Friday 6th November ~ Waning Gibbous Moon in Cancer

Today I’m going to discuss Integral Spirituality. That term might be unfamiliar but it is very close to what us as pagans believe.

What is Integral Spirituality? And what does it have to do with Shamanism? I am coming in the back door with this, so please read the whole paragraph before you start scratching your head and asking, “What is she talking about?!” Integral Spirituality is just a phrase we use to define the concept that there is a universal interconnected web of life and all things must somehow “fit” together without excluding anything in our perspective of what has a spirit or a soul. Certainly the interconnected web is part of it, but it goes beyond those beings which most people “consider to have a soul”. Knowing, in fact, that “everything” does possess a soul and that whatever you do affects everything else on the planet is the way of thinking of the shamans. We have to keep in mind when we react to things that it is affecting everything else including plants, animals, and manufactured goods, not just ourselves. Everything is “in-spirited” and there is just a different arrangement of holons, atoms, and molecules separating one item from another. That is why a chair doesn’t simply melt into the floor, and why a pencil doesn’t turn into a worm and wriggle off.

In his book No Boundary, the eminent American philosopher Ken Wilber talks about the concept of the universal web of Life in terms of there being no boundary lines between where you end, and for example, where the chair you are sitting on begins. And he’s right. In terms of every shamanic practitioner on Earth, both now and in ancient times, he’s right. They all believe in an interwoven connection between your spirit and the spirits found in the rocks, trees, caterpillars, plastic baggies, computer chips, and anything else manufactured or naturally occurring. That is why people can be ‘possessed’ by spirits or shapeshift into other forms. Those shapeshifters are just “re-arranging the holons, atoms, and molecules” of themselves into a different pattern. They can do that because they are, in some sense, also that other thing, animal, plant, techno-gadget, etc., that they are shifting into. Please understand that we ARE saying that glue guns and high def Televisions have souls. That is what the shaman thinks. It’s essentially what he KNOWS. Because he can talk to and interact with that spirit.

Integral spirituality is a difficult mental concept to truly apply, although it is relatively easy to say out of your mouth. Lots of people claim they ‘believe’ in an interconnected web of life, but then they see their way clear to be unkind to a stranger or lazy about cleaning up their living space. That is not how it works. If you see it all as interconnected, then every negative thought, sarcastic word, and selfish action — or inaction, becomes a bit of negative energy in your living space. It ripples outward in all directions from there. You disrespect the plants on your windowsill by not watering them properly or by overwatering. You disrespect the rug on the floor with failing to vacuum it when it needs to be. You disrespect the car by kicking the tires when you are frustrated with its performance. You disrespect your friend who wants to help pay for the restaurant tab by saying, “Oh, just forget about it! Put your money away! Your money’s no good here!” or some other silly thing meant to suggest that you are the one doing the paying. It is, like it or not, a show of force on your part. You are denying him or her the chance to be useful and helpful. Why not just smile, say thank you, and let them feel like they contributed to your joy?

We fail to do many kindnesses by behaving mindlessly or without thinking deeply about our motives, and we do not ever consider it ‘wrong’. But in its most basic form, the lack of kindness is an opening, a gap for the energy to be used by a more aggressive negative person. The way the web works is subtle. The ripples we make on the pond do come back on us, sometimes as giant waves of the sea. This is a crucial idea to shamanic philosophy and practice. It is difficult to attain a right understanding of it. More so, a right practice.

There is no … boundary… to how to apply this concept either, you see. It works for everything. And the idea that you “try to include everything in it” is why it is called integral spirituality. The idea is you are trying to integrate everything into a single understanding of All Things Having Spirit, thus you arrive at an integrated or integral spiritual concept. This concept is also elaborated on beautifully by Steve Blamires in his book Glamoury: The Magic of the Celtic Green World, which I highly recommend to you. He calls it the belief that All Things are Equal (pp. 66 – 69). It is taught that way also by practitioners of Native American Shamanism (Fionnula & Spirit Helpers)

When I thought about this something really struck me. I’d never considered manufactured goods like TV’s and tables etc as having a spirit but when you think about it of course they must have. If you agree that everything is made up of the same energy, just arranged in different ways, then everything is interconnected in the Web of Life. A TV is made up of plastic, glass, metal etc but all those substances are made from something natural aren’t they, originally they were. So if we hold that minerals, trees, plants etc have spirits then so must TV’s. This is a really profound thought and actually the challenge here is to be mindful and reverent with ALL things, not just things we see as ‘natural’. All is interconnected, all is One.

Blessings
Deep~Glade

Muses in the Mists Samhain Haiku Competition

Thursday 5th November 2009 ~ Waning Gibbous Moon in Gemini

Have finally completed all the practical exercises for Unit 1 of the Shamanism course. I really enjoyed doing them and have posted on the relevant boards but am awaiting Instructor feedback still.

Breathwork & Meditation

I have been doing this exercise each day for about 20 minutes each time. I feel I have been able to do it successfully following your instructions, which are very similar to what I usually do in my meditation practice anyway. Each time I have been able to achieve ‘quiet mind’. However, for different lengths of time. Sometimes for only a couple of minutes but at other times for at least 10. Then I find a thought intruding into my mind and I then just go back to focusing on my breath (exhalation) and can then achieve ‘quiet mind’ again. I’ve also notice that any external noises can just be noticed and not thought about. For example, if I hear a dog barking outside I notice the noise but don’t ‘think’ about it. I have also noticed that when I breathe from my tummy I can achieve the meditative state far easier than if I am breathing from my upper chest. If I’m breathing from my upper chest it means, for me, that I’m not relaxed enough and need to spend time just focusing on my breathing for a while. I really like the Taoist method of breath work and the concept of ‘microcosmic orbit’ makes a lot of sense to me. I have been utilising this in my breathwork and feel it really helps to achieve ‘quiet mind’

In Taoist Yoga, the concept of the energy cycle is less complex than that of the Hindu System of Chakras.  There are similar energy centres, however.  These energy centres are comparable to the Chakras in location, but in Taoist Yoga, the breathwork moves the energy of one’s generative force or fluid of sexuality which it calls ‘the inner fire’ and pushes the energy  along a cycle called the ‘microcosmic orbit’.  The microcosmic orbit has four points, the first is comparable to the base Chakra, but it is really located behind the sexual organs.  From there it moves up the spine to the point between the kidneys.  Then it moves upward to the top of the head and this completes the inhalation.  From there, as one exhales, the energy moves down the face to the chest and finally, it settles in the dan t’ien (point behind the navel) and returns to the place from which it arose.  This method of breathing, which we learned in our meditation work this week, allows for all the Chakra points to be activated by a concentration of the breath in conjunction with a focusing of the mind.  This purifies the inner fire and cleanses it so that energy is produced within the physical body.  And there you have Taoist Yoga breathwork in a nutshell.

Tracking Exercise

My face began to morph almost immediately into older ‘Caucasian’ faces but with pig-like features; a snout and small eyes. Then a full image of Pig came followed rapidly again by older ‘Caucasian’ faces, mostly female but some male too. I also kept getting glimpses of a Lioness or Puma but just the nose and mouth. After which I had a whole string of ‘Aboriginal’ faces, older but a few younger and also male and female. The Lioness/Puma image kept morphing in and out and then suddenly and very quickly an image of the whole face. Definitely a Lioness because there was no mane, or it could have been a Puma but it was very quick. Then the morphing images became harder to see and my eyes were getting very squinty because I was getting tired. So I stopped. I did this exercise for 45 minutes.

I finished reading the Introduction to The Way of the Shaman by Michael Harner. He asserts that it is possible to learn the basics of core Shamanism from a book but I don’t really agree. I guess one could learn the basic methodology but you have no feedback do you. although having an instructor online isn’t the best ideal I do at least have feedback of some kind. Obviously the best scenario is to have hands on instruction from a Shaman. But obviously this might not be available to many who are called to learn about Shamanism. I’m very lucky to have WhirlingThunder to help me and at least to have another Shaman as my instructor online. Of course each persons ‘experience’ in the ‘Worlds’ is going to be different from someone else’s but without some kind of feedback it would be hard I think to learn completely from a book.

On a more mundane level – still no heating or hot water in my house. I’m having to wait until tomorrow for the new part to be ordered. So hopefully it should be all fixed by the weekend. It’s ridiculous though being like this for over a week now. My point about British workmen holds true – a lot of them are crap!!!

Blessings
Deep~Glade

Meet Thomas

Today Thomas came home to me. He is a Dog-tooth (Chevron) Amethyst skull, with me to help me work with my ancestors. He is BEAUTIFUL!

He emits quite a high vibration and when I placed him on my solar plexus area, with Scaraphina (I wanted the two to meet and say hi) I felt such glorious excitement. Plus I found I could not breathe from my solar plexus at all. The two together are POWERFUL!

I’m so excited to be his caretaker, it’s an honour.

Yesterday I was feeling quite anxious because I felt I hadn’t done much…I never did the vacuuming…but when I look back I realise I did quite a lot actually…washed the dishes, washed clothes, made pot pourri, read some of my shamanism work, dyed my hair (now am looking much younger again…LOL), cleared out my bedroom a bit and made space for Meadowhawk when he comes over. So in actual fact I had a productive day. I really have to learn not to beat myself up.

Still no heating here. The guy is coming out tomorrow to fix the boiler but meanwhile it’s chilly to say the least. At least we have hot water because I do have an electric immersion heater.

Today is therapy day and although I really would rather not go, I am beginning to become a little more commited to going at least. But I’d rather stay here and read through all the mounds of shamanism work I have. We have two practical assignments to do this week – the meditation/breathwork and the tracking exercise. I am able to meditate to the point of ‘no mind’ as the instructor puts it. I concentrate and focus on my breathing, especially the exhalation completely. After a while all intrusive thoughts disappear and if thoughts do float by I can quickly ignore them by refocusing on my breathing. The tracking exercise as I’ve said before is coming along quite well although I did not do it last night because I was very tired. I’ve noticed it just does not work if I’m too tired.

But I have a lot of reading to do about the history of Shamanism and its roots in different cultures. Which is very interesting but boy is it a lot of work. The written text for this course is The Way of the Shaman by Michael Harner, and fortunately I began reading this a while ago, and I’m glad I did now.

The Crystal Ally card I pulled for this week is Turquoise, which comes under the ’storm’ element according to the companion book. Wholeness! The rainbow snake which represents all creation contains within its coils the unity of the Universe, represented by Turquoise. The snake and the Universe that it contains are made up of tiny pieces of creation. This represents the necessity of all creation moving into harmony before wholeness can be achieved. The same is true on a personal level. All aspects of the Self must be recognised and integrated before personal wholeness can be achieved. This integration and understanding are the realm of the Ally Turquoise.

Maybe this is why I’m taking this Shamanism class – to help me achieve this.

This sky blue to green mineral combines water, wind, fire and earth energies, therefore containing the power and unity of the Storm Element. Turquoise has traditionally been a stone of vision because of its incredible sky blue colour. The Sky is a male aspect of the Earth Mother. Those beings who inhabit the sky, such as Hawk and Eagle, have incredible powers of vision. Flying hundreds of feet in the air, they not only see the total picture of the landscape below them, but can also discern the movements of the smallest mouse on the ground or fish beneath the water.

Often Turquoise will contain Pyrite, thus combining the male sky energy with the male Earth aspect and the energy of the Sun. This sacred triad symbolises the return of the wisdom of the heavens to the Earth plane. Part of this wisdom is the ability to perceive the separate aspects of oneself, and to integrate those aspects into a whole picture of ones total being.

Turquoise symbolises the marriage of the Earth and the Sky. Because it embodies the energies of all four elements, it represents the escape from the duality of the physical realm and the return to the oneness and unity of the Great Spirit of the Universe. Turquoise calls you to remember that you contain within you all aspects of the Great Earth Mother and all her moods, which take the earthly form of the elemental forces.

When you invoke the energy of Turquoise, you are asking to be shown the way to Oneness and Unity. By seeking out this path you are fulfilling the need of the current age of growth on the Earth plane. The Age of Light is a return to wholeness. Humanity long ago volunteered to be the vehicle through which spirit could learn of the duality of the physical plane. We are now undertaking to reunite the dualism of Light and Dark, Male and Female, Body and Spirit. Turquoise shows us that one can exist in Unity, bringing all polarities and dualism into balance.

Chakra: Throat through Soul Star
Affirmation: I accept and integrate all aspects of myself

Blessings
Deep~Glade

 

Saturday 31st October 2009 ~ Samhain

Feeling a little sleepy right now. I’m waiting for the Heating engineers to turn up to fix my boiler as it keeps cutting out. As usual they never give a specific time, only that they” be here between such and such a time…phooey! It’s raining and wet this morning and they’ve forecast storms for us for the next few days, lots of rain and windy…double phooey! I love the element of water but when it’s cold, windy and rainy it’s just yuk!

The Samhain ritual last night was really lovely. Powerful and full of energy. I gave the meditation, which I’d written myself, and it was such a pleasure to do it. I always get a bit nervous though, thinking am I going too fast or too slow. But I got some lovely feedback so I think it went down well. Lady Raven gave a lovely ritual, calling on Cerridwen and Arawn. The God now sleeps in the Underworld with the Crone. A time for quietness within and introspection. I’m rather looking forward to this time. After the ritual I left an offering outside for my ancestors, and the spirits…it’s all gone this morning, so someone surely had a feast…LOL I’m glad they enjoyed the roast beef, egg and bacon flan I left out there.

So in the next couple of days I will begin the Shamanism class. I’m looking forward to it but am a little nervous too. I’m so glad I’ve got Whirling Thunder to help me. She knows what she’s talking about and explains things in words I can understand. I see this delving into Shamanism as another piece of my own individual path. I like the way Whirling Thunder described it in an earlier post – that we are all on the same path (to enlightenment) but that there are different stalls we can stop at and learn from. It all adds to the enrichment of our own paths. I know I feel happy with my path right now…it is as it should be. If I remain open to the Universe all will be as it should be in this moment in time. I’m finding it a lot easier to stay in the moment now. And with that comes inner peace.

It was wonderful to actually be able to chat with Thunder on the phone the other day. Blew my mind that I was talking with someone 11 hours in front of my time – now I know how Meadowhawk feels…LOL Of course Thunder and I are different but I felt so at home with her and she and I are in many ways very similar. It was ‘kind of’ like talking with myself but only better because she is one smart and wise cookie. I’m so glad we have struck up a friendship. This Internet VOIP phone I have is a real blessing. I can call practically anywhere in the world for nothing! How’s that for coolness!

I’m looking forward to beginning the Sacred Mists 100 Day Challenge. Although I have to admit I’m nervous too. I guess I’m afraid of failing but that’s just in my mind isn’t it? How can anyone fail if they give something their best shot? Trouble with me is I have a perfectionist nature and if I don’t see what I do as ‘perfect in my eyes’ then I will have failed. I know this type of thinking is totally unreasonable though. It’s rather like black and white thinking (which is so typical of Personality Disordered people). I need to learn to think in shades of grey and I’ve come a long way but still have a long way to go.

Which really brings me to the point that I realise I know nothing! When I was younger I thought I knew everything (in my arrogance) but the older I’ve got (and the more knowledge and wisdom I’ve gained) I realise that in reality I still actually know so little. One never stops learning. This realisation is actually exciting for me. My life path will go on, from this into the next life, and the next, and the next…learning, learning, learning. How exciting.

Blessings
Deep~Glade

Sacred Mists Haiku Challenge

Giant Crystal Caves

Herb of the Week ~ Juniper

Juniper  (Juniperus communes)

Folk Names: Enebro, Gemeiner Wachholder, Geneva, Gin Berry, Ginepro, Gin Plant

Planet: Sun

Element: Fire

Used throughout Europe as a protective plant, Juniper also guards against theft. It was probably one of the earliest incenses used by Mediterranean witches. However, Juniper is also added to love blends, and it is said that the berries if carried by men increase male potency.

When carried or burned. Juniper helps increase psychic powers, and breaks hexes and curses.

In Celtic Lore, Juniper is a herb of Mean Geimhridh, or the Winter Solstice (Yule). It is primarily a diuretic and the berries also help digestive problems, gastrointestinal inflammation and rheumatism.

However, Juniper should only be taken medicinally for up to 4 to 6 weeks at a time. It should not be used by people with kidney problems or pregnant women.

The Juniper has a direct communication to the Great Spirit. It was designed for healing.

The Navaho use every part of the Juniper; medicinally, ceremonily, spiritually, nutritionally. They have a dance they put on in Spring-time, called an awareness Dance–Ka teh ca ca.

“We are here. We have arrived. We are aware.” A greeting for the spring and the new seasons. The Juniper priests, young men who will serve for one year only, dance for up to 36-48 hours. They study the whole year for the dance. It’s a strong tradition. To be appointed is a great honor, and to do your dance better than any other priest has in the 6000 years the dances have been done is part of a great competition. It is a very intense dance. The concentration is intense. They will plant a Juniper branch in the ground and this is their focal point. Each priest sets his own Juniper. Then they dance. The plant would normally dry and wilt. At the end of the dance those are so stiff and are standing up so straight. The longer the dance, the stiffer and straighter those Juniper branches will become.

When you get down in the dumps, feelings lousy, just wrap yourself around a Juniper tree, lay your head against the trunk, and spend about an hour with your eyes closed. All the problems of the world vanish like smoke. It just absorbs you.

The Juniper aura is a silverish-blue, with a tinge of silver-greens on the outer edge.

Can be used with other herbs, but is better used alone. It is very unique. it grows by itself. you don’t see big clumps of Juniper. They are individual.

 

Sources:
A Druid’s Herbal by Ellen Evert Hopman
Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs
Two Moons Herbal (Internet)

Sunday 25th October 2009 ~ Waxing Crescent Moon in Aquarius

Did the ‘Tracking’ exercise again last night but I think I was too sleepy because I kept seeing ‘double’ and found it hard to focus. The images didn’t come so easily although they did come but were kind of fragmented. I also kept having the feeling that ’something’ was trying to push through but didn’t quite. I have still seen no animal features or images but last night I just got the impression of monkey in my head for no reason. It was just there…monkey…and I kept wanting to giggle. Anyway, I will persevere with this exercise, not only because I think I should but because I actually like doing it. I am still gobsmacked by it.

I totally see Whirling Thunder’s point about learning experiences. I must remember this because I personally think it is true. I hate ‘labels’ but I still use them, we all do to a certain extent. Well in the Western World we do because this seems to be the only way we can validate things, and ourselves. Which is total hogwash really isn’t it. Why do we need a label to validate ourselves. I say to myself that I’m no longer going to use labels (which I think are really judgements) and I try not to use them but I still end up doing it…very frustrating.

I’ve been spending quite a bit of time mulling over the goals I’m setting myself for the SM 100 Day Challenge. This has required a lot more thought than I anticipated. Rather than just think of things ‘I want to do’ willy nilly I’ve actually meditated on them and considered them. That’s a first for me. Anyway, I think I’ve been able to set 10 goals that I can achieve in 100 days. I kept wanting to add things to the list but have steeled myself not to. I can always do another 100 days afterwards and work along like that. This seems to me to be far easier and less daunting than setting goals for the whole year.

Blessings
Deep~Glade

Wednesday 22nd October ~ Waxing Crescent Moon in Sagittarius

My instructor for the Shamanism class replied to my efforts in the tracking exercise.Apparently I need to continue to do it until animal features come through. Last night I did the tracking exercise again, this time for a much longer time. Again I saw older images, female and male with moustache and beard but then I began to see female younger images, not young as in childlike, but much younger. They looked rather like teenage. I’m afraid I saw no animal like features but on three occasions my face began to fragment, like a jig saw puzzle all put together wrong, and it was as though something was trying to ‘push through’. I also got a strong sense of a bison or buffalo but never actually saw its features.

As for me being sceptical I guess I just felt it wouldn’t work for me, like I would fail at it somehow. It is disappointing I’ve seen no animal features but I will continue with this exercise. It is absolutely fascinating and I feel it’s showing me how worn out and old my perspectives actually are.

As for the 100 Day Sacred Mists Challenge – well, I’ve decided to do it. I’m still concerned that I will fail at this too. but then I see that this is me all over – no confidence in myself. I always think I’m going to fail before I even set out. Like when Meadowhawk was over and we went log/tree climbing. Immediately I thought I would fail, that I would fall off. Well, I did actually fall off in the end but the point is I had no confidence in myself from the beginning. I think I set myself up to fail and this colours everything I do. But when I look back there are many things I have succeeded at…passing my 1st Degree and becoming initiated, getting my Bachelors Degree, Have been successful in achieving my Crystal Healing and Herbalism diplomas…and much more. I just doubt myself. It’s almost as if I’m saying to myself ‘well I’m going to fail at this anyway so…’ This is completely wrong thinking and I know it. So I have written an affirmation for myself to use for the 100 Day Challenge and not only for that but for myself in all things:

EACH DAY I REMEMBER I AM A POWERFUL WITCH AND ALL THINGS ARE ACHIEVABLE.

I’ve posted this right above my computer so I can see/read it each day and it’s ‘in my face’.

Blessings
Deep~Glade