I AM ONE

Each day when I choose to walk amongst the trees and grasses, I speak to Creator and Mother Earth and ask that they reveal something out of the ordinary during my travel. One morning I walked deeply in the woods, approaching a stream of flowing water. From behind, a faint voice called. It was a speckled fawn. From its resting place, it stood up and took a few steps toward me thinking I was its mother. 

I stood quietly still. It lay down in the grass. Taking a few steps toward it, the young one stood up, took a few steps away from me and lay back down in the grass. We did this several times, and it was obvious we knew each others place in this game of life. I finally spoke kind, soothing words to the fawn and left with a full heart. My prayer was answered.

This is the way of Creator's teachings. The trees, the grasses, the water, the fawn, and me . . . we were all one at that moment in time.  'unknown'

How Can I Walk a Path of Beauty

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your bodylove what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain are moving across the landscapes, over the prairies and the deep trees, the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air, are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting— over and over announcing your place in the family of things.


-Mary Oliver

A Sioux Story - The Secret

The Creator gathered all of Creation and said:

"I want to hide something from the humans until they are ready for it.


It is the realization that they create their own reality."


The eagle said:
"Give it to me, I will take it to the moon."


The Creator said:
"No. One day they will go there and find it."


The salmon said: "I will bury it on the bottom of the ocean." "No. They will go there too."


The buffalo said: "I will bury it on the Great Plains."


The Creator said: "They will cut into the skin of the Earth and find it even there."

Grandmother Mole: who lives in the breast of Mother Earth, and who has no physical eyes but sees with spiritual eyes, said,

"Put it inside of them."And the Creator said: "It is done."


by Author Unknown


Artwork by Charles Frizzel

Mayan Elder on Maya Calendar Confusion

Carlos Barrios, Mayan elder and Ajq'ij (is a ceremonial priest and spiritual guide) of the Eagle Clan. Carlos initiated an investigation into the different Mayan calendars circulating. Carlos along with his brother Gerardo studied with many teachers and interviewed nearly 600 traditional Mayan elders to widen their scope of knowledge.

Carlos found out quickly there were several conflicting interpretations of Mayan hieroglyphs, petroglyphs, Sacred Books of 'Chilam Balam' and various ancient text. Carlos found some strong words for those who may have contributed to the confusion:

Carlos Barrios: "Anthropologists visit the temple sites and read the inscriptions and make up stories about the Maya, but they do not read the signs correctly. It's just their imagination. Other people write about prophecy in the name of the Maya. They say that the world will end in December 2012. The Mayan elders are angry with this. The world will not end. It will be transformed."


"We are no longer in the World of the Fourth Sun, but we are not yet in the World of the Fifth Sun. This is the time in-between, the time of transition. As we pass through transition there is a colossal, global convergence of environmental destruction, social chaos, war, and ongoing Earth Changes."

He continues: "Humanity will continue, but in a different way. Material structures will change. From this we will have the opportunity to be more human. We are living in the most important era of the Mayan calendars and prophecies. All the prophecies of the world, all the traditions are converging now. There is no time for games. The spiritual ideal of this era is action."


Carlos tells us: "The indigenous have the calendars and know how to accurately interpret it -- not others. The Mayan Calendars comprehension of time, seasons, and cycles has proven itself to be vast and sophisticated. The Maya understand 17 different calendars such as the Tzolk'in or Cholq'ij, some of them charting time accurately over a span of more than ten million years.


"All was predicted by the mathematical cycles of the Mayan calendars. -- It will change --everything will change. Mayan Day-keepers view the Dec. 21, 2012 date as a rebirth, the start of the World of the Fifth Sun. It will be the start of a new era resulting from and signified by the solar meridian crossing the galactic equator and the Earth aligning itself with the center of the galaxy."


At sunrise on December 21, 2012 for the first time in 26,000 years the Sun rises to conjunct the intersection of the Milky Way and the plane of the ecliptic. This cosmic cross is considered to be an embodiment of the Sacred Tree, The Tree of Life, a tree remembered in all the world's spiritual traditions.

Some observers say this alignment with the heart of the galaxy in 2012 will open a channel for cosmic energy to flow through the Earth, cleansing it and all that dwells upon it, raising all to a higher level of vibration. Carlos reminds us: "This process has already begun. Change is accelerating now and it will continue to accelerate.


If the people of the Earth can get to this 2012 date in good shape without having destroyed too much of the Earth, we will rise to a new, higher level. But to get there we must transform enormously powerful forces that seek to block the way."


The date specified in the calendar Winter Solstice in the year 2012 does not mark the end of the world. Many outside people writing about the Mayan calendar sensationalize this date, but they do not know. The ones who know are the indigenous elders who are entrusted with keeping the tradition.


Carlos tells us: "The economy now is a fiction. The first five-year stretch of transition from August 1987 to August 1992 was the beginning of the destruction of the material world. We have progressed ten years deeper into the transition phase by now, and many of the so-called sources of financial stability are in fact hollow. The banks are weak. This is a delicate moment for them. They could crash globally, if we don't pay attention. Now, people are paying attention."


The North and South Poles are both breaking up. The level of the water in the oceans is going to rise. But at the same time land in the ocean, especially near Cuba, is also going to rise. Carlos tells a story about the most recent Mayan New Year ceremonies in Guatemala. He said that one respected Mam elder, who lives all year in a solitary mountain cave, journeyed to Chichicastenango to speak with the people at the ceremony. The elder delivered a simple, direct message. He called for human beings to come together in support of life and light.


"Right now each person and group is going his or her own way. The elder of the mountains said there is hope if the people of the light can come together and unite in some way. We live in a world of polarity -- day and night, man and woman, positive and negative. Light and darkness need each other. They are a balance."


"Just now the dark side is very strong, and very clear about what they want. They have their vision and their priorities clearly held, and also their hierarchy. They are working in many ways so that we will be unable to connect with the spiral Fifth World in 2012."


"On the light side everyone thinks they are the most important, that their own understandings, or their group's understandings, are the key. There's a diversity of cultures and opinions, so there is competition, diffusion, and no single focus."


Carlos believes the dark side works to block unity through denial and materialism. It also works to destroy those who are working with the light to get the Earth to a higher level. They like the energy of the old, declining Fourth World, the materialism. They do not want it to change. They do not want unity. They want to stay at this level, and are afraid of the next level.


The dark power of the declining Fourth World cannot be destroyed or overpowered. It's too strong and clear for that, and that is the wrong strategy. The dark can only be transformed when confronted with simplicity and open-heartedness. This is what leads to unity, a key concept for the World of the Fifth Sun.


Carlos said the emerging era of the Fifth Sun will call attention to a much-overlooked element. Whereas the four traditional elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water have dominated various epochs in the past, there will be a fifth element to reckon with in the time of the Fifth Sun --- that element is 'ETHER'.


The dictionary defines Ether as a "hypothetical substance supposed to occupy all space, postulated to account for the propagation of electromagnetic radiation through space." Perhaps it could be defined as the "space between space". I would suggest it could be manifest as the alignment of charged particles from our solar system (Sun), and our galaxy (Milky Way) surge. The Ether element represents spiritual energy.

"The element of the Fifth Sun is celestial. Within the context of Ether there can be a joining of the polarities. No more darkness or light in the people, but an uplifted unity. But right now the realm of darkness is not interested in this. They are organized to block it. They seek to unbalance the Earth and its environment so we will be unready for the alignment in 2012."


"We need to work together for peace, and balance with the other side. We need to take care of the Earth that feeds and shelters us. We need to put our entire mind and heart into pursuing unity and unity now, to confront the other side and preserve life."

"We are disturbed -- we can't play anymore. Our planet can be renewed or ravaged. Now is the time to awaken and take action. Everyone is needed. You are not here for no reason. Everyone who is here now has an important purpose. This is a hard but a special time. We have the opportunity for growth, but we must be ready for this moment in history."


Carlos says: "The prophesied changes are going to happen, but our attitude and actions determine how harsh or mild they are. We need to act, to make changes, and to elect people to represent us who understand and who will take political action to respect the Earth."


"Meditation and spiritual practice are good, but also action. It's very important to be clear about who you are, and also about your relation to the Earth. Develop yourself according to your own tradition and the call of your heart. But remember to respect differences, and strive for unity. Eat wisely --- a lot of food is corrupt in either subtle or gross ways. Pay attention to what you are taking into your body. Learn to preserve food, and to conserve energy. Learn some good breathing techniques, so you have mastery of your breath. Be clear. Follow a tradition with great roots. It is not important what tradition, your heart will tell you, but it must have great roots."


"We live in a world of energy. An important task at this time is to learn to sense or see the energy of everyone and everything -- people, plants, animals. This becomes increasingly important as we draw close to the World of the Fifth Sun, for it is associated with the element 'ether' -- the realm where energy lives and weaves. Go to the sacred places of the Earth to pray for peace, and have respect for the Earth which gives us our food, clothing, and shelter. We need to reactivate the energy of these sacred places. That is our work."


"One simple but effective prayer technique is to light white or baby-blue colored candles. Think of a moment in peace. Speak your intention to the flame and send the light of it on to the leaders who have the power to make war or peace."


Carlos reminds us this is a crucially important moment for humanity and for Earth. Each person is important.


He said the elders have opened the doors so that other races can come to the Mayan world to receive the tradition. "The Maya have long appreciated and respected that there are other colors, other races, and other spiritual systems. They know that the destiny of the Mayan world is related to the destiny of the whole world."


"The greatest wisdom is in simplicity. Love, respect, tolerance, sharing, gratitude, forgiveness. It's not complex or elaborate. The real knowledge is free. It's encoded in your DNA. All you need is within you. Great teachers have said that from the beginning. Find your heart, and you will find your way."

http://jenniferlauck.blogspot.com/  has posted this as have others. I believe it to be a very in-depth view of the Maya Calendar. Please if you feel called, pass this along to others. Ty

Arvol Looking Horse of Lakota Elders

This is an email I received and felt well worth passing along.  Some of you may not be aware of who Arvol Looking Horse is, this is something to understand.

I had heard about the white buffalo calf born in Pennsylvania but I obviously had not heard the Whole story. Most of you know that I went to see Arvol Looking Horse talk at Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA on February 13th. I have a friend that works on a magazine called SACRED FIRE--she was there too. She wanted my thoughts on the evening. 

Two things immediately struck me about Arvol Looking Horse as he walked down the aisle, flanked by security, to the stage. First, He is really tall. Second, THAT is a Very Serious Man. I didn't remember a lot of details about what he said because most of it I have already heard and knew deep in my heart to be Sad and TRUE. Mother Earth and all her Children are in pain and in danger of ceasing to live--Life is out of balance and the Hoop (Circle of Life) is Broken. Creator has warned all peoples in all places of the danger we are currently facing and what we have to do to repair the damage we two-leggeds have done-or face the consequences--extinction.

About 2,000 years ago the people that were the ancestors of the Native People now known as the Sioux were living in an "out-of-balance" way. The people were starving. Two scouts were out looking for the buffalo herds when they saw a    woman walking toward them across the plains. She carried a bundle with her.    One of the men had "evil" thoughts and she let him approach her. A wind            carrying a cloud of dust and thunder and lightning spun around the pair and      when the dust settled down the man was a pile of bones. The second scout knew this was a Wakan (Holy) Person and asked what he could do for her. She told     him that she was aware of the desperate situation of his people and that she      wanted him to return to the village and tell them what had just happened and to prepare a place for her. She said that she was coming and would be staying with them for a while and teaching them things they needed to know.            

This Holy Woman taught the people the Seven Sacred Rites that are the core     beliefs of the Sioux people. Among these rites is the Sacred Pipe--which is what she was carrying in her bundle.                                                                                

When her time with the people was done, she left the pipe with them. This original pipe is still in existence and Arvol Looking Horse is the current caretaker of it. When this Holy Woman left the people she walked away from the village toward a herd of buffalo passing by. She lay down and rolled on the ground and when she stood up she was a black buffalo calf. She lay down and rolled again and got up as a red buffalo calf. She lay down again and stood as a yellow buffalo calf. The fourth time she lay down and rolled she got up as a white buffalo calf. From that day on she was known as White Buffalo Calf Woman.                                     

White Buffalo Calf Woman had told the people that when things were really bad and the Hoop of the Nation was broken she would return as a White Buffalo Calf. During her life she would wear coats of all the colors of the races of man-White, Yellow, Red, Black and Brown.                                                     

It is generally acknowledged that the Hoop of the Nation was finally broken at Wounded Knee in 1890. The next 100 years can only be described as "Really Bad Years" as the US Government did everything in their power to totally annihilate the original inhabitants of this continent.                                                               

Arvol Looking Horse became the Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf         Bundle in 1966 at the age of 12 years. He was raised with the knowledge of the prophecies but didn't think the long-awaited White Buffalo would be born in his generation. Then MIRACLE was born in 1994 on a small farm in Wisconsin. Her coat turned all five colors as she grew up. Miracle was NOT an albino buffalo and her DNA was tested to prove she was 100% buffalo. Her birth brought a resurgence of Hope to all people-Native and non-Native alike. I kept a newspaper clipping about her birth on my office wall until the day I retired.

According to Arvol Looking Horse white animals show the Sacred Color. Many white animals are surfacing around the world. Beside white tigers there are white lions, kangaroo, alligator, deer, black bears, hedgehogs, elephants, ravens, moose and more. Arvol says, "When you see a white animal it is a Blessing but it is also a Warning that there are going to be some Big Changes, Earth Changes, Weather Changes on a Global Scale. We are in those changes now. A handfull of people cannot stop these changes. There HAS TO BE A SPIRITUAL UNITY IN THE WORLD. It takes ALL the people coming together with Good Hearts and Good Minds in order for this Earth to survive. There has to be Peace and Harmony. That is the Balance we have to create. In this new millennium we are going to create this. We are going to make history. We are going to make a change for the benefit of our children and our grandchildren. Our leaders today need to connect to help each other. There is no one person in the circle that is higher than another. It doesn't matter what part of the world we are in-we are all being effected globally. We must try to Walk In Prayer-there has to be a Spiritual Unity."

Arvol Looking Horse is the embodiment of Practicing what he Preaches. Starting with his own people, Arvol established the UNITY RIDE in 1995 from Wahpeton, Saskatchewan to the Black Hills. This ride unites the Dakota people forced from Minnesota into Canada by General Sibley in the winter of 1862-1863 with their southern relatives.

Arvol spoke with pride of riding on horseback with the Bigfoot Riders each December 15-29 through severe weather and extreme temperatures to understand the immensity of hardships suffered by Chief Bigfoot and his band. This past winter a teenage girl completed the ride. This extreme undertaking has been going on since 1986 and was started to fulfill the prophecy of "Mending the Sacred Hoop of the Nation."

The birth of MIRACLE in 1994 signaled that NOW is the time to step forward, and Arvol says "as caretakers of the heart of Mother Earth (the Black Hills) it is our responsibility to tell our brothers and sisters to seek Peace. We ask every nations to declare June 21, 1996 World Peace and Prayer Day/Honoring Sacred Sites Day. Pray at this time with us for your sacred areas."

 In 1995 Arvol Looking Horse met with and obtained support from indigenous leaders in Canada, Malaysia, the Mayans and Maori. Each nations agreed to pray and hold ceremony at their sacred sites.  Since then Arvol has traveled all over the world talking, praying and holding ceremonies that inspires and unite all peoples regardless of race and faith. Arvol Looking Horse was asked by the Elders of his nation to travel to Iraq and pray with the pipe for Peace. The Elders were concerned that this conflict could trigger World War III

At Evergreen State College Arvol talked about the sacred sites of the Earth. He mentioned the energy ley lines of the world and that where these lines cross each other there is a sacred site. The ancient peoples knew these sites and built places of worship there. Arvol said these are also places where we find deposits of oil, gold and other precious materials.

After Arvol talked his wife took the podium and she told many entertaining stories of places they had been and how their coming had been part of the prophecies of other cultures. One really sad note is that some of Arvol's own people are jealous and do not appreciate or understand the Work he is doing. While they are freezing on the rez in winter they can only think he is enjoying summer at the beach in South Africa or Australia. 

I am happy my friend asked me for my thoughts about Arvol Looking Horses' presentation because it made me do some research. One thing not mentioned at the talk is the fact that Arvol is a Sun Dancer. When Arvol was made Keeper of the Sacred Pipe and chief at 12 years old he was told, "You do not have to Sun Dance because your whole life will be a sacrifice for the people. The people take care of the Keeper so you never work because you are the center and cultural carriers." Arvol said his decision to Sun Dance was a commitment to pray for the people for things to change for the good as they were not good now and seem only to worsen.....It was the right time to Sun Dance......at a time when the people were suffering from all the effects of genocide and religious suppression, alcohol and abuse was the way of life we saw.

I am trying to change that cycle of abuse we have toward one another. It is not an easy time to be the spiritual leader of this Nation. There is literally no support from the people. Our family has long been persecuted from remaining Lakota and traditional culture keepers.

As Keeper and chief, I ask people to look at the big picture. Look past your own personal situation and ask what have you volunteered for your people lately.

I don't expect all people to support me as it is as the traditional Lakota elders said it is to be, but at least show respect for our ways and prophecies. Our cycle of life where there is no ending and no beginning.  Mitakuye Oyasin"

I cannot begin to imagine the weight of the burden the rests on the shoulders of Chief Arvol Looking Horse. I stick with my first impression of him--Tall and Very Serious. There is no slump to his shoulders. He bears his burden well. Serious-yes-and rightly so. Our time is running out and most people aren't even aware of how tenuous our life line with Mother Earth is. The Gulf Oil Spill, the unusual and extreme weather patterns, the massive die-offs of birds, fish and animals are all "Canaries in the Mines." The Canaries have stopped singing. Has anyone noticed? Arvol Looking Horse has. Can you hear White Buffalo Calf Woman speaking through him? Lay down your arms and embrace your brother and sister. Mitakuye Oyasin.

 

                                         Statement from
                                  Looking Chief Arvol Horse,

19th Generation Keeper
of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe

November 12, 2007

Edited by: Stephanie M. Schwartz, Freelance Writer
Member, Native American Journalists Association (NAJA)
 

Mitakuye,

Another great message has come to us from the animal nation. This time, it is more urgent then ever! It has come to my attention of another birth of a white buffalo, this time it is more different then any other sign.

So far since 1994, the same time that Global Warming was being announced; there have been at least 4-6 every year of these sacred buffalo calves that have stood upon the earth. Not only the buffalo have showed these signs to tell us of this great urgency that is upon us, but in many parts of the world, there have been other animal nations showing this sacred color. This color represents the south, the direction in which we pass through to the spirit world, a completed cycle. This interpretation has to do with the Bundle I take care of; that carries a prophesy from the White Buffalo Calf Woman. She told of a time when her spirit would stand upon the earth, a time of great changes were about to come to us all. A time when the two legged would have to make a decision to change their ways to heal the damage that they have created. Boundaries in respecting life and spirit will have become violated.

This birth is yet another sign, but brings more awareness of this urgency. This new birth has to do with 2 female buffalo kept in captivity, with no male buffalo present. It would be hard to believe, but in this instance, the place they live has kept this quiet, because they did not want to be accused of artificially inseminating the female buffalo. There have been these types of instances that have been done in the past, concerning publicity in owning a white buffalo calf.

The Woodland Zoo in Farmington, Pennsylvania decided to bring in two female buffalo to their facility. One of the females was pregnant when she arrived. After she had the calf, it was sold, 6 months later, she gave birth to another calf, this time it was white. Buffalo carry for 9 months as humans do. The other female she lived with, gave birth 9 months later to a black buffalo after the white calf stood upon the earth, again no male buffalo present.

This was brought to my attention a while back. I did not want to state anything till I took this through ceremony, to understand the truth and the message.

Since 1994, these kinds of signs have been coming, but it seems that people do not listen or want to see anything important from the animal nation’s messages.

This has a lot to do with faith.

What was told is as follows: This is a very dangerous time we are in! The minds of the people on Unc’i Maka (Grandmother Earth) are choosing to focus on a new way of life that is hurting us all in the global community. This way of life chooses war, hurting one another physically and verbally, and continued desecration to Unc’i Maka in taking more then what we truly need in her resources. These decisions not only hurt our own People, but the animal nations are dying in large numbers to extinction by this new way of life we are accepting. Unc’i Maka is going to have a hard time to continue to bring food to all life. These decisions need to be changed very soon and are in each and every one of your hands more then ever. Respect to the spirit of life needs to be brought back; boundaries need to put back into place and faith needs to be present in everyone’s life once again.

We have no choice but to listen!

May Peace prevail on Earth, in a Sacred Hoop of Life, where there is no ending and no beginning!

Spring Equinox or Vernal Equinox

"Spring Equinox. It is one of only two days during the year - the other being the autumnal equinox - when the amount of daylight and the amount of darkness we experience is exactly equal.

The word equinox derives from the Latin words "aequus" (equal) and "nox" (night).

In celestial terms, this is the day that the sun is positioned directly above the Earth's equator, or more correctly, the day that the center of the sun crosses the celestial equator (the projection of the Earth's equator onto the sky).

The spring, or "vernal" equinox marks the official first day of spring. Well, at least in the northern hemisphere it does. If you live in Australia or other points below the equator, it marks the first day of autumn. For this reason, many modern-day astronomers and scientists prefer to use the terms "March equinox" and "September equinox" to be more accurate, and to divorce the names from their origins in a time during history when the Northern viewpoint ruled the rest of the world.

In the United States, this auspicious day, which carries connotations of rebirth, growth, and fertility, is rarely celebrated or even noticed. Earth Day, when it was first created in 1970, was celebrated on March 21, but has since been moved to April 22.

The equinox does have something of an association with Easter, which is not surprising considering the correlations between the Resurrection, and the cycle of life that re-starts with the beginning of spring and the end of winter.

The canonical rule states that Easter must fall on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the March equinox. This year the full moon and the vernal equinox both fall on March 21, so Easter is on Sunday March 23.

If you are a practicing Wiccan, you may celebrate Ostara today. In Wiccanism, a pagan, earth-based form of worship, Ostara is roughly equivalent to Easter. The feast of Ostara celebrates the coming of spring, fertility, and the exuberance of nature.

In other countries, March 21 is quite a big deal. Many cultures and religions celebrate the equinox both formally and informally. Often these celebrations have their origins in ancient pagan agricultural traditions and practices that acknowledge the start of spring as a time of rebirth and growth.

In Iran, the festival of Nowruz is celebrated on March 21, which actually represents the first day of the New Year on the ancient Persian calendar. Legend says that Jamshid, the mythical king of Persia, ascended to the throne on this day, an event that is commemorated with two weeks of festivities. The celebration is rooted in Persia's 3,000 year old links with Zoroastrianism, and recalls the ancient creation myths and cosmology of the Persian people.

In Japan, Vernal Equinox Day (shunbon no hi) is a national holiday, a day that the Japanese people spend admiring nature and living things, and visiting the graves of their ancestors. This holiday was first celebrated way back in the year 806.

In Turkey, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Albania, Kurdistan, Zanzibar and various countries of central Asia, the day is also an official holiday.

Many archaeological structures and monuments were built with the equinox in mind. In Egypt, it is believed that the great Sphinx was intentionally built pointed directly at the sun on the day of the vernal equinox.

Historians believe that Stonehenge, the famous stone monument on the Salisbury Plain in southern England, was built by sun-worshiping Stone Age people to predict and track the various equinoxes and solstices."

By Francisca Rivas/The Signal

Can White People be Shamans?

A Shaman’s Voice   "I suppose the question might be absurd, but I guess here's the place to ask right? I'm interested in shamanic practices, but I'm afraid how well I'd be received by others. It seems I've heard both sides of the story. I've been told that white people have treated the earth with such disrespect for so long that they no longer possess the connection and skills to listen to her. On the other hand, I've been told that shamanism more or less finds you, and its a matter of the spirit, rather than the color of your skin. Uggh. I'm so confused. I would really like some feedback on this." By Shamans Portal Newsletter  April 2010 I've been giving this some thoughts on this subject. I get phone calls frequently asking to take a class (often for a weekend) that will make someone a Shaman. Yes, let's wave the magic rattle and take the pill that does the job, for a stiff fee of course. Why people teach like that can only be explained by greed for money and ignorance. Strong statement but something that has been bothering me. So there it is. I've been studying Core Shamanism for many years and believe that for the most part the various tribes and cultures around the world believe someone is just born that way. Yes, even in our USA modern world white people come from countries from all over the world, our blood is mixed with many tribes, our DNA makes us brother and sisters, of the global village. Shamanism is not a Native American word but is from Siberia and has been somewhat 'coined' to stand for a certain type of healer. This is NOT to take from our US Native brothers and sisters, just history that some are not familiar with. Shamanism and the healing arts have been and still are practiced in every country of the world and no one holds the 'rights' to say they belong to one people alone. Now being a Shaman and Walking a Shamanic Path are two entirely different things. Anyone, willing to spend time working with the Spirits, Elements, Nature in all her forms, talking the time to learn to walk with Earth based Spiritually, can walk a Shamanic Path. Being a Shaman when called takes years of study, commitment to the community of man and a willingness to live a life of service to the various communities. It is a choice and one that a person can say no to. All our choices, actions and reactions have effects. It is not some glamorous job and often Shamans live a very solitary life. In some areas they live outside the community but close as to be there as needed.  It is very confusing to someone walking that path in an average US area (outside of tribal) because the needs of the Shaman are not met by the community; wood for their fires, food to eat and other necessities. In tribal areas around the world a person rarely holds a straight job which is discordant with the energy that a shaman works with and the time needed to find the stillness to be available to the Spirits. "It seems to me to be an absurd question, for thousands of years Shamans ( a Siberian word ) to mean Medicine Person who works with specific types of healing and teachings. They have been and still are found in every country, going back for hundreds of years. Shaman never has meant Native American Healer alone, and I think that is where a lot of the confusion comes from. No one takes a weekend warrior class or reads a book to become a Shaman. I agree that anyone can learn to walk a 'shamanic path', regardless of religion or not, ethnic background, etc. Being a Shaman is to be in Service of the Community, not just their local circle or clan, but the community of human kind and the balance of Mother Earth. It is not a label that makes one special,  yet their ethics and how they live says it all about who they are. Choose your healer or mentor carefully. Listen with your heart and your head. Blessings .... Tana Rose - Blue Deer Woman

Ancient Techniques in Modern Journeys

I found this site by the researcher  Edie Stone, MA, LPC. It is an excellent resource on Shamanism in many forms. Although I might not agree with every point, I feel it is well worth passing to you for your contemplation. With her permission this is shared and the link to continue at the bottom. Enjoy!

"Shamans were the world's first healers, priests, and therapists. The word "shaman" or "saman" comes from a Siberian tribe, but most indigenous societies around the world relied on someone who could perform this role when they faced illness, loss of spirit, or other crises. Cave paintings in southern France suggest that shamanic practices are at least 20,000 years old.

Scientists have studied contemporary shamans, and the shamanic state of consciousness (or SSC). Although tribal shamans are often skilled at herbal remedies and other healing techniques, the essential quality of shamans is their ability to "journey." In a typical journey, a shaman enters a special state of consciousness, encounters spirit beings, and returns with knowledge or healing for a client or the community.

Recent research and practical experience show that some aspects of shamanic healing and awareness are accessible to all of us, even though we live in the modern world. Almost everyone can learn to journey. It is a natural state of consciousness that I believe is part of our spiritual birthright as human beings.

The Shamanic State of Consciousness (SSC)

The shamanic state of consciousness has several qualities that distinguish it from other altered states of consciousness such as meditation, dreaming, channeling, hypnosis, or daydreaming. The first quality is the degree of control: like mediators, shamanic practitioners enter and leave a journey by choice. Within the journey, they are able to exercise their free will, maintain focus on their intentions, and make conscious choices.

Most people are quite alert and able to concentrate, even speak, within the journey. Unlike some forms of hypnosis and channeling, the SSC does not produce amnesia. People return from journeying with clear, vivid memories. However, techniques for processing the journey are important for maintaining and integrating the shamanic experience into one's life.

The content of a journey depends directly on the intention. People typically travel through a landscape and encounter animals, spirit beings, guides, angels, saints, or ancestors who have wisdom and healing to share. Sometimes people visit scenes from their childhood or past lives, or reclaim power and soul qualities that were lost during traumatic events. Most journeys have a strong visual aspect, but some are experienced through sound, physical sensations, flows of energy, movement, or a deep inner knowing. Some journeys are serene and joyful, others involve a deep release of emotion, followed by an experience of love, power, or healing energy. Many people are surprised to find what a good sense of humor their spirit guides have."

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© 2005 Edie Stone. Permission given for article to be quoted, as long as credit and copyright information is included.