The Daily Practice of Shamanism

Monday, May 13th, 2013

Recently,  a few people who have experienced a direct connection with a numinour experience themselves have said that they believe in the principles of shamanism but have wondered about how to incorporate shamanism into daily living. They “get the big picture” but are not sure how to have an “active” relationship with the spirit world in day to day reality. In my mind there are two key elements that are essential to the practice of shmanism. These are:

1) Using right intention in serving the connection with shamanic experience

2) Engaging in daily practice or ritual that serves serve the connection

Intention is the fuel that creates the sense of agency,  and the ritual is the structure that holds the energetic fuel. From a Jungian perspective, intention is the force of the expression of the masculine principle, while ritual establishes an energetic relationship through daily practice, in the feminine dynamic. For things to come together and become integrated both the masculine and feminine principles must be present (I want the be clear that this is a principle and not a gender issue!). Focused intent provides the momentum that is manifested through practice. In alchemy, the feminine vessel contains the material to be worked with and transformed. In shamanism, the ritual is the expression and container that holds the life force.

Being able to “grow corn” with the experience, – which refers to the practical application of shamanism, occurs through a process of integration, through being able to “make it your own.” In our modern world talking to plants and mountains, and  connecting with the spirits of the earth, water, and the wind may seem strange at first. One might wonder if this is imagination and whether elemental spirits, Pachamama, and the Apus actually exist. A friend of mine gave me some good advice many years ago when I first began to engage with the spirit world. He told me to “take what feels right and put what you don’t understand on the shelf” until you are ready.

Most of us find our own unique way of knowing what is true for us. In my case, because I have an active mind that goes many places, I know if something is true by feeling it in my body. Other people may need to see or hear something to know that it exists. I believe that we each find our own truth, with the help of our guides and allies, and that it is important for us not to rely or depend on the opinions or visions of other people. If our intention is to connect, we need to learn to develop our own direct relationship with the shamanic world. We each form our own perception of reality as we are walk further on our own individual shamanic path.

 

 

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