SHAMANICEMPOWERMENT

PRESENTED BY

JOHAN ROELOFSE

INTRODUCTION

Before the advent of modern religious forms all human spiritual practices were based on a direct and ecstatic union with the natural energies inherent to all of creation. Life, although often brutal, was simple and based on an inherent respect for the divine, which was seen to be part of all of reality. There was no sense of separation between spirit and matter, no dominion of the rational over the emotional, no sense of human superiority as the master being who has the right to exert control over nature. Humanity was part of nature, fully aware of the subtle ecological balance of planet Earth. The ancient shaman, through their mastery of awareness, came to deep insights regarding the nature of reality that Western science is only now beginning to realize. Although slight differences exist in the specific language used in various cultures, the basic insight of all shamanic cultures was that everything is energy. Everything seen and unseen is made up of the same basic life force, what we often associate with God, or whatever we call the supreme being. These shaman knew that every thought, every emotion, every action rippled through the unified field of energy of which we are part, creating often astounding results. Their awareness of this fact caused ancient peoples to live their lives in harmony with Mother Earth, realizing that all of creation formed an interdependent whole.

Another interesting fact about these ancient civilizations was that they attributed equal value to the feminine and masculine principle. Both these principles were honoured and considered necessary for a balanced whole. In the Native American cultures, Father Sky and Mother Earth were revered. In ancient Taoist shamanism, yin and yang were equally valued. In European shamanic communities both the God and Goddess were worshipped. Light and dark, male and female, good and bad were seen to be two sides of the same coin. The one cannot exist without the other.

At some point in human history a wave of destruction started sweeping over the planet. This could have started as many as hundreds of thousands of years ago, but was certainly in full swing in about 325AD. It seems that groups of warlike, patriarchal nations were spreading across the Earth, gradually destroying the peace-loving nations and their cultures. In this process a lot of the ancient shamanic wisdom was either extinguished completely or simply became hidden. Complex religious forms gradually replaced the ancient spiritual practices of Earth, based on direct experience of the divine. It seems that spirituality gradually became more of an intellectual pursuit. Instead of experiencing the nature of God, human beings wanted to know the nature of God. Those learned ones who claimed to know the nature of the divine started exercising dominion over the masses, telling them what to believe. Suddenly the divine became something only the select few could know,

which inevitably led to a gradual sense of disenchantment of the world. A world of magick, a world in which the divine was immanent, became a cold, lonely world with a God that lived far away. The essential wholeness experienced by our ancestors, the unity between yin and yang, also became replaced by a polarized reality, a reality where this is better than that. This last fact has probably contributed more to global conflict and destruction than any other. Those who felt that they were right considered it perfectly logical to dominate or destroy that which they felt wrong.

If we look at the state of the world today it is horrifyingly apparent where our disregard for the ancient wisdom of our ancestors have brought us. We are faced on a global level with the complete destruction of Earth, our mother. On a societal level, poverty, crime, drug dependence and other signs of decay have reached unbearable levels. On a personal level, more and more human beings are feeling an intense loneliness, a sense of total disempowerment and a lack of trust in life. We are facing probably the biggest crisis in our short history on this planet, a crisis for which only a spiritual solution can work.

In these desperate times people are grabbing back to their ancient shamanic roots. One only has to look at new age and complementary health magazines to realize the extent to which we are beginning to re-awaken to our ancient birthright. A careful look at developments in fields as diverse as medicine, psychology, biology and physics further shows that modern humanity is beginning to realize that the practices and beliefs of the ancient shaman were not based on flights of fancy, on childlike naivety, but on a very deep understanding of the nature of reality. Modern medicine is beginning to acknowledge methods such as prayer and intuitive diagnosis as valuable tools in patient care. Psychology is beginning to value the transpersonal aspects of human beings and many psychologists are beginning to integrate essentially shamanic practices into their scientific training. Biology is beginning to recognize the importance of the morphogenetic field (a term based on the work of Rupert Sheldrake), an invisible web of intelligence connecting all beings. Physics has proven scientifically that reality is actually pure energy vibrating at varying frequencies. The shaman knew all this thousands of years ago and also knew how to apply this knowledge in very practical and powerful ways.

This workshop is my small contribution to reclaiming the wisdom of our shamanic ancestry. I have spent the past few years studying every possible path to energy mastery that I could. It all started in 1998 with Reiki, the Japanese form of energy healing developed

by Mikao Usui early in the 20th century. More recently I embarked on a path of studying the more ancient paths to spiritual mastery, the paths of the shaman and the witch, who used practices and skills only recently brought into the open once again. I have aimed to make this workshop as practical and straightforward as possible. In so doing I hope to bring to participants the essence of shamanic practice, independent of cultural limitations, superstitions and distortions. To my knowledge of shamanism I have added also the energy technology known as attunement, a process of direct activation of a person’s energy bodies

and channels, which allows for a greater ability to work with universal energies.

May your path always be filled with the Brightest Blessings…

WHAT IS SHAMANISM?

The word “shaman” comes from the Tungus peoples of Siberia. It translates as “one who knows” or “wise one”. The wisdom being referred to is the shaman’s ability to transcend the “normal” limits of consciousness in order to make direct contact with other dimensions of reality. According to Kenneth Meadows, a more precise definition would be “one who knows ecstasy,” since this connection to other realms is often an ecstatic experience. A shaman is one who walks between the worlds, a person who, through various practices, is able to visit realms of reality that are often negated by the Western worldview. A shaman is also a healer and protector of the community. Through various shamanic practices, shamans are able to heal physical and non-physical ailments, facilitate the resolution of community difficulties and foster greater respect amongst human beings for the sacredness of nature.

Shamanism then, is the study of the practices of the shaman and includes such aspects as healing, spiritual development and magick.

THE SHAMAN’S VIEW OF REALITY

The Shuar people of Ecuador have an expression, “the world is as you dream it”, which means that we can choose to see in ourselves, and the world what we choose to see. Said differently, our experiences of the world are determined by our thoughts. In the West we have become conditioned to perceive a linear reality based on cause and effect. It is a reality in which only what can be measured is real. We have learnt to value (overvalue) the material, that which is concrete. The shaman realizes that this western worldview is but one of many possible descriptions of reality. Ultimately reality is a choice we make. Once we understand, as does the shaman, that primary reality is pure conscious energy, we begin to realize that we can each choose our own reality. Instead of focusing on the externally perceivable reality, a shaman looks deeper and bases his actions directly on the underlying

mechanism that creates reality, which is essentially pure consciousness, or spirit. This fundamental awareness of the spiritual foundation of everything leads to various principles common to all shamanic traditions. What follows are a distillation of these commonalities based on the work of Ross Heaven and Kenneth Meadows.

Matter and energy are one. Everything is connected through an invisible web of pure energy. With this awareness comes the possibility of complete personal empowerment, but at the same time the full acceptance of personal responsibility for everything we do in the world.Inner realms of reality affect what we experience in outward reality. The inner guides, helpers and teachers of the shaman are real energetic forces and contact with them can lead to massive and powerful changes in external reality.Energy can be transformed. Shamanic techniques provide a methodology for change through the transformation of our own energies and the energies of the universe that we are a part of.The journey is more important than the destination. A shaman is an explorer, a person for whom the very process of living in each and every moment is far more important than some ultimate destination. A shaman is aware that everything is flux, that change is the only certainty.Human beings are spiritual beings. We are not mechanisms with spirit as a secondary phenomenon; we are primarily spiritual beings with everything else flowing forth from this inner source.Shamanism is about establishing contact with the Spirit within, our source of personal empowerment and creativity. A shaman is fully aware of this inner power and never abdicates power to external authorities.A shaman realizes that everything, from humans, to plants, to rocks, is alive. All of creation, even what we in the West consider inanimate matter, is alive, filled by the same universal life force energy.

Aligning oneself with these principles leads to personal power, an awareness of the powers within and around us that can be accessed to create personal and global transformation. All forms of shamanic practice are aimed at accessing this power and using it to facilitate changes, changes that are immediately applicable to one’s everyday life. Shamanism is thus about acting powerfully in the world in order to produce changes that are for the benefit of all beings. In order to access this power we also need to understand certain additional aspects of the shaman’s view of reality.

Multi-dimensional awareness

For the shaman our everyday waking consciousness is but one small aspect of the total reality. A shaman is aware that beyond the range of our normal consciousness exist other, powerful modes of awareness that can be accessed to increase our personal power. In the Toltec tradition, two primary distinctions are made regarding consciousness, the distinction

between the tonal and the nagual.

Tonal consciousness is that which we are aware of and can talk about. Nagual consciousness refers to the mysterious, the unknowable which can never adequately be expressed in words. Although the nagual can be experienced, which can lead to profound changes, it can never be spoken about. The tonal can also be seen as referring to material reality whereas the nagual refers to the spiritual reality that sustains the material and from which the material is born. This echoes the ideas of many Asian religions that state that all existence is born from the void through an act of mind.

The Toltecs further teach that there are three basic modes of attention, the first, second and third attention. The first attention is our habitual, socialized view of reality. The second attention contains all those things and potentials that are habitually screened from our awareness. The third attention is that which we can never know, the abode of the One Eternal, the Great Mystery, the Tao. These three modes of attention, or energy fields, are infinite and connected to each other. They thus mutually influence each other.

The different levels of reality

Just as there are different domains of awareness, there are also different levels of reality in the shamanic worldview. Most shamanic cultures distinguish between three levels of reality, the lower, middle and upper worlds. The lower world, relating to the subconscious, is a place of instinct, where our animal-like powers reside and where we have access to Earthy knowledge. It is here where we can meet with our power animals and where we can connect with the wisdom of Earth. The middle world is the world of our everyday consciousness. To journey to this level of reality is potentially dangerous as this is where we also find the negative energies associated with living in third dimensional reality, the energies of psychopaths, serial killers, Hitlers, etc. But it is also the domain of positive, loving energies such as the Mother Theresa’s of our world. It is the domain to journey to in order to receive guidance about the spiritual or energetic aspects of current life situations. The upper world is known as the abode of the gods. It is the home of more philosophically minded guides and teachers. Here also do we find the Elders and ancestors, always willing to assist and guide us along our path through life.

The three worlds are often depicted as a tree, known as the World Tree. The trunk represents the middle world, the roots the lower world, and the branches the upper world.

The multi-dimensional self

As there are three levels of reality, most shamanic cultures also refer to three levels of self (in some cultures there are many more than three levels of self). In the Hawaiian Huna tradition these selves are known as the lower, middle and higher self. In Faery Wicca these selves are known as younger self, talking self and deep self. Modern psychology is now

beginning to recognize these levels of self and refers to them as the subconscious, conscious and superconscious minds.

The lower self (Unihipili in the Hawaiian language) is a childlike, instinctual aspect of the total self. It is often associated with the two lower chakras. It is the part of us that contains and controls memory, feelings and instincts, vitality, and abilities of subtle perception and energywork. It is a part with an enormous capacity for play, creativity and sensuality. It has very little use for logic and prefers action and symbolism.

The middle self (O-Hane in Hawaiian) is our conscious, rational self. It makes use mainly of thinking and analysis and uses logic to find solutions to the dilemmas of life. The middle self is also responsible for goal setting and planning. The choices made by the middle self is seen as commands by the lower self, who will attempt to shape reality according to these choices made by middle self.

The higher self (Aumakua in Hawaiian) is our most “spiritual” aspect. It resides in a place of unity, a place where there is no space or time. The higher self oversees our life task and purpose and can provide holistic guidance concerning our journey through life. The higher self is not gender bound and can manifest in visions as either male or female. The yin-yang sign or an infinity sign sometimes symbolizes it.

In shamanic traditions, and especially Huna, it is considered imperative that the wisdom of all three selves are valued and aligned. When the three selves function in harmony our path through life tends to be relatively smooth and our lives are experienced as meaningful. There is also a greater sense of well-being.

Apart from these three selves, some traditions also refer to a fourth, the body self or body elemental. This self is a spirit that governs and maintains the physical body. Through the subconscious mind (lower self) we gain access to the body self, which can lead to enormous health benefits and rapid healing of physical ailments.

The dynamic interplay of opposites

All shamanic cultures are aware of the importance of balance. For this reason the masculine and feminine principles are equally valued. In ancient Taoism this awareness of polar forces is symbolized in the Tai Chi symbol. Taoists believe that everything was created from the Tao, or void. This singular, unknowable source polarized the energies within itself into two, the Yin and Yang, each delicately balanced and in harmony with each other. Yin and Yang are in constant interaction with each other, the one constantly changing into each other. The way of nature is that whenever Yin becomes too strong it changes into its opposite and vice versa. This wisdom forms the basis of the I Ching, or book of changes. Due to the interaction between Yin and Yang, the whole universe is in a constant state of change. Nothing is static and change is the only constant. The Taoists further believe that

Yin and Yang gives rise to the five elements, from which all things manifest ultimately spring.

In Native American cosmology, creation came from the Great Mystery, who manifested Wankan Tanka, the Great Spirit. From Great Spirit emerged the polarity of masculine and feminine, Earth and Sky. From this polarized forces, the energies of the four directions are born, which sets in motion all of creation. It is striking to note the similarity between this view and the Taoist cosmology. Even Western Shamanism, specifically what has once been referred to as Witchcraft (now more commonly known as Wicca) has a similar point of view. In the Wiccan tradition, there is an unknowable source from which sprang the Goddess. The Goddess, motivated by pure love, split herself in two, giving birth to the God, the masculine principle. All of creation is held together by their constant desire for each other, their need for union. So once again we see the dynamic relationship between opposites.

The four elements and the science of the directions

All shamanic cultures share a belief in the four elements, the energy forces that form the building blocks of all of creation. These elements are often depicted as being associated with the four primary directions. In the Native American and South American views of reality, this belief in the four elements gave rise to the medicine wheel, a practical method for receiving healing and guidance from the natural forces within and around us.

In the Native American tradition, the four elements are represented in a circular formation known as the medicine wheel. This circular formation is found in all cultures, with similar meanings, from Tibet to South America.

The East is associated with the element of Fire. Fire represents enlightenment, the ability to see things from a higher perspective. The Sun, rising in the East, brings with it fresh insight and awakening, all qualities of Fire. The East is also associated with spring, thus with new beginnings. The realm of Fire is the realm of Spirit. The colour of Fire is yellow or golden.

To the South we find the element of Water. Water is about the willingness to learn new things, to be flexible and to approach the world with a childlike sense of curiosity. The South is associated with summer and youthfulness, a sense of exploration where some of the innocence of childhood is still maintained. It is also associated with the emotional realm. The colour of the South is red.

The West of the wheel is associated with the element Earth and its primary quality of transformation. Earth thus has to do with change and becoming. The element Earth is also seen as being associated with introspection and receiving answers from within. Other qualities of Earth are stability, nurturing, solidity and manifestation. In terms of seasons Earth is associated with autumn and adulthood, a time of stability. The realm associated

with the West is the physical. The colour associated with Earth is black.

The Northern quarter of the wheel is associated with the element Air. Air is associated with clarity and renewal. Air thus stands for new beginnings and clear vision about which path to take. Air is also an element of constant activity and is seen as invigorating. The element Air also relates to the realm of mental activity and is associated with the colour white. In terms of the seasons of life, North relates to winter, or old age, the time when we look back on our lives and notice the projects we have brought to fruition.

The centre of the wheel is associated with pure Light. The centre of the wheel is our own centre, the inner Light of illumination, love and harmony. In the centre of the wheel the four elements are in perfect harmony.

In addition to the four directions and the centre, most traditions also refer to above and below. In shamanic terms our Earth Mother, Pachamama, is below us. She is the sustainer of all life and cares deeply for all her creatures. Above is the realm of Father Sky, the sun, which brings light and life to all.

It is important to consider the above only as guidelines. Shamanism is about personal experience, not belief and theorizing. Take some time to connect to the elemental energies of the different directions and feel what works best for you. Later in this manual we will explore some ways of working with these energies.

The spirit world

In shamanic cultures no distinction is made between ordinary reality and the unseen world of spirit. For this reason shamans place great value on assistance from the world of spirit. A shaman usually works with a variety of spiritual helpers and companions. In Western cultures we have become totally disconnected from the unseen dimensions of reality. We forget about our ancestors when they die. We also disregard the voices of the spirits, those beings from subtle dimensions that are always ready and willing to support us. In shamanic cultures the ancestors and other spirit beings are integrated totally into the everyday way of life, often with astonishing results. Let us take a closer look at some of the allies available in the world of spirit.

Power or totem animals

Power animals are animal energies that can be seen either as an animalistic aspect of our total selves or as the archetypal energy of a certain animal species. In shamanic cultures it is believed that all human beings are born with a power animal, but that sometimes, due to

trauma, we lose our connection to this inner power. In western terms we could say that traumatic experiences result in a loss of our instinctual power. Power animals can provide immensely practical guidance on all aspects of our lives on Earth and can assist us in many ways in our personal growth and shamanic healing work.

Teachers

Teachers are beings, like our Higher Self, who assists us with our soul purpose. They provide guidance from a more spiritual or philosophical point of view. They often appear in human form and are commonly found in journeys to the upper world.

Helpers

Helpers are energies that supply the power to perform certain functions, such as healing self or others. They can appear in various forms, but are most commonly experienced as animals, minerals, plants, rocks or gems.

The luminous body

All ancient cultures share the belief in a body of light that interpenetrates the physical and extends beyond the boundaries of the skin. In the Toltec tradition of Mexico the luminous body is seen as consisting of four layers, the Causal body, Psychic body, Mental-Emotional body and Physical body. Each stores a different quality of energy. The outermost layer stores the energy that nourishes the physical body. The next deeper layer stores mental-emotional energy. The next layer stores psychic energies. The deepest or core layer stores our spiritual energies and connection to Spirit. In Western and Oriental viewpoints the sequence of the bodies are often reversed. There might also be a greater number of layers. This is not really of crucial importance. What is important is the concept of different layers storing different qualities of energy. The luminous body further stores a record of all our experiences, both present and past life memories. It is believed that dark areas in the luminous body, often based on trauma, are the cause of all disease states.

The luminous body has specific energy vortices, or chakras. Each chakra has a different colour and is responsible for metabolising different types of energy. Most metaphysical systems refer to 7 primary chakras, but there are also other important energy centres, which will be discussed briefly.

Base chakra: This centre is red in colour and located at the perineum. It draws Earth energy into the luminous body and provides a sense of security and stability. It is also related to our connection to our tribal values and beliefs. On a physical level this chakra relates to the bones and denser flesh, eliminatory functions, the rectum, legs, feet and the production of testosterone and oestrogen.

Sacral chakra: This centre is orange in colour and located beneath the belly button. It relates to sexuality, emotions and creativity. It can also be involved with childhood emotions, issues with our parents, passion and power issues. On a physical level this chakra relates to digestion, the intestines, the uro-genital system, sexual potency, lower back pain, etc.Solar plexus chakra: This centre is located in the upper abdomen (some traditions place it at the belly button) and is yellow in colour. It relates to personal power and courage and the ability to take actions in the world. Physically it relates to the stomach, liver, pancreas and abdomen in general. It is also seen as an important storehouse for life energy.Heart chakra: This centre is located in the centre of the chest and is green in colour. It relates to love and compassion. On a physical level the heart chakra relates to the physical heart and lungs and to the immune system. Psychologically, feelings of hopelessness, grief and abandonment can also be related to the heart chakra. In the Hawaiian Huna tradition the heart is said to be the storehouse of three primary qualities, love, joy and courage.Throat chakra: This centre is located in the centre of the throat and is blue in colour. It relates to communication, faith and the ability to follow and express our own truth. Physically it relates to the throat, thyroid, neck and oesophagus. Psychological difficulties such as addictions, psychosis, feelings of betrayal, a fear of speaking out and lying can be related to this centre.Third eye chakra. This centre is located in the centre of the forehead and is indigo in colour. It relates to inner knowing, truth and intuition. Physically it relates to the brain, eyes and nervous system. It is also related to the pituitary gland. On a psychological level the third eye relates to delusions, seizures, neuroses, intelligence, reason and logic, depression, empathy and stress-related disorders.Crown chakra: This centre is located at the top of the head and is violet in colour. It relates to spiritual awareness and a sense of universality. Physically it can relate to the skin, brain and hormonal balance. Psychologically it relates to selflessness, integrity, cynicism, psychoses, illumination and transcendence.The soul star: This centre is above the head and is sometime called the eighth chakra. It is gold in colour and represents our connection to the higher self or soul. The I AM chakra: This centre is above the eighth and represents the eternal spirit, our direct experience of the creator or all that is. The earth star chakra: This centre is below the feet, under the ground. It represents our connection to Mother Earth and the energies of Earth. It is sometimes depicted as black in colour.

Universal energy

We now arrive at a concept that is probably at the very core of all shamanic and magickal teaching from all cultures, the idea that there is an all pervasive life force or energy that sustains all of reality. In fact, all of reality is composed of this energy. This energy is variously known as Chi, Ki, Mana, Prana, and by many other names. All shamanic practices are based in some way or another on the manipulation of this vital force. It is also

believed that obstructions in the flow of this vital force lead to states of dis-ease. Shamans refer to this energy as “that without which nothing can exist.” According to the Polynesian traditions, the life force is composed of four different types of power. Firstly, power as an energizing or life-giving force, secondly, power as mastery and control, thirdly, power as influence and authority, and fourthly, power as the ability to perform certain tasks. By combining these four facets, life force can be seen as an energizing force with an inherent authority to bring into being and maintain with confidence and control. One of the characteristics of life force is that it flows. It is constantly flowing, bringing matter into being.

SHAMANIC PRACTICE – LIVING THE SHAMANIC WAY

The way of the shaman is to live life in harmony with all of nature. Living the shamanic life is about honouring nature and using the wisdom and power of nature to the benefit of all beings. Nature, seen through a shaman’s eyes, not only refers to the world of plants and animals, but to ALL of creation, including the unseen world of spirit. In fact, all of nature IS spirit in manifestation. For a shaman every moment of life is a moment of ecstatic union with all that is. There are no greater or lesser moments. All moments are significant, filled with endless possibilities. All events are seen as spirit talking to us. A shamanic life is thus a life of wonder, ecstasy and purpose.

The shamanic state of consciousness

The experience of shamanism is an ecstatic experience. In my experience ecstasy implies a sense of wholeness or oneness with all of creation. The illusionary mental states of the ego get dissolved and a sense of direct communion with spirit ensues. During my first true experience of shamanic ecstasy it felt as if my skull got ripped open and then filled with pure light. The light communicated things to me that I had no conscious knowledge of. In a sense the shamanic state of consciousness, ecstasy, can be regarded as the most central aspect of shamanic experience across all cultures. The shaman, on his or her journeys to the other worlds, journeys in a state of ecstasy. Similarly, during shamanic healing work or ritual the shaman enters into a state of ecstatic union with the primal forces of the universe. It is as if the everyday concerns of the ego dissolves and a more basic, primal state of awareness takes over. It is during these ecstatic experiences of unity that the shaman performs the apparent miracles that he or she is capable of. In terms of modern science it has been noted that many spiritual healers show uniquely synchronized and harmonic brain-wave patterns while performing their healing work. For some reason when our brains drop their habitual beta frequencies, so common in westernised adults, the internal chatter of the mind ceases and we enter into realms of experience that are infinitely meaningful and profoundly healing in their own right. These states are similar to those experienced by advanced meditators. The main difference is that the shaman uses these states with intent and for specific practical purposes. For a shaman enlightenment might be a by-product of these states of ecstasy, not the primary goal. In order to master the

shamanic way of life I believe that one first and foremost need to master the so-called shamanic state of consciousness. It is from this state and its associated knowledge and power that the shaman has access to inner sources of inspiration, wisdom and power of which the ordinary state of human awareness is but a pale reflection. Beginning the day – attuning to nature

The simple ritual that follows (my interpretation of a South American shamanic practice) attunes one to the forces of nature. Starting the day in this way sanctifies the entire day and ensures that we remain always open to the voice of Great Spirit.

Face the East, preferably looking at the rising sun. Greet the sun and thank it for bringing new life. Deeply inhale the rays of the sun, Inti, and feel yourself being energized by the golden radiance. Still facing East, call to the spirits of the East, the powers of Fire and welcome them, asking for their support and guidance throughout the day. Deeply inhale the power of Fire.Face the South. Call to the spirits of the South, the powers of Water. Ask for their guidance and support throughout the day. Inhale and feel yourself being filled with the elemental energies of Water.Face the West and call to the spirits of the West, the powers of Earth. Inhale deeply, feeling your connection to Earth. Ask for the guidance and elemental energies of Earth throughout the day.Face the North and call to the spirits of the North, the powers of Water. Ask for their guidance and support throughout the day. Inhale deeply, filling yourself with the elemental energies of Water.Stand in the centre and salute Mother Earth and Father Sky. Thank them for their blessings and ask that they guide you to be of greater service to them throughout the day. Breathe deeply, drawing the energies of Earth up and the energies of Sky down, allowing them to meet in your heart centre. Still in the centre, talk to your companions in spirit, asking them to protect and guide you during the day.

The second part of the ritual comes from the Hawaiian Huna tradition.

Still standing in the centre, place your hands in prayer position. Say silently “Align lower and middle self.” Pause for about a minute with your awareness directed within.Next state: “Align middle and higher self.” Pause for about a minute.Next state: “Align lower and higher self.” Pause for a minute.Give thanks to your three selves and to all the elemental energies you have called on. Continue with your day.

Building energy

As seen in the previous section, shamanism is about working in harmony with the natural

energies of Life. In this section you will be introduced to various practices that will awaken your energy centres, build vital energy and harmonize the luminous body. You are welcome to select any of the practices as part of a daily routine.

Experiencing the energies of the chakras

Sit in a comfortable meditation posture with the spine aligned. Above your head, about thirty to forty centimetres, visualize a radiant golden sun. As you breathe in, the sun expands slightly and radiates more light. As you exhale, the sun contracts slightly.Imagine the golden sun slowly descending to the crown of your head. Now visualize a brilliant violet ball of light. See it opening and drawing the golden sun in. Feel the entire crown chakra filling with golden radiance. Bring the golden sun down to the third eye centre. Visualize an indigo ball of light opening and drawing the golden light in.Bring the golden sun down to the throat centre. Visualize a blue ball of light and see the golden light merging with it.Bring the golden sun down to the centre of the chest, the heart centre. Visualize an emerald green ball of light and see the golden sun merging with it.Bring the golden sun down to the solar plexus. Visualize a bright yellow ball of light. See the golden sun merging with it.Bring the golden sun down to the sacral chakra below the belly button. Visualize a bright orange ball of light. See the golden light merging with it.Bring the golden sun down to the perineum. Visualize a bright red ball of light here. See the golden sun merging with it.Bring the golden sun down to your ankles. Visualize a dark red ball of light and see the golden sun merging with it. Bring the golden sun down to below the feet. Visualize a magenta or black ball of light here and see the golden sun merging with it.Now send the golden sun down to the core of Mother Earth. Visualize powerful Earth energies flowing up and through your central channel, radiating like a fountain of light from the top of your head. From here the energies rain down again to below your feet, creating a continuous circuit. Stay with this for a while.Before you finish, send any excess energies down your spine and back to Mother Earth, thanking both Father Sky and Mother Earth for their blessings.

The empowerment breath

This practice is once again from the Huna tradition. It is a combination of breath and mantra work used to build high levels of universal energy. Start by sitting in a comfortable meditation posture. The Vajrasana posture from yoga works particularly well. Start by breathing in through the nose to the count of three – pause for a count of three – breathe out to a count of four – pause for a count of four – repeat.

After a while, on the in-breath, say the word Maaaaa. On the out-breath, say the word Naaaaa. Continue for about 15 minutes.

When you are done, take a long, slow stretch and open your eyes.

This process can also be expanded on slightly. Instead of just sitting quietly, allow the energy to move your body. The movements will gradually become more dynamic. You may even find that you want to get up and do your own energy dance. Whatever, allow the movements to manifest naturally until you feel the energy subside. Then stretch and continue with everyday activities.Shamanic rituals

Ritual plays a very important part in traditional shamanic practices. In the West the rituals employed by shamans have often been taken completely out of context, thus becoming mere mechanical performance devoid of their original purpose and energies. People tend to think that by merely performing the acts of a ritual in a mechanical fashion, miraculous results can be achieved. This is especially evident in fields like ritual magick and spell casting. People read the words of spells from books and expect dramatic changes, which very rarely happens. The most important thing to realize is that rituals without spirit, rituals without the force of our inner spirit combined with the energies of the Universe, are simply a series of actions devoid of power. Ritual, when done with intent and spirit, can however be highly transformational and extremely powerful. In this section, you will find some suggestions for creating effective shamanic rituals.

Creating sacred space

The beginning of any shamanic working is found in a withdrawal from the mundane, third dimensional world. Creating sacred space is about defining our acts as acts of power, acts designed to access the power of spirit to produce verifiable results in everyday life. The shamanic way of entering into this space between the worlds, the space where Living Spirit can be encountered, is through the creation of sacred space. The following ritual outline can be used at the beginning of any shamanic work to define the moment and space as sacred.

Face the East and intend that the space be cleared of all negative energies. Repeat with the South, West, North, Centre, Below and Above. Starting at the East, intend that a circle of Light form around your sacred space, creating a space in which powerful energy vortices can manifest.Facing East, invoke the spirits of the East, the powers of Fire. Then South and the powers of Water, West and the powers of Earth, North and the powers of Air. Standing in the Centre, invoke the Light within. Then invoke Father Sky and Mother Earth, asking for their blessings. If you wish, you can also call on Great Spirit to fill the

spaceAfter thus creating sacred space, you can state the intent of your ritual and proceed.To complete the process, thank and release Great Spirit, Father Sky and Mother Earth and the power of Spirit. Then, starting at the East, then South, then West, then North, thank the elemental powers and release them. Finally, intend that the circle be opened and take the energy back into yourself.

Meeting the Shining Ones, the Keepers of the elements

This ritual, or meditation, allows you to connect more fully to the Keepers of the elements, the elemental beings or energies of the five elements. It is important during this process to stay in an open, receptive state of mind.

Create sacred spaceFace the East, preferably sitting in the East of the circle. Intend to connect fully to the element of Fire and ask to meet the elemental intelligence or Keeper of Fire. Stay receptive and notice your inner experience.Repeat to the South with the element of Water.Repeat to the West with the element of Earth.Repeat to the North with the element of Air.Repeat in the Centre with the element of Spirit or Light.Give thanks and release the sacred space.

It is important in this ritual to realize that the powers of the elements are real. They are as alive as you are, so treat them with respect, but without deifying them. Listen to their guidance and communicate with them respectfully and, in time, they will become great allies on your path of empowerment.

Elemental meditations

A ritual of transformation

The ritual that follows can be followed as is or adjusted to suit your particular needs. The most important aspect to keep in mind is your intent. If your intent is clear and powerful, the changes can be great. If you only go through the steps mechanically, the results might not be spectacular. The purpose of this ritual is to release some aspect in your life that is holding you back, be it physical, emotional, mental or spiritual. Once released, something new is invoked into your life to fill the vacuum left by the released energy. Some examples might be releasing a physical ailment, releasing fears, releasing financial difficulties, releasing ties to old relationships, the past, etc.

Preparation

Start by taking some time to reflect on your life. This can be a simple process, such as thinking quietly about the various areas of your life. Your achievements, your dreams, etc. can all be considered. If you wish, you could create sacred space and connect to the four quarters and by meditating with each element, discover where your life is not flowing, be it in the physical, emotional, mental or spiritual arena. Once you have identified something you feel a need to release, take some time to specify as clearly as possible how you would like things to be instead. Once you have a clear vision, you can proceed. Now select two objects, one to represent what you are releasing and the other to represent your vision or goal.

Creating sacred space

In this step you create sacred space as before. Ask for the assistance of the elements, your guides and helpers, Mother Earth, Father Sky and Great Spirit in your ritual.

Body of the ritual

Sitting or standing in the centre, breathe deeply, drawing in the energies of Mother Earth and Father Sky. Now take the object representing what you want to release and hold it in both hands in front of your chest. If you feel drawn to a particular corner of the circle, go to that spot and then visualize as clearly as possible everything you are releasing. Feel it in your body, smell it, taste it, see it and hear it. When you feel ready, blow the energies into the object a few times until you feel cleansed. Now move around the circle, starting from the East – North – West – South (counter clockwise). At each corner, ask the spirit of the particular element to purify you and release the energies you wish to release. Repeat in the centre. Decide now how you would like to dispose of the object, for example throwing it out of the circle, burying it, burning it, washing it in running water, or whatever. Dispose of it in your chosen way after the ritual. You now take the object that represents the desired change. Once again, hold it in your hands and visualize the desired changes as clearly as possible. If you wish, you can go to a corner that is “calling” you. When you are ready, move around the circle from East – South – West – North, asking the spirits of each element to bless and charge your power object. Repeat in the centre. Now, breathe deeply, filling yourself with power and blow this power into the object and state: “Blessings be upon you object of power. I charge you in the full knowing that my dream has come true. So be it for the Highest Good and with harm to none.” You should now take this object with you, either keeping it with you all the time or in a prominent place at home, such as an altar.

Closing

To end the ritual, give thanks to the spirits, Mother Earth, Father Sky and Great Spirit. Bid farewell and release the elemental powers and all your helpers. Now open the circle and dispose of the release object in your chosen manner.

The Shamanic journey

A very important aspect of shamanism is the shamanic journey. Shamans are highly adept at journeying to other dimensions of reality in order to produce greater levels of empowerment, receiving guidance and healing self and others. The shamanic journey is very similar to daydreaming or guided fantasy. It differs from daydreaming in that the journey is focused and purposeful. It differs from guided fantasy in that the shaman just observes whatever comes, instead of actively creating the different aspects of the journey. As human beings we all have the capacity for journeying. It is something that, with some practice, comes very naturally.

Lower world journey to retrieve your power animal

In shamanism, all human beings are believed to be born with a power animal. We often lose our connection with this power animal due to trauma or other events that lead to power loss. In this journey, you will have the opportunity to recover your power animal and once again make it part of your life.

Start by lying down comfortably or sitting in a relaxed posture. The eyes are close. Take a while to relax body and mind. Now see yourself in a beautiful, natural environment. Somewhere in this environment will be a hole or cave or some other entrance that leads down to the lower world. State your intention very clearly: “I will now journey to the lower world to retrieve my power animal.” Enter the cave and observe your surroundings. Find yourself walking down a tunnel. At the end of this tunnel there is light, signifying the entrance into the lower world. When you arrive there, just take some time to explore your environment. If you notice an animal presenting itself to you, check how you feel about this animal. Notice whether it keeps presenting itself to you. If so, ask the animal whether it is your power animal. Communicate for a while and get to know the essence of this animal. Then ask the power animal to come back with you to the normal world. Again come through the tunnel and leave the cave. Gradually return to your ordinary awareness. Now breathe the energy of the power animal into yourself. After a while, blow strongly into your hands and then place one hand on the crown, the other on the solar plexus. This seals the power animal into your energy system. The process is complete.

Journey to the upper world to meet a guide

The process starts like the lower world journey. Once again state your intention very clearly. Again find yourself out in nature. This time look for a high point, such as a tree or mountain. Ascend to the top and then feel yourself being drawn upwards in a vortex of energy. At some point it will feel as if you are pushing through a membrane, signifying your arrival in the upper world. Again take some time to explore your environment. Look around for any person presenting him or herself to you. Ask whether they are your guide or where you can find your guide. Once you connect to your guide, communicate for a while, asking for guidance on whatever issue you decided to work with. To end the journey, thank your guide and return, retracing your steps until you are back in ordinary reality. In some shamanic traditions, the energy of the guide is also brought back to ordinary reality and sealed into your energy body by breathing into the hands and then placing one hand on the crown and the other on the solar plexus.

The above two examples are simple journeys for specific purposes. The essence of journeying is to decide what you need, to state your intention and then visiting the appropriate world to work on this theme. The possibilities are practically limitless. You could journey to retrieve power objects, to receive guidance, to receive healing from luminous healers residing in the upper or lower world, etc. You can also journey for other people, bringing gifts back for them as needed. Two particularly important journeys revolve around retrieving lost soul parts and returning the soul parts of others you may be holding on to.

Journeying to find lost soul parts

In shamanic cultures it is believed that physical, emotional, mental and spiritual ailments can be the result of a loss of soul or power. Whenever we attach to a past or future situation, like a traumatic memory or fear, we essentially give our power away to this situation. The more this happens, the more our vital energies become depleted, ultimately resulting in dis-ease. The following journey will allow you to retrieve some of these missing soul parts.

Start by stating your intention clearly. Now go to the entrance to the lower world. Ask your power animal or other guide to take you to a lost soul part. (This is done if you are unaware of a specific loss of power. If you know about a specific lost soul part, ask your power animal to take you to the related memory). When you arrive at the soul part, introduce yourself carefully, speaking gently and letting the part know that you have come to bring healing and to welcome it back home. Dialogue with the part as long as you need to. Now hold the part to your chest and journey back. Once back in ordinary reality, breathe the energy of the part into your energy field and seal the process by blowing into your hands and placing one on the crown and the other on the solar plexus.

Journeying to release the soul parts of others

Just like we can lose soul parts, we can also hold on to the energies of others, either

through attachments to them or because other people transferred their energies to us. This can be the case when we take on the beliefs of our parents, for example.

The process is similar to the previous one. Journey to the lower world after stating a clear intention. Ask your power animal to show you soul parts of other you may be holding on to. When you find them, introduce yourself gently and dialogue with these soul parts. Also ask your guide for some input, such as what it is about you that allowed for these soul parts of others to stay with you. Why did you become so attached? When you are ready to return, lovingly hold these soul parts to your chest and return. Once back, you can either blow the soul parts into an object, which you can then send as a gift to the people involved. You could also visualize the relevant people and blow the soul parts into the image. A final way is to do a fire ceremony. This can be done very simply by making a fire and asking for the blessing of Great Spirit. Write the names of the soul parts of others you have retrieved on a piece of paper. Burn the paper with the intent that the energies that are set free be returned to the people they belong to.

The shamanic journey is a tool that can lead to profound changes and a deep sense of empowerment. The possibilities for journeying are virtually limitless. I leave you with a few possibilities. Journeying to people you admire to learn from them. Journeying to the beginning of time to understand the process that created the universe. Journeying to future events to change their course. Journeying to enlightened masters to learn from them or receive initiations from them. Journeying to other star systems to connect with their energies. Journeying to your future to see the results of a truly authentic life. Journeying to find power objects in the inner realms. Only your ability to question, your willingness to explore, is what ultimately determines the uses you can find for journeying.

Outer journeys – discovering power and magick in the world around us

Shamans not only journey to inner dimensions to find sources of inspiration and empowerment. For a shaman the whole world is filled with magick. Since we are all one, it is logical that we can connect with sources of empowerment and guidance in practically limitless ways. The following practices can serve as a guide to your own shamanic empowerment.

Finding a power spot

The universe is talking to us constantly. If we learn to listen we will become aware of a multitude of sources of guidance and support in our everyday environment. To do this exercise, think of an issue or problem that you wish to resolve or need guidance on. State the issue clearly and then ask spirit (Great Spirit, your guides or power animals) for a place of power that can assist you in dealing with the situation. Become quiet and notice where your body wants to go. You may also receive an image of a place somewhere that seems to draw you. Go to that place and respectfully connect to the energy of the place. State your

concerns and then observe what responses you receive. The responses may be in the form of sensations or images. Whatever guidance you receive, be sure to apply it.

This exercise can also be used to find power objects, like rocks or plants, which can assist you in healing work or problem solving.

Stalking yourself

This exercise allows us to discover solutions to problems we are dealing with and also brings new energies to bear on the problem situation. Start by sitting quietly, thinking about the problem and feeling it in your body. Note your breathing pattern and posture. Now get up and imagine leaving your body, still in the problem state, behind. Walk around the imaginary body, gathering as much information about the problem as possible. Once you feel that you have a few new perspectives, ask spirit to take you to a place of power where you will receive the energy needed to transform the problem. Go to this place and breathe in the energy or spirit of this power spot. Once you feel charged with positive energy, return to the starting point and sit down into your imaginary body. Notice any changes that have taken place.

Connecting to the powers of nature

Nature is alive and sacred. She is talking to us all the time, if only we would listen. This method allows you to receive guidance and empowerment from Mother Nature. First, decide on an issue you need help with. It can be personal healing or the healing of another, or any other issue, even career difficulties. Go outside into your garden, a park or any other natural setting. Become quiet, respectfully attuning yourself to the energy of the place. Begin to sense something drawing your attention, such as a tree, rock, piece of wood, or anything else. This could also be an animal. Move gently closer to the power object and ask within if it would be willing to work with you. If you get an affirmative response, go closer and state your concerns. Be quiet and sense any responses. This may be verbal, but most likely will be in the form of a sense of knowing, images or even physical movements. Once you have what you need, give thanks and imagine sending energy through your hands, heart or third eye centre to the power object in return for what was given you. In some cases, if the power object is small, such as a stone or feather, you may request it to return with you. If the response is affirmative, gently take it and place it in your special place of power at home.

Healing the luminous body

Shamanic healing is a vast subject. To become truly proficient as a shamanic healer may take years of dedicated study. It also entails a willingness to confront our own inner darkness, those parts of our Self that we often fear and are loathe to meet. Ancient shamans used various methods to bring healing to the bodies, emotions, minds and spirits

of those in their care. Amongst other methods, rituals, journeywork, the use of herbal preparations, entity release and energywork were employed. This workshop focuses on one aspect of shamanic healing, the use of energy healing to restore the energies of the luminous body.

In shamanic terms, there are two causes of dis-ease. The first is known as soul loss, a situation where the luminous body loses some of its vital energy. This could be due to traumatic situations or simply because of making choices that are bad for us, such as staying in a job or relationship that are no longer nourishing. The second is known as spirit intrusion, a situation where an unwanted energy becomes part of our luminous body. This could be as simple as a thoughtform picked up from others or as complex as an energy entity becoming attached to the luminous body. The release of energy intrusions can be quite complicated, even hazardous to the untrained, so I will not spend much time on this during this course. The method that follows can however be employed successfully for most dis-ease states.

The Shamanic Light healing process

Although healing can never be seen simply as a step-by-step process, the outline that follows can be used effectively in most cases. We will look at two basic healing scenarios, the first a general balancing session if there is no specific problem, and the second a healing session for working with specific dis-ease states. As your intuition and connection with your spirit companions develop, you will probably find yourself adjusting the process to suit your own style and the needs of your clients.

A general balancing session

Overlaying of the Shamanic Template

This step is done just before the start of a healing session. Simply state: “I now intend to overlay a professional shamanic template.” This step connects you to the Devic realm, your higher self and solar angel, a team of luminous healers and the nature realm, represented by the nature spirit known as Pan.

Creating sacred space

Once the client is ready you start the session by creating sacred space. In traditional practices the space was cleared through smudging or other rituals. Here, due to your attunement to the clearing shakti, you simply state the following intention: “Clearing shakti on! Let this space be perfectly cleared of all that is negative…so be it!” Wait for a few moments. Next, state the intention: “I am surrounding this space with a sacred circle of Light.” Visualize the circle of light or fire flowing clockwise around you, enclosing the space completely. Now you will call in the

assistance of the elements, Mother Earth and Father Sky, as well as Great Spirit. You can use a prayer like the following to achieve this. “O powers of the East, powers of fire, I ask that you join me and help me in this work. Oh powers of the South, powers of water, I ask that you join me and assist me in this work. Oh powers of the West, powers of Earth, I ask that you join me and assist me in this work. Oh powers of the North, powers of Air, I ask that you join me and assist me in this work. Beloved Earth Mother and Sky Father, I invoke you into this space and ask for your blessings on this session. Oh Great Spirit, let your Light be with us to bless and empower this session. Thank you.” Stand quietly for a few moments, hands in prayer position and breathe in energies from earth and sky, meeting in your heart centre. See these energies surrounding you and filling the entire space with Light. You are now ready to begin the session.

Connecting to your client

Stand beside the client, hands hovering over the solar plexus chakra. Just relax and get a feel for the energy of the client. Now state: “Let the lower self and middle self of ….. be aligned. Let the middle self and higher self of….be aligned. Let the lower self and higher self of….be aligned. I ask the body self of ….. to be present in this healing and to take through me the energies needed for the healing and wholeness of…..”

Balancing the energy of the client

Starting above the head, brush the client’s aura a few times from head to feet. This awakens the aura and allows for a greater penetration of healing energy. Now open your hands, holding them a few centimetres away from each other and intend that healing energy flow to the client, filling their physical and energy bodies. The next step is to balance the specific areas in need of healing. Ask Spirit to guide your hands and to channel through you the specific healing frequencies needed by your client. Now, simply relax and let your hands show you the way. They may drift down to the client’s body or hover somewhere in the aura. Just follow the process, intending that the Highest Good be served. Continue with this until you sense that enough has been done or you feel the energy flow coming to an end.

Concluding the session

Once again, stand slightly away and beam Light into the aura of the client, intending that they receive exactly the frequencies they need right now. Then smooth the aura from head to feet a few times. Now bring your hands together in prayer posture and give thanks to the body self of the client and all your helpers. You now release sacred space by releasing the elemental guardians and thanking Mother Earth, Father Sky and Great Spirit for their blessings. Also intend that the Light that filled

the space be released, going to where it is needed. Open the circle by intending to take the energies back into yourself. Take a few moments to allow the client to return and ground fully and discuss their experience with them. After the client has left, thank the members of the shamanic template and state: “I now close down and release this professional shamanic template. It is done.”

A session for dealing with specific healing issues

This format is a more direct manipulation of the client’s energy system. It is used when the client or yourself is aware of specific difficulties, such as physical illness, emotional/mental issues or spiritual difficulties. Remember, shamans are also sorcerers, ones who directly interact with and adjust natural energies to serve the highest good. This type of session can thus be seen as a magickal working designed to transform some aspect of the client’s experience, be it physical (illness or injury), social (relationships, career, etc), emotional/mental (depression, anxiety, traumatic memories), or spiritual (past life issues, a sense of alienation from the divine, a lack of purpose). The format is similar to the previous, with a few differences.

Overlaying of the Shamanic Template

This step is done just before the start of a healing session. Simply state: “I now intend to overlay a professional shamanic template.” This step connects you to the Devic realm, your higher self and solar angel, a team of luminous healers and the nature realm, represented by the nature spirit known as Pan.

Creating sacred space

Once the client is ready you start the session by creating sacred space. In traditional practices the space was cleared through smudging or other rituals. Here, due to your attunement to the clearing shakti, you simply state the following intention: “Clearing shakti on! Let this space be perfectly cleared of all that is negative…so be it!” Wait for a few moments. Next, state the intention: “I am surrounding this space with a sacred circle of Light.” Visualize the circle of light or fire flowing clockwise around you, enclosing the space completely. Now you will call in the assistance of the elements, Mother Earth and Father Sky, as well as Great Spirit. You can use a prayer like the following to achieve this. “O powers of the East, powers of fire, I ask that you join me and help me in this work. Oh powers of the South, powers of water, I ask that you join me and assist me in this work. Oh powers of the West, powers of Earth, I ask that you join me and assist me in this work. Oh powers of the North, powers of Air, I ask that you join me and assist me in this work. Beloved Earth Mother and Sky Father, I invoke you into this space and ask for your blessings on this session. Oh Great Spirit, let your Light be with

us to bless and empower this session. Thank you.” Stand quietly for a few moments, hands in prayer position and breathe in energies from earth and sky, meeting in your heart centre. See these energies surrounding you and filling the entire space with Light. You are now ready to begin the session.

Connecting to your client

Stand beside the client, hands hovering over the solar plexus chakra. Just relax and get a feel for the energy of the client. Now state: “Let the lower self and middle self of … be aligned. Let the middle self and higher self of….be aligned. Let the lower self and higher self of … be aligned. I ask the body self of … to be present in this healing and to take through me the energies needed for the healing and wholeness of ...”

Performing the healing

Start by brushing the aura gently from head to feet a few times. Now stand next to the client and ask Spirit to show you the energetic source of the difficulty (whatever it might be). Remember, any problem has an energetic source, or resonance, in the luminous body. Your hands may now begin to move of their own volition, perhaps to a chakra, a place in the aura or even the physical body. When your hands arrive at the site of healing, begin through intent and physical movement to release the imprint from the client’s system. This can be done by circling the hands anticlockwise or literally lifting the imprint away and throwing it down to Mother Earth for recycling. Continue with this until you no longer sense any disturbance. Now intend that the vacuum left by the imprint be filled with Light. Imagine drawing pure, golden light from above and filling the space. Continue until you sense that it is enough. You can at this point either repeat the whole process by asking Spirit to show you an additional site, if any, or continue with balancing the energies of the client. If you proceed with balancing, place your hands for a while on the lower abdomen of the client and simply send energy there. Then balance the chakras by placing one hand at the base and the other at the crown chakra, sacral and third eye, solar plexus and throat, both hands over heart.

Concluding the session

Once again, stand slightly away and beam Light into the aura of the client, intending that they receive exactly the frequencies they need right now. Then smooth the aura from head to feet a few times. Now bring your hands together in prayer posture and give thanks to the body self of the client and all your helpers. You now release sacred space by releasing the elemental guardians and thanking Mother Earth, Father Sky and Great Spirit for their blessings. Also intend that the Light that filled the space be released, going to where it is needed. Open the circle by intending to

take the energies back into yourself. Take a few moments to allow the client to return and ground fully and discuss their experience with them. After the client has left, thank the members of the shamanic template and state: “I now close down and release this professional shamanic template. It is done.”

After the completion of any healing session, wash your hands in running water and if you wish, smudge or clear the space you have been working in through other methods.

THE SHAMANIC EMPOWERMENT ATTUNEMENTS

The purpose of the attunements in this workshop is to connect you more strongly to the natural energies utilized by shamans and to prepare your physical body and energy system for shamanic work. The attunements also connect you to healing energies that I was gifted with, known as Shamanic Light and Great Spirit / Source Light.

Shamanic Template

The Shamanic Template can be seen as one of the core aspects of this workshop. A template, in this context, is an energetic construct or space within which a connection exists with various levels of intelligence. Specifically, the shamanic template consists of the Overligthing Deva of Shamanism, the Overligthing Deva of Shamanic Healing, your Solar Angel, Your Higher Self, Luminous Healers from the White Brotherhood working with shamanism, and the members of the Nature Kingdom. The template concept comes from the work of Tony Agee, who developed a programme known as Devic Templates. I have developed the Shamanic Template, along with my spirit helpers, after having become a teacher of the Devic Template material.

Devas, or Shining Ones, are angels who oversee virtually every aspect of creation. Their purpose is to maintain form, be it physical, such as a rock or crystal, or philosophical, such as a school of thought. They Devas can be seen as the invisible forces holding reality together. The Overligthing Deva of Shamanism is the higher order intelligence responsible for all shamanic ways and practices. The Overlighting Deva of Shamanic Healing is specifically responsible for the shamanic healing practices.

Solar Angels are angelic beings working specifically with subtle energy. Each human being also has a Solar Angel that is with them through all time. This is our

angelic companion that is sometimes known as the guardian angel.

The luminous healers of the White Brotherhood are a vast group of ascended beings working for the benefit of all life. In the Shamanic Template these members are specifically shamans who are no longer physically incarnate, but who are still working with us, guiding our shamanic work.

The Nature Spirits are the energy beings overseeing the natural world, the so-called tree spirits, faeries, etc. Their function is to maintain the natural world and in the context of shamanic work ensures that the physical manifestation of the work be harmonious.

The Higher Self is your own most spiritual aspect. It is the part of you overseeing your spiritual evolution. During professional work with the shamanic template, the Higher Self of your client will also be present to assist in the work.

The Shamanic Template can be used for any shamanic work, be it journeying, ritual or healing. It is available in three formats, personal, professional (you and another), and group (you and two or more people).

Lightbody

The lightbody or luminous body is our energy body that interpenetrates the physical, but is not limited to the physical body. This attunement strengthens the lightbody, empowers and harmonizes the aura and specifically facilitates the awakening of the 7 chakras, the Soul Star and Earth Star Chakras, the awakening of the unified chakra field, the alignment and awakening of the three tan tiens (in the lower abdomen, the chest and the third eye), the awakening of the microcosmic orbit and the awakening of the Ao centres, or cross of fire. It also includes a kundalini preparation function for facilitating a safe awakening of the kundalini energy. This attunement can be called in daily, for further enhancement of the luminous body.

Spiritual connection shakti

Shamanic work includes the ability to function effortlessly in different dimensions of reality. It also entails connecting with sources of guidance from non-physical dimensions. This attunement, or shakti, expands the practitioner’s ability to connect to sources of spiritual guidance. Specifically, it allows for connection to the Higher Self, spiritual guides and angels. This shakti can be run by simply saying “spiritual connection on.” For example, prior to meditations or even during healing sessions to assist in receiving guidance.

Space clearing shakti

This shakti is used to clear a space for spiritual work and is activated through intent, eg: “Let this space be purified and sanctified, let no negative energies enter here.”

Mind expansion shakti

In order to operate in different dimensions of reality, the shaman needs to be able to expand his or her mind, i.e. altering the frequencies of the brain. This attunement facilitates this process. It can be called in through intent prior to meditation.

Three worlds

This attunement expands the connection to the world tree, which represents the lower, middle and upper world. It also enhances journeying ability.

Universal Shaman

This attunement provides a connection to ancient shamanic wisdom, through re-activating our dormant genetic memories of our shamanic past. Since we are all one, this attunement also allows us to access the shamanic wisdom and practices of present day shamanic cultures.

Directions attunement

This attunement provides a connection to the energies of the directions, East, South, West, North, Centre, Above and Below.

Elemental powers

This attunement connects us specifically to the elemental powers of Fire, Water, Earth, Air and Spirit.

Mother Earth / Father Sky

This attunement connects us to the powerful, nurturing energies of Mother Earth and Father Sky, the great masculine and feminine energies of the universe.

Sun / Moon attunement

This attunement creates a resonance in our energybody with the frequencies of solar and lunar light, energies that can be used for healing or ritual work.

Shamanic Light

This attunement connects the practitioner to the primary healing energy for this workshop. Shamanic Light is a powerful healing frequency that is a balanced blend of elemental energies. Apart from the energy qualities of Shamanic Light, the attunement also brings a connection to shamanic healers in non-physical dimensions who will assist you in your healing work.

Source Light – the Light of Great Spirit

This attunement provides access to the infinite and eternal Light of Great Spirit, the original Light that sprang forth from the primal darkness of the void. This energy has an all-purpose healing function and is also important for spiritual growth, e.g. meditating on the Light.

Joyful living attunement

This attunement is mainly directed at the heart chakra and increases the heart centre’s ability to function in unconditional love, joy and courage.

Power animal attunement

This attunement enhances your ability to connect with power animals. During this attunement, you may also recover your primary power animal and become aware of it’s presence in your life.

Energy utility functions attunement

This attunement allow for greater control of energy through intent. The functions of this attunement will work with most other forms of energywork too. The functions are activated through keywords and intent. Specifically:

Distance: Sending the energy at a distanceGroup: Sending energy to a whole groupBlanket: Filling an entire space with energyDirect: This function allows you to direct energy through intent for specific purposes, such as pain relief, relaxation, etc. By saying “direct” followed by a

specific request, the energy, if for the Highest Good, will take on the form requested.Amplify: This function allows you to amplify the power of the energy you are sending on a scale of 1 – 10. The baseline setting is 3.