Journey 202 - A Woman Seeking Shamanism

11/18/05: A Journey undertaken with a woman’s permission to check her Spirit Health. She and I have been trading Notes and Wisdom on Shamanism via e-mail for about two weeks now, and she feels called to the Tradition. So with great Humility and Honor, I undertook this Journey. I lit the Sacred Candle, Smudged the Room, myself and my Tools with Sage and Sweet Grass, then opened Sacred Space with my Amazonian Shaman Rattle. I then set up my Kate Whitaker Drum CD for a 10-minute Journey. I breathed myself to Calmness and concentrated on my Task: to ask about this Woman's Spirit Health!

“As I slipped into the Spirit World, I found myself standing at the Entrance to a long Trellis chock full of ripe, Concord Grapes. I moved in and enjoyed the Aroma and Colors. I soon reached an opening on my Right, a Section that ran off into a new Wing. But within this wing were many glowing, golden Orbs, suspended in the Trellis among the Grapes. At the Entrance to this wing I found both my Lower World Guide, Crosses in Front (Snake) and my Upper World Guide, Eagle Claw (Owl). They accompanied me as I walked into this Area. I found my Shaman Mirror lying on the Ground, a Circle of blue Light and low-lying Haze. I then saw the woman standing in the Center of the Mirror. She looked to be about 5’8” or 9”, with medium-length, brown, layered hair. I can’t be sure if this is how she looks now or looked at one time in her Life, as in a Journey all time and Space can and do overlap. I moved in closer and checked her Aura. It looked very healthy and colorful, with all three Soul Pieces in place, bright, and moving correctly within the Chakra System. However, as I moved closer in around the front, I found an area of spiritual Pollution. It was in and near her Heart Chakra. Many blackened Birds were flying in and out of this Chakra. I caught a few in my Hand and cleaned then off. The first was a Chickadee, the second a Bluebird, and the third a Blue Jay. I was curious as to what was causing this blackening Pollution, so I drifted into it and read its Energy. As I did so, I found myself in a House that had been similarly blackened, almost as if covered in Soot. I saw the occasional Hell-like angry Face popping up out of the Floor. This suggested to me that the woman may have had an overweening Fear of Hell and Damnation forced into her as a Child, or perhaps she viewed her early Life as a Hell of sorts. I then left the Pollution Zone, Trish and went out to the Wing Entrance. There I found the Spirit of Hummingbird. This Spirit told me that once we clean or she cleans up the Heart Chakra she will be very easily centered Spiritually, and Hummingbird will be a very close and effective Power Animal for her. I then turned and left the Trellis area and came to a large field bounded by a thick stock of Trees in the Distance. There were tall Grasses between me and the Trees. As I looked left, I saw an old-fashioned Clothesline near a House, with Clothes swinging in the Winds. I saw a large, old Barn with a bent TV Antenna attached to a Chimney. The entrance to the Barn was large and there was a dirt Entrance. I saw a rusted old Station Wagon. There were a couple of Cows in the Barn, and there were some Chickens and a Rooster pecking around. At this point, the Call Back sounded and I returned to the Room.“

NOTES: I think this last bit may be a look into the woman’s Past, whether or not it is in this Life or a recent prior one.

I think the Woman will be able to easily remove the Pollution I saw through recognition of its presence and perhaps a few Smudgings with Sage. She has a very strong connection to Bird Totems, as they continue to bring their Medicines to her Heart Chakra even though they are picking up some of the Pollution. In face, part of their Presence may be designed to cleanse the Chakra.

Now for a look at the specific Characteristics of the key Totems:

Concord Grapes: While I have nothing “official” on Grapes, I know these Grapes in particular are very high in anti-oxidants. So one can translate this physical benefit to the Spirit World as well, and see them as a way to cleanse the pollution from your Heart Chakra. I would add Concord Grape Juice and Jelly to your Diet and think of these Products as cleansing your Heart Chakra whenever you eat them. You’ll know when your Chakra is clean by the enormous amount of warmth and love you feel.

This comes from Ted Andrews’ Animal Speak. Your Power Animal is a Spirit Being who brings you characteristics of that Bird that might fill in weak areas or strengthen already good areas in you make-up. “Hummingbird as Power Animal. KEYNOTES: “Tireless Joy and the Nectar of Life” CYCLE OF POWER: Daytime. More: Humming creates an internal massage, restoring health and balance. Hummingbird reminds us to find joy in what we do and to sing it out. There are over 300 species of hummingbirds worldwide. In the Hebrew alphabet the letter “shin” is given the value of 300. This has associations with fire and relationships, the past and the future. This is even reflected in the wing movement of the hummingbirds, which can use a figure-8 pattern to hover. The figure-8 is a symbol of infinity and links the past and future and the laws of cause and effect. Hummingbirds’ long bills and tongues enable them to extract nectar from flowers, pollinating them in the process. Again this reflects the mysteries of cause and effect and teach you to extract your own Nectar from Life. Hummingbirds have knowledge of the Healing properties of flowers, teaching you how to draw life essence and medicines from Flowers as well. They also teach how to use flowers to heal and win hearts with love. Because it flies everywhere, it teaches us to truly enjoy what we are doing and become as light as a feather in the process. Hummingbirds can reach high speeds and stop instantly, are brave enough to chase off Eagles, and can even fly backwards. This allows you to take nectar from your own past, and find sweetness and joy in any situation.

Pueblo Indians were fascinated with Hummingbird’s rainbow colors, and used its Medicine in Rain and Endurance Rituals. Hummingbirds are big eaters and consume mainly the sugars of flowers. This means you should watch your own sugar levels in diet, but also ensure you are getting enough sweetness out of life itself. Hummingbirds like to play in water. They are fiercely independent and except when mating like to be alone, reveling in their freedom. Mother Hummingbirds are hard workers. They receive no help from their Male Mate. She will usually lay two eggs. Two is the number of the inner self, the feminine to which we must give birth and expression to find out own joy.

Hummingbirds are master architects. You may wish to redecorate your own home. It may be telling you to do something to create more joy in your home. Hummingbirds hibernate at night and ruffle themselves up to preserve heat. Likewise, you must get enough rest and not burn out. Finally, Hummingbirds migrate 2500 miles, This amazing fat for a creature that has to eat constantly teaches you that you can accomplish the impossible as well, an create miracles in your own life.”

Your Totem Birds’ Characteristics:

Chickadee: Cheerful and Truthful Expression. Those with this Totem will learn to express the Truth on a manner that heals, balances and open perceptions. Truth is shared ion a manner that adds cheer and joy to your own life and those of others.

Blue Bird: Modesty, Unassuming Confidence and Happiness. Take time to enjoy yourself. Their homes usually face the south, the direction for awakening the inner child. Look for opportunities to touch the joyful and intrinsically native aspects of yourself that you may have lost touch with.

Blue Jay: The Proper Use of Power: Use your power properly and do not allow yourself to have power used against you improperly. Blue Jays are members of the Crow family, and have no fear..this can help you connect with the deepest mysteries of both Earth and the Heavens. They are very majestic and royal. They are also excellent mimics. Jay indicates you are moving into a time where you can begin to develop your innate royalty, or simply be a pretender to the throne. It all depends on you.


Her responses:

11/19: Thank you for the journey! I have to say "AMAZING "! I couldn't think of a connection to Concord Grapes! After reading your journey, I can recall my first home from birth to age 4 or 5 yrs , indeed had a long trellis structure, like a long tunnel surrounded with and enveloped by grape vines! It was like a tunnel of grapes ! I forgot how much I used to like going in there! I am not sure what kind of grapes they were, but I remember eating them. They had allot of big seeds in them! LOL I still drive by the old homestead on occasion as I have relatives within a block of the old house! I will have to see if that trellis is still there! Very Cool! I am now about 5' 6" tall and have light brown hair. I was a blonde, until about 26 ish. Definitely very abusive situation throughout my childhood. The later description is of my current location. I bought my second childhood home from my Mother! There are 2 large barns right by my home. I used to explore them all the time! I have a large field surrounding my home on 2 sides(at least 10 acres) Trimmed by a wooded line of trees! Back yard used to have the clothes line you spoke of! The farm had chickens and a rooster which I loved to feed! I will write more later..I have a surprise party to attend tonight and have to go get ready. Please know how grateful I am, for all your help and guidance thus far! Gratefully yours.

11/21: I must say, I am still feeling conflicted about the whole Hell and damnation issues. I know logically it's silly, but I am afraid, that I will get God angry, for trying a "different" way. Afraid of doing something wrong to incur God's wrath! I know this is from childhood feelings.

11/22: I meant to tell you, that barn from the journey did have a few cows as well as old rusted vehicles in and across the street from it. Also what do you think the golden orbs hanging in the grapevines symbolize? MY ANSWER: I have seen those before, often. They are Mana, that is, pure Spirit Energy. This means you have lots of energy available to help in strengthening your Aura. You can imagine yourself picking these orbs and eating them like oranges to increase your strength. They are there for the pickin’! As I think I mentioned, when the Heart Chakra is polluted, it can mean love is weakened in either relationships externa..or internal. That is, you have to love yourself as a manifestation of the Great Spirit, as well as others. J Thanks for filling in the other items, too. It really was a powerful reach-out to you..I’m very glad for you. It bodes well for your future growth as a Shaman Path Seeker.