Shamanic Trances

[David19]

I'm not sure if this is the right thread but i was wondering if anyone knew how to enter a trance, i've heard through music or drugs but if you listen to music, how do you do it?

I also found this site http://www.thecrookedheath.com/trancenf.htm and it says you can only see the Other world through the Fetch, what is the fetch?
Hope someone can help.

Thanks

[Kendrah]

The site owner is mixing up his terms (the site is a big bit of a laugh.) I believe he means to create a deamon of some sort and use it to look through it's eyes at the underworld. A bit pointless, but doable if you really wish.

As for music and/or drugs, I've never used either to trance so I don't know.

[Paracelsus]

I concur absolutely with Kendra about the value of that particular site.
I know that the use of entheogenic substances is important to many shamanic traditions, but I certainly wouldn't advise that your initial experiences with trance are framed in this manner - plant helpers are usually understood by Shamans as exactly that - helpers, consciousnesses with which you communicate, not stuff that you "use". Of course, like all drug experiences, the concept of set and setting is important too - necking some shrooms at a rave is not an appropriate way to use the power of those allies - picking and using them in an appropriate ritual setting in nature will be more powerful.
As to music, dance, and especially drumming - these are powerful promoters of trance experience, and a good intro point.
If you can get hold of any books by Gordon the Toad (published by Capall Bann) - you will find these to be exceptionally good introductions to the shamanic path, for the interested and enthusiastic practitioner.
Just remember though, that a Shaman is a patterner, who establishes relationships with the spiritual elements of the surrounding world - just like the relationships that you have in life, some will take a long time to develop (and you may spend most of your career trying to shake off the dodgy friends that you made early on!).

[Shanti]

I understand what the site is saying but explaining it is another story.
Trancing to connect to other worlds isnt just a mind thing. Its not just an awareness.
Its actually going there and experiencing it as it truly is.
The part of you that is not your body or brain, the part of you that is in the other worlds while also connected to the present you..thats your fetch. I think spirit would by a synonym, depending on your perspective of the word spirit. Heck the meaning of shaman is variable according to perspective.

I dont think the site is crap..actually very wise but difficult perhaps to explain.


And no tools are truly needed to go to the other worlds.

Best bet..research, follow your instincts, your heart, your gut...figure it out for yourself as opinions will vary!

Just my opinion. :)

[mtpathy]

there are many techniques to trance,and yes alot of them have to do
with using hallucinogense(sp?),although many techniques have to do
with drug usage i would personally say that doing it that way is considered
a "false trance".
imo the rule of thumb is if your using any type of crutch to lean on to achieve
the experience ie:drugs,then its not a true experience.
some of the sober methods to achieving trance would be..
deep meditation
using a drum
through pain
self deprevation "taking away of the senses/self deprevation tanks".

[semi]

It's always been kind of easy for me. The first time I remember doing it, I was 3 years old and watching snowflakes fall through the glow of a streetlight at night. Something about doing that shifted my awareness and I went into trance and saw things. The most recent time was a couple months ago when I was sitting in a chair outside and looking at the sun through closed eyes. Awareness shifted, blah blah blah.

But there are many ways to induce trance. Drum, dance, or any repetitive activity. I did it once by just walking a certain way. Still and silent meditation works for many people, but I have trouble sitting still and being quiet. A method one of my Shao Lin instructors told me to do was to sit in a dark room and stare at a candle while crumpling up a piece of paper with one hand, then uncrumple it with both hands, then crumple it again with the other hand, over and over, never taking your eyes off the candle flame. It didn't work for me because of the stillness and quiet. But my favorite method is to drum and sometimes chant while I do it. You can also have someone drum for you, if they know what they're doing, to help you go into trance.

Using a drug ritualistically to achieve trance is no more a crutch than using any other physical object. Is it a crutch to use a candle? No, it's just a tool. Same thing with drugs. But when certain Native people use these drugs, it's very ritualistic and not at all recreational. The growth of the plant, the harvesting of the plant and the preparation of the drug, the entire process is sacred. Unless you have been welcomed into a Native group who does this, I don't think it should be done. And I think the use of other drugs would only create detriments to trancing. They might make you feel like you're trancing, but it's just the drug, not a trance.

I say experiment. People have posted good ideas here. Try different methods and see what works best for you.

[Kendrah]

Trancing to connect to other worlds isnt just a mind thing. Its not just an awareness.
Its actually going there and experiencing it as it truly is.

"As it truly is" is variable to the awareness of each individual traveler. The way I will see the underworld will be vastly different from yours. It's filtered through our brains (memories, experiences, individual quirks and all that) so it can be thought of as a "mind thing". Not just a mind thing, but I haven't heard anyone argue that it is just a mind thing. Trancing isn't all of one thing. It's one of those fuuuun betwix things.


The part of you that is not your body or brain, the part of you that is in the other worlds while also connected to the present you..thats your fetch. I think spirit would by a synonym, depending on your perspective of the word spirit. Heck the meaning of shaman is variable according to perspective.

In my tradition, a fetch is a spirit/ person/ whatever who is there to help you find things, thus the term "fetch". I haven't heard the term in that context. Do you have any linkages so I might go study up on it?


I dont think the site is crap..actually very wise but difficult perhaps to explain.

There is some good things on the site, but it's hard to pick through all the anger and the muck that the gentleman has put up along with the rest of it. I think there are more mature ways of presenting information one that is so harsh and strong. I hope that makes sense. I'm a bit tired today. :)


Just my opinion. :)

Mine too. :)

[Faelon_Moon_Hawk]

I'm not sure if this is the right thread but i was wondering if anyone knew how to enter a trance, i've heard through music or drugs but if you listen to music, how do you do it?

I also found this site http://www.thecrookedheath.com/trancenf.htm and it says you can only see the Other world through the Fetch, what is the fetch?
Hope someone can help.

Thanks
There are two meanings as to what a fetch is. In european folk lore a fetch was a spirit that fortold a person's death. before that person died their fetch, their spirit - which looked exactly like them would apprear. It was said that if a person met their fetch then they would die.

In traditional witchcraft, which this site is talking about, a fetch is like an astral familiar or spirit animal, as explained here (http://www.hedgewytchery.com/fetch_light.html). They are not needed to see the other world, but they can be aides to the witch, and generally make things easier.

[edit] various balms, salves and other concoctions to help achieve trance are used in certain practices. Hedge witches - those familiar w/ wortcunning, and who often go beyond the Veil to the other world and do much spirit work have traditionally used it in their practices.

[Teresa]

You can also fast as opposed to using drugs to enter the trance state. I do not use drugs, I prefer to fast or use meditation.

[Jolantru]

I prefer drumming when it comes to entering shamanic trances. So, you might want to try drumming (using an actual drum or any flat surfaced object). This works for me: I drum listening to my heart and sometimes, I vary the beat when inspiration calls for it. Or you might want to get drumming CDs.

Likewise, I find it conducive to enter shamanic trances when it is quiet. Again, this works for me. It might not for you.

Cheers,
Jolantru

[Paracelsus]

An apology - I had dissed the Crooked Heath based upon visiting it quite a long time ago, an dunhappy memories of long arguments with someone there on another bulletin board. I revisisted it yesterday, and while I still think that the central concept of "Traditional Witchcraft" is historically dubious, I was impressed by the quality of the site, it is both scholastic and committed - while I might not personally share all its views, I would apologise for the point of view expressed above, it was most impressive.

[Teresa]

Bump!