Rattling the Bones

I haven’t written a blog entry in years. Let’s summarize my absence as a walkabout and I’ll promise to  be back to share more of my experience.  Today, it’s clear to me that I needed to explore the notion of owning my story.   In Shamanism we explore life through cosmological and natural influences.   For example if we were to explore this idea through our daily living we could say that there is no thought, emotion, choice or action; which is brought forth without some kind of domino effect of influence.   I can hear my parents, my teachers, my loved ones through so many of my attitudes and beliefs.   As an individual born in the 60’s I can also hear generational programs behind my life perceptions.   If people can easily identify me as Canadian it’s because I carry a kind of Canadian code so to speak.   Whether we speak of DNA, religious doctrines or social indoctrination we speak of “influence”.   Cosmology and nature are the influences whi...

For most people dreaming is simply about “living or witnessing vivid and emotional stories while they sleep.”   If they are lucky some of these dreamers have “lucid experiences while they dream and can report having a life in some other dimension or reality.”   It’s rare to meet the kind of Dreamer who has a strong understanding that what he or she dreams is not only a mental or symbolic expression of their daily concerns or curiosities; but is also a powerful tool. When I introduce myself as a “traditional Dreamer” I’m not using a “title;” which I eventually hope my students will exploit.   No. I’m using as little words as possible to speak of myself, of my journey, and of the story or dream that I’ve been living for the last 53 years.   Every elder or Dreamer that has dreamt like I dream will use a word that best describes them and their journey and story / or dream.   In the 1800’s people used the word “Dream Walker” to describe the kind of dreaming t...

In our tradition, the 9 th Moon (starting count at the Blue Moon) of every year is called: Breaking the Masks .   When we first encounter this Moon we are 9 years old.   On the Wheel, the 9 th Moon is found in the West and it’s when most children learn that there’s a difference between the fairy tales they were told or the television movies they adore, and reality.   Despite all the books that have been written on childhood development I have never come across anything that is as beautiful and as thorough as indigenous wisdom.   My first encounter with the Sacred Circle traditions left me feeling full… There’s a long list of fascinating facts about the Moons of the Medicine Wheel.   One of them is that the word “moon” can refer to “time.”   The cycle of the Moon is present through our daily living.   We often use the word “moon” to speak of a month or a particular moment during a month (menstruation).    A moon can also mean “a year...

I brought up the topic of “authentic Shamanism” at one of my classes / circles this week. I’ve noticed especially in the last three to four years that when people speak to me about Shamanism, they often make a distinction between what they are doing and what “is out there.”  These days if you are not into Ayahuasca you are not authentically into Shamanism.  So what is “Shamanism” if it changes its appearance every decade?  Is it about altered states of consciousness through hallucinogens? Is it about ceremonies and rituals; or about soul retrieval, dreaming and healing?  Since Shamanism isn’t a Religion and doesn’t have set doctrines, then how can you anyone be clear on what makes it “authentic?” When I brought up the question this week, I received a few interesting comments.   Many of the individuals in our circles have struggled with addictions and it’s because of the Medicine Wheel teachings that their lives are full and healthy again.   The idea...