Rattling the Bones

This afternoon, after looking through web pages on Shamanism and Animism on Internet, I came to the conclusion that I’m a mix of Shamanism and Traditionalism. I find that lots of people who are simply shamanic often plunge into theatrics. Their experiences are always so dramatic and expressed in such a way that it’s often over kill (my opinion of course). The difference between shamanism and traditionalism is that traditionalists are somewhat more focused on the simple expressions of magic, phenomenon, and divinity. They often don’t need to talk about it because it’s part of every day living and natural. Those sites on internet that commercialize and basically market Shamanism often turn me off. This isn’t to say that they don’t offer an accurate description of Shamanism or don’t offer exactly what they promise as healing experiences… I understood through exploring these different web pages that I look for more than a shamanic experience. I look for a way of life. ...

I received a call from a young woman who got my name and number from a friend of a friend of a friend. You know how that goes…. After she told me her story, where she comes from, who referred her and what she’s been learning in the last decade – she asked me if “I did sweat lodges and if I could give her access to an honest-to-goodness-real-shaman?” I couldn’t help but shake my head and roll my eyes. I wondered for a moment whether it was best to be polite or give her a piece of my mind. In the end, I simply said: “I got to go. Good luck with your search.” Unfortunately and it’s sad to say – I get these kinds of calls often . There’s so very little and authentic or genuine literature or oral information out there on the topic of Shamans or Shamanism that it’s natural for people to quickly jump to conclusions. Lots of people believe for example that Shamanism is synonymous to Native Spirituality. It is not! Many individuals will assume that if you’...

Marriage is a BIG topic from any perspective or by any author. A few weeks ago at one of our workshops one of the particip ants asked me if I could write a blog entry on marriage from a shamanic angle. Like with any request I always have to throw it to the Universe first and wait for synchronicities to lead the way before I can come back with something to share. The synchronicities were so numerous that there was no doubt in my mind that the topic of marriage was a cosmological theme this month. Every single weekend was about attending a wedding. If it wasn’t my son or daughter dressing up for such an event, it was my husband and I which hasn’t happened in years. CH, my son’s girlfriend who’s a photographer was suddenly busy with weddings as well. Then, my daughter came up with the idea to enrol in college, in the program of bridal consulting. In the span of a few weeks KT started classes and suddenly the house was filled with questions on the topic. Even at our...

My son CT is color blind. Looking back I realize how much of his life is actually centered on this theme. When he was three years old he often woke up in the middle of the night screaming because of nightmares. Many of the dreams were very vivid stories that came from a distant past. CT often talked about this little, black boy who he described in great length as if he was a close friend. This poor, black boy was beaten and eventually killed by the white man who enslaved his family. “What is negro?” CT asked remembering how the older white man had yelled this word at this boy as he searched to find him hidden underneath the stair case of a big dusty, old house. With every new nightmare during that year between 2 and 3 years old, we (my husband and I) cringed at the details that the dreaming revealed, this horrible story about how humanity can be horrible towards humanity. At first these amazing yet tragic events baffled us. We must have asked ourselves countless questions: · How could ...

Before any question on Shamanism, the Medicine Wheel or Dreaming people will ask me: “Where’s the book?” I’ve often been told by agents, experts in marketing and other lecturers as well as members on the conference circuit that the lack of a book may have cost me some opportunities along the way. In response I have often said: “Opportunity in traditional Shamanism is defined very differently in comparison to Western society.” Still when I’ve seriously sat down to write through the years I’ve often spiralled around a timeless question: “Should Shamanism remain within the realm of oral tradition? And how much is lost when it’s anchored down – written?” After 20 years of teaching and journeying the Shaman’s path I’ve come to realize that the debate isn’t between oral and written tradition but between medicine words and dictionary words. I remember listening to my grand-father and my father tell stories when we were growing up. My mom had to beg us to go to bed b...

Reference: Wolikon means thank you in Malacete. Gratitude has been a theme, so far for me, since the start of the Moon of self-value six days ago. I’m appreciative of Spring: The odors, the sounds, the sights, the flavors and the textures. Our lilac trees are blooming (see the picture). The violet color of the blossoms inspires me with sweetness and femininity. Its pleasant perfume and the way that its twigs spring up from the ground like members of a parish connected somehow by the divine is humbling. I’ve always imagined this tree as delicate and fickle because my mother always struggled to make them grow despite her love for them; but my own experience has revealed them as sturdy, resistant, and extremely adaptable. I somehow have no trouble cultivating lilacs all through our yard. They seem to appreciate my presence, my touch, and my song. It’s not only the lilac tree that I admire this Spring. It’s also the pine, the cedar, the poplar, the weeping willow,...