Shamanism & Shamanic Medicine Pieces
What is Shamanism
Importance of the Soul
Shamanism in Today’s World
Shaman Teaching of Honorable Closure
Totem Animals or if you prefer Power Animals - Dragonfly
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Shamanism & Shamanic Medicine Pieces
As you explore and walk a Shamanic path,
certain Medicine Tools will come to you. Often the drum or rattle will be
the first. How will you gather medicine tools? Some groups or
cultures believe that your most important and powerful shamanic medicine pieces
will be gifted to you either by an elder or perhaps a shaman. Other
cultures have the tradition that you can make your own (with clear intent),
find them in nature or purchase them.
The Spirits of Nature can call to you,
drawing your attention. When a stone, a piece of distinctive driftwood on
the ocean beach, a feather in the grass, an egg dropped from a nest calls to
you ~ STOP! Slow down and pay attention. Connect with the spirit that is
calling to you. Ask the spirit of the stone for example, if it is to come
back with you, to be used in your shamanic practice OR are you to connect with
it there, learning something about a lesson that is up for you. If
you are called to taprayer, etc.) It is also appropriate to gift before or after working with a spirits in nature with gratitude, staying in spiritual balance. When working with the stone people, be mindful and someday return them to their home, where you found them.ke it home with you then gift before taking it from its
home. (Tobacco, cornmeal, herb, plant a crystal, sprinkle bird seed, hair from
your head, offer a prayer, etc)
The longer you walk a shamanic path the more opportunities you will have to learn from the spirits. I use the word Spirit in three ways. First there is an OVER SPIRIT of say, the Stone People, yet each stone has its own spirit. The medicine of the
The other use of the word Spirit refers to the Great Spirit, Creator, God, Lord, Sweet Mystery, etc. Human kind has used many words for concept of Creator.
Becoming Dependent
In traditional cultures, their personal or communal medicine pieces are considered Sacred. They have been consecrated or charged for a shamanic use and will be used for a specific purpose: healing, calling, protection, clearing, divination, etc.
The shamanic medicine pieces you receive can help you, however if you become dependent upon them your abilities are decaying, even to the point of addiction. Perhaps you have a ‘calling rattle’ which increases your focus and power. But if you feel awkward or unable to ‘call’ with out your rattle then you have become dependent.
Care of Shamanic Medicine Pieces
Often people start collecting or making various medicine pieces. I’ve seen rooms with lovely crystals, rattles, drums, staffs and wands, feathers and fans, totem statues, etc. placed as if on display around the room. Or alters pilled high with both medicine pieces and gifts ~ dust and clutter all around. Not only is this disrespectful but it causes a loss of power or charged intent of the medicine piece.
If you have an alter keep it clean and have each piece on it there for a purpose ~ not just a dust catching storage area.
Some things need to be kept covered or wrapped but there is no 100 % rule on this. I keep covered our community mother drum with a special blanket, the buffalo skull is carefully wrapped and kept on bed of fresh cedar, my medicine bundle is kept in a special place and a special medicine necklace is kept wrapped in red cloth. Some pieces ~ drums for example can be covered or not. Some of my drums hang on the wall, while my Healing drum and Personal drum are covered and kept separate from the others. These are not to be used by other people. Keeping them wrapped not only protects them, shows respect but keeps them from being improperly handled.
Pay attention as you develop relationships with your medicine pieces. Then you will instinctively know how to care for them.
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WHAT IS SHAMANISM
Definition: Shamanism is the term given by anthropologists to the most basic and universal form of religion: the ritual specialist or shaman. Many cultures have shamanistic elements, where an individual represents the connection between the mundane and spiritual world, holding the knowledge of the supernatural and sometimes natural world and performing duties of intermediating between the two. Shamanism is often associated with trances of some kind, induced by drugs or physical exertions such as exposure to great heat or cold or pain. In archaeology, shamanism is often a part of the interpretation of rock art and cave paintings. Many top anthropologists are studying and trying to learn as much as they can. Many native people around the world are doing ceremony, dream work, soul flight and other practices to re-remembering the past of the ancestors.
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IMPORTANCE OF THE SOUL
Dear friends, Some of you are close to me and many others are friends of my friends, so with love I pass this on to my brothers and sisters in Spirit
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| Love is All that is Needed |
For many reasons, lately I have been thinking about the reality and importance of the soul.
Friends and family are facing the imminent death of loved ones and are exploring their understanding of the eternal nature of the soul.
This has been an unexpected gift to me. Despite the immediacy and chaos of my daily life, I have received moments of time to focus on the essential part of our beings.
As C. S. Lewis so aptly said, "You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body." So often it is our bodies that catch our attention, with the pains of arthritis or the pleasure of mint chocolate ice cream. But those feelings are temporary and cannot compete in importance with the sensations of the soul - love, joy, courage, values, memory, identity. Paying attention to my soul is much more important than paying attention to my body.
I need this reminder. My soul isn't just an aspect of my spirituality or religious belief. Nor is it something that will only matter after my death. My soul is who I truly am, at this and every moment. This essential understanding has often been expressed by people far wiser and much more poetic than I.
Why do you hasten to remove anything which hurts your eye, while if something affects your soul you postpone the cure until next year? - Horace
When the soul is full of peace and joy, outward surroundings and circumstances are of comparatively little account. - Hannah Smith
This is my firm persuasion, that since the human soul exerts itself with so great activity, since it has such an remembrance of the best, such a concern for the future, since it is enriched with so many arts, sciences, and discoveries, it is impossible, but the being which contains all these must be immortal. - Marcus Porcius Cato
Oscar Wilde once said that "Ordinary riches can be stolen, real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you". Your souls are a blessing to our world.
Take care of yourself ~ my brothers and sisters in Spirit
Tana Rose Hamiter ~ Blue Deer Woman
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Shamanism in Today’s World
Although Shamanism in thousands of years old and has been practiced in various forms in all around the world, today many people find themselves living in an industrialized nation with only a wisp of memory of the times we lived as tribal units. Does that mean Shamanism is a dead spiritual &cultural practice? NO, for much of the world time moved on but people still live in small groups, clans or tribes.
So where does that leave us that no longer have any Tribal communities or often even any cultural connections left. Is Shamanism still needed for the people? Yes, even perhaps more so and the crazy hustle and bustle of modern life can be quite disorienting to the natural ebb and flow of our being.
When we walk the Shamanic Path we learn that everything has its own spirit and that in these challenging times of turmoil and even distrust, becoming or developing shamanic awareness can be more important and useful than ever.
How do we / you see each other, not just locally in the family, neighborhood, country but globally? Do you see each other as spiritual beings, each and every one?
We are here to learn about love and unity; sharing willingly, seeing each person as a brother or sister. This is the time of chaos and challenge and it can be confusing, even a fearful time. But it helps to know that so many are awakening to a common goal – unity and peace. Global awareness of the beauty found in such diversity is truly a gift from the Creator.
It is time that we become so much more aware of the need to leave a lighter footprint on our Earth Mother. It shows Spiritual Maturity when we can honor all and walk in gratitude for how can we help others who are lost in confusion; some refer to as the shadow self? That can also be a great teaching. Respect, Service, Unity – the three Sisters of Spirit.
It is an honor to walk the Shamanic Way as an Elder, Teacher and forever a Student.
Tana Rose Hamiter – Blue Deer Woman
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Shamanism Teaching Of Honorable Closure
This teaching was brought to me by a number of teachers both from native and non-native teachers in the U.S. as well as my travels around the world. Certainly it is not something practiced actively in our standard American culture. Yet give it some though and see how it could apply in your life; making your spiritual path and your growth stronger in integrity.
We all belong to groups of various kinds, i.e. Medicine circles, drumming groups, clans & communities, service organizations, churches, social or other kinds of groups. We have many types of teachers, mentors, healers (including doctors in white coats), friends and family. What happens when it is time to leave? Perhaps you are moving to another town or job change that affects your time availability. Other times people find another class that conflicts in time with a circle or class you’ve been attending. This is where the Medicine Teaching of “HONORABLE CLOSURE” comes into play.
When we have been a part of a group, clan or ongoing class; we have created relations with these people and with the leader of the group. To just disappear is to walk away without honor and it leads to leaving the equivalent ‘stone’ in your belly, an attachment that was not dealt with in a good way. This has a strong energy affect on you and can have one as well on the group. The honorable way to handle this is to make the time to go to the last circle/meeting you would be attending and have ‘honorable closure’.
Let people know you are moving on, or perhaps will just be gone for say 4 months while you attend some other commitment or family necessity. It gives a chance for the circle to embrace you and support you in your spirit walk and does not leave a tear in the energy of the circle. Try to let the leader know in advance as they may do something special for you on that night.
Other times we move on because we have had a falling out with the leader or no longer feel comfortable within the group. Part of our ‘Spiritual Maturation’ is to face our issues (not just duck out and hide … there goes that stone in the belly again). If it is with the leader request a private meeting and talk through what has been uncomfortable with you. Sometimes it feels like this step might take a lot of personal strength but that is what growing is all about. This way you can leave your relationship with your teacher/mentor in a ‘good way’ or as I’ve found, often these riffs where great lessons and it made our relationship stronger because I faced the challenge.
Once I had a teacher/mentor who I had worked with for many years and she often had me doing things that stretched me ,,, I mean really stretched me. Once though she gave me a task that really went against my personal values (I was what I refer to a ‘young one’ at the time). We discussed it but she was strong, very strong in her saying that this was the way to handle a very difficult situation. Finally I went and did as she taught me and wow,,,, major bad fall out! I felt awful as well as it was really against my personal values as to how to handle very difficult problems. It was hurtful to me and the person I was dealing with.
Well, I did not go back for honorable closure. I carried that rock in my belly for many years unit l I grew enough to realize that it was still there, as well as the cording that went with it. Thus I called and asked to meet with her and we had a ‘sit down’. It was then during the discussion that she said it was about time I’d learned the lesson to never go against my personal moral values. Though the discussion we eventually ended up laughing at how difficult I’d made that lesson for myself and how long I’d chosen to carry the stone in my belly. Now we are on best of relations and I truly honor her as a strong teacher and friend.
So, I suggest if you need to get ‘clean’ with a teacher/mentor, do so! It is a lesson for both of you and as we all know, lessons not faced return, return and return again until we learn from them. Then go to the group/clan if there is one and have ‘honorable closure’ there. It will leave everyone with a rich and growing experience and leave you energetically free.
Tana Rose Hamiter ~ Blue Deer Woman
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Totem Animals or if you prefer Power Animals
When a Power Animal comes to you in dreams, trances, journeys or in this world, often you will see them unexpectedly 3 times, which commonly means "Pay Attention", they are here perhaps to bring you a message or perhaps to be one of your teachers for a time. Pay attention!
What I do is first sit with it and see what I feel is the message I'm being given. I think about their life, time of activity, what they eat, are they solitory animals or live in groups, what season are they most active, preditor or pray relationships and more.
I most often then journey for more information. This information could be just for me or for someone else, even for the community. I call for it in my dreams. Only then do I turn to books or other sources to get additional information that might be helpful.
This year DRAGON FLY has come up for our comunity in a big way. I encourage you to sit with it. See if there is something for you to explore or internalize.
Tana Rose Hamiter ~ Blue Deer Woman
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Since the dawn of human time people have looked at animals as
guides, guardian spirits, and inner forces in their own lives.
Since the Druids and Scots of Britain to the Fang of West Africa;
from the Ute, Blackfoot, and Crow Indians of America to the
Samoans of the Pacific, people have sought answers to their lives
in the spirits of animals. Bluestone, Ph.D.
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Dragonfly symbolism crosses and combines with that of the butterfly and change. The dragonfly symbolizes going past self-created illusions that limit our growing and changing. Dragonflies are a symbol of the sense of self that comes with maturity.
They are fantastic flyers, darting like light, twisting, turning, changing direction, even going backwards as the need arises. They are inhabitants of two realms - starting with water, and moving to the air with maturity, but staying close to water. Some people who have the dragonfly as their totem have had emotional and passionate early years, but as they get older they achieve balance with mental clarity and control. They gain an expression of the emotional and mental together.
Dragonflies are old and adaptive insects, and are most powerful in the summer under the effects of warmth and sunlight. Their colors are a result of reflecting and refracting the power of light. As a result, they are associated with color magic, illusion in causing others only to see what you wish, and other mysticism.
They are often represented in Japanese paintings, representing new light and joy. To some Native Americans they are the souls of the dead. Faerie stories say that they used to be real dragons.
Dragonflies are reminders that we are light and can reflect the light in powerful ways if we choose to do so. "Let there be light" is the divine prompting to use the creative imagination as a force within your life. They help you to see through your illusions and allow your own light to shine in a new vision.
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What Animal Speak by Ted Andrews says about Dragonfly
Dragonflies and damselflies inhabit two realms - water and air. The significance of these should be examined. In their early life - as a nymph - they live within the water. As they mature and go through their metamorphosis, they move to the realm of air. It is not unusual to find individuals with dragonfly totems to be very emotional and passionate in the early years, but as they get older, they learn to balance it with greater mental clarity and control. Sometimes it can indicate that the emotions have gotten shut down because of emotional issues in the early life. Remember that the dragonfly and damselfly are always found around water. There must be expressions of the emotional and the mental together.
If a dragonfly has shown up in your life, you may need some fresh air in regard to something emotional. You may need to gain a new perspective or make a change. It may even indicate that you are neglecting your emotions. Are you being too rational about everything? Are you not keeping the color of emotions alive?
Dragonflies are very territorial. They will lay their eggs within their territory near the water. The egg eventually develops into the nymph stage of metamorphosis in this insect, and remains as a nymph for almost two years before transforms into an adult dragonfly or damselfly. This can reflect a number of possibilities for those with this totem. It can indicate that an approximate two-year period of change is about to reach its culmination. It may reflect that you are coming into a two-year period of transformation. It may even reflect a need to institute changes that may culminate in the colorful transformations you desire within a two-year period. Only by examining your life and activities will you begin to understand its specific role.
Just as light can bend and shift and be adapted in a variety of ways, so can the archetypal forces associated with the dragonfly. It is one of the most adaptable of insects. It is why it has been able to survive for so long. Dragonflies have two pairs of wings, but if need be, they can fly with one. Their eyes are kept clean with special combs on their legs and by washing the eyes with water drops collected in the mouth.
Their main predators are frogs and birds. Particularly the frog should be studied by those with this totem. Examining its information found in the last chapter will help you with this.
Their realm is the realm of light, and they are only out during the day as they are cold-blooded. Summer is their most powerful time, as they need the warmth and the light of the sun. For those with this totem, this will be important to consider. Spending time outside in the sun near fresh water sources will be beneficial for restoring and changing health conditions for the better for those with this totem.
Although some have color pigments in their skin, for most the colors are caused almost the same way rainbows form. Structures in their shell scatter and refract the light, making them look iridescent green and blue. As they age, they may pass through several color changes. This ability to reflect and refract light and color has caused it to be associated with many forms of magic and mysticism - including color magic, illusion (causing others only to see what you wish), and more. Dragonfly's magic is the power of light and all that has ever been associated with it.
Dragonflies and damselflies are often depicted in Japanese paintings, representing new light and joy. To some Native Americans, they represent the souls of the dead. Some stories speak of the time in which they used to be real dragons. Often we assume that dragons have to be gigantic beasts breathing fire, but the fantastic creatures of the Faerie Realm often come in many shapes and sizes. Dragonflies, because they are mythical relatives of the ancient dragons, are wonderful links to working with nature spirits. For more information on them, you may wish to refer to my earlier work Enchantment of the Faerie Realm.
The dragonfly and damselfly reflect and work with the sun and light. The light changes throughout the day. The dragonfly and damselfly undergo their own transformations. If they have shown up, look for change to occur. Are you resisting change when you shouldn't? Dragonflies remind us that we are light and can reflect the light in powerful ways if we choose to do so. "Let there be light" is the divine prompting to use the creative imagination as a force within your life. This is part of what dragonflies and damselflies teach us.
Life is never quite the way it appears, but it is always filled with light and color. Dragonfly can help you to see through your illusions and thus allow your own light to shine forth. Dragonfly brings the brightness of transformation and the wonder of colorful new vision.
What Animal Wisdom by Jessica Dawn Palmer says about Dragonfly
BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION
The European 'damoiselle' male ... is a metallic blue-black. The hind wing is ... narrow and brown. The female is slightly smaller ... and is iridescent green. The hind wings may be marginally larger than the male's... (Note: I didn't bother putting in all the measurements they have of the bodies in this book as I didn't feel it was necessary or interesting.)
An insect of the order Odona, the dragonfly is larger. Both have bulbous eyes and membranous, translucent and heavily veined wings. They are known for their ability to hover in a single spot for a long time, along with a capacity for darting flight.
HABITAT
Dragonflies and demoiselle flies live and breed near water. Therefore, they are found around ponds, pools, lakes, rivers, streams, even bayous or swamps. Access to running water is not only preferred, it is essential. Eggs are laid in the water and the entire nymphal (infant) period is spent there.
CHARACTERISTICS
The dragonfly leaves the water to enter the adult phase sometime between April and August. They reach sexual maturity after 10 days of fine weather - longer if the weather is bad or cool.
Like butterfly, frog and even toad, the dragonfly is a creature of transformation which begins its life as an aquatic animal and culminates it as a creature of land and sky.
In flight it performs a wondrous aerial display. Its wings move so fast that they are little more than a blur to the human eye, and their acceleration is phenomenal, from a standing - or in this case, hovering - stop up to 90 mph (144 kph) in a few seconds.
LEGENDS AND TRADITIONS
Dragonflies are equated with mirage or illusion. Its wings beat so rapidly that the human eye cannot perceive them. It appears to hang in space without moving, but its wings are, in fact, quite active. One minute it is there, the next it's not.
The Lakota believed that the dragonfly, butterfly, lizard, turtle and swallow all had magical powers which allowed them to evade hailstones, for the hunters observed that they never found these creatures dead or injured after a storm. The warriors transferred these powers to their robes and shields with pictures, in the conviction that this defense could be conferred to them so that arrows and bullets would pass right through the warrior, leaving him unharmed.
The ephemeral dragonfly was also associated with cobwebs and spider's webs. These too were related to protection, for webs survive mainly intact even after they have been pierced by an arrow or bullet. Both the dragonfly and cocoon were affiliated with the mystery Yumni, who was the whirlwind and had no fixed abode. Variously knownas Yumni, Yomni or Yum, this is the god (or goddess) of chance, love and games. Yumni lived in the teepee of his brother, Itokaga (Okaga), the south wind.
Whirlwind and dragonfly were the essence of illusion, to be invoked to cloud the mind of the enemy. The Cheyenne also used the dragonfly symbol of the whirlwind to impart protection to their warriors. Dragonfly was venerated because of its power to escape a blow. It was swift-flying and elusive. According to other traditions, dragonfly held powerful magic of changing forms. It could play in space and time. The metamorphosis is one of transformation and maturation, rather than that found with the shape-shifting of raven and crow.
According to Jamie Sams and David Carson in their book Medicine Cards, dragonfly was once a dragon who was challenged by coyote into turning into a dragonfly. Once dragon had achieved this shape-change, it found that it could not change back. Thus dragonfly is symbolic of the winds of change, the messages of wisdom and enlightenment, and of communication from the elemental world.
The dragonfly of Europe has had long associations with the world of faeries. The "wee ones" of Ireland used dragonflies as their steeds - birds, such as robin, being reserved for drawing their coaches. One fable suggests that dragonflies are actually faeries who, when looked at in a certain way, can be seen for what they truly are. It was said that one way to accomplish this was to rub primrose on one's eyelids. Another tradition recommends following dragonflies in order to find out where the faeries live.
Therefore, the link with magic and illusion is preserved. On a more pragmatic level, dragonfly served as an omen for fisherman (if they were chaste and prudent), for wherever it hovers, fish are plentiful.
MEDICINE AND POWER
Direction: South
Elements: Air, Whirlwind
Traits: Hovering, darting flight, color
Associations: Mystery, mirage, deception and the protection received thereby, magic and the land of faeries
The dragonfly's nearly transparent wings which catch and refract the light are sometimes likened to the rainbow, which to the Lakota mind was not necessarily a good thing. Because the rainbow usually appeared immediately before the rain stopped, it was believed the rainbow held back the rain.
The mystery of dragonfly is contained within its flight. For the dragonfly, even more than the butterfly, flits and its pattern is so elusive that as soon as the eye has rested upon it, it has bolted.
Part of dragonfly's medicine is its ability to play among the air currents and to dazzle others with light. However, its gift also carries an implicit warning; as master of illusion, those with dragonfly medicine should be warned not to fool themselves.
Dragonfly can be used to travel between dimensions. Its essence is spiritual energy. It can be invoked to aid relaxing meditation, or on the other hand to recharge psychic energy. The native peoples called upon dragonfly by depicting it, or other symbols equated with it, upon their robes and clothing.
Dragonfly facilitates letting go of the past, which is always the first step in spiritual expansion. It can also be called upon to help someone to pierce the veil of deception or delusion. If dragonfly has suddenly appeared one's life, then look around. Something remains hidden from view, and dragonfly's arrival admonishes caution.
Dragonfly medicine helps during a transition, or it may fortell a time of change. If uncomfortable with innovation, seek assistance from dragonfly, for such things are within its domain.
In the past, dragonfly was called upon to cast love spells, as a representative of chance and games, it is the sign of the gambler - but like Lady Luck, dragonfly tends to be fickle.
People with dragonfly medicines are dreamers. They can be perplexing and annoying to others. The dragonfly person may appear almost schizophrenic as he or she rests (or hovers), absorbing light and energy for a time, and then flits off to a new project. As individuals, dragonflies have lots of nervous energy. Intermittently it is good for them to land and get grounded for awhile.
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WHAT IS SHAMANISM
Definition: Shamanism is the term given by anthropologists to the most basic and universal form of religion: the ritual specialist or shaman. Many cultures have shamanistic elements, where an individual represents the connection between the mundane and spiritual world, holding the knowledge of the supernatural and sometimes natural world and performing duties of intermediating between the two. Shamanism is often associated with trances of some kind, induced by drugs or physical exertions such as exposure to great heat or cold or pain. In archaeology, shamanism is often a part of the interpretation of rock art and cave paintings. Many top anthropologists are studying and trying to learn as much as they can. Many native people around the world are doing ceremony, dream work, soul flight and other practices to re-remembering the past of the ancestors.
