Shaman: Paintings by Susan Seddon Boulet I attended a holistic medicine conference a number of years ago, and one of the classes I signed up for was taught by an experienced and well-known Shaman in the medical community. I signed up for the class eager to hear about his wisdom, travels, and knowledge.
When I got to the class we were each immediately handed a small rattle that looked like it was purchased at a drug store. We were then instructed by the Shaman to stand up and shake our rattle and dance around the room in a circle chanting words like "HO" and "HA".
When I heard the instructions, I thought, is this a joke? Where do I exit?
About 20 of us started in on the process of what we were instructed to do -- extremely well educated adults now chasing each other around the room with rattles and chanting and listening to the instructions that were called out to us throughout the session, "Turn right, go left, head straight..."
At one point, the Shaman said, "Don't judge the process".
I thought, "Hmm...he's listening to my mind." Don't judge...good idea since my head was not in the game.
Caught up in my judgement, I was thinking, "This is ridiculous, you want me to use a rattle? I came here for knowledge. Turn left...for a refund? Go right...out the door? Head straight...to the next class?" etc. etc. etc.
I tell you -- and this is so like the trickster side of a Shaman to pull this off -- I have no idea what happened in that room at a spiritual or soul level after that, but something was significantly changed in me from that rattling experience.
AS SOON AS I SUSPENDED MY JUDGEMENT, I had a BLAST for the rest of the time. I got out of my head and into my heart and soul.
In fact, all of the participants eventually started laughing and smiling, and I felt a connection with them even though we never spoke a word to each other.
That, my friends, is powerful medicine.
How often is it that you get to chant and rattle and laugh with your adult colleagues? Rarely. The Shaman knew just what this group of intellectuals needed, and the experience was totally liberating. Things happened during that session that I will never understand.
Rob Brezney, the genius of Freewillastrology, tells us that "the world is conspiring to bless us". If only we could see this. He advises, "Act as if the universe is a prodigious miracle created for your amusement and illumination. Assume that secret helpers are working behind the scenes to assist you in turning into the gorgeous masterpiece you were born to be."
Good Shamanic advice.
Try that on today! Shake your rattle, share your own brand of medicine with the world, and see how the world blesses you!
Love,
Blessed
Have something you want to say? Please do so in the comments section! We want to hear from yoU!!!
(Written by Jane Hart, copyright 2015)
When I got to the class we were each immediately handed a small rattle that looked like it was purchased at a drug store. We were then instructed by the Shaman to stand up and shake our rattle and dance around the room in a circle chanting words like "HO" and "HA".
When I heard the instructions, I thought, is this a joke? Where do I exit?
About 20 of us started in on the process of what we were instructed to do -- extremely well educated adults now chasing each other around the room with rattles and chanting and listening to the instructions that were called out to us throughout the session, "Turn right, go left, head straight..."
At one point, the Shaman said, "Don't judge the process".
I thought, "Hmm...he's listening to my mind." Don't judge...good idea since my head was not in the game.
Caught up in my judgement, I was thinking, "This is ridiculous, you want me to use a rattle? I came here for knowledge. Turn left...for a refund? Go right...out the door? Head straight...to the next class?" etc. etc. etc.
I tell you -- and this is so like the trickster side of a Shaman to pull this off -- I have no idea what happened in that room at a spiritual or soul level after that, but something was significantly changed in me from that rattling experience.
AS SOON AS I SUSPENDED MY JUDGEMENT, I had a BLAST for the rest of the time. I got out of my head and into my heart and soul.
In fact, all of the participants eventually started laughing and smiling, and I felt a connection with them even though we never spoke a word to each other.
That, my friends, is powerful medicine.
How often is it that you get to chant and rattle and laugh with your adult colleagues? Rarely. The Shaman knew just what this group of intellectuals needed, and the experience was totally liberating. Things happened during that session that I will never understand.
Rob Brezney, the genius of Freewillastrology, tells us that "the world is conspiring to bless us". If only we could see this. He advises, "Act as if the universe is a prodigious miracle created for your amusement and illumination. Assume that secret helpers are working behind the scenes to assist you in turning into the gorgeous masterpiece you were born to be."
Good Shamanic advice.
Try that on today! Shake your rattle, share your own brand of medicine with the world, and see how the world blesses you!
Love,
Blessed
Have something you want to say? Please do so in the comments section! We want to hear from yoU!!!
(Written by Jane Hart, copyright 2015)