To all who have let messages on this topic.
Traditional Shamans were people of purpose. They acted as a bridge between worlds i.e. the physical world and the non physical world (spirit world).

They worked for the whole community bringing back gifts of healing, foresight and messages for tribal groups.
The shaman gave the lives of his tribe a spiritual dimension and depth and a sense of morality.
The Shamans journey begins with a trance which is induced by listening to a drumbeat, this may be by c.d. etc or live drumming. This is also known as the shamanic state of consciousness.

When in this state the shaman is unaware of anything going on around them in their physical enviornment. It is important to have a call back beat at the end of the drumming to bring the shaman back from the spirit world.

Even though in a trance state the shaman retains control over his spirit body while he walks in the other worlds.
there are three main worlds:
The upper world
The middle world
The lower world.

These different worlds will each be separately discussed at a later date.

The Shamanic journey itself does not take place outside the physical body. It is a journey into the self.Shamanism is concerned with the essence of all thinhgs be they, human,plant, animal mineral or spirit.All things are alive and no one thing is more imporetant than another.

I have journeyed for a friend for healing for joint pains, I met my spirit healers in the middle world and i could see myself standing at the side of the picturew while an native american indian gave my friend a potion to drink from a bowl carved from wood. This is an example of how the spirits show us there way of healing.

Medium Meg
More next week

Wow Teach
That was great
Thanks for that, and just like to say i found it all VERY interesting and not the least bit scary
love n hugs
RS

Thank you MM,
Good reading...I am very interested..
moonlight..

Great start MM - cant wait for the next instalment !

thanks for sharing

Way to go

We will all learn and some may decide to look and follow this path as well

MM,

The book on shamanism that I have read (Celtic Shamanism) makes no mention of the three different worlds. So, assuming that you go on a journey, how do you know which world to go to? Do you have a choice? Do they all have different functions? So many questions, so little time...

Crystalline

HI crystalline,

thanks for your question about the three worlds.

it would take me a week to tell you about the three worlds and how to access them

I partook in two Shamanic weekend courses with a very powerful Shaman called Jonathon Howritz.

he taught us the basics of shamanism and in particular how to journey.

The three different levels are
1) lower world
2) middleworld
3)upperworld

We travel to each world for different reasons.

We go to the lower world to meet our power animal, the middle world is where spirit is around us at present. We go to the upper world to meet our spirit teacher to seek advice.

sometimes when i want answers to something i put myself into the trance state and ask my spirits to take me were i need to go to get what i am looking for.



For instance in the lowerworld i have four power animals who meet me when i journy there. if i am journeying for healing or help for someone , one or more of my power animals will take me further into the journey to get the help needed.

If i am looking for advice say, on my career or a decision i would journey to he upper world and stat my mission to my spirit teacher and would listen to the information being given to me.


I hope this helps explain in some wy the difference between the worlds. NLH have some good books in their shaman section that wouldgive plenty of detail.

meg

Thank you very much

Shamanism has always interested me, although I know little about it. Looking forward to hearing lots more.......

Love Rae x

MM,

Thank you for your explanation. Makes a whole lot more sense now. I look forward to learning more about shamanism. My problem frequently is that I get so wound up with researching it that I don't actually give it a try.

Crys

Crystalline - that's my problem too in a nutshell Glad I'm not the only one

My Grandpa was a Medicine man and I've known a few Native healers in my days. I have been told that it doesn't leave the family, but gets passed down to the next generations. I always like to listen to them talk. Most of them are very wise. Seems to me they have been given a gift and are fulfilling their purpose here. ~Mtn

I've always had a "thing" for the Native American people.

I've studied their ways and beliefs in night classes and what they believed in always "sat more comfortably" with me than any *religion* we are introduced to here in the Western world.

My Nan always said to me "Your religion must come from within yourself" and so I guess that means mine leans towards the Native American ways becasue that's what I'm happy with.

A good book that I read and have in my collection is:-

The Spirits are Always with Me by Jane Shutt
ISBN: 184413049-5

This book has the authors contact details in the back and I rang her up to ask her about power animals. I asked her "How did I know if my power animal is happy and feels honoured." She replied that if I am in perfect health and feel happy within myself and love the animal that has appeared as my power animal, then those are the signs that my power animal is happy with me.

I then asked her if you power animal have to be small enough to "sit on your shoulder". She replied "No. I know someone who has an Elephant for their power animal."

This shook me and made me realise she must be the Shaman she says she is, because out of all the animals she could have used as an example to answer my question, she picked mine - an Elephant.

Love & Light
Lioness

Lioness w hat a nice way to meet your power animal. My experiences have been different . I met my poweer animal through a Shamanic introduction course where i was taught byjonathon howritz, you may have heard of him.. he is a wonderful man and a powerful shaman. He taught us how to journey to the lower world(one of the three worlds accessed by the shaman ) to meet our power animal or animals.

I am priviledged to have a menagerie . a wild boar who i feel is with me constantly , a litle grey squirrel and four beautiful swans.

When i journey to the lower world for help and healing for people i am always met by all of my power animals.i hve a veryclose affinity with them and they are very much part of my life.

I have also taught great bear Spirit amethyst how to journey to meet their power animals. Hopefully his will be one of the exciting things at the meet in July were i will be able to teach others how to recognise and get to know their power animal. for clarification power animals & totem animal are one and the same.

We can call on our power animals in times of stress or danger and they will help us.

Meg

WOW

Oh Meg
More things to experience in July, Can't wait
RS

RS, i reckon you will be in for some great experiences in July. You will be going home with more than you arrive with


Meg