Friday, June 25, 2004

Journey 64 - Daughter's PA

6/25/04: A Journey to find and assign a Power Animal to my daughter. It began almost immediately upon my completing the Smudging, the Rattling and the lighting of the Sacred Candle. As I breathed Shamanically and lay down with the Whitaker CD drumming, I began this journey is a new but familiar place. A land full of beautifully lit Tipis, each a glowing with a different color, at night. Off to my left was a large mountain, with little purple and yellow lights moving up and down the slopes, as if a mix of Spirit People and Sacred Fires. My Lower World Guide, Crosses in Front, the Snake, showed up wearing a red bandana and a moustache. This implied to me a Mexican or Peruvian Spirit Camp. As we walked together, Crosses and I could see into the opening of the various Tipis, and in the pitch-black could see the glowing eyes and Pipe Bowls of the Ones within. We went into a darkened Tipi (just skin on the outside, minus the Glow). Within were the glowing Eyes and Bowls, but also a small, pulsing purple circle on the ground. Crosses and I entered and went through this Tunnel, with circular pulses moving past us as we went down. As we reached the exit, there were curtains of light green Energy strips hanging before us, and as we passed through these we were in a small clearing with lush growth. Crosses demonstrated to me that I had the Ability to create any form of Life here I wished. Using Energy from my outstretched palm, I thereby created a bush-like tree with white blossoms. I created some Chipmunks and Rabbits to scurry on the ground before us. At this point, a rainbow-colored Hawk flew in and landed beside me. When asked, he said he was not the Power Animal for my daughter. But he did invite me to ride his back as went in search of the PA. As we lifted up above the Trees, I could see a large rock faced cliff to our front-right. We flew toward a cave in the middle of the face. As we approached, we both turned into tiny gold figurines, A hawk and a Tiny Man, both coming to rest in the dirt just inside the Cave opening. Our Spirits were free from these objects though, so we sat in Spirit Form nearby and awaited my daughter's Power Animal. Bear and Antelope both appeared from further within, but they were not her PA. Nor was the Deer who came nibbling at the Entrance. At this point I lapsed a few minutes into the Theta State, and don’t recall the imagery there, but it was not really germane. When I came back into the Journey, I found Grandfather to the North sitting across from me. He produced Pegasus, the Winger Horse and Spirit Messenger. But Pegasus was not her PA either, Rather, she took me on board and we flew north. We landed in a snowy field, where Polar Bear came up to us. She announced she WAS my daughter's PA, and went with me to my daughter's bedroom, where she was sleeping with the light on. Polar Bear licked her face in friendliness, then curled herself around my daughter, then shrank into her. We then were back at the snow field, and Pegasus brought me back to the cave. I went back into the Theta State. When I awoke, Hawk and I resumed our bodies from the golden figurines and went back the clearing. From there, Crosses and I went back up the Tunnel to the Tipi. We went outside, and some of the Spirit People there invited me to go the main Fire to dance with them. I did so, and my Power Animal Eagle took over, carrying me through and spiraling up above the Spirit Flames. We passed among the embers and sparks of the Fire of Life. The call-back drumming then occurred, just as I landed. I felt a powerful presence, Snake, running through my Luminous Body as the Jack-hammer like pounding of the Drum set the pace for the intensity and determination of Snake in eating the Imprints and Crystallized Energies away from my Aura. I felt much cleansed and strengthened as I retuned to the room.

Thursday, June 24, 2004

Journey 63 - Son's PA

6/24/04: A Journey to find and assign a Power Animal to my son. Recent events and a lot of pressure as he transitions to young adult have made me realize he can use the help. Who better than his Shaman Father to arrange this with the Spirits?! I had just finished consecrating my wife's Agate Stone for presentation tomorrow as an Anniversary gift, so I took the still-lit Sacred Candle into the bedroom and went straight into the Drum CD. I had already open Sacred space by Rattling to the 7 Directions and Smudging as part of the Consecration, and so I did not do this again once back in the bed room. I lay down while concentrating on my mission, and was soon off to meet with my Lower World Guide, the Snake, Crosses in Front. I was out back again, and the scene shifted from daylight back to night, and the same scene as in my last Journey was suddenly there again: small mounds of fire nested among the grass. I shrank myself down, and was walking among the mounds of fire, when suddenly, small blue Spirit blobs began to emerge and circle around me. They tightened a Circle around me and I realized from their speed and ferocity that they were attacking me! I felt pressured, and in a panic of sorts. I realized I was in this fix without any visible Power Animal to protect me! This could be quite “bad.” I felt a strong tingling in my body and felt I was actually be led away from it..I felt I needed to escape before I was taken for good. I even opened my eyes to try to end the Journey, for that is always the final answer when a Journey that turns in a direction one doesn’t want. Yet as I stared at the ceiling, I felt it was not a good time to leave, that things were meant to begin this way and I should go back into the scene. Leaving it unresolved, as it were, could leave me contaminated with the attacking Energies. I did go back, and determined immediately that I needed to get off the ground. As I was lifting off, the blue attackers came with me, pulling in ever tighter around me. I then saw Eagle, my Power Animal, come barreling in from above me, in a marked haste. He grabbed me away from the Blue Ones and lifted me up to a Tree Branch immediately above the scene, right next to Owl, who had just appeared. Owl wrapped me in his large Feathers and held me to his chest, blanketing me completely from the action. After a short spell, he let me back out again to survey the scene below. The Blue Ones were gone, but the Fires were still there. My Totem, Black Panther, then appeared and stalked across the area, putting out all the Fires. Suddenly, night turned to day, and the same area that had been covered in grass and fires was now a pleasant patch, with a light blue-green short-grass waving in the wind. Crosses appeared, and led me to the Tunnel to the Lower World. We went down, passing concentric colored circles whizzing by us in the walls. Eventually this wall turned into a blue fog of Energy. As we emerged from the Tunnel exit, we fell immediately into a large waterfall, landing at the base. The river bank was covered in exotic, short green blobs of plants, sans leaves. We went to shore and sat next to one of these. I looked at Crosses, who was staring at me with his mouth wide open, as if to attack. “Man,” I thought, “this is the Journey to have people turning on me..” Snake then bit me in the neck. He told me he had done this purposely to train me to transmute the poisons in my life. He said there would be several more such sessions in the Future. As I found my world getting dark, he told me that when I awakened from this transmuting session, my son’s Power Animal would appear to me. In total darkness now, I began trying to overcome the poison. At the same time, I saw my own face up ahead of me. Soon my face turned into that of an Owl, then a Skeleton, then a large circular Eye. The Eye then stretched itself into an inverse triangle. I think I recall it then circled up around my head. Then, I saw my entire self, standing at a distance in front of me. This “self” was asking where it was, and who was I. I told “myself” that I was Four Hawks, the Shaman living in the body “he” occupied. I told “him” I was the part of him that could never die. I told “him” that he must transmute his poisons. I then reached out to touch “me” to begin that process. I looked down at my left hand and it was the most misshapen and grotesque hand I have ever seen. The other “me” recoiled in horror and asked what it was. I told him it was the most beautiful hand in the Universe since it was a direct creation of the Great Spirit, and therefore had its own precious worth and beauty, no matter how it appeared to us. I told him I had to touch him with it to transmute his poison. When I did so, “he” appeared to die, and the last image I saw was of “my” face staring glassy-eyed and open-mouthed. I then came back to the room enough to begin forcing the poisons in my body down through the bed to Mother Earth. I pressed my palms against the mattress to accelerate the cleansing. I felt intense pain in my left hand, jut above the thumb. From there, realizing I had to fall asleep in order to wake up to my son’s Power Animal, I began to try to slow my breath rate to one per minute, concentrating on the drumming only and clearing my mind of all thought. I soon fell into the Theta State, and while there had several dream-lets. Again, I am not able to recall what they were, as I still have to strengthen myself into bringing images back from the Theta State. I was aroused from this very peaceful, sleep-like rest by the incessant return drumming in my headphones. As I awoke, I knew I only had a minute or so to find my son’s Power Animal. I didn’t try to see it, just waited..and then came a Horse. Yellow, with Pink Ears and a Blue Mane. Suddenly, the return drumming sped up to that of a Horse Trot! I saw Horse trotting along with my son, and knew he was now his Partner. I thanked him. I then came back up the Tunnel with Snake and we emerged into the back yard. I thanked Owl and Eagle and Snake for their help. The scene had returned to the grassy mounds with many fires. The Blue Ones now came up and circled around me in friendship. They told me they had been there at the start to get me ready for me Transmuting Ceremony. They congratulated me on surviving it. They shape-shifted and became Native men and women! They were NA Spirits! Shortly after this Journey, I went outside to get ready to cut the hedges. As I walked along the porch, a shape above me caught my eye. A HUGE bird was flying away from me right at the top of the red maple. The back looked just like the huge bird we saw leaving the Loft last Saturday. This time, though, the Bird began circling around just beyond the Maple..a chance to see just what kind of bird this is! It was a Peace Eagle! And it stayed with me for minute, slowly circling higher and higher just over the edge of the house. Then I saw a second higher up, and they both took off to the west. That Eagle had flown right over me head not 15 feet above me..the closest a Peace Eagle has ever come to me. I felt this was another sign that my Journey had pleased the Spirits! Moreover, this was the second such “near-miss” flyover is less than a week. Powerful forces are afoot on my Path’s behalf. Finally, we look at the Medicines of Horse, my son’s new Totem Power Animal. Jamie Sams says Horse stands for Power. “Compassion, caring, teaching, loving, and sharing your talents, gifts and abilities are the gateways to power. Every human must follow the compassion pathway to power before riding the winds of their destiny.” Ted Andrews says, “Horses are symbols of freedom. Horse People are friendly and adventurous and can be very emotional. Riding a horse raises us above the mundane, and is like flying. Horses can represent movement and travel, or showing up to help you with movement. The represent sexual desire, and the taming of the stallion represents the taming of sexuality and dangerous emotions. Horse will teach you how to ride into new directions to awaken and discover your own freedom and power.” The colors of my son’s Power Animal are also significant. Yellow stands for intellectual power, awakening, and is also the color of the South, the direction of youth and growth and joy of living. Pink is comforting to the emotional energies of the individual. Blue represents peace, faith, aspiration to higher things, and creativity. The fact Horses ears were pink reflects the need for my son to soothe his emotions by listening more closely to what is being said, and not assume the wrong messages behind the words that can lead to anger. Quite a Journey!!!

Wednesday, June 23, 2004

Journey 62- Double Power Animal Assignment Attempt

6/23/04: A Journey to assign TWO Power Animals at once to two different people..a first to perform two tasks in one Journey, but probably allowable since they are related (mother and son) and living in the same area of CT. Both are related to my friend and co-carrier at work. The mother is suffering from a severe intestinal blockage, unable to eat and refusing treatment, the latter from the last stages of Cancer. My intent in helping assign Power Animals to these two people is not necessarily to heal them, as both seem pretty much resigned to pass. But more to have them get the Spiritual Guidance they need, in whatever forms works for them, to help make their transition back to the Spirit Camp a joyful and smooth one. I’m sure today’s Journey will be quite remarkable, for as I left for my route this morning, a Hawk was circling right over my head at the Bandstand, resplendently lit from above by a strong Sun. It was a celebration of my return to (or, maybe better, start of) serious Shaman work. I saw several other Hawks/Peace Eagles during the day, all gliding well up in Father Sky. So, I Rattled myself into strength and protection of the 7 Directions, smudged with Sage and Sweet Grass, and lit the Sacred Candle. I used Kay Whitaker’s Drum CD, to which I’d been falling asleep lately..more on that later. I lay down and breathed Shamanically, trying to slow my breath to 4 per minute. As I concentrated on my Intent, I found myself outside in the yard, at night. On the ground before me were numerous small Sacred Fires, as if I was standing over a mini-Village. VERY wonderful to behold. My Lower World Guide Crosses in Front, the Snake, met me there, and we both hovered over this scene for a few seconds, drinking in the beauty of the small Fires lighting the grass mounds around them. Then, off to our right, I spotted an opening in the ground at the edge of the Forest, with Sweet Grass Smoke drifting up from the Opening. In we went, and we were suddenly zooming down this Tunnel, which had streaks of light imbedded in the walls but was otherwise dark. As we emerged from this Tunnel, we fell into free fall in the midst of a huge, swirling, blue-white cone of Energy. It was a marvelous feeling to be moving down through this bright whirlpool. We then landed, and the whirlpool around us dissipated like a fog. The landscape had Trees, Bushes and Sky, but all had a deep purple hue. I looked to my left and there was Eagle Claw. It struck me that it had been a very long time since we had actually been together, and we walked a while, talking. He mentioned to me how proud he was that I had finally taking back control of my Shamanic Destiny. He then showed me one of the more Sacred Sights I’ve ever seen in a Journey. Rising above the forest to our left was a huge, triangle-shape mountain, almost completely white, from a distance seeming to be made of crystals and rock. As I looked at the Peak a second time, I saw a huge and brilliant fire emerging from the very tip. Eagle Claw spoke and told me this was the Fire of All Life. Every thing in existence has this Fire in it. He suggested I hitch a ride to the Peak, and at that moment my Power Animal Eagle was at my right side, ready to take me up there. We took off, me nestled gently in Eagle’s claws. We went upslope very fast, under tremendous wing thrusts, and very close to the ground. I could make out Crystals, Snow, Water Streams, Patches of Green, Tipis..the side was replete with Beauty. When we got near the Peak, we landed. The Peak was surrounded by a circular grove of very tall Trees. Within this circle was a second circle of Stone People, one of whom we sat on. The golden display of moving Life Fire was breath-takingly immense. I could hear wind blowing off to my left, and was told (not sure by whom, but it must have been Eagle) that I was hearing the first and last breaths of many living things at once..it was an intersection, where one life’s last breath became a new life’s first. It was thrillingly circular, and comforting. Then, two Animals approached from my left. An Antelope and a Deer. They told me they would be acting as the Power Animals for Lucille and Allayer. For a short time, they changed forms from animals to a handsome Native Man and a lovely Native Woman, then shifted back again. They told me they would head off now and perform their tasks. At this point, I realize after the fact, I “fell asleep”..but it was not sleep at all. In fact, I was achieving the Theta Wave state of consciousness, attainable only by advanced Shamans. Most Journeying occurs in the Alpha State. In this deepened layer, which resembles sleep a lot and takes much training and talent to come back with information from, I recall one striking image: a man sitting at a table, holding a large piece of paper up at one corner, and just below the corner itself was a brilliant little star. When I came back to the Peak, the Power Animals had returned. As a gift, one gave me the tip of an Antler, the other a Nose Whisker. I have brought these Spirit Gifts back with me, and will try to find their counterpart in this dimension. We then headed off together toward a Village, and back I went into Theta State. The only images I recall, and there were others, is of the mother sitting in the back of a car, drumming..and watching her drum made me realize she was in synch with the CD drumming, which in turn brought me back up to the Alpha State. I believe I went back down to Theta then until the call-back drumming began. At this point, Eagle and I left the Peak, landed by Eagle Claw, whom we thanked, and then Snake and I came back up the Tunnel. When we got out into the yard, the scene of Night and small Fires went back to daylight..I was back. Seeing both a man and the mother in the Theta state makes me ponder what the symbology is..what is the message for my friend from her brother and mother. Also, now knowing I am flirting with the Theta State will allow me to discipline my Journeys further to try and reach this state while still able to function. Best of all, though, is that each of the sick ones has been visited by the Spirits, and is ready for whatever comes.

Tuesday, June 22, 2004

Journey 61 - Conversation with My PA

6/22/04: A journey to have a conversation with my Power Animal as suggested in a recent reading..just to get a sense of where I am and where I should be heading. In a lesser vein, the purpose of this Trip was to prove to myself that I could stay awake for an entire Journey. :) I’ve fallen asleep on the last two.. I began with the usual Rattle Ceremony to the 7 Directions, lit the Sacred Candle and breathed Shamanically while concentrating on my Purpose and self-drumming. I soon was outside my window with Crosses in Front, my Snake Guide to the Lower World. His eyes were alternating between his usual ones and the Azurite variant I’d seen in one of my last two Journeys. As we went to the Tunnel Opening, I noticed the Grass was almost ablaze with green light, as if each Blade were a light source in its own right. As we went down through the Tunnel, the brown Earth walls were covered in golden Specks. The trip was fairly long by comparison, perhaps 6 of our seconds. As we emerged, we came out onto a thick limb of a large Tree sticking out of the side of a Rock Ledge. The branch offshoots were all covered in thick, green Leaves with large White Blossoms, giving the Tree a very full and cozy feel. The Air was of delightful warmth and freshness. Crosses and I moved up to the Eagle’s Nest toward the end of a large Branch. It was large and made of Sweet Grass and Sage! We waited, and soon a large shadow crossed over us. I looked up, and Eagle was gliding over the Nest, and instead of flying down to it, Eagle hovered down, riding the Air Currents right onto the Nest. I looked down at my Eagle Charm on my lower Neck and saw that it was giving off tiny specks of golden light in all directions. At the same time, I could hear music playing gently from it. I thanked Eagle for meeting with me, but did not refer to Eagle as He or She. I told Eagle I felt neither was correct. Eagle said that I was correct, for Eagle encompassed the qualities of both male and female Eagles, combining the attributes of both so as to best serve as my Power Animal. I asked Eagle then if there was anything I should be told..this was a social call! :) Eagle said that I have been chosen specially to come back to the Path of the Shaman, and that I should honor that Calling by giving up feeding my body alcohol and other weakening agents that keep me from being my best. Eagle said the World desperately needed my Shaman Talents, Prayers and Ceremonies. Eagle then suggested I eat of the bright red Berries that were suddenly among the White Blossoms. I did so, and felt the elixir healing me. At the same time, the scene turned red, with Eagle also turning a bright glowing red with orange Eyes. I asked why this had happened, expecting a response to due with the East, whose color is red. Instead, Eagle told me that the Berries had allowed me to see that my lower two Chakras (colors Red and Orange) were still highly troubled and needed more cleansing. Then scene then returned to normal coloring, and Eagle invited me for a ride on its Shoulder. Off we went across the wide-open expanse. We went high, and were soon skirting the thin boundary between Space, whose Stars shone brilliant above me, and the Atmosphere, a blue line just at and below us with Earth farther down. This was the “betwixt and between” area spoken off in my latest book by Tom Cowan, and I heard wonderful Music emerging from this place where neither element controls. I saw several heads go by, but did not recognize anyone. Eagle said we were racing ahead in Time, and did I wish to witness my own Death in this life? I said yes, and I then saw two images go fleeting by. The first showed me as a very old Codger collapsing in a sunny garden. The other showed me dying on my job. Eagle then told me the choice of Deaths was mine, based on my future actions. We then flew back to the Nest. Eagle told me the Power Animal assignment to me was permanent and it would always be with me. Eagle then told me to give Azurite Energy to each of my Chakras upon returning. I thanked Eagle, and Crosses and I then headed back into the Tunnel to return, while Eagle’s strong wing flaps at the Entrance caused a warm and welcome breeze to accompany us. When we emerged into the back yard, it was dark. I thanked Crosses and headed back in, drumming myself back to this dimension. I then took my Azurite Stone and held it at each Chakra point for 4 Shaman’s Breaths at each location. As the Stone drew ever closer to the top of my head, I felt more and more LIKE an Eagle! I could sense a beak on my face, and wings along my arms! I then swept the Stone from Crown to Base Chakra several times. This concluded the Journey, and I blew out the Sacred Flame. No falling "asleep" here.. :)

Thursday, June 17, 2004

Journey 60 - Attempt at dislodging Dark Force

6/17: A short but dedicated Journey to see if I can dislodge the Dark Force that grabbed my wife during my Shamanic Dream last year. I’m convinced that force is still hovering around her at times, and I determined to do a final Battle with it. I Rattled very deliberately and lit the Sacred Candle, then self-drummed. I had all my Guides with me for this one..Snake, Owl, Two Feathers, Gray Wolf and Sense All. We did not enter a Tunnel, but were immediately facing a huge expanse of pitch blackness ahead. As we moved slowly into it, our bodies became their Luminous Energy Fields, with all traces of normal physical viewing removed..just lines of blue Energy. I felt no fear, and was ready to move in. As I did, with my Protectors behind me, I saw a vague outline of a blacker shape ahead..a person’s profile. I felt my entire Energy field setting up a huge block against this Being, refusing absolutely to allow any penetration by it.. As I followed it further into the Darkness, I suddenly came to a scene at an old barn, and the Dark Being disappeared into a grave near the base of the right side, front wall of the barn. Not an ordinary burial place. I sensed this Being was the one who has attached itself to my wife, having been hounding me for years. I then fell asleep, not only because I was tired, but because of the huge amount of Energy it took to move through the Dark Place. Also, it was apparently not my time to do this Battle. I look forward to it, though.. After I awoke, I forgot to put out the Sacred Candle, so it burned an extra hour or so..no doubt to cleanse the area of any traces of darkness. Final Note: I can swear I’ve had a very similar experience in the past few weeks with seeing a Being go into its grave..but I’ve checked my recent Journeys and notes, and can find nothing. Perhaps its was in a Dreamlet..

Saturday, June 12, 2004

Journey 59 - PA for C

6/12/04: A Journey to aid a good friend in her transition from Mom to college mom, for she is very shaken by it, and being revisited by “ghosts from the past” now that her prime purpose of 18 years is ending. I used Kay Whitaker’s Drum CD, a new purchase, setting it for a 20-minute trip. As I relaxed and concentrated on my Purpose, I found myself outside the bedroom window next to the clothesline, where a Chipmunk burrow entry is. My Lower World Guide, Crosses in Front, the Snake, appeared. He had Azurite eyes (!), and gave a pair to me, to help me see better. As I looked around in the yard with these new eyes, I saw the Green Spirit of the Trees and Grass, and briefly that of the Squirrels. Then we went down into the Tunnel. It was completely circumferenced with Trees and Grasses, with clear blue in the middle as we zoomed through it. As we exited into the Lower World, I saw a large Stone Person. I went to it and opened up a Sacred Space within which to treat our friend. Only part of her arrived..the part I was supposed to deal with..the rest was denied. Her mid-section was heavily girded by Imprints from her past. I called in a Power Animal..and it was a very aggressive Shark. I grounded my feet to Mother Earth as a precaution. He told me not to worry, as this aggression was required to deal with our friend’s Imprints. In my Cortex, I also saw a Being with two star-like eyes, followed by an animal of some sort hovering over her. These were no doubt Entities also attached to her Luminous Body. These will require even harder effort to dispel. But, at this point I fell asleep, and so was not allowed to work any further. At least, though, I had activated Shark for her. Key Shark Medicine: Sharks sink if they don’t keep swimming. Lesson for our friend: anytime she stops to wallow in her emotions (water), she also sinks. Keep moving! When I woke up, I realized I had not returned properly, and as I drove to the store, felt very otherworldly. So when I returned I took a second, self-drummed Journey to finish things off. I thanked the Stone Person, Shark and Crosses. As I went back up the Tunnel, the Trees had sparkling Crystal diamonds in them. I emerged onto a flat plain, versus my back yard. There I found my Azurite Stone. Her Spirit spoke with me and told me to be careful how I used my new Powers. She referred to me as Brother. Being with her was peaceful, serene, “blue.” Earlier in the afternoon, on my route, I’d seen a Cloud Person whose shape was very much like a Female head with a blue Face..no doubt a predictor that I was about to meet my Stone Spirit.

Wednesday, June 02, 2004

Journey 58 - New PA for wife

6/2/04: A Journey to find a new Power Animal for my wife..and to get me back on the Shamanic track. After smudging and lighting the Sacred Candle, I wandered out into the back yard and shape-shifted down to the size of a small insect and began walking through the blades off grass, which towered over me and were very thick and strong. It was hard to believe these solid masses of vegetation, like trees, could be crushed so easily by humans. I saw a huge (to me) Beetle go by, who asked what I thought of this ground-level world from his perspective (with a smile), and also an Ant, with its hairy legs, climbing one of those blades of grass in powerful leg thrusts, each leg sticking nicely to the blade while it barely bent under the weight..as if made of a thick rubber. I believe I did this visit in order to remind myself of my place in the existence here..every being has its Sacred Mission, including me. Bowie does his, my family do theirs, I do mine, etc. I then shape-shifted back up to normal size for a second, to find an opening. I chose the Chipmunk hole by the clothesline and down I went, and shortly after entering met Crosses in Front. We went further down the brown-sided Tunnel with Crosses in the lead, and as we progressed, the sides of the Tunnel began changing colors..solid red to solid yellow and so forth. The Tunnel went back to brown, and then we came to a grouping of rocks sticking out of the right side of the passage. I stopped at one and tried to guess what is was, as it might be a Totem for Janet. Crosses turned around and came back, smiled and said, “this is an Agate. You should get one to help your wife heal.” We then moved on and shortly emerged into a large wooded plain. The Trees were in various states of fall foliage, but the colors were much more vibrant and varied. Even the sky had several different hues, of light green, light purple and light blue. We sat down and awaited a Power Animal for my wife. I looked in the distance and saw large Tigers and Lions stalking, but to my left right near me appeared a Raccoon. She seemed very friendly and willing to help. I asked her is she would be Janet’s Healing Power Animal, and she said yes. I then saw her head over to her work office with little Raccoons in tow. I saw her’s Luminous Body at work, and saw the face of a woman hovering over it..no doubt her Guardian. I then watched as the Raccoon and her little ones disappeared into my wife’s Energy Field. Her rainbow Aura turned brighter. I saw most of the emphasis if the work was in the main torso area. I then returned to the site with Crosses, knowing my wife was in good hands. He took me for a walk along a riverbank, covered first in snow. I put my fingers into the snow and felt no cold. Suddenly the bank was covered in hot, white sand, and again I felt no sensation. Crosses reminded me that hot and cold, winter and summer, all the opposites, are here mainly as teaching tools, and not so much as objects to be coveted. He then led my upriver a bit to the most astoundingly beautiful Native village I have ever seen. The Tipis nested in the deep-green Trees were of many hues, all vibrant. Moreover, there was a feeling of Peace there that flooded me with total serenity. Crosses asked me to thank him then, for when I woke from my nap here in this glen, I would be back in my room. Raccoon Totem has dexterous and able hands, that are washed often for increased sensitivity. It lives mainly on vegetables and fruits. The main power is one of the Mask. This gives one the ability to disguise or transform ourselves into someone new. We can become whatever we want by wearing masks. I’ll have to teach my wife how to apply a metaphysical mask..

Tuesday, June 01, 2004

Journey 57 - Lottery Win?

6/1/04: A Journey to discover whether or not it is time for me to win the Lottery! A first for these Journeys, dealing with accumulating wealth. But that IS allowed, as long as the motives are of love. For example, Shamans of old would ask the Spirits where the Buffalo herds were, to feed the People..and back then, Buffalo WAS their wealth. So, I Rattled, Smudged and lit the Sacred Candle. As I sat on the bed thinking of my Purpose, even before the Journey really began, I saw an image of Owl arriving in which he was covered in dollar signs! I thought to myself, “very funny!” as if my purpose was being slightly mocked. But then I instantly became apologetic as I realized I may have assumed incorrectly about motive, and therefore insulted Owl by saying that. So, I allowed him to fly in so decorated, and we met on a branch on the Red Maple as I lay down and sank deeper into the Journey Drumming (self-drumming). We began to talk. Owl, still wearing dollar signs, looked at me and smiled, saying, “You know, we Spirits have a sense of humor! I’m wearing these symbols because of your wish to win the lottery. But what will you do with this money if you win it?” I told him I would pay off family mortgages, set my wife up for life, pay for the kids’ colleges, and then go to train as a Shaman with Villoldo in NY, perhaps traveling to the Andes with him. He then asked, “Do you think you are ready for this kind of wealth? Look deep into yourself and you’ll see you are still too selfish. Look at the pain you have caused recently with your complaints about time! You need further work in ridding yourself of these self-centered impulses. Would you like to Journey to do that instead of trying to win the lottery?” I answered yes, for I realized this was much more important to my Shamanic Path and therefore the security of my loved ones. Owl suddenly lost his $ symbols, and off we went into the Sky, through a Tunnel of tiny, white crystals of light swirling around us as we flew. We came out of the Tunnel to a large Tree, with a body hanging from a large branch by its hands, looking a bit like Jesus on the Cross. As we drew near, I could see it was me hanging there! “I” was sweating and scared stiff, and “I” turned to the Journeying me and pleaded for help. As Owl and I sat on this branch and looked down below, I could see what awaited my human body. Far below were fires and smoke, and vicious animals ready to eat! Owl (Eagle Claw, my Guide, of course), told me that I was now my 8th Chakra, the part of my individuality that is eternal, and keeps coming back to new lives to learn more as a Spirit. Moreover, he said I was perfectly free to release my body into the pit, and thereby free myself of my selfish urges, if I thought that best. By seeing my body this way, he went on, I could see how temporary are the events and things of my existence on Earth. “You know the expression, ‘time is money’. Remember also from your early instincts and your later training: time is an illusion. Therefore, by that logic, money is also an illusion. So it is more important to better your Spirit Self with Gifts of Love, Guidance and Healing for others.” So now I had to decided whether to let my body go. I decided instead to call in the Spirit Rain to wash my body clean of selfishness. The Rain felt so good as it fell on us and past onto my body. It became young looking again as the rain rinsed it, and the pit below transformed into a glade with grasses and trees, rising up to meet the feet of my body. I then rejoined my body, and as Owl flew along above me and then off, I found myself walking toward my house in my back yard. I thanked Owl for his wonderful intervention. I then stared at the house for a few seconds, watching it turn into a grove of woods (as it was before), and then into a smoldering pile of smoking, burned wood..its eventual fate. I tried to see if we still were the owners when this fire occurred, but it was hard to tell. It started down by the water heater, perhaps in the wall, so I will have to watch that area. I did not feel any sense of loss, and was only concerned that someone might have been in it and died. Again, I could not tell from this fleeting glance. I then came back to the room and grounded.