Category: Shamanism
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Healing and Transformation Through Dismemberment
From my journal: 12/19/23, Waxing Half Moon; approx 1-year anniversary of initiation. Just before the last new moon, I started working on clearing out the mental and emotional stuff weighing me down. My desire to free myself from headaches and medications is tied up in this work. At my last visit with Aileen, they said…
Snowy Owl: A Journey into Feminine Power and Healing
In the fall of 2023, I discovered firsthand the difference between spirit animals and power animals. Up until then, I had worked with a variety of spirit animal helpers, but my new experiences with Snowy Owl taught me a whole new relationship with this spirit guide. From my journal: 10/3/23 3 pm, waning gibbous moon.…
Shamanic No Moon Ritual
In January of 2023, I journeyed on the new moon to work with my shamanic family and found myself participating in a ritual to protect our tribe. This No Moon ritual is the first ritual in our tradition that I was taught (and is what I get for journeying on the Lunar New Year! š).…
Invoking Reindeer
Reindeer, both the animal and his spirit, was (and is) central to Reindeer Shamanism because thousands of years ago, the reindeer their people followed kept them alive during the long winters. A deep relationship with this animal developed, a mutual relationship of survival (humans kept wolves away from reindeer herds), and a mystical relationship of…
Lessons from a Wasp
I’ll start out by noting two things: one, I’m allergic to wasps – I get a severe though usually localized reaction to their sting. But if I get stung on my head, face, or neck, it could be life-threatening. And of course, allergies can get more severe with each contact, so I’m at risk for…
The Power of the Feminine in Shamanism
Shortly following my full moon initiation journey in December, I had two more powerful experiences working with my Grandfather in shamanic reality and getting to know his, and now my, shamanic lineage. I learned about the power of being a female shaman, and what that means to my lineage. 1/2/23, 7:30 PM, waxing gibbous moon…
What is Reindeer Shamanism?
Reindeer shamanism was an indigenous shamanic practice in the Nordic (Scandinavian) Arctic, among the tribes of people who followed the migrating reindeer herds approximately 7,000 to 10,000 years ago. Over thousands of years, it evolved into the more intricate practice of Sami shamanism, which was eventually suppressed when shamanic practices came under attack in Scandinavia…
Initiation Into Reindeer Shamanism
From my journal: 12/7/22, 4:40 PM, full moon. For the full moon, I did a ritual to dedicate my shamanic work and healing to the spirit of Reindeer. After offerings (I included Rat Spirit to give him my thanks and accept his assistance and teachings as well), and dedicatory words, I journeyed swiftly to the…
Shamanic Dedication
From my journal: 11/26/22, 7:30 PM, waxing crescent moon. I journeyed tonight to seek out my grandfather and let him know Iām ready to step onto the path that he has helped me find. I appeared as a young-ish teen when I spoke with him to tell him my intention. He seemed both pleased and…
Developing My Spirit Family – Working with Rat Spirit
Shamans work with a host of spirits – physical ancestors, shamanic ancestors, spirits of animals, plants, land, and others – that become their family. Which type of spirits become the most called on or worked with depends on each shaman’s shamanic tradition and personal practice. In some traditions, spirit animals can be one of the…
Processing a Shamanic Path
For the rest of October and into the first half of November of 2022, I continued to ruminate on my past life and shamanic experiences, and how they relate and integrate into my current spiritual practices. Additionally, a message from my mother (who was a clairvoyant and passed away in 2012) in mid-October would add…