Shosha
June 30th, 2008, 12:32 PM
For those who didn’t read the thread: "Roll Call" in Shamanism here’s what started this thread:
Simply Puzzled: "I would love it if you started a thread explaining better your experiences in Celtic Shamanism and how you interpret it."
This is how I got started in Shamanism….
"I was Trained by a lineaged Shaman in traditional context... I'd like to be a little more specific:
I began my studies with a Native American Shaman 1983 (I was 17) however, my lessons did not last more than a year as my teacher passed away and this successor didn't feel that I was native American enough (his words) to continue on that path. (My father's grandmother was Seminole)
He did suggest, however, that I seek out a pathway relevant to my heritage. Since I have more Irish blood than any other, I chose to look into paths that were based in Irish and Celtic.
Wicca was one of my first. My sister, who moved to Texas before all this, had discovered Wicca and talked to me about it. She'd mentioned the flexibility of Wicca as she knew of Celtic Wicca, Fairy Wicca and many others.
After giving it the "year and a day" recommended I realized that I was not Wiccan. Nothing wrong with it... but I just didn't fit that path.
I also dabbled in Druidry, hedge and green witchcrafts, and was then (about 10 years ago) introduced to Celtic Shamanism by a friend who gave me a copy of the book "By Oak, Ash, and Thorn: Modern Celtic Shamanism" by DJ Conway. I also own Conway's book Advanced Celtic Shamanism. "
My religion in intermingled with the Shamanism. But who’s religion never touches other areas of their lives?
This is also my third life as a shaman. Not that that makes it any easier exactly… but in a way it helps because I can access bits of them to help me in this one.
I host a group at my home called Circle of the MoonHill. That’s the religious aspect. It’s actually rather eclectic… diverse if you rather. I believe rituals are important, but only if they really work for their purpose.
I have the idea that my Grandfather taught me a lot of the stuff I know/do…
He was from Ballycotton Co. Cork and came here in 1917 at the age of 17 with his grandmother (rumored to be an Elvish woman), his mother, and sister.
This was who taught me how to understand what animals were saying to me… he showed by how to talk to trees and rocks and critters… and understand what they say back.
How to see things that most people won’t see… What to do when a soul needs help to cross over…and how to find shards and return them and "paste ‘em back tagether, so"
Taught me how to talk the fish in to biting, how to thank a food animal for giving their life that my family can eat, how to sooth bee stings with chewing tobacco and to drink strong yarrow tea before going into the otherworlds.
So now you can see, kind of where the whole Celtic/Irish thing came from.
I’m not sure if I’ve covered what Simply Puzzled asked… but if not please, ask me stuff.
Specific questions help me give better answers.
Simply Puzzled: "I would love it if you started a thread explaining better your experiences in Celtic Shamanism and how you interpret it."
This is how I got started in Shamanism….
"I was Trained by a lineaged Shaman in traditional context... I'd like to be a little more specific:
I began my studies with a Native American Shaman 1983 (I was 17) however, my lessons did not last more than a year as my teacher passed away and this successor didn't feel that I was native American enough (his words) to continue on that path. (My father's grandmother was Seminole)
He did suggest, however, that I seek out a pathway relevant to my heritage. Since I have more Irish blood than any other, I chose to look into paths that were based in Irish and Celtic.
Wicca was one of my first. My sister, who moved to Texas before all this, had discovered Wicca and talked to me about it. She'd mentioned the flexibility of Wicca as she knew of Celtic Wicca, Fairy Wicca and many others.
After giving it the "year and a day" recommended I realized that I was not Wiccan. Nothing wrong with it... but I just didn't fit that path.
I also dabbled in Druidry, hedge and green witchcrafts, and was then (about 10 years ago) introduced to Celtic Shamanism by a friend who gave me a copy of the book "By Oak, Ash, and Thorn: Modern Celtic Shamanism" by DJ Conway. I also own Conway's book Advanced Celtic Shamanism. "
My religion in intermingled with the Shamanism. But who’s religion never touches other areas of their lives?
This is also my third life as a shaman. Not that that makes it any easier exactly… but in a way it helps because I can access bits of them to help me in this one.
I host a group at my home called Circle of the MoonHill. That’s the religious aspect. It’s actually rather eclectic… diverse if you rather. I believe rituals are important, but only if they really work for their purpose.
I have the idea that my Grandfather taught me a lot of the stuff I know/do…
He was from Ballycotton Co. Cork and came here in 1917 at the age of 17 with his grandmother (rumored to be an Elvish woman), his mother, and sister.
This was who taught me how to understand what animals were saying to me… he showed by how to talk to trees and rocks and critters… and understand what they say back.
How to see things that most people won’t see… What to do when a soul needs help to cross over…and how to find shards and return them and "paste ‘em back tagether, so"
Taught me how to talk the fish in to biting, how to thank a food animal for giving their life that my family can eat, how to sooth bee stings with chewing tobacco and to drink strong yarrow tea before going into the otherworlds.
So now you can see, kind of where the whole Celtic/Irish thing came from.
I’m not sure if I’ve covered what Simply Puzzled asked… but if not please, ask me stuff.
Specific questions help me give better answers.