Journey 142 - Dark Force Revisited

12/30/04: I decided to take on the Dark Force once more, as it was having an effect on my Life even now, even though I’m immune to its designs on my own Spirit Being. After the normal preps, I found myself standing across from a dense Forest. It was totally black beyond the front Trees, as if the Dark Force itself was lurking within the Forest like a low-hanging mist. My Upper World Guide Owl arrived, resplendent and bright with color. He took me in his Talons and up we went through a red, flesh-like Tunnel. A Team of my Helpers appeared by my side as I went up. Suddenly, my body underwent a major assault. I was burned to a crisp by a raging Fire, then hit with a huge force of Water meant to be destructive versus soothing, and then finally hit with huge wooden beams. I landed on a grassy surface. Although I was blind and barely able to move, I could still sense my surroundings Spiritually. A nearby Stone Person invited me to merge with it, so I left my body and went into the Stone. This Stone Person gently told me to use a combination of my two Power Stones, the Azurite and the Agate, placed together, kept nearby at night (underneath the mattress is ideal, and so they are there) for one month. Then, the Stones should spend one night outside under the next Full Moon for gentles cleansing. I was then told to call a new Spirit every morning to come and offer protection to my wife. The Spirit’s name is Jenalda Obwahn. I then saw a man walking by a wall from right to left, and he turned to me and told me to give my wife love and prayer, over and over. He also told me that Shamans cannot force someone to use Arshaan (Mongolian Shaman Water) against their will..they must agree to it, so I am not to anoint anyone without their prior knowledge. I was then told to blow my Shamanic Power Breath into the Dark Mist Forest 4 times every day (I drew a picture of this Forest to serve as a physical stand in right after the Journey). I then was sent back down through the Flesh Tunnel and my body was restored to its normal condition. I then moved over to a flowery field that I had visited before in a prior Journey. Owl then left me, turning into a White Spirit Body as he left. My Guardians Two Feathers and Gray Wolf remained with me. Here the Journey ended. I am proceeding as instructed, and will publish any follow-on info..

Journey 141 - Dear Friend's House Redo

12/29/04: I took an extended Journey this afternoon to investigate the Spiritual conditions at my dear friend and co-worker’s deceased Mom’s house. My friend had told me a day or two ago that her Cousin had been painting in her Mom’s old bedroom and smelled her mom’s perfume for a few seconds. We both wondered if that had been an actual visit by her Mom, and if it was some sort of message or warning. I agreed to go back to the house via journey and check it out. I prepared as always, and off I went. This was a Middle World Journey, and Owl went with me as protection and Guide, but there were of course no Tunnels to go through. When I arrived at the house, I was not prepared for what I found. Recall in my last visit I had seen ancestral Spirits returning to the house, with Hawk visiting above. All seemed quite positive and indicative of improvement. When I got there this time, however, I found many black “snowflakes” falling around, on and through the house. When these flakes landed, they immediately crystallized into a shiny, hard blotch, and as I tried to remove one, I found it was very stubborn and resilient. It was as if it had melded with the surface. Not all flakes were sticking..some were being absorbed by Mother Earth, as she tried in vain to counteract this attack. I asked Eagle Claw what these flakes were. He told me they were the negative emotions filling the lives of the people associated with the house: anger, distrust, revenge, jealousy, doubt, fear, “woundedness”.. I saw in the future that the entire area would be totally encased in this black crust, with the stuff hanging down from the eaves like icicles. I then asked what I or anyone could do to stop this attack. Eagle Claw showed me that I should invoke a new technique, learned from the Mongolian Shamans: build a small “oboo” of a branch, with black and red ribbons attacked at the top. Also, begin piling Stone People around the base of the branch, to build a small mountain around it. The purpose of this oboo is to attract and house a Shaman or Nature Spirit who is willing to take on this Dark Energy and neutralize it. I asked Eagle Claw how we would know when this Spirit had taken up residence. I then saw myself taking a set of four red flowers up some wooden steps. These flowers had just been dipped in something, but I don’t recall what. They looked like Tulips made of Rose petals. I sensed that I would dream this event when the Spirit had arrived. I then moved around to the front of the house, and a short distance away saw two Dark Beings seemingly approaching, but they were moving so slowly they may have been standing still. I then asked about the perfume in the room. I was told that my friend’s mother's Spirit had indeed visited the cousin and tried to warn her of the accumulating negativity on her person. I then was taken to the rooftop, and looked down the chimney. I saw blue Sparks popping out of the inner liner from top to bottom. When I went back down to the ground, I could see the Sparks jumping out of the chimney top. In the remaining time, I tried to get a further fix on the meaning of the Flowers, but was not given any more. This was essentially the end of the Journey. A rare one, with no obvious fix..but some things must take their natural path..

I have told my friend since that when they place the Stones around the branch, they should circle it three times clockwise each time. I also told her I will make up a special Shaman’s anointing fluid for her cousin to use.

Journeys 139/140 - Two for Wife's Cousin's Wife

12/28/04: This Journey was for the wife of my wife’s cousin, who is suffering substantial chronic pain due to a botched abdominal surgery a few years ago. Basically, every time she eats, the movement of the intestines causes pain. I asked her if she wanted me to investigate what Help there might be from the Spirit World, and she said she would take whatever help she could get. The Drum CD failed, so I decided to take this Journey without drumming at all. As I headed out into the Spirit World, I found a small, 10-foot high tornado made of dead leaves swirling in front of me. I stepped into the tornado, and was in an orange ball of Spirit Energy. Soon, before me, Owl, Snake and Eagle appeared, and we all merged into one powerful Spirit Being. We then sank quickly down through the Orange light and landed in a rain forest environment. Taking Snake form, we slithered up a nearby Tree and went out onto a branch. At this point, we shape-shifted again into a Bird. In the distance, a Thunderbeing (thunder storm) was rumbling. We watched the forest floor and saw a Monkey and an Aardvark go by. We also saw a Tiger. None of these Animals stayed though, and showed little interest at all in us. Then, a white Butterfly with black and gold-yellow edged wings landed on the branch to our right, and immediately turned into a little ball of Spirit Energy. This happened two more times, for a total of three. Each time, the Spirit Energy ball grew a bit larger. Just then, coming in from behind and to our right, an immense black Bird came soaring in. This Winged One was reminiscent of the Bird that flew over me when my Shamanic Dream began several years ago. This Bird landed in front of us and was angry, for apparently we were interfering with whatever effect he was trying to have on the woman. The Shaman Spirit in the Tree, which appeared to us suddenly, handed us a power wand. I used this Wand to direct Spirit Energy at the Bird, which kept shrinking until it had melted into the Ground. Then, the fourth Butterfly arrived. I knew this was the Power Animal for the cousin's wife. I coaxed it into my Eagle Mirror Charm, and up we all went into the Tunnel of Leaves. I then flew to her home town to blow the PA into her directly. When we were done, Eagle Claw suggested strongly to me to send her a small Butterfly broach to wear. The colors of the Butterfly are significant. Black means “protective, grounding, calming, activating feminine energies.” Gold/yellow means “beneficial to the digestive tract (my emphasis added), generating enthusiasm. Gold itself means “strengthening to the heart, better balance.” Obviously, she should surround herself with these colors.

On 12/29, I took a follow-on Journey to see if there was a physical fix. I found myself on a Beach late in the day, late in the season (perhaps early fall). It was breezy, for the waves near the shore had tiny white caps. I had taken no Tunnels to either the Upper or Lower Worlds, so I knew I was still in the Middle World. A Gold and White Spirit Body approached me and sat down near me. A Gull landed nearby to my right. I saw my Eagle soaring above me. I sensed I was to merge with the Gold and White Spirit, and Eagle swooped down to offer me protection while I was gone. I merged, and sensed I had become the Ocean itself. I could feel its great depth all the Life it housed, the disruptions on the surface caused by humans. Once the merge was over, I realized the main message appeared to be that nothing physical can be done at this time for her..it is her Path to walk as she is. However, the rich imagery of this Journey offers some soothing methodologies. She should visit the Ocean often, feed Gulls when she can. Salt-based baths will be helpful as well, as will tapes featuring the gently roar of the Ocean. At another point in the Journey I saw a large Waterfall..I was just beyond the edge to its left. But instead of being involved with the heavy flow of falling water as in past Journeys, I sensed that the hovering mists were more important. This told me it is important for her to let the heavy emotions just pass her by, and derive freedom from them as the Mists have, and as Gulls do as well when they soar over the Ocean surface.

Journeys 137/138 - Tsunami Help/My Health

12/27/04: Two Journeys today. The first was to try to assist the victims of the massive Earthquake and Tsunami over in SW Asia. At the time of the Journey over 20,000 were confirmed dead, and in my readings by Sarangerel it was stressed that Shamans have a duty to the world as well as their private clients. The more Shamans work individually on world problems through their rituals and Journeys, the more likely it is the World will improve and regain its human-degraded Health. So I Rattled, Smudged, lit the Sacred Candle and off I went. One of the new techniques that I have been asked to master via being given these books to read is that of actually allowing the Spirit Helpers to merge with myself and allow them to live in a human body once again. This merging allows for much greater abilities by the Shaman, and a deeper knowledge of the way things work. So as I went into my Journey, I saw Eagle Claw, my Upper World Guide, standing in front of me, dressed quite formally in a full Deerskin outfit typical of Native Americans. He came to me, got quite close, and I assumed he might try to merge with me. But he said, “no, it is not yet time for us to merge.” Instead, he shape-shifted back to Barred Owl and took me in his Talons. Above us in the Sky was a Tunnel made of blue Spirals. We zoomed up into this Tunnel and shortly found ourselves skimming the crest of the killer tidal wave. We had moved back in time to the event itself. Within seconds, we were sitting on the shore of one of the nations effected. I saw many, many Souls moving along, either into Nature, or up/down to the respective worlds. In the Mongolian Shamanic tradition, (much of which I have adopted now for myself, as it rings truest with my experiences to date) the Human Soul has three parts. One is from and returns to the Upper World, one from/to the Lower World, and the third piece drifts into Nature when death comes. The latter can become powerful forces for good that a Shaman can ask for assistance from. Anyway, as we witnessed this migration of Souls, I noticed some were red, some green, some blue. Eagle Claw instructed me to collect what I could with my Eagle Mirror (another Mongolian technique). I recall grabbing about 5 or 6, and found out a day or so after this Journey that 8 Americans had been killed. I can’t help but wonder if those Souls didn’t come to me, given I was an American Shaman. Having collected these Souls, I then saw my Lower World Guide Snake appear, and we quickly zoomed down an all-mud Tunnel. I saw the same River Bank I saw on an earlier Journey when I released a Spirit downstream. I sent these Souls on their way, releasing them from my Mirror. We then returned through the Tunnel. I found myself given a new Shamanic Phrase to utter to bring comfort to the mourning survivors: “Adjah Jewhal!” I stretched my arm out in their direction and kept uttering this Phrase. Soon, a Shaman Spirit emerged from a wooded area. He was dressed in white, but his/her name was Pink Swan. I stood before this Spirit, but then sank into a deeper state where the imagery was lost. But as I was coming out of this State, I was uttering yet a new Phrase: “Wyanowa Hurai!”. The latter world is used in the Mongolian Shamanic tradition to seal and empower an action. As I repeated this Phrase over and over, Eagle Claw came and merged with me! I felt weightless and totally energized as I lay on my bed. I realized I was Eagle Claw, and as I shape-shifted into Owl form, I began flying around. It was superb. My eyesight was VERY crisp. “We” then quickly flew up the side of a very tall and steep mountain of Ice. At the top was a small crater within which sat a Circle of Elders. I shared a quick Smoke from their Pipe with them, and then “we” flew back down. The Drum Call Back sounded, and as I rubbed my eyes, the whitest and brightest ball I have ever seen formed on my Visual Cortex. Pure Energy. Remnant from the Journey? From the Merging? Whatever, it was quite powerful and inspiring.

A final note. It was interesting I was taken to a mountain of Ice. In a prior Journey, I found I had been a Shaman during the Ice Age, and still am being supported by my wife of the time. Perhaps these were the Elders I knew back then, sort of welcoming me back into this higher Shamanic plane.

Journey 2 was a quick 10-minute look at my own Health. I began the Journey shortly after the one above, since Sacred space was still present and the Candle still lit. I saw all my primary Journey and Guardian Spirits circling around my bed in a clockwise direction. I sensed something above me, and saw a large branch over my head with a Bald Eagle perched on it. The Eagle was bending over me and dripping golden tear drops into each of my Chakras, except for the Throat Chakra. I also noticed that the tear drop that was placed in my Base Chakra was red versus gold. I then found myself leaving my body and shrinking. I met an Eagle on my throat. I sensed I was to build there an Oboo, a Shamanic shrine built by Mongolian Shamans to house visiting Helper Spirits. I looked up and saw another Eagle circling clockwise overhead, coming closer and closer to the “ground.” He landed, and became a human shape, who told me his name was Eagle Spirit. This is my Power Animal’s name..obviously a very pure PA. Eagle Spirit told me I need to take better care of my Spirit Robe (body), that I’m not getting enough rest. He then told me he was going to reside in the Oboo I had just built, in order to prevent me from catching any colds or flus. As he took up residence, I felt warm, golden Mana coursing throughout my entire body. Two Feathers, my Guardian, then came to me and merged with me. I sensed what it was like to be female, and it was a great Spirit union to boot. The Journey then ended.

Journey 136 - Another for my Daughter

12/25/04: A Journey to restore my daughter’s Power Animal, obviously having been disengaged to the point where she was feeling down and out, even on Christmas Day. I have been reading a lot about Mongolian Shamanism by Sarangerel, and so some of the concepts I’ve learned have made their way into my Journeys as well, just as the earlier ones reflected my understanding of the general parameters I’d learned about earlier. In this case, the new information is even crisper and better and fuller. For example, I have now experienced the Vortex at the center of the Shamanic Spirit Circle. So let’s go onto the Journey itself: As I settled into the Shamanic “trance”, I found myself on a park bench with snow falling, woods nearby. I sat there a few minutes, and suddenly brought myself into the above mentioned vortex. From there I was quickly spun into my daughter’s room, where I saw her Power Animal, Polar Bear, resting on the opposite side of her room while she lay on her bed. I went over and spoke with her PA. He was brief, but told me that "she has trouble totally seeing your Spirit Vision. She trusts what you tell her about your Journeys and increased knowledge of the Spirit World, but still has trouble fully incorporating it into something she feels she can use." Then Polar Bear told me to look at her Aura. I did so, and it was very pocked and weak-looking. A lot of the color was gone, and there were many gaps. He then directed my attention to a Spirit-based picture of her first real love who has since passed on, hanging on the wall which I could see both in front of and behind. To my amazement I saw a little Soul Piece of my daughter’s circling around this young man like a planet. I took my new Quartz Crystal, recently consecrated for Soul Retrieval work, and captured this tiny moon. I then went over to my daughter’s still body and blew the Soul Piece back into her using my Eagle Feather as a Guide. Then, her Power Animal went back into her body. Mission accomplished, I shot back into the Vortex. Out of the whirl of Spirit Energy cane my prime Guide Eagle Claw. He gave a claw to me as a token of a job-well-done. This means I know wear an Eagle Claw just like he does. I must now try to come across one in this reality. I then was back in my room, sending Mana to my daughter as if I were a transmitter, to strengthen her even more. Yesterday, by the way, I saw many Cloud People signs: Heron, Hawk, Rainbow Sun Dog and White Eagle. Plus, a very large Crow migration from left to right. So I knew my Shamanic Power were high, and that it was a good time to Journey.

Also today, the day after Christmas, I set our Christmas Tree Spirit free..Oobeejewan Jebbahbah was her name, and she was quite lovely to “feel” going into the Crystal and out (flame induced release at 5 Stone Altar). Once released, she was free to wander into the woods and find a suitable place to live once again.

12/26: My daughter reported feeling a series of hot and cold flashes (she ondered at the tender age of 20 if she were already going through menopause) this morning. This was the result of the rejoining of her Soul Piece yesterday.

12/27: The most amazing thing happened to me today. I have come to think of it as an Anointing. I was outside between job actions when a large Crow came flying toward me, cawing constantly. He was quite low to the ground, and made a complete clockwise circle around me! I knew this was very significant..I saw being singled out..for something. The Crow then looped around in a wider Circle, and as I followed it visually, I suddenly saw a Red Tailed Hawk floating in the Sky, in the NE (my Direction). The Hawk became the center of focus, and I watched as it came closer and closer. At one point it was so nearly overhead that I raised my hand to try to coax it down to land. Instead, it began looping slowly off to the east. But while it was nearly overhead, I sensed it was watching me, and sending my Hawk Medicine. The actions of the two Winged Ones together added up to a deliberate singling out of the Shaman below.. I was thrilled, and feel this is a sign that my abilities are reaching a new level, and it is time to be more open with my skills. I’m less inclined now to keep my Shamanism a secret.

Journey 135 - Two for Spirit Sister`

12/7/04: At the request of my Spirit Sister, I took a Journey this evening to investigate a new physical ailment she herself is suffering from. Her physician has reported a misplaced ovary with a possible growth, which must be checked via ultrasound a week from this Thursday. Spirit Sister asked me to check it out in advance so she’d be better prepared. So I took a quick Hollow Bone Journey as taught a few weeks ago when the Bone was first given to me. I opened Sacred Space quickly with my Rattle and lit the Sacred Candle after a quick Smudging. As I went into the Journey, I found myself standing at the entrance of the Bone with my Barred Owl Guide, Eagle Claw. As we went in, the interior took on the appearance of a hospital testing room. I saw Spirit Sister lying down on her back on a hospital bed while a male attendant checked out her lower abdomen. I walked around to look at the TV screen, but was unable to interpret the view. The attendant showed no emotion either way while viewing the screen, and so I cannot get a good reading on just how serious the issue is. However, my personal view is that no reaction is a good reaction. I then foresaw a small operation, and saw Sister recuperating at home, apparently in January based on the sunlight and weather..it seemed like January at least in terms of its look. Then, as Eagle Claw and I were moving back out of the Bone, thinking we were finished, the interior unexpectedly darkened completely, with only a few scattered wall adornments shining as if lit by a black light. Sister, still lying on the bed, was the only object seemingly lit from above. I then saw a Dark Being hovering over Anne, reaching into her lower left abdomen. She has an Entity attached! I was quite surprised. Eagle Claw and I then immediately increased our Aural strength to keep out any unwanted imprints from this Being. The Being spotted us and checked us out, but we were safe within the Rainbow Walls of the Aural Field. I then began my female Chant, and saw Woman in a Grass Dress, my Amazonian Helper, move over to sit beside Spirit Sister, up by her left shoulder. The Entity then retreated to a rear wall..I could see its eyes staring blankly as its power over Anne was checked. She is now safe from any further intrusions, but I must do a full journey to discover the nature of this Visitor.

12/8/04: This afternoon I took the follow-on Journey. My intent was to discover the identity of and then escort the Entity hovering over her back to the Spirit Camp. I performed a more lengthy Rattling to open Sacred space, more in keeping with tradition. I then Smudged and lit the Sacred Candle. I then set up a 15-minute Drum Loop, and breathed Shamanically for an extra long time to ensure I was totally relaxed and receptive. I was soon standing on a dirt road leading up to the entrance of the Hollow Bone, in which I saw Spirit Sister yesterday. There were several hundred people lining the road on both sides, right up to the entrance. I saw Barred Owl and Eagle zooming around in circles above the entrance, beckoning me to approach. I was dressed as a Native American Warrior, with my crystal resting on my right front thigh in a deerskin sheath. The people were all looking at me..I was apparently their champion. I then raised my arms to the Sky Father and brought down several gigantic lightning bolts onto the top of the Bone. I then walked up the dirt road to the entrance. There I was met by my own Spirit Guardian, Two Feathers. At this point I was wondering exactly what I was in for..this was quite the unusual Crowd, dress, and approach, and I had my three main Guides with me for my protection. I had a temporary feeling I was going inside that Bone to wrestle with my own Dark Force, my biggest nemesis to date. Two Feathers blew Sage and Sweet Grass on me as I went inside. The Woman in a Grass Dress was now standing over Sister, and in full human form. As she saw me approach, she left. I looked, and the Entity was still standing at the rear wall. He approached me and stared very closely into my eyes. I then decided to back off and open up Sacred Space over Sister and myself as I moved to her right side. I then lifted the entire Bone up through the Sky and out into Space, among the Stars. From there I was quickly transported to a scene from the South, from some time in the recent past. There was a southern-style mansion in the distance, with a large field leading down to a huge tree under which I was standing. I saw a young boy of 5-7 then appear, and saw that he had just choked to death on what I feel was an acorn he tried to swallow whole. I then was revealed to me that the Spirit of this Boy then reached through time to take hold of Spirit Sister when she was living in the South and more Spiritually vulnerable. He literally reached through time to get to her now, even though in Earth years we are at least several decades along from his Death. He jumped instantaneously into the now, since in the Spirit World time is quite the flexible to non-existent property. It seems the Boy was totally lacking in any sort of Feminine Balancing Energy, and was seeking this Energy from Sister. We then were back in the Bone Cave. I took my Crystal Wand and absorbed the Entity. My Wand was then glowing with a flesh color! I took the Wand outside and called down a Lightning Strike to remove the Entity’s Spirit and transmute it to the Spirit Camp. I barely recall the actual Strike, but not the Transmutation, though. However, I remember my own Body twitching sharply on the bed at this point..a jolt of some magnitude. I then found myself on a River’s Bank, gently running the tip of the Wand across and through the surface, to release the Entity into Water. This is the preferred method for doing this, so perhaps the Lightning Strike was a non-effective idea. I then found myself in an old Mexican courtyard, and saw a religious Woman approach me fully dressed in a White and Blue habit. She brought me a small, golden Box. She opened it to reveal a searingly-white Heart Shape within. She told me this was part of the heart Energy of Sister’s Power Animal, the White Eagle, and that she should keep this box close to her at all times..in her Mind and Spirit, obviously. I then saw myself assisting in giving Sister injections of Papaya Juice, directly into her abdomen, surrounding her growth. I remember wondering what properties Papaya could possibly have to reverse the course of the Growth’s Life. I then saw her standing, completely surrounded by a healthy Aura. I then turned and walked out of the Bone. The People who had been lining the Road disappeared as I fell to the Ground in humility. I got the impression they were with Sister in some way, as if she were their Medicine Woman. Now that she was healed, they all went on their way. I thanked all my Guides and Helpers and soon thereafter the Call Back sounded. I believe I was shown one more unrelated image or two before the Call Back, but can’t remember it/them. I shall run my actual Crystal Wand in water to cleanse whatever is left of the Entity so it can go home totally in one piece and in one peace.

Here is Sister’s response later in the same evening of the 8th: “Thank you! A boy…how interesting! There were lots of weak aura times while I was living in the South, so it would not surprise me to have had him attach during that time. Poor kid…thanks for sending him home. I could tell when I was at a meeting tonight that a weight was lifted. My energy started returning and my outlook improved and I thought, “I’ll bet 4 Hawks found the time to do the journey.”

Here’s a link to the healing properties of papaya. http://www.europeanvegetarian.org/evu/english/news/news001/papaya.html. [Ed Note: This site is replete with praise for the healing qualities of papaya for many illnesses, including cancer!] Now I’ll have to find a place that has them. Apparently there are both Mexican and Hawaiian variants. Since there was a Mexican connection in the journey, I’m assuming I should go for the Mexican papaya if I can find it.

Interesting about the crowd. The number is about the size of the active membership at my church, so maybe that’s who they were. And another mention of the eagle on the day that my Florida family writes me that the eagles have begun setting on the nest. They had no young last year at all, so that’s very good news…even more so since their old nest got blown down in one of Florida’s many hurricanes this summer. They had to start from scratch and build a new one…guess it paid off! Maybe it will be a white baby…

Thank you again for following your path and helping me to follow mine in health!”

I then reminded Sister it was the Helpers who passed all this valuable info along, that I was merely the channel. I also mentioned that a White Eaglet would cause quite the stir! Subsequent reading concerning Acorn’s in Ted Andrew’s Nature Speak reveals Acorn to be the symbol of strong male Energy, and a source of great strength for Spiritual and other Activities!!

12/16: Here are the results of the ultrasound (it appears the Helpers did a REALLY good job!): “She said it appeared that there had been a small cyst on one ovary that had burst during my last cycle. She didn’t see why the woman who did my exam thought there was an enlargement of the uterus, as everything else looked normal..”

Boots Manifestation

12/7/04: I’ve heard and read that as one is more and more involved with the Helpers, that extraordinary manifestations begin to take place around you. This is not a Journey report, but certainly qualifies to be included as a Shamanic event.

The local weather was quite dodgy today, and so I went looking for my foul weather boots. I could not find them at all. I looked in the three places they should have been, to no avail. My wife suggested I look again, only this time very slowly and methodically. I did so..no boots. A few minutes later, I walked by the chair in the living room upon which I had earlier placed my work shirt. To my surprise, neatly standing side by side as if placed there with some care, right next to my shirt, were my boots. So I asked me wife where she had found them. She looked at me and asked, “what do you mean?” I told her my boots were right there on the chair, and I certainly hadn’t put them there. She said she hadn’t either, and that I must have forgot placing them there earlier. I looked at her at said, “how could I have forgotten the entire sequence of searching for and finding the boots, bringing them upstairs and placing them on this chair, all within the last 15 minutes!?” We then both had what we used to call a “Twilight Zone” moment. Those boots had been put there by someone else! “Trouble” (or Joy, depending on your perspective) is, the only other two people who could have done it were still fast asleep. I have relived the morning several times and can solemnly assure you that I never brought those boots up to that chair. If I have forgotten that entire sequence, I’m in deeep trubble.

So here is we have a very clear example of one of my Spirit Helpers actually intervening and bringing the boots to me. I think it’s quite engaging that she took time to help like that, and it’s quite the thrill for me as well. With that kind of Help available to both me and those whom I work with Shamanically, you can see why I am on this Sacred Path, and how much Healing can be manifested as well.

Journey 134 - For Spirit Sister's Mom

12/6/04: At the request of my Spirit Sister, I took a Journey this evening to attempt to contact the Spirit of her Mom, suffering from advancing Alzheimer’s. I like journeying when it’s dark, for the only Light in the Room is the Sacred Candle. With that Light dancing through the room, I Rattled to the 7 Directions to open Sacred Space, after Smudging with Sage and Sweet Grass. I then whistled four times into my Hollow Bone, to invoke even more transmission capability, as taught to do in a very recent Journey. I then set up a 10-minute Drum loop. As I sat and readied myself through Shamanic breathing, I saw my Upper World Guide, Barred Owl, flapping busily in front of me. Golden particles of Mana were dropping from his outstretched Wings with every flap. I lay down and began the Drums, and found the Sky above us turning a deep violet. The Stars were a pink-lilac color. Behind Owl I saw a light green tornado opening swirling in the Sky, and knew that was our Tunnel. Owl grabbed me and up we flew. I looked behind and saw the impressive rope of golden Mana we were leaving behind as we went ever higher. We entered the Tunnel and passed through an amorphous light green energy zone, with no detail. As we emerged, we were in a comfortably sized home library, with green the only color except for the golden lamp shades and a few other objects that were their own color. We sat at a table in the room’s middle, bookshelves beyond us on the wall. Owl sat to my left and became Eagle Claw. I asked him if Sister’s Mom would come and visit with us. He nodded, and began crying in a most unusual pitch, which I would fail miserably in attempting to duplicate, calling in Mom’s Spirit. Within seconds, she appeared, looking as she does now (or at least when I last saw her). She immediately said, “Hi, it’s good to see you again.” I asked her if she knew why I was there, and she nodded yes. She told me to tell her daughter that it was only her Mental Body that was fading away (I got a very brief glimpse thereof..and it was semi-transparent already), but her Spirit Body was in great shape. She said she was very calm and peaceful in her Spirit, and found being in her body now a bit like being a child again. There was less and less preconception, she said, and all around was resonating with a strange newness. I asked if she had a message for her daughter. She asked me to tell her once more how proud she was to have lived to see serve their Lord is such a meaningful way. She told me that her daughter herself would know when the time was right to move on for even further Spiritual advancement. I asked her if she knew her husband had passed to the other side. She told me, yes, and that she visits with his Spirit quite regularly.* I asked how long she would be suffering in her Physical Body, and at first she said 2.3 years, but later qualified it, saying that chance happenings could shorten that time considerably. I asked her what she thought of her new care-giver home and she said it was a great decision, that her Body would apparently be well taken care of. She then mentioned that even though Sister doesn’t like wearing rings, she should occasionally wear the one with the small green stone as a reminder of her first Shamanic visit during which this contact with her has been established. She said her daughter should celebrate this Christmas by remembering all the joys of past Christmases when she, Mom, was alert and able to fully engage in the holidays. I asked her if she wished to visit with me again and she said yes. I asked, if I didn’t initiate the Journey, how I would know she was asking to see me. She said she would place an Orange in my Dreams. The last thing she said made no sense to me, and may not make any sense to Anne either, but here is a phonetic rendering: “Wizzy Why Woos-whoosh.” At this point, I realized the visit was over, and Owl and I returned through the Tunnel to the Middle World. I sat with him and went over all I had been told so as not to forget it. Then, the Call Back sounded, and the Journey was complete.

* I had introduced apparently false info here..her husband had not passed recently, but Sister’s grandfather. True to form, her mother was nice enough not to embarrass me by correcting me, but merely went on to say she touches her husband’s Spirit from that part of her own existence. I then received this message the next day from Sister herself: “Actually, I think your "mistake" worked out for the best. She did have a husband, my father, who has passed. That was 24 years ago. There are a number of pictures of him up in her room. Until very, very recently she always talked to me using the terms either of "your father" if she meant her current husband. I've noticed that since she's been in there, she keeps asking me about "your father"...if I've seen him today, if he's coming, etc. When my dear friend went with me on Saturday they were looking at the pictures. My friend pointed to a picture (an old courting picture) of my father and asked "Who is that?" My mother said, "That's my current husband."

So she may well be visiting frequently with my father's spirit and not have him confused with anyone else at all. So that question was actually the most comforting part of the whole thing! I was a bit surprised that you asked it, but I was glad. The whole thing was very comforting, almost like a message from the "other side" since she is beyond communication on this side, for the most part. Thank you so much for visiting with her.”

Journey 133 - Final Farewell to Friend's Mom

12/3/04: Our dear Friend’s Mom passed back to the Spirit Camp this morning around 3:30 AM, and I had been intending to take a Journey to ensure she got totally free of her Body and the Astral Plane upon the news of her leaving, and so I did so this afternoon, right after notification. Recall I had taken on her Disease and cleansed her Spirit several times in the past months, the most recent just a few weeks ago when I drained her Chakra sludge into a small pool of Water with several of her Helpers and her Parents there. She was therefore Spiritually ready to pass, but word came to me in the past few days that her Mental Body was still as stubborn as ever, hanging on stubbornly and refusing to accept the inevitable..quite typical of people schooled in Western thought. In preparation for the Journey, I smudged the Room, Rattled in Sacred Space, and lit the Sacred Candle. I focused on my intention, to ensure easy and total passage of both Mom and her Disease Spirit into the Goodness of the Great Spirit, while breathing Shamanically and awaiting the Drum Loop..a 10-minute Trip. As I focused, I saw Snowy Owl approaching me, and saw a vast Arctic landscape before me. The Stars above were quite bright. As I started the Drums and lay down, the Stars became bright colored dots of Rainbow light. As Snowy Owl and I waited on the Snow, our friend’s Mom came toward me. Her Golden Room, seen in a prior Journey, was alight in the Sky, well up behind her. Well beyond her on the distant snow hills were her Helpers. Mom approached me, looking quite a bit younger than I had even seen her in this Life. She came up to me and kissed me on both cheeks. She thanked me for cleansing her and preparing her Spirit for her. She then told me she now understood once more that all is made of Love. She said to tell her family left behind that they are all made of this same Love, and they should use this Knowledge to heal themselves and others around them. Being made of the same Love, she added, meant she would always be reachable by her Family, and vice versa. In other words, she would always be “in touch.” She then slid backward into the crowd of her Helpers. I watched as they all merged into a rainbow colored shaft of light, conical in shape, with the point touching the distant gold Room. The cone then retreated quickly up into this room, and then the Room faded from view. This was the last I would see of our friend's Mom for a while if not for Life, and I fell to my knees and began tearing up as I felt both intense sadness and joy at her departure. Snowy Owl then turned my attention to the Disease, now running loose. He grabbed me in his talons and took off into the Sky. We were suddenly flying over a forested area of the town they live in, and down below me I could see the dark shape of the Disease Spirit lurching frantically through the Woods, bouncing off Trees. It was seeking a new home! Owl gave me a golden Hoop of Mana to throw down onto the Disease, to trap it. As the Disease Spirit became aware of our presence above, it stopped and looked up at us. Recognizing me, I sensed it thinking “oh, it’s you. I’ve met you before, when you tried to intervene in my Life.” It had stopped long enough for me to say, “here is a Gift of Love,” and I threw the Mana Ring down over the Spirit. The Ring then turned into a mini-tornado, totally engulfing the Disease Spirit, with the swirl turning from bright gold to a deep dark gray. It then turned Blood Red, then Flesh, then White. The tornado subsided, and I saw a small white Spirit Mass slowly dissolving into the Ground..returning to Mother Earth to be used for Good. I was then taken to my 5-Stone Altar in my back yard, but back in time to when I used that site as Rains Again. I was shown that one of my great failings to my People back then was when I found myself too busy to perform a Spirit Release Ceremony for a Tribe Person who had passed. This failing was one of the reasons I had returned to this Life to reclaim a Shaman Mantle. I then saw my Shaman Symbol being drawn into the ground within the boundaries of my 5-Stone Altar, and it was suggested that I do this in this reality as well. I then looked up at the Sky and saw the same Galaxy of Light above me that was present at the end of my Shaman’s Dream several years ago. My Shaman symbol was forming within that as well. This told me that my work for Mom had been very fruitful and appreciated by the Spirit Helpers! I was then zoomed back to the Arctic where we had said goodbye to Mom. Snowy Owl asked me if I wished to visit that part of Space where the Gold Room had been. I did, and so up I went. While I was floating within this Space, I felt so calm, at peace and secure. Not a care or worry in the world. This is what our friend’s Mom had felt in this Room. I then asked to be brought back down to the Snows. From there I was quickly transported to my back yard as it is today. Standing there were Eagle Claw, and others of my Helpers and Guides. They told me this assist for a dying person was the first of many I would perform in this Shaman’s Walk, news I was glad to hear, as I really love being the portal for Spiritual Involvement from the Camp. I then found a Sacred Pipe being passed around. When it came to me, I looked at the Stem and saw our friend’s Mother’s name had been etched into it. Eagle Claw told me to keep this Spirit-based Pipe, and hang it on the wall above my own Pipe, as a remembrance of my Help. At this point, the Call Back sounded and the Journey was over. Afterward: this evening we have tiny snow grains falling gently from the Sky..a reminder of the Snowy Field upon which I said goodbye.

Journeys 131/132 - Nephew's Wife/Best Coworker Friend

11/29/04: My first formal Journey in over a week was to try to ascertain the identity of my Nephew's Wife's Power Animal. I wanted to ensure she had the most Spirit Power available to her as she goes through this difficult time of pregnancy. I Rattled in Sacred Space, lit the Sacred Candle, breathed Shamanically while focusing on my objective, and then settled in for a planned 15-minute Drum loop using the CD. Right as I met with my Lower World Guide, Crosses in Front (Snake), she transformed herself into her human form..and was heavy with child! This told me she was in tune with the needs and burdens of pregnancy. But then, as I was expecting us to begin the trip down a Tunnel to the Lower World, instead I found myself on the floor of Maine Medical where my Niece had been staying. Crosses and I then walked the length of the corridor to the little room at the end, reserved for cell phone use. There, Crosses and I sat down at a little table in there, each at one end. Then, two translucent, white Spirit Shapes formed on the side of the Table, sitting next to each other. I asked Crosses if these were the Spirit Helpers for my Niece and her Little One. Crosses answered "yes." I then asked if I was meant to know the identities of the Spirits, in terms of their Power Animal presentations. Crosses told me that this was not necessary, that the two Helpers were already firmly attached to the my Niece and the baby, and that there was no need therefore for me to retrieve them from the Lower World. She told me their Power Animal identities would be revealed to me in the Future as it became necessary. At this point, the Journey's Purpose had been fulfilled. Crosses suggested we use the remaining Time to flood my Robe with healing rays of Energy, as I have a few minor ailments that need attending to as well. At one point during this process I could feel intense heat around my brow as that Chakra area was invigorated. This is the Chakra that helps one to see with the Third Eye, and so I was grateful this skill was being intensified. When I felt I had had enough, I curtailed the Journey early and self-drummed myself back to the Room, thanking all the Helpers involved.

12/1: Word came today that the baby passed back to the Spirit Camp. This was the gist of the two Journeys I took..all had to go perfectly for this to happen. The two Spirits I met in the Journey above were there to take care of the passing..and the forlorn mom.

I then immediately set up for the second Journey, to find a Power Animal for my dear Friend and Co-worker, who was the "thin strand" that set me on this Shaman Path over 4 years ago, and to this day continues to share my joys and successes in this regard. I set up for a 10-minute Journey, as is my custom for Power Animal retrievals. Crosses met me immediately, as we were whisked off to a small clearing, with a fairly large wood log Fire burning in the middle. As we sat there, a group of Deer came to the Circle and stopped. It was a meeting of the Deer Council! They told me they came to honor my friend, as she has many of the qualities of Deer. A wary innocence, a smart and tender way of dealing with Nature, a gentle but firm aggressiveness. They held her in very high esteem, and were pleased to stand around and thank her. We in turn thanked the Council (and I thought to myself how pleased my friend would be for this rare and special treatment), and turned to find a tall, totally light blue Tree standing about 50 feet away. At the base was a small opening, the yellow-orange color that I would call Mango. We went to the entrance and moved into the Tunnel. As we moved down toward the Lower World, I saw Mango-colored Roots and Grass patches. We soon emerged into a Lower World consisting of a strongly wind-swept, high-Grass area. I felt the Winds represented Spirit Power! It was well into twilight. As I looked up in the Sky, Stars were being formed and put in place through large, fireworks-like explosions. It looked like a vastly sped-up view of the Universe's creation and/or growth. The full Moon off to my right was a purple color, another sign of high feminine Spirituality. I then turned to Crosses, who said we should now await the arrival of my friend's Power Animal. My Black Panther totem of the West arrived and lay down beside me. My own Power Animal Eagle then came in and perched on my left Shoulder. Lots of high-powered help here! Soon, a Chipmunk scurried by my feet, but did not linger. Then, a huge Black Bear moved up in front of us, but her bared his Teeth and growled at us, so we knew this was not her PA. Then, I saw a Hawk flying across the Sky from right to left, and quickly dive down below the line of sight about 150 feet to our center-left. Hawk soon came back up with a Porcupine in its Talons, and brought the Porcupine over to us and dropped it at our feet. The animal's quills were had a very glassy reflective quality, and were the colors of the Rainbow, a sign of tolerance and acceptance of much of life's difference in my friend. I asked if this were her PA, and got a resounding "yes." Crosses and I then took the Porcupine back up the Mango Tunnel and were back at the Fire. The Council of Deer was not only still in session, but they had now transformed into human shapes and were seated around the Fire, smoking the Pipe. We all passed it around. The Council Head said we were smoking to honor my friend, and to place her PA within her. I saw a younger looking friend move in from my left, smiling, wearing pigtails. She was lifted over the Fire, where Porcupine and she merged. At one point I saw the Porcupine with her face! The Council members then blew Prayer Smoke into the pair above the Fire, lifting them even higher. This was quite the PA blow-in! After this was accomplished, Crosses told me that our job was done, and there was no need to remain here any longer. I thanked all the Helpers who had appeared, including Bear, of course, and came back to my Room. Once again I cut the Drum loop short and drummed myself back into the Room.

Among Porcupine's many qualities (Ted Andrew's Animal Speak): They are excellent climbers, and use their strong legs to test a limb's strength before moving out. They eat tree and evergreen barks, also enjoying blossoms, young leaves and water lilies. They love salt, so those with this totem should watch out for excessive salt intake.
It has a good nature, and seems to enjoy anything it does. It has a strong sense of curiosity, and seems filled with wonder at most things it encounters as it ambles along.
The quills stand up when danger is sensed. The quills are filled with air, and make the Porcupine buoyant in water, reflecting the ability of "Porc" People to move well in emotional areas. The barbs at the end of the quills expand when dug into another animal's skin, making it impossible for that animal to remove them. Porcupine's greatest enemy is the Weasel and Porcupine People should study the weasel to recognize its enemy better (quick look: very aggressive attacks, and silence in hunting: Weasel People learn a lot about you by just hanging around in the background. The worst assumption about weasel people is that they are weak because they are silent. Weasels attack the face directly, so Weasel people are those who take you on "face-to-face"). Cougars are also good at flipping Porcs on their backs to kill them, and their Medicines should likewise be studied (quick look: Cougar People are quick in the use of their personal strengths. They attack decisively and go for the most vulnerable part, as in having learned to go for the unprotected underbelly of the Porcupine. People who tend to flip you upside down emotionally are part of this adversary group).
Porcupines spend a lot of the winter in trees, preferring to climb than to slog through the snow on foot. The young stand on their hind legs and dance, reflecting the chance for Porc people to renew their sense of wonder through dancing. Porc People's diet should be rich in nutrients and vitamins, with lots of greens, especially when feeling run-down or sick.
Porc People have a knack for sticking it to people sharply and intensely if aggravated, causing the most hurt for the longest time.
Its Medicine teaches you how to resist the barbs of others and see the wonder in life even when it is going poorly. It can show you how to shuffle along without too much seriousness and still achieve, how to protect the inner child from life's barbs, and show you the strength in your vulnerability.

Journey 130 - The Pregancy

I felt Energy flowing through me into the Baby while my niece and wife were talking, and so sensed it was a good time to take a mini-Journey. This is a technique I used recently and have found to be as reliable as the standard, longer, Drum-directed visits to the Spirit Camp. Since a recent Journey trained me to use my new Hollow Bone (in this case, the Spirit version thereof) for such quick assessments, I decided to try this technique in the hospital room while the girls were chatting. So I closed my eyes and imagined myself holding the Bone while whistling into it, as trained by my Guides, to call in the Spirits. I very soon found myself standing at the entrance to the Spirit version of the Bone. It is an immense cavern when this happens..the opening has to be at least 100 feet tall. My Snake Guide came to me and so I knew I was in the Journey realm. I then saw a small, white bassinette off to my left. The baby within in was at first kicking quite lively, but then was still as if dead. I had seen this kind of imagery before, and so knew it meant there was a chance this pregnancy could go either way. I then walked closer to the baby and asked it what was going on.. It told me it really wanted to enter the world through my niece, but that all the right decisions would have to be made over the next few months for that to happen. That was basically then end of the Journey. When I came back to the hospital room, I was able to develop a fairly keen sense that I had been dealing with a male Spirit. Later, as we were leaving, I saw a small chunk of a Christmas Tree branch lying on the floor in front of the elevator we came up on. The shape of this piece was quite similar to the shape of the Love Elemental Piece out of which all things are made that I had been shown recently on a Journey. This told me that my niece has to literally love the baby into the world.

Journey 129 - Help for the Puppy

11/19/04: A third Journey to investigate why our Shih Tzu dog has been so scared lately. There has been a downward spiral over the past months, and I learned recently that one can also take Journeys for Animals. With Sacred Space still open, I re-lit the Sacred Candle and self-drummed this one. I soon found myself outside with Snake, my Lower World Guide. She led me to a Dog Kennel, with many dogs within the pen. Just outside the fence was an opening, through which we sank. We passed along a Tunnel made of golden Mud. When we emerged from the exit, we were hovering over yet another Waterfall. This time, though, we were suspended in mid Air. Suddenly, we fell like Stones, and would have smashed on the Rocks below except for my decision to prevent it as we got close. I knew right away that our dog’s problem was an inordinate fear of falling. We were then standing just to the side of the boulders. Across the River formed by the Waterfall outflow, on the bank, was a smaller version of our dog..a puppy. We crossed over and I spoke to him. I told him I knew he was a little Soul Piece that had left our dog when he was young. I asked him if he wanted to come back to our older dog. He said no, that he really liked it where he was, and went on sniffing the lush bank. I then fell down and prostrated myself as the small dog grew to the size and shape of a man. I told him I was sorry for having no doubt placed that Fear in him when he was younger..I used to stand him occasionally on the narrow deck railing while I looked out into the night. I now find it so hard to believe, as I look back those 5 years, that I could be so inconsiderate, but this was a year or so before I turned back onto the True Path. The larger Spirit Form reconsidered, and went back to the size of the small dog. I then picked him up and placed within my Solar Plexus Chakra, and Snake and I returned through the Tunnel to this World. Shortly afterward, I blew the little Soul Piece back into my dog through his head and tummy. Now that he is whole again, we can certainly expect him to be less timid.

Journey 128 - Understanding my Teen Son

11/19/04: A second Journey taken at both my wife’s and my own suggestion, to see if we can help our son, whose recent grades were the worst yet, despite his big start-of-year plans to do better and buckle down. The room was still open, Sacred Space-wise, and so I re-smudged and went off on a short, 10-minute Drum Journey. As the Journey opened, I was sitting over the huge Waterfall I had seen in prior Journeys. I knew immediately that this meant we were dealing with very powerful emotional forces with my son, almost a torrent. Owl and I were sitting together on a Branch sticking out well over and a bit back from the edge. I found we both then shrank down to the point that the Branch became a very wide log, and we sat down to speak together. Owl became Eagle Claw, my Guide in Human Form, and I asked him what I should do to lead Kenny past this time, to help him succeed. EC told me that the most important thing I should do right now is to speak with my son in fatherly seriousness, and impress upon him how much we love and support him. He needs to hear that no matter what he does in terms of “failing”, he knows he is totally loved and has his parents on his side. He must be told that we have faith that he will make the right choices as he moves forward. The emotional turmoil is such that only such positive faith will; have a good effect on him. EC told me my son is a lot like I was at that age, searching for what is right for him, and that he will have to take risks and experiment with Life for a while. I asked what he might end up doing, and EC told me to look down at the rushing torrent beneath us. How can one expect to find anything firm coming out of that powerful Waterfall? It is too soon to know, he said. He had me focus on a point well down the River, and I saw an older son still living in our house, my wife’s greatest fear about him. But EC told me to assure her that he will actually take a lot of the economic pressure off us as he pays some of the bills (electric, water) as part of his rent. He will be working full time, and will eventually find his true calling. I asked when this would be. EC told me that the heavy rains upstream (all the issues in his young life right now) will cease, and the Water flow will become gentle. At this point, he said, look for a yellow Daffodil growing up out of the water..this will be the sign that he is ready to settle down for good. I also asked about my son's Power Animal, Horse. EC told me that since he was not working with Horse at all, that I should take a picture of a Horse and breathe Mana into it every day to keep his Power Animal galloping on his behalf. This is similar to my tasking to help my granddaughter with her weakened Aura with the nightly Raven chant. It is like saying your daily prayers for others. Eventually my son will seek Horse on his own and realize how much stronger he is with a firm knowledge of his presence. I then began contemplating what would happen if we started taking privileges away from him. The emotional turmoil is already too great, I was told, and at this point the Journey Call Back sounded, and I was brought back to the Room. I thanked Eagle Claw as I rose.

Journey 127 - Further Work on the Sister

11/19/04: A Journey taken at the request of the Sister for whom I've done recent Journeys to investigate the cause and possible Healing of a growth within her head. We had already established Lamb as her Power Animal Spirit Helper in a prior Journey, so this was a follow-up. I prepared the room and myself as always, and for the first time whistled 4 times through my Hollow Bone as shown in a recent Journey, to call in even more Spirit Help. Then, off I went into the Spirit Camp, not quite knowing whom to expect as a Guide, or where we would start.

I found myself in a field of numerous, short white Flowers, with my Upper World Guide Owl sitting on the highest part of a broken Tree Branch not more than a few feet away. He was dazzling in the bright Sunlight, as were the Flowers. A steady breeze was blowing, ruffling Owl’s Feathers a bit. Suddenly Owl drew much closer and peered into my Eyes. I then found us (Owl, me AND the Branch) zooming backwards through a dark Tunnel made of passing Stars. I sensed I was not to turn around to look at the destination, so I kept staring into Owl’s Eyes. It was like riding a very fast train facing the rear. We were soon in a suburban neighborhood, with a large Tree in a Yard with a sidewalk running along it. Owl and I landed in the Tree initially, and then I found myself on the ground a short distance away. A little Girl, looking a lot like the one I saw in the first Journey for the Woman when I met her twin Sister, was standing near this walk. She was wearing a flower-print Spring dress, and her hair was light and seemed to have gentle curls. She let me see her shoes close up..they were strap shoes, either pink or pink-red, with a bit of a sparkle to them. I then saw a huge, hulking man, wearing a dark leather-like overcoat, come up to the Girl and stare at her menacingly. The Girl was very frightened and ran inside her house to her Mom, who told her the Man had gone away but that she must be very careful around such strangers, as they were part of Life also. This event gave her fear of such encounters, and injected an underlying distrust of the World from that point on. At the same time, I saw that the Man was actually a visitor from the Astral Plane, and he had taken a little bit of the Sister’s Soul with him..he disappeared as he reached the corner, holding the little piece of Soul Energy close to his chest. Owl and I then sped back through the Star Tunnel to the Flower Field. He told me we now must go up to the Upper World and seek the stolen Soul Piece. We found a swirling red Tunnel heading down to meet us, and up through it we went. We moved out of the Tunnel into a Deep Space environment, with Stars once again all around. In the distance I saw a small, very black opening. I immediately thought of the “Cave of the Lost Souls”. We drew near it, and then went in. It was much larger close up. As we passed through the complete darkness, I heard small cries from the residents there, and wished I could help them all. A small spark of white light on my visual Cortex told me to head for it. I did, and found the taken Soul Piece there, looking as she did in the yard that day. I told her then man was long gone now, as I sensed he had been taken into the Light. It would be good for her to go back into her grown up self. She told me should would, if the grown-up was willing to receive her back. I said I would ask and left her there in safety for now. The scene then shifted to a room in which the Sister was sleeping on her back. Many of the People I help end up in this position, as if they are lying there in waiting. Her Helper, Lamb, now in Human Spirit Form, was standing on her right side. We were looking at her aura, and found a dark, spear-like piece of Energy sticking out of her head, causing that part of her Aura to be blackish. I asked the Helper what that was, and he said the Woman had had an ear infection sometime around the event period, and the Entity had been able to push into her Aura through that weakness. Once he had left, the dark Energy remained behind to fester, eventually causing the growth. I then asked if we could remove the Spear, and Lamb Helper did so. He took the Spear out, placing each end on opposing palms, and brought his hands together, crushing the Energy. As he did so, the dark Energy turned Golden and dropped down into Mother Earth for future use. He then massaged that part of her Aura back to its traditional rainbow color. The Helper then suggested that when the Sister showers, she should place her face in the stream of water and view the oncoming, sparking water droplets as healing Energy bits, dazzling white in color, pouring through her Energy Body and into her head. At this point, I asked about the remaining growth within. One of my most powerful Female Spirit Helpers, Woman in a Grass Dress, now appeared to the Sister’s left. She and the Helper, one on either side now, both began pouring healing and strengthening Energy into the area surrounding the growth. They let me know it was vitally important to change this growth from a “negative” presence to a positive one, and to treat it with Love and Respect. They told me the Sister must realize this growth is a Life Force in its own right, and is merely trying to survive, albeit not in the best of places. The two Helpers were working to try to turn the dark Blob into a bright one, so that it might slowly dissolve and let its Life Force move on to do good in the Spirit World. I watched as they did so, and saw it begin to glow a golden color. This is another image, then, that will help the Sister deal with this presence. View it as transmuting, shrinking and brightening, and slowly leaving to do good things elsewhere. At this point, with Lamb Helper and Woman standing over the Sister and gently applying loving Energy to the growth, the Call Back sounded, and I was quickly zooming back to my room. I thanked Owl and the Helpers.

All that remains now is to ask the Sister’s permission to retrieve her little girl and bring her back inside. This will no doubt force her to face the issues of mistrust and fear head-on, but will also bring back some of that joyful innocence that was lost. She will know when the time for this is right. And while this Journey showed positive things happening in the Growth area, she must take up the reins now and help it on its way.

Prologue: On my first visit outside, the Cloud People were very gracious. I saw a rainbow-colored Sun Dog that was long and conical in shape..looking like the Spear removed from Jane, but turned to bright, good Energy. A great sign! On my last visit outside this afternoon, during all of which prior visits I had searched the Sky for a Hawk or Eagle (such visits have been a powerful if rare validation of my Spirit Work), I had once more scanned the Sky to no avail. Well, I thought, no visit today.. I was just placing my hand on the door handle to go back in when something told me to look straight up..perhaps the Winged One was way up there and hard to spot. So I looked straight up..and there was the Hawk! Way up there, but flapping/soaring along. I get such a thrill when the Spirits visit me in the “flesh” like this, and I look up by “instinct.” The Hawk’s occasional two-beat flaps in the strong winds would cause momentary sun glints..so every 4-5 seconds or so I’d get a couple of sun “winks” off those wings. This was a very powerful response to this and the other Journeys I did today..it just doesn’t get much better. It’s a visit from the Spirit Helpers, in winged form!

Here is the repsonse I got: "Wow! There was so much to take in, I read it Twice... So the Power animal that helped on this journey was a rabbit, not the lamb as last time? [my error..been corrected..should have been Lamb]. As a child I remember the event of a stranger stopping his car as I stood on the sidewalk in front of my house, he just stared at me and I ran into the house. That was such a frightening experience for me at the time; I might have been 7 or 8. As an adult with 2 young children I had a similar experience. My husband and I pulled up to a furniture store, and the parking space was facing their big picture window, and looking at us through the window was a older man dressed in all black and black hat starting at us, I remember being so nervous seeing him stare at us, so we then got out of the car and as we walked into the store, he was walking towards us and out the door he went. He seemed so out of “This Time”. Those were two events of what I would call a Stranger fear. Since then I have always felt skeptical of certain people when out and about living my life."

11/20: Today, two additional, incredible signs: At one of my stops, I looked up to see a large, rainbow-colored flare of Cloud almost right over me. It was way out of position to be a Halo or Sundog. Instead, it was caused by a “Mare’s Tail” Cloud. The Sun had to hit it just right. It had all the colors, very vibrant, and the Blue extended out laterally like a long jagged lightning bolt. It was the most awesome cloud-borne rainbow I’ve ever seen..and spoke to me immediately of the great Healing Power available for the Sister. Later, I saw a bright, thin band of bright, white Light along a length of Cloud that was also sun-induced..but this time there is no meteorological rationale for it..it was just there. Sort of defying science! Again, the white, Healing light I mentioned yesterday. Two first-of-a-kind light shows in the Sky speak to very great Power being afoot.

Journey 126 - Granddaughter

11/15/04: My second journey was to discover the meaning of a Dream I had last night, in which my granddaughter was kicking me very hard on a set of stairs in some building. I decided she had exhibited enough of this behavior recently and it was finally time to try to spank her on her diaper. But, as my hand got close to her I lost all power. I then tried to slap her leg and the same thing happened: I lost all power as I got close. She then grabbed my hand and squeezed it so tight I thought it might break. She then developed a look on her face I have seen before in Spirit Entities that are Dark..a possessed, wide-eyed, still face that almost glows with malevolent Intent. She came near me and was staring off to my right as this look came over her. I admit I was afraid during this Dream, and unsettled when awaking this morning. Also remarkable and significant is that just as this Dream was ending, I awoke to hear Avery screaming upstairs in her bed. I went up and comforted her back top sleep, but I found it odd that the Dream and her waking up afraid occurred at roughly the same time. I suspected some sort of unwanted visitor, from outside this “reality.”

Since I was still in Sacred Space from a prior Journey, I only Smudged for this next Journey. I took my Hollow Bone recently given me and held it, to give myself added Strength. As I sat breathing, I saw white shapes drifting around in front of me. As I began the Drumming, Owl flew up to me, and the White Shapes were all herded into the Spirit Version of the Hollow Bone, which was very large and floating in a twilit Sky. We flew to sit on top of the Bone, which was very large now, while the Shapes were trapped within the Bone beneath us. Owl told me these Shapes were from the Astral Plane, and we would deal with them when we returned. He told me to look for an Opening in the Sky. I searched the Stars but saw none. Then, behind us, I saw a huge Tree, lit with its own light. Near the top, in the middle of the Trunk, was a glowing blue Hole. “That’s it!” shouted Owl and we zoomed up to it at breakneck pace. As we burst into the Tunnel, I saw blue waves of water going by. We soon came up through an Ocean surface and saw a desert island ahead of us. We flew over the island and down into its middle. There we found a smoldering Fire with a bunch of Ravens, my granddaughter’s Power Animal, around it. I began the process of communication with the Ravens by placing burning Sage and Sweet Grass into the Fire, which immediately flared up. As it did so, the day turned immediately to night, and the Ravens into dark figures with glowing eyes. We were all now sitting around a Raven Council Fire. The head Raven told me that I had indeed surmised what had been going on with my granddaughter. A figure from the Astral Plane has been trying to take advantage of her weakened state and invade her. This and other nearby Astral Figures were now trapped in the Hollow Bone. He told me it was now up to me to prevent future such invasions by saying the following Chant to her every night until she is able to understand what is going on herself: “Your Raven is very powerful; Your Raven is building up your Colors; Your Raven wins!” I must say it whether she is with me or not. I agreed. The head Raven then asked me to bring out my Pipe and send it around to all the Council. I did a quick fill and brought in the 7 Directions, then lit the Pipe with an ember from the Council Fire. I took the first Puff and passed it the Pipe to my right, and around it went quickly in the Circle. As each Smoker blew out the Smoke, it collected over the Fire. Suddenly, in the midst of this huge, collected plume of exhaled Prayer Smoke, I saw my granddaughter with a gorgeous smile on her face, and a totally sealed rainbow-colored Aura..the way it should be, and the obvious goal every night. He then told me to listen as all the Ravel Spirit People sang the Chant together. It was a very high-pitched whine, interspersed with some Ravel squawks. It was not a human singing, but very pretty nonetheless. The Council Head then asked me to repeat the Chant one more time to make sure I remembered it (and told me to remember how they sounded singing it when I say it to my granddaughter). I did so, and we then left the Island after thanking the Council very much. Owl and I went back down through the Tunnel, burst through the Tree, and landed back on the Bone. Owl then became Eagle Claw, and we discussed what to do with the Astral Beings beneath us. Eagle Claw told me to call in the Power of the Star Nation, using the Chant he gave me long ago. I did so, and as I did I saw a rainbow-colored glow emerge from one end of the bone. As this Rainbow Path grew longer and headed off into the Stars, I saw globs of Energy (the Beings) zooming out along the Path. They were being reclaimed and returned Home. We always do what we can to help the Lost Spirits..it’s Shamanic Code. I told Owl how I was afraid when I had this event with my granddaughter in my Dream. Owl reminded me that Shamans have no fear..they see a problem, seek the Truth, and then Do the right Thing to fix it..just as I had done in this case. I got the impression Owl was glad I had taken immediate charge of this Dream and sought the answer. Once this process was complete, Owl brought me back to my Room. Before the Call Back Drum began sounding, there was a bit of time, so Owl sent me the Water Spirit holding the Rainbow Glowing Feather to cleanse me with. I thanked Owl for his help. As the Feather swept through and around me, I could feel my body tingling as the Energy flow increased dramatically, and some of the Dust on my Aura was channeled down to Mother Earth through my main Meridians.

Journey 124 - Simple Thanks

11/13/04: My Journey today was to go into the Spirit Camp and simply express my thanks to all my Guides, Helpers and Guardians for all their help and advice. So much Knowledge and Healing being pumped through the Hollow Bone from the Spirit World to this one, and I felt it was time to express my deep gratitude with a simple visit. I know how busy the Sprits are, so I wanted to keep it short and sweet. After preparing the Room and myself, I was off on a 10-minute Journey to CD Drumming. As I entered the Spirit Dimension, I found a strange-looking reality before me. Earth and Sky were in place, but seemed to be made of 3-D cardboard puzzle pieces, all fitted together. I took this as a staunch reminder that what we, especially in the west, call “reality” is truly just a collection of Love pieces strung together in a certain fashion for us. Once I moved past this Puzzle, I was hovering above the Sun, huge and white and roiling. I remembered readings that Spirit People lived within it, and had little rooms in there, and could almost sense their presence. I also felt closeness to Grandfather of the East from my recent Journey visit with him. But soon it was off I go, into yet another area. As I approached an area of very heavy fog, Eagle showed up and landed on my left Shoulder. Off in the distance I could see my Power Animal Birds soaring around freely in the Air, just enjoying themselves. I then reached the fog, and found many of my Helpers and Guides all lined up along a fence, leaning against it. I went up to each one and thanked them personally, then lay myself face down on the ground in an act of humility. I then found the others had left, leaving only Two Feathers and Gray Wolf, my Guardians. Two Feathers stood me up and blew a Gift if Spirit Essence into my Heart Chakra, as if to strengthen me..no doubt for the Future Shamanic Work I have ahead.

Journey 125 - GF's Dream

11/14/04: A Journey to ascertain the meaning of a dream my son's girlfriend had a few nights ago. In this dream, there were numerous Turkeys in her back yard, which her Mom soon shooed away. The girlfriend then went out to the front yard and was spinning around in a golf cart when she hit a Black Panther. The Panther jumped on the front of the cart and growled at her. She then punched the teeth of the Panther out, and thereafter wrestled it to death. I promised her I would ask the Spirit Camp about this obviously powerful Totem Dream. So after Smudging, Rattling in Sacred Space, and lighting the Sacred Candle, I began my Breathing and Drum CD. I soon saw a distant landscape chock full of tens of Black Panthers, all lying at rest. Then, suddenly, Owl was at my left side and we were suddenly whizzing through the Air together. We went into a Tunnel made of wet Mud and shiny, black Panther Hair. Down we went, and as we neared the exit, we came to a stop. Owl told me this land of the Panther would be very dark, with objects just barely discernible. And so it was, as we went out of the Tunnel and into the Land of Panther in the Lower World. We moved slowly toward a small River that was reflecting more light than was available..very curious. We all looked out over the bank and saw our own reflections. I had the aspect of a Hawk. There were three sets of golden eyes (our own) staring back at us on the surface. We sat and waited there. Soon we heard a very powerful rush of Wind and saw a white Mist coming toward and then shooting along the River. The River was very turbulent at this point. After a few seconds we heard the roar of Panther, and the mist went down into the River right before us. The section of River right before us became perfectly still, and the face of a Black Panther appeared and began speaking with us. I explained why I was there, and Panther offered the following explanation: “Turkey is the Giveaway Eagle, and the great collection of Turkeys in your son's girlfriend’s yard reflects her great generosity and giving nature. When her mother shooed the Turkeys off, it interfered with her nature. Her reaction was to go out into the front yard. So she must be aware that people will interfere with her attempts to give of herself..and she will make choices thereafter that can take her into a new area of conflict. Once she met with Panther on the front yard, she defeated it. She did not kill it, for like Animals do not kill each other..it was merely playing dead in defeat. The fight shows that the girlfriend is a very strong female Black Panther herself. This is her Power Animal. The other Panther she fought was actually an foreign entity trying to move into her Energy field to take advantage of her great power, but she resisted the intruder and was able to prevent this takeover. This fight and subsequent victory shows that she has no fear of Death, but must be careful use this great Gift to Heal and Help, to walk and run in graceful Beauty, not dominate and control. She must try to live her life as a Black Panther does. Four Hawks will tell her what these qualities are.” At this point, the discussion was over. Owl, my Panther and I headed back up the Tunnel. Just as we arrived in my back yard, the Call Back Drumming sounded. Again, when the timing is this perfect, I know I have received all I was meant to.

According to Ted Andrew’s Animal Speak, there are many qualities of Black Panther. Here are a few:

-Panther stalks quietly and strikes quickly..this helps guarantee success.
-Panther is good at many things, and can pick and choose areas to succeed in.
-Since Panther is quiet in stalking and pursuit, People with Panther PAs should likewise pursue their goals in silence.
-Panthers are sprinters, not runners..should balance work and play, and not put too much effort into any one goal or task without recognizing how close success is.
-Females raise the young, period.
-Panthers have a strong “inner knowing” capability, and so should listen to that inner voice carefully. Their great hearing skills suggest likewise.
-Panthers have their greatest power in darkness, so Winter and New moon are best times.
-When angry, they do not attack head on..they prefer to attack from the back or side.
-Black Panthers are symbols of the Life and Power of the Night..the Dark of the Moon and Mother.
-They represent female energies manifest on Earth.
-They symbolize the victory and greater advancement that comes from rebirth after Death, and therefore do nor fear it. Jesus, for example, was a member of the Panther tribe.

Journey 123 - The Daughter-in-Law

11/12/04: My fourth Journey today was at the request of an old friend, writing from North Carolina to tell me of her recent life events. She is down there now, living with her son and daughter-in-law: the latter is undergoing chemo treatment for an unspecified cancer. I wrote back to my friend and asked permission to pray for her in a special way, without revealing the Shamanic Journey part of my Prayers. She wrote back and said it was fine! So I re-Rattled, re-Smudged and relit the Sacred Candle, and went off on a 15 minute Journey. As I breathed Shamanically and focused on my Intent, which was to discover the cause of the disease and to re-energize the Daughter-in-law's main Power Animal, I saw a long, grassy Meadow before me at twilight. Crosses in Front, my Lower World Snake Guide, was right before me, very close. She then turned into her human form, dressed in a White Deerskin outfit. The Stars above were numerous, bright and standout-ish..and went right to the Horizon as if there were no atmosphere. Off we went into the Middle World, and after a few passes, managed to get into the hospital where the woman has been receiving treatment. I saw her sitting in her wheelchair.. At first I saw breast cancer, then uterine cancer..so I’m not sure which she might be being treated for. But as I walked around to her front, I could see a large, gaping hole in her Aura near her left lower Abdomen that had the appearance of a large, open flesh wound..quite unseemly. I picked up the Wound and lifted it into my Crystal Chamber to explore it. I got the impression that at age 13/14(?) she had had a sexual experience of some sort that she felt violated her Christian upbringing..and had internalized the subsequent guilt. (Her Mother-in-law reported later, after I sent a brief summation of this Journey, that the Daughter-in-law cannot remember such an event, but all recognize it may be stored in her subconscious.) I then found the Daughter-in-law and me down on a beach by the ocean. We were digging a pit so that tidal waters could flow into it and wash over her. I saw Whale out in the Water, sitting there, ready to deliver the Record of her healthy body into her on the incoming waves. I saw a large Turtle approach the pit, and then four small baby Turtles all hanging around. The large Turtle came by several times, and on the fourth try landed straight on the Daughter-in-law. Turtle then vacated her shell and placed the woman within it. I knew Turtle had to be her Power Animal. At this point I felt a very strong pain in my right ankle. I understood this to be the result of the Dark Energy in the Daughter-in-law’s Body flowing out, and I was feeling it in empathy. I then placed my ankle in the Seawater at the base of the pit, and used my Water Spirit Eagle Feather (vibrantly rainbow-colored) to sweep the Energy into the Water again and again, until the pain was almost gone. I saw the Energy turning to gold dust in the water, and saw Whale taking it to use it for good in the future. Once the Cleansing was over, I was up on my feet. I saw a young girl of 13/14 approach me, holding a baby Turtle in her hand. She gave the Turtle to me, and I took it into my Heart Chakra. I then blew the Turtle Energy into the young girl's Heart and then her Crown, and watched as it dissolved in each case into the spinning Energy vortex, to return the Turtle Power Animal to her. This appearance of a younger Daughter-in-law led me to believe that some transgression had occurred to her at this age. I then took the young girl with me and placed her within the current woman at the hospital. At the very second I told her, “receive your Healed Young Self”, the Call Back Drum sounded. I have found that when the timing is this exact, the Journey has been totally as it should have been. I sent the Mother-in-law a small summary of the Journey, telling her that her daughter-in-law should spend a lot of time either in a pool or in the ocean, to visualize her disease being washed out of her. She wrote back and said it was “very interesting”, for her daughter-in-law likes to take two baths a day. I told her that she should revisit her relationship with Turtles, for they present a hard shell to outsiders but are very softly feminine within. I got no comment on the Turtle aspect. Finally, again, the Daughter-in-law can remember at this point no misdeeds at 13/14 that would have caused her to need to forgive herself..but with time she may remember what seemed a small issue at that time that in actuality left her in a Power-loss mode..which eventually resulted in the damaged Aura I saw at the hospital.

Here is the exchange between me and the Mother-in-Law:

"ME: In the meantime, I suggest she spend time at the Ocean or in a warm pool, allowing the water to cleanse her of her illness by so visualizing and feeling. Also, she might want to revisit her relationship with Turtles. :) Their seeming hardness to the world via their shell hides the true, feminine softness within.


MIL: I understand all you have written, except the part about her 13-14 year old self. Where is that thought coming from?
About the water, she would rather be in a bathtub more than any other place and takes at least two baths everyday. Interesting."

Journey 121 - Pleasure-only Sex?

11/12/04: My first Journey today was to determine what the truth is concerning pornography, and in relation thereto, to the types of uninhibited and excessive practices one can witness there. It seems as if this stuff is more and more popular, and somehow it seems to me to be both against and with the Spirit of Love and Life to engage in acts that are simply for pure pleasure. I’m conflicted in this. So I Rattled, Smudged and lit the Sacred Candle, and set the Drum CD for 15 minutes. As I breathed Shamanically, I found myself standing on a small snow-and-dirt covered pathway leading down to a large sitting log at the bottom of the Hill. In the distance beyond was a fantastically beautiful Pine Forest with extraordinarily large snow-speckled Trees, and from there came both my Barred and Snowy Owl Guides. They came to me as I reached the Log. Both turned into human form and we sat together. I told them of my internal conflict, and asked to be shown the Truth. They turned me to look back up the Hill. Where I had first entered the scene stood two young people, a man and woman, with no clothes. They quickly performed uninhibited sex before us, enjoying the heck out of it. They seemed not to know we were there. I turned to my Guides and asked if that was a Natural Way to do things, as there seemed to be no further connection between the two than a physical one. My Guides told me that Intent was what mattered most. Experiencing pure pleasure in our physical Robes is perfectly in keeping with the Natural Way, as long as no harm is intended to anyone or anything in the process. The concept of Sex as an Evil is a mistaken Controling Agent of certain groups of Humans. I asked other questions along these lines, and in all cases the answer was that Intent is key. Are you performing to bring pleasure to yourself and your partner, or to exhibit some sort of Ego-based control/domination. The goal is an equal sharing of pleasure by both people. The Guides also spoke to me and married men like me specifically, saying that having promised to honor one Woman all our Lives, we must keep that Commitment. That’s fine with me, for I would never hurt my wife by straying from her anyway. But the Guides also said it is fine to fantasize a different person being there with you, for the human mind gets easily bored and must be given change to remain enticed. As long as the fantasy was done with good Intent, it was fine. Their final word concerned modern pornographic offerings: these seem to be the result of people who are either under money or some other sort of control. While made to appear totally voluntary, someone is, after all, dominating the scene with a camera, and seeking payment for the subsequent images. Therefore, the Intent in this public display is quite in question. Viewing it for pure stimulation in order to produce this good Intent, however, was not discussed. I never asked. But one can figure this one out..viewing encourages more of the same, so if the Universe is experiencing an imbalance by this encouragement, it should be avoided. I then was shown three other scenes.. I found myself walking along as a person in a deerskin shirt toward a small streamlet, next to which was a fairly large Boulder. As I knelt down next to this Boulder I saw pieces of gold coin scattered on the dirt beside it. Instead of going for the gold, however, I proceeded to wrap my Arms around the Boulder and seek a Spiritual union with the Stone Person, which I accomplished fairly soon. Looking back now, it would seem that the massage was that one should seek the piece of oneness with other beings, not easy financial gain..a sure message to pornographers everywhere. The second scene was one of a childhood..a young girl and boy going down both sides of a stairway, laughing with each other. The joy of just Being! The final scene was me creeping along a razor thin and evermore narrowing strip of rock ledge well above a River with leafy Trees overhanging its banks. Realizing I had no choice but to fall, I chose to Shape Shift into a Hawk..and found myself flying off and over the River. Just as I did so, the Call Back sounded. It was an interesting end, for the Medicine Card I picked last night at random, and only my second in quite a while, was: Hawk! A reminder to stay True to my Calling in all things. :)

Journey 122 - Tell Mom?

11/12/04: My second Journey was to finally get an answer as to whether I should tell my Mom, a fairly devote Christian, about my Shamanic Journey. I have conflict here as well, for I know she is sad we no longer go to church to seek oneness with her God, and worries about the effect of this on us and our progeny. I would love to let her know that I have discovered the True Path, and have seen more of the Spirit Terrain and Helpers than any Priest has ever allowed her to even know of, let along experience. So, off I went, the Room still cloaked in Sacred Space from my first Journey earlier today. This time, Barred Owl (Eagle Claw when in human form) came to me on a small Branch that had an orange and a red leaf on the end. He then sent me off to climb a Tree in my old neighborhood that I had climbed to the top of several times as a 10 year old. I found myself clambering up this fine Tree one more time. When I got to the very top, I seemed to have broken through a barrier of some sort. All around me and all the way to the horizon was a sea of white, wavy, milky mist. Owl then came by and scooped me up, taking me up toward a single Cloud Person that developed a hole in it. Through this hole we went, and were inside a Tunnel made of thin, gleaming silver slivers streaming by us. We exited the Tunnel and came into a Room lined completely in plush blue velvet. On one wall was my Mother’s Wedding picture, with numerous pictures going back in time of her ancestors layered outwards behind it. On the adjacent wall was an early shot of my Dad, with his ancestors going back in time and distance as well. Then, my Mother’s Mother appeared to me. I began speaking with her, and told her how nice it was to see her again. She moved easily now and could see and speak well..not how she was the last time I saw her looking like this. I asked her whether her Daughter/my Mother would receive the news of my Shamanism well. She took me on a little imagery tour in which I was shown that my Mom is quite content in her adopted religion. I saw her smiling as a younger woman, about the same time frame as my Tree Climbings. I saw her as she is now, sitting in her Church, praying. I was told she has lived this long because she truly believes in Jesus and Guardian Angels (as you may know, I know for a fact she has one, having met her recently in a Journey). She is quite content in this knowledge, and one of or both of two things would happen if I, unwelcomed, told her of my Sacred Calling: her Faith would be altered and possibly weakened, and/or she would begin stealing Power from me by asking questions like, “So should I go out and start lighting Fires and Dancing around them? Which Tree should I worship?” I then asked my Grandmother how I can reconcile keeping such an important development in my life a secret from my Mom like this. My Nana then told me that I have been keeping this a secret from almost everyone! Brothers and sisters, friends, co-workers..so why should my Mom be any different? Each person is in their own Sacred Path, and for me to tell my Mom would violate hers. As in all things, if the opportunity ever comes up and she asks, then I would tell her, just as I would any others in my Circle of Life. Realizing we were done, I thanked my Grandmother and Owl and I headed back down the Tunnel to the top of the Tree, and from there I came back to the room.

Right after this, I checked with my new Deer Bone Journey Tool to get a quick reading on an upcoming storm. I imagined the Bone in my hands and whistled through it as taught a few days ago four times. I then went within and looked at the falling snow. I was given a total accumulation that is slightly less than expected..but a number I feel is quite reasonable. It is marvelous to have this “mini-Journey” capability..a gift of maturity that one could possibly liken to a Bah Mitzvah for a Jewish young man. a dramatic and welcome step forward as my ability to be the transmitter of Sacred Spirit Knowledge grows. For that, in a nutshell, is the definition of a Shaman.

Journey 120 - The Bone

11/9/04: A Journey taken discover the Uses and Meaning of the 4-inch by 1.5” section of large Bone that was placed in the crux of my Epiphany Tree a few days ago, not long after the second Hawk landing therein. This piece of Bone just showed up, and was wedged in between two Trunk sections as if placed there by intending hands. I was and still am convinced this was a Gift from the Little People. It is a very old Bone, and has teeth wear marks on one side. I have recently performed my first Soul Retrieval, and have been reading a new book on this subject in which it is mentioned that certain Shamans used to use pieces of Bone for..you guessed it, Soul Retrieval! Moreover, the concept of a Shaman as a Hollow Bone..that is, the transmitter of Spirit Help, not the Cause..has been emphasized recently as well (I’m reading the Sandra Ingerman book), and is a concept I often use in my morning Prayers when asking to be effective in my Shamanism. It’s a concept Fools Crow brought to me several years ago via his books. Anyway, I let the Bone sit there in the Tree a few days, and then asked the Tree if I was meant to actually take it and place it in my Medicine Bundle. I got a resounding “yes”, and did so. That was yesterday, the same day as my visit with the Grandfather of the East. So today I wanted to investigate this precious Gift even more. For all I knew, it might have been a piece of my own leg Bone from 900 years ago, dug up to give me Power. I didn’t really care where it was from, though..what mattered was the Little People had brought it to me as a sign that my Training was going very well, and I was ready for the next, more involved level.

So I smudged the Room, lit the Sacred Candle, Rattled in Sacred Space, and was off. I sensed Owl flying in immediately, wearing a cloak of bright Purple light, Purple being the color of high Spirituality. He took me quickly over to a scene I remember well: my old Altar when I was Rains Again 900 years ago. But he pulled me away almost as quickly and we went into the Woods for a way. There, I found a young Rains Again (former me) bending over his first Deer kill, weeping. I moved into my Rains Again body to get “his” perspective. The Spirit of Deer appeared to my right, tall and graceful, a beautiful Woman with Doe eyes. She told me not to cry, that she was giving me the Gift of Deer Medicine. This meant I would have great sensitivity and gentleness for the rest of my evolutionary Lives. She said this would cause me to suffer a lot of hurt and rejection at the hands of people who would attack me and/or make fun of me..certainly how I felt as a child and young adult in this Life! But Spirit of Deer also told me that when I finally was able to overcome these feelings of hurt by walking the Shaman’s Path of Knowledge concerning how it is the other person’s problem, not mine, that was causing them to so act, she would send me a section of her leg Bone. And this is when I realized that this old Bone I now had in THIS Life was that Gift..a sign of Healing.

Now, Owl quickly took me back to the Altar of long ago, and we looked up. The entire scene..forest, sky, light..was merging into a huge swirl of Color, as if dissolving into a tube. This was our Tunnel to the Upper World, and up we went. We past layers of Light interspersed with periods of dark.. We went way up to a Land of Trees and old, Greek-looking buildings..and then even higher. We were now sitting on the surface of the Sun itself The surface was roiling, waving and boiling with intense white light, and yet it was not hot or blinding. Owl pointed out the face that Grandfather of the East was now approaching..this was his Home! Grandfather spoke to me concerning the Bone. He said I should use it to take mini-Journeys, by either staring into it or holding it up to my ear, depending on the type of info I wanted. He taught me a short Whistle to use to call in the Spirits, which I memorized. He then told me to walk inside the Bone to test it out. I asked him if I could use It to look at a good friend’s son’s Aura..the 12-year-old boy has become a real challenge for my friend, and can barely stay in school due to terrible behavioral problems. He said I could. I looked and soon saw the Boy, and that most of his Aura was depleted. He had been raided and reduced numerous times, and was barely present as a Spirit. I moved in closer and circled around him. I saw three tiny remnants of Power Animals: Frog, Lizard and Spider. This told me he had loads of Female Medicine originally, but his Mom no longer lives with him..only his Dad is at home. He’s lost these. I then saw a large PA hovering over his back, but quite transparent. Giraffe! Again, a strong tie to Motherhood. This boy desperately needs a Mother Spirit. I was then told that I could not intervene in this case unless the Father specifically asked me. I asked Grandfather to send the Father, my friend, emissaries to ask him Spiritually to contact me about this, either through a Dream or a Hunch. I then slipped further into the Mists of Spirit’s Upper World, and came out with two images I remember: an object resembling a Woman’s hand-held make-up mirror with a totally black surface where reflection should have been, and a young boy rolling on a carpet in a bright living room, next to a coffee table. The former tells me he has about zero for self-esteem, the latter that he has somehow lost his childhood too early. I then thanked all the Spirits involved in this Journey, and the Drum Call Back sounded soon thereafter. I hope my friend hears my Helpers’ calls.