Calling Sacred Space

Monday, February 4th, 2013

In shamanism, ceremony refers to the practice of entering the spirit realm of non-ordinary reality and asking the spirits to respond.  Calling sacred space is the way we ask the spirits for their attendance, guidance, and support – always with intention for the highest good.  Entering into sacred space enables us to facilitate the perceptual shift into experiencing non-ordinary reality.  This is especially important when working in groups.

Some shamans call sacred space from each of the four directions – north, east, south, and west. The Q’ero shamans call sacred space by following the movement of the sun, which is the method I use and am most familiar with. When calling sacred space, it is helpful to have a rattle or drum to create a rhythmic sound that will help you to shift into a meditative state.  The Q’ero shamans usually work with rattles.  Although using either a rattle or a drum is fine, my personal preference is to use a rattle. I have found listening to a drumbeat extremely helpful in facilitating journeying into the other world, but I have discovered that using a rattle is less cumbersome to manipulate during a ceremony. I have grown accustomed to working with the rattle, and now associate the sound of the rattle with sacred ceremony and connecting with the spirit world.

In the Amazon jungle during ceremony, ayahausceros, the shamans who work with the plant medicine of ayahuasca, weave the threads of their song into the experience as a way of guiding various stages of the journey into and out of the spirit world.  Hearing a melody we recognize often elicits an emotional reaction in us and may remind us of the feeling of coming home. Facilitating these kinds of emotional response may help us to open and connect through our Heart centers.

Michael Harner, the well-known anthropologist and shamanic practitioner, also uses songs, as well as a drum to help to facilitate the deeper states of receptivity necessary in journeying to the other world. You should use whatever works best for you.

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