Impacted by the Stars

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 which lead every creature on Planet Earth, humans included.  Within the natural influences you’ll find humans impacted by the weather, other animals and humans alike.  We may want to believe that humans are in control but the fact remains that the real puppeteer is an energetic force behind it all…

In our shamanic community we take note of “quotes” and who shared them.  Everyone has the ability to grow, to explore, to be in awe and to share wisdom.  I’ve learnt from my teachers and  taught my students two basic attitudes. 

1. Never share the story of others without their permission.  It doesn’t have to be a written contract but it does have to be an acknowledgment of trust between two parties.
2. When you share the stories or wisdom of others always give them recognition: Name them. You can even be creative about it.  Everyone has a part to play in this World.  Nothing is accomplished without help or assistance.  

When I stopped writing this blog years ago it was mostly because I had discovered that my blog entries were being used by shamanic teachers / and practitioners as the basis of their teachings / businesses.  Honestly, I was surprised by my own reactions. I realized I had naive expectations of the World around me.  I also noticed that like many others around me, I felt cheated perhaps even betrayed by others. A part of me wanted a kind of social rule that couldn’t be broken and in that reflection, I took note of an inner tyrant, and a Western, linear thinking.  It was then, that I felt called to leave the blog behind and to go journey. 

The last decade has certainly taught me that there are different degrees of influence.  The Earth has grown through 4.5 billion years. At times the impacts were slow and steady.  Yet, there were eras where “our Mother” was bombarded with quick bouts of destruction bringing it to the brink of extinction.  We live in illusion when we get too comfortable with our lives.  This World offers challenges, obstacles, initiations / tests, and evidently, the unexpected.  There is no way we can be prepared for everything; but we can open ourselves up to the honesty of it all and find our way through it.

This morning I was watering my aloes and I was impressed with how the bigger stems of the plant always protect the inner sprouts.  For years I’ve been gently pulling the stems back with the help of thread affirming to the plant that “it can trust me.  I will protect its inner core”.  Over time it’s let go a bit of this habit as if it heard me.  After being diagnosed with stage 4 kidney disease I realized my plants would live longer than me. It was wrong of me to want to break the Aloe Vera’s natural survival instincts.  What would she do after I was gone?  It was only after I let go of the regret and guilt that I came to understand that I can’t control the influence I bring to this World, I can only trust it.  Whatever happens next in both my life and the Aloe Vera’s existence can only be filled with growth and life, and both are good. 

I’ve often experience natural phenomenon; which lets me feel recognized, understood and loved.  I guess I’ve come to have the expectation that humans could do the same.  I was reminded through the last 6 years that although we are related to this Earth, we are younger, and slightly immature in comparison.  Maybe we need another few million years or more to develop an unconditional sense of faith and love towards each other?

The recent pandemic has shown us that we are definitely in need of strong leaders, teachers, storytellers or prophets: People who can show us the way forward; people who can gather us together and inspire us. Sometimes it takes walking in the dark to find the light.  From my perspective — if my blog leaves a positive impact, it doesn’t matter who uses it.  Tying my name to the influence would just be away to keep consciousness alive.

Ta’Hau