration of the Medicine Wheel, we’re going to look at the 20th stone; the Ripe Berries Moon. The dates for this moon are July 23 to August 22. This is the second Moon of Shawnodese, The Spirit Keeper of the South. This is also the 8th Grandmother Moon on the Wheel. This is the time when we are moving through various stages of harvest. This is the time of mid-day, and of Summer; a time of rapid growth and many lessons.

Ripe Berries Moon is the time of the Long Sun~ Summer. On the Wheel, Shawnodese, is the equivalent in human age to that of Youth to Young adult. The Long Sun is so brief in our land of Canada, much like our youth, gone far too quickly. This is the moon where we are encouraged to remember our youth, make mistakes & learn from them. As we move on in chronological age, we have seen more and more summers. Each summer we have, hopefully, learnt from our Youth and are moving into Wisdom. The time of the Wheel is a time to put into action what we have learnt. As any good gardener will tell you, to learn the ways of the Plants, is with patience and practice. The Wisdom Path of the Medicine Wheel, is deepened and understood with each passing season. This is the time of year I harvest my sage in Drumheller, Alberta.  The Ripe Berries Moon has an influence on my life every year.

[Read more…]

Shamanism in Edmonton

Kriket lives and hosts numerous events in Edmonton, Canada. She also performs healing sessions there. To find out more, or book a session check out her personal site.

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