Anyone into Shamanism?

[pathfinder]

I have been very much into paganism for a few years now, and have found my path to lie in the way of the Shaman. I do not know anyone at all who is a Pagan, let alone anyone who is into Shamanism and the beliefs that go along with it. It would be great to meet someone, anyone, who walks along this path. I am into Celtic AND Native American styles, cultures, methods, as well as setting up my own. You would be surprised how very similar the practices and beliefs of the various Shamanistic cultures were and are, even those worlds apart. I believe there are those who are born knowing how to use the shamanic gift, that at a certain stage the soul is marked for it. I think that is what has happened to me, because all my life I have done and believed things I have only just discovered were to be soley Shamanistic, despite, or maybe due to, a very harsh,lonley and confusing childhood, and being raised as a Christian (which I never could bring myself to believe in). However, I make no claims to be a Shaman. I must walk this path a long time, and master many things, before I dare make that bold claim. It just gets a little bit lonely on this path, with my only companions in the otherworld, though they are fine indeed. Seems like this is not a very common path to follow, maybe due to the difficulty of it, I don't know. Anyhow. Thanks!!!

[Wolfscout1]

hello pathfinder .

I walk a shamanic path. I also do not belive anyone calls himself a shaman but rather it's a way of life and style of helping others in many forms.
I've been doing this for 13 years. only now broadening my path to include some wiccan influence because of my many friends. smile

I do base my path on NAI while not connected with them in any way.
Eclectic shamanism. I'm also associated with FSS (http://www.shamanism.org/) ( Foundation for Shamanic Studies) . This is a good place to add to what you already have learned and to broaden your path.

Wish you luck on your journey. If you have a question I will try my best to answer.

[Storm]

I am on a more shamanic path. However I am definetly a beginner. I meditate and do trancework. I have tried journeying but haven't been successful. I have a strong conection to the animal world. I have a guide who told me that I don't have one or two animal totems but they are all a part of me. I am a very balanced person, elementally speaking, astrologically speaking, magickally speaking. I don't know what that means for me yet but I have learned that I get better success getting answers from guides when I am not sitting and trying to meditate. I get them while walking or driving or cleaning. Once I was on my porch, when I was just learning the concept of everything being connected, it was warm and sunny, and I was thinking how I hadn't seen the hawk that took up residence in our neighborhood in awhile. I thought if this was true I would see my hawk friend and how that would be comforting knowing in some way I am always connected to my love, who lives four houses down. At that moment the hawk flew past me and landed in my loves front yard evergreen. It is hard though to learn without a teacher and only books to guide. But I try to find my way everyday.

Just a note, that is not all I know of shamanism. Just sharing a memorable experience.

[pathfinder]

I have been reading a book by one of the founders of FSS, Kenneth Meadows, and am interested in this foundation and what it does and teaches. How does one connect with them? I have Native blood in me, my great great grandfather was chief of one of the many ojibway tribes, his wife was medice woman. However, that is all my family will tell me. They always fear for their souls and eternal damnation.
Storm, that is very interesting to me, your remembrance. Hawk is a very special friend to me, I have always been drawn to him. I had a similar thing happen, in a way. I was sitting smoking on my front porch and saw a squirll scampering about across the street. I said to my husband, "wouldn't it be somthing to see that hawk (we have one that lives very near) came and got that squirll?" LOL. I do not delight in the destruction of living creatures, rather I delight in seeing all aspects of nature at work, so don't get me wrong here. Anyhow, not even two minutes later, as the squirll settled in a tree branch to nibble on a nut, I'll be danged if the Hawk didn't swoop down and grasp that squirll!! He turned and bit the hawk, and somehow got away. Man, that was an awsome sight. Seems to me that Hawk alwyas appears in my darkest hour, and always he reminds me to circle like him, and look down on my life. From his vantage point, things look pretty calm and in order, and things generally make more sense. Anyhow, that is one of my hawk stories.

[Pilot]

I have many books on shamanism - But I don't really have a chosen path, per say.

I have quite a few friends and a couple of family members who follow a celtic path, which would more so be likely for myself to end up following, although I do also enjoy the Native American stuff.

Well, truly I need to gather more info on the subjects and matters and what not. Any recomendations?!

[Storm]

You know I have one grandmother who goes to church, and a cousin who is born again christian. Other than that no one in my family is much concerned with their souls at all. On a personal note,through shamanism, I have learned ways of dealing with depression and reasons why I am depressed(I almost died in childbirth, and I suffered horribly with post partum depression) I now believe I lost a part of my soul then. However I have made peace with the loss as I believe my son has it, it is not stuck in the hospital, I can live with that.)
I may have Native blood in me however the one who gave it was not a good man and grandmother wont speak of him. I am not comfortable studing Native American tradition, out of respect, as I feel I have no claim on it, so until I meet a NA teacher who grants me such Knowledge I stick to core shamanism and Northern Germanic traditions as I do have a blood claim to that. There are a lot of similarities as you have said anyway. I do practice Yoga(although I am not Eastern Indian, go figure)I wish I knew how to find a teacher other than flying to California. Not a possibility anytime soon.

[stephy-sama]

I'm part Native American and we suspect that in our family through my Grandmother's side there were Shaman's at some point and time. Every since I was a kid my mother has taught me how to listen to nature and use it to my advantage. My grandmother also had this thing she called her "little wheel", which she described as a way to fortell events (usually in dreams.. she couldn't control it, but it came to her whenever she needed it I guess). I only regret that she died when I was 10 before I began to understand what it was she was talking about. However for quite a few years after that I was watched over by a Blue Jay that I think was sent by her to guide me. Thanks to that bird and all of the signs (and kindness.. it was so tame for a wild animal) I was really open to nature and began to listen to it. Only now am I actually exploring this path.

I also find it interesting that you bring up the Celtic path. I LOVE celtic stuff, but I hardly have any of it in my lineage. Like, I have a little Scottish and Irish, but not much. Most of my family came from either a different part of Europe or here, America, before European colonization. However I have this HUGE scottish flag on my wall and I wear the celtic knot as earrings and necklaces. I have this deep connection to celtic symbols and culture and I really don't know why! I'm thinking maybe a past life or something could possibly be the route, because nothing has really happened to me to lead me in that direction. All I know is I love all things celtic. I don't get it...

Goodness, I feel like maybe I should have started my own thread.. lol!

[Shanti]

One thing, blood doesnt matter. Many tribes all over the globe have had a shaman in their clans. NA have medine men and elders. The word shaman is from siberia, not NA.
Even many African and Siberian eskimo tribes practised shamnaism. It litterally spans the globe, all continents.
I call myself shaman because I have the capabilty to shift my consciousness and enter other worlds. I also use my gift to help people when they come and ask. I worked with a NA medicine man. Their isnt much differance from culture to culture. All shaman shift to enter other world. They just have differant ways of getting there! :)

[Storm]

Yeah I read that about the word shaman. Anyway. i read something about a Native American shaman who said "white man need to know who they are first before lifting our culture. When they know who they are they can ask." Something to that effect. so it is the cultural aspect I am careful with. I might purchase a rattle at the NA shop in my area but only because the rattle is universal. However there IS an awful lot of NA books out there for the taking. I always loved NA stuff, stories, artifacts. I had a NA tarot deck that didn't seem to want me. Leave it alone was the feeling I got. So I guess until I feel it is okay, I let it go.

[pathfinder]

I agree that blood is not an issue when speaking of these things. I just meant that I have always known of these people, and that is what has intrigued me and drawn me to NA artifacts. The core belief system and ways are definetly universal, when I speak of being into NA and Celtic, I mainly mean the artifacts, their way of life, their symbols and mythology.
I too have issues with depression. I almost died a couple of times when a young child, the first time I was 6 months old and had Rotovirus and that about cashed me out. The second time was when I was 7 years old and my appendix were leaking infection all over inside and they burst as the drs got to it, and I was on the verge for a few days there, too, my body full of infection. Another time was self-inflicted when I was 14 and took 16 Valum. (had a nervous breakdown due to bad things). To be quite honest, I deal with it ok, but am in need of a few more ways. Anything you can suggest?

[Fane Ayuma]

I have been very much into paganism for a few years now, and have found my path to lie in the way of the Shaman. I do not know anyone at all who is a Pagan, let alone anyone who is into Shamanism and the beliefs that go along with it. It would be great to meet someone, anyone, who walks along this path. I am into Celtic AND Native American styles, cultures, methods, as well as setting up my own. You would be surprised how very similar the practices and beliefs of the various Shamanistic cultures were and are, even those worlds apart. I believe there are those who are born knowing how to use the shamanic gift, that at a certain stage the soul is marked for it. I think that is what has happened to me, because all my life I have done and believed things I have only just discovered were to be soley Shamanistic, despite, or maybe due to, a very harsh,lonley and confusing childhood, and being raised as a Christian (which I never could bring myself to believe in). However, I make no claims to be a Shaman. I must walk this path a long time, and master many things, before I dare make that bold claim. It just gets a little bit lonely on this path, with my only companions in the otherworld, though they are fine indeed. Seems like this is not a very common path to follow, maybe due to the difficulty of it, I don't know. Anyhow. Thanks!!!

Your preaching to the choir buddy.if i wrote that paragraph myself, it would still be everybit as true.and every point would be as valid.

Your right about the simularities, after a while you realise them, and youll realise even more as you progress, until finally you'll see that the fundamentals of shamanism are present in cultures outside of shamanism, just not in an obvious form.Thats why i was, drawn to it, it just makes so much sense to me.Anyway, looking forward to reading your posts,

Fane.

P.S.Have you found your spirit guide/power animal??

[Storm]

Your preaching to the choir buddy. That doesn't sound right. I don't think that's the right phrasology. But I digress.

P.S.Have you found your spirit guide/power animal??
What would YOU make of being told by spirit guides that I have no particular power animal, that they are all my power animals. What does that mean, I ask. Is this true of everyone? No most have one or two and sometime very many. What does this mean for me? You'll find your way.

Hmf. That's all I get. I still feel very new and untalented in such things.

[oakowl]

It is interesting you mention the similarities between celtic and I might add nordic traditions and Native american ones. I have from a youngster felt a great closeness to nature and it's spiritual side. My wife is cherokee and each summer we go to powwows nearby. At certain times everyone regardless of who you are, are invited to dance in the sacred circle, I have had some profound spiritual feelings unleash there and I tell my wife it is the celtic nordic in me busting loose with the aid of her native american spiritual tradition. Go on line and look up powwows in your area for this summer. You will be welcomed there trust me. Bright Blessings!

[pathfinder]

I have found some of my spirit guides, or rather, they found me, as well as certain power animals. I think that every animal is a power animal, they all have different aspects of every possible habit and personality possible, all are manifestations of different levels of the Divine, of the Great Spirit. I think that a power animal is an animal whose power comes to you in your time of need. If you have great need of great power, then they will be around you all the time, in greater quanity. I also see spirit guides as very different then a power animal. I was told by a Navaho medicine man that my main totem, my lifelong protector and companion is the Thunderbird. Now that is a mythylogical creature. Yet it's various traits are symbolized and recognized in birds of prey, mainly in Hawk. Deer is another very close and strong pressence. Cats, too, in all forms.
One day I was sitting in a receptive state of meditation, don't know if that is actual term, but anyhow. I suddenly was swept away and on a high mesa, like a platue (forgive spelling pleze lol) and there was an old NA man bent over a small fire. As I watched him, he came over to me and started to chant in a high voice, rising his arms, and then proceeded to smuge me. When he was done, I turned to face the rising sun, and there in front of me was Hawk. As I looked into his eyes, suddenly I was inside him, feeling his emotions and thoughts, and yet still myself. I saw the ground beneath me, and for the first time in my life was not afraid of heights, on the contrary, I felt at home. I soared for what seemed an hour, but what was really probably seconds of our time, and then as we flew over the grassy plain, I dropped down, and was suddenly standing among a large gathering of peoples dressed in ceremonial clothing, and I started to dance the dance of the Hawk, a dance of healing and power. Visions? A past life? Simply a message? I cannot figure it out, and yet I know it is only mine to figure out ultimatly. Has anyone had any of these occurances, visions and deep connection??

[omar]

Yes! I have had a similer trip. I have three human spirit helpers,an Indian woman from India,an WW2 Army chaplin & an old Peqoet American Indian. Six power animals but the Owl & Wolf are my main animal helpers. Most Native Americans consider the Blue Jay "bad medicine". I have over a dozen books on shamanism from around the world.

[shalmazar_v]

Two Shamanism threads? I was reading the other one, but it was too long, so I took a break, and found this one. Concerning "power animals", I do not think limiting yourself to one is the way to go. I have four that am quite fond of. Bear, Eagle, Deer,and Rabbit. These are the ones that reveal themselves most to me, but there are many more that are present. I cannot say I am a Shaman, nor am I a learning Shaman, but this is about as close as I can get in explaining what I do. I am who I am, and who I am is a matter in which only I can truely understand. I don't mean to be vague, but that is the only way to really explain it, other than writing a 1000 page biography. I agree that you don't need to be of any certain decent, blood does not matter, your identity lies in your soul/spirit. I also believe in the spirit of the Earth, the trees, the wind, the water, even rocks. They all speak to me, and I feel their energies. But I believe anyone can do these things, as long as you listen. Bye for now.

[stephy-sama]

My power animal changes as my life goes on. When I was young it was a Turkey Vulture. When my grandmother died it became a Blue Jay for several years. Now it's shifting back to Turkey Vulture and Deer as well. I cannot remember what they all mean because it's been forever since I've looked them up...