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Contemporary Shamanism for the 21st Century
My Blog
Blog
Returning to Nature
Posted on 24 July, 2017 at 11:36 |
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Waken Tanker is the Native American name for the Great Spirit in Manifestation. In Shamanic understanding, everything in creation has a spark of the Great Spirit within it, their forms vary widely, as do their earthly experiences and awareness of time. Everything in creation, as it contains a fragment of the Great Spirit within it, has its own awareness of life and its own experiences of life. It is this Spirit fragment that is contained within all things, that links all things together, and through which we as Humans can connect with them. We therefore come to understand that all things are our Relatives, as we too have that spark of the Devine within us. Shamanic wisdom speaks of the principle causation of dis-ease as separation. This can mean separation of oneself from ones own Spirit, from family, loved ones, society etc. It can also be a separation from the Great Spirit, Waken Tanka. If you walk in Nature in this way, you may start to hear the quiet voices of your relatives, who are desperate to have a relationship with Human Beings once more. There are many shamanic techniques that can facilitate your communication skills with your nature relatives and thus give you a deeper connection and understanding of both them and yourself. Then I noticed the apple blossom in the trees, and the birds flitting from branch to tree. I was reminded how, in NLP practice, there is a self help technique to raise the mood of a person feeling quite depressed. This entails the person looking up and moving the eyes from side to side (most people who are feeling depressed look down at the floor for the majority of the time they are walking). Again I thanked my relatives for this healing gift and message and revelled in the raising of my spirits. Being in Nature and reconnecting with your relatives is essential for your Shamanic Practice and development, but it may also be essential to the Earth Herself during this time of destructive practices being inflicted upon Her and all of our relatives. Shamanic Quest holds regular workshops and courses at The Clophill Centre, Bedfordshire. A full list of dates can be found on our website at www.shamanicquest.co.uk or on our Facebook page here Melanie Tomsett is a Shamanic practitioner and owner of Shamanic Quest based in Hertfordshire in the UK. Shamanic Quest offer a range of opportunities for you to explore and learn shamanic practices. These include Introductory Workshops, Foundation Course, Practitioner Course, Drum Circle, Sweat Lodge, Sun Lodge and Moon Lodge, Student Clinics and Consultations. Full details can be found at www.shamanicquest.co.uk |
Crystals in Shamanic Practice
Posted on 27 June, 2017 at 16:08 |
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Crystals are an important part of Shamanic Practice. However, often times Shamanic Practitioners do not choose their crystal helper by looking in a book and deciding which one(s) to ask for help (although this can be useful in some circumstances) but they will use their connectivity and intuition to discern which crystal wants to help them at any given time or for a particular need to be fulfilled. Crystals are very useful helpers in our own personal work, on the physical, mental, emotional and Spirit aspects of our selves and also for us to help others with. The sensations that may be felt can be heat, coolness, tingling etc. When you feel a crystal that seems to be drawing your hand towards it, take up that crystal in you left hand and ask it if it is your helper for the day. If it is, it will indicate to you in some way that it is your helper. If you do not get a positive affirmation from the crystal, set it to one side and repeat the process. This process is also useful when you are choosing to purchase crystals or if you are choosing a crystal to help you work on behalf of another person. If you have a small medicine pouch, you may choose to keep the Crystal in it during your travels, so that you can stay connected with it throughout the day. This can be a safer way to keep your crystal with you above keeping it in your pocket etc. It can also be helpful to have items of jewellery made from crystals as they are both decorative and functional. I like to wear Turquoise for protection during my shamanic work. In my Shamanic Practice I have two Black Tourmaline Wands that help me to re-ground after Shamanic Journeying. I also have a large piece of Selenite that helps me generally with my Shamanic endeavours. Clear Quartz points are an invaluable helper for the Shamanic Practitioner and they help in many ceremony’s. However, any Crystal can be the most amazing helper if you just open yourself up to its knowledge and wisdom and allow it to teach you how it is going to be of service to you. This can be achieved by holding the Crystal in your left hand and completing a Shamanic Journey with the intention of connecting with the Crystal to discover how it is going to help you, or by studying the Crystal very closely and if you find a little hole in the Crystal, this can be a gateway in to it so that you may start your Shamanic Journey from that point to discover its attributes. There are many more ways in which to utilise the power of crystals. Shamanic Quest holds regular workshops and courses at The Clophill Centre, Bedfordshire. A full list of dates can be found on our website at www.shamanicquest.co.uk or on our Facebook page here Melanie Tomsett is a Shamanic practitioner and owner of Shamanic Quest based in Hertfordshire in the UK. Shamanic Quest offer a range of opportunities for you to explore and learn shamanic practices. These include Introductory Workshops, Foundation Course, Practitioner Course, Drum Circle, Sweat Lodge, Sun Lodge and Moon Lodge, Student Clinics and Consultations. Full details can be found at www.shamanicquest.co.uk |
Shamanics and Creativity
Posted on 16 June, 2017 at 3:20 |
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Creativity in the general sense of the word is very much about
artistic endeavours, crafts, cooking, writing, painting, drawing acting etc.
Indeed, these activities generally bring forth a beauty from the internal world
of the creator and offer their beauty to be shared with others. Expressing our artistic creativity is a pleasure for us to engage
in, it can be calming, meditative and
rewarding but sometimes frustrating and irritating as well! In terms of shamanic understanding, creativity is taken a few
steps further. Artist: Unknown Shamanism teaches us that we have the spark of the Devine within
us, a spark of the Great Spirit, the Great Creator. Indeed, if we look at each
other and all of Nature, we can observe the face of the Great Spirit in
manifestation. Everything in this world contains a spark of the Great Spirit,
therefore everything is our Relative and should be treated accordingly. Having a spark of the great Spirit within each of us means that
we have the ability to Create also. Not just artistically through those mediums
mentioned above, but every moment of our life experience. So, what are we creating? Relationships, professions, homes,
families, personality, viewpoints, opinions - everything. But how many of these
creations are truly our own and how many are influenced by the conditioning we
have received from others and the desire to please, fit in, do the right thing? Are we living life being true to our authentic self and creating
a life that truly reflects these things for us in a similar way to how an
artist creates an image on a canvas. Is this life we are living being painted
by us or others? Is it the image/images we desire to be on our life canvas, or
has someone else taken control of our paintbrush? Shamanic knowledge and techniques help us to connect with our
innermost self, to regain personal empowerment, to regain control of our life
path, to be our own Creator of our life journey. Shamanic Journey work is an
excellent way of connecting with your deepest and most wise self to obtain the
information and knowledge you seek to help you on your path, as is leaning the
wisdom of the Medicine Wheel and coming into relationship with the Natural
world around us from a shamanic perspective. Looking at the beautiful images of creation within this piece, it
is clear that we can also create a beautiful life experience for ourselves, if
we have the right equipment, tools and inspiration. What will you create today? About the Author Melanie Tomsett is a
Shamanic practitioner and owner of Shamanic Quest based in Hertfordshire in the
UK. Shamanic Quest offer a range of opportunities for you to explore and learn
shamanic practices. These include Introductory Workshops, Foundation Course,
Practitioner Course, Drum Circle, Sweat Lodge, Sun Lodge and Moon Lodge,
Student Clinics and Consultations. Full details can be found atwww.shamanicquest.co.uk |
6 Air Purifying Houseplants
Posted on 26 May, 2017 at 4:34 |
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Plants and humans have lived in partnership
since the beginning of human experience, not only in terms of food and medicine
but as a fundamental part of our spiritual experience and developing
consciousness. Shamanic cultures worldwide see
everything around them as alive, aware, and related. From
a shamanic perspective nature is a complex web of support in which each part effectively
cares for another; the nature of nature is co-operation. Nature has not accidentally created the
plants around us to be as they are. They all serve a purpose. Every single day in modern culture
we are exposed to indoor air pollutants which have been ranked among the top
five environmental risks to our health. In
fact, modern furnishings, synthetic building materials, and even your flooring
or carpet may carry more toxic chemicals than expected including formaldehyde.
These chemicals can make up to 90 percent of indoor air pollution, so your home
or work space can contain stagnant pollutants which can build up to greater
amounts than we humans should be breathing in. In extreme cases this can cause
headaches, dizziness, nausea, eye, ear, and often nose irritation. Increasing air flow and working with
the natural healing properties of particular houseplants in your indoor space
can dramatically reduce and even neutralise the air pollutants you are exposed
to, improving your home or working space. So how do houseplants
and Shamanics work together to heal our indoor environment? In Shamanics when we use a plant for
healing, we know we are calling upon a spirit being – an ‘other’ intelligence
that knows exactly what is needed to aid the healing process of our environment. Whilst there are
several houseplants which can absorb harmful toxins from the air, it can be
useful to undertake a Shamanic Journey with the
spirit of the plant to understand its deeper meanings for us and come in to a
relationship with it this can support us in choosing plants that can be
beneficial for our environment. So, how do houseplants clean the air? Plants
absorb some of the particulates from the air at the same time that they take in
carbon dioxide, which is
then processed into oxygen through photosynthesis. Microorganisms are also
present in the soil in which the plant is potted and these also contribute
greatly to the cleaning effectiveness of each plant. So what can you do? Almost all of the plants I’ve listed below are really easy
to care for and really happy to be left for long lengths of time without care,
whilst still doing naturally the process that is beneficial to you. Undertaking
a Shamanic journey with the spirits of the plants can support us in choosing plants that can be beneficial
for our environment. Spider
Plant (Chlorophytum Comosum “Vittantum”) I have these
everywhere in my home, and they all produce flowers on a regular basis which
turn into ‘spiderettes’ or baby spider plants, and provide me with even more. I
regular donate these to friends! Now even if you tend
to neglect houseplants this resilient plant just keeps going, coming back from
almost dead with a tiny amount of sporadic water. It loves indirect sunlight
and bright locations and rewards you with lots of rich foliage and tiny white
flowers, the spider plant combats benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and
xylene, a solvent used in the leather, rubber and printing industries. Plant care: Water your spider plants once a week but if
you forget don’t worry, it will always survive. Non-toxic: For children or animals who like to play with
swinging things, this plant is safe. Pollutants
removed: benzene,
formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene Dracaena
(Dracana spp.) Bright and radiant,
the Dracaena will go to work purifying the air in your home or work space as
soon as it is brought into the room. There
are more than 40 different kinds of Dracaena plants. A common foliage plant with long, wide leaves
that are often variegated with lines of white, cream, or red. Plant care: Keep the soil damp but not soggy, as too
much water is a kiss of death for this plant. Perfect if you need to abandon
them for a while. Toxic to animals: Your cat or dog may vomit, salivate more, or
have dilated pupils if they eat dracaenas. Pollutants
removed: benzene,
formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and xylene Weeping
Fig (Ficus bejamina) A ficus in your sitting room can
help filter out pollutants that normally accompany flooring and furniture such
as formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene. Looks its best when grown in
bright, indirect light and doesn’t do well in light fluctuations or dramatic
changes in temperature. In southeast Asia this is an outdoor
tree but indoors it ends up being between two and 10 feet tall. Allow the soil
to dry out between waterings. Pollutants
removed: benzene,
formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene Peace
Lily (Spathiphyllum sp.) Peace lily plants
are relatively small compared to many of the plants on this list, but they
still pack some major air-cleaning abilities. Plant care: Easy to grow, needing modest sunlight and plenty of water to
keep it happy. Too little light and it won’t flower. Toxic to animals and humans: Despite its calming name, this beautiful
plant is toxic to cats, dogs, and children. Can cause burning, swelling, and
skin irritation in adults. Pollutants
removed: ammonia, benzene,
formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene Plant
care: it does need to be
watered occasionally, but generally prefers drier conditions and low light. Pollutants
removed: benzene,
formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and xylene Aloe
Vera (Aloe vera or A. barbadensis) People have been using aloe vera for
more than 6,000 years when it was known as "the plant of immortality"
in early Egypt. This easy-to-grow, sun-loving succulent helps clear
formaldehyde, which can be a byproduct of chemical-based cleaners, paints and
more The plant's leaves contain a clear
liquid full of vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, and other compounds that have
wound-healing, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Aloe vera is
typically used topically for sunburns, burns, abrasions and other skin
conditions. Pollutant
removed: formaldehyde and
benzene About the Author Melanie Tomsett is
a Shamanic practioner and owner of Shamanic Quest based in Hertfordshire in the
UK. Shamanic Quest offer a range of opportunities for you to
explore and learn shamanic practices. These include Introductory Workshops,
Foundation Course, Practitioner Course, Drum Circle, Sweat Lodge, Sun Lodge and
Moon Lodge, Student Clinics and Consultations. Full details can be found at www.shamanicquest.co.uk Sources & References |
Shamanic Practice And Feathers
Posted on 15 May, 2017 at 3:48 |
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Shamanic practice places great importance on
shamanic tools and a shaman’s sacred implements may be of many different kinds.
They many include plants, special stones, animal parts, drums, musical
instruments, masks, costumes and feathers. Feathers may be used as tools to ease us in to an
awakening of the whole self, used in prayer, or utilised for protection and
healing. Feathering can also be used in energy healing’s, such as cleansing the
auric field by sweeping a bird's wing or a single feather within the Auric
Field - the space of energy surrounding a person. Feathering also introduces
the element of air into the healing space and is one way of connecting to and
working with the element of “air". When considered as a component of a birds wing,
feathers are a symbol of flight as well as freedom, symbolising the spiritual
journey or quest and inter-dimensional travel. Feathers are one of the
shamanic tools that facilitate the ability to be able to look at
things from a higher perspective and to know that the power to move
beyond boundaries and limitations is available to the seeker. Indigenous people from many different cultures
found around the world often link birds and feathers with stories, mystical
meaning and in some cases magic. In native cultures, wearing feathers on the
head in various ways such as a single feather or an elaborate headdress, may be
associated with a sacred connection to the Creator or God. What could it mean when a feather crosses your
path? Receiving a feather sign can be a meaningful
moment. Feathers have unearthly qualities and may come to
you as sacred gifts and signs from the Spirit realm, sent to support you and
often instilling feelings of contentment and joy, raising you to a higher state
of awareness. When a feather arrives for you, Spirit is reminding you of your
spiritual origins and deep connection to your home beyond earthly realms. A feather sign may be a mindful message to show
you that your higher consciousness is connected and co-creating with the
universal mind of Spirit. As with many helpers and signs, feathers
usually arrive when you are in deep thought about something, or looking for
answers to something that may be bothering you. The following is a pleasant and effective method
of connecting with the feather to receive the message it is here to convey to
you. Bring back to your mind what it was you were
thinking about when your feather appeared to you. Then hold the feather in to
your left hand while you sit in a place of quiet receptivity. Take your time
with this opening of your awareness, allowing the experience to come through
gently and intuitively. The message my come in the form or thoughts,
intuitions, visions etc. and will help to give you insight in to object of your
thoughts or dilemma. The meanings can at times be profound, and
at other times quite simple. The best advice when sign appear to you, is to not
put any pressure on yourself to understand it immediately. Allow yourself to
absorb the moment and sit with the feelings/sensations and knowledge for a
while. Feel the elation and joyful state of connection you may experience. What Different Feathers May Mean When considering the meaning of a feather, we may
be drawn to read about the bird family that the feather is from and/or colour
of the feather . However the most relevant answer can often sit within
yourself, so do practice the journey technique outlined above. I highly recommend getting in to the habit of
noting down your experiences and keeping a journal of signs and synchronicity’s.
By doing this, you may obtain a deeper and more valuable insight as time goes
by. In the future, consider paying closer attention
to your surroundings and you may become more aware of the way that Spirit
interweaves throughout your life through signs such as this - indicating that
you are in connection with Spirit. About the Author Melanie Tomsett is
a Shamanic practioner and owner of Shamanic Quest based in Hertfordshire in the
UK. Shamanic Quest offer a range of opportunities for you to
explore and learn shamanic practices. These include Introductory Workshops,
Foundation Course, Practitioner Course, Drum Circle, Sweat Lodge, Sun Lodge and
Moon Lodge, Student Clinics and Consultations. Full details can be found at www.shamanicquest.co.uk |
10 Ways To Clear Your Root Chakra
Posted on 5 April, 2017 at 6:07 |
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Maybe
you’re going through a hard time or feeling anxious, insecure, or vulnerable.
Perhaps you just feel you can’t let your guard down or are finding it hard to
relax. Or Sometimes the knocks of life can just throw us out of whack. Sometimes
when we feel out-of-sorts or a little unsettled in this way it can be helpful
to clear and balance our root chakra. The root
chakra is the first of the seven chakras. And it can be the key to
feeling grounded, safe, and secure in the world. Clearing
and balancing your root chakra can help you relax, feel calmer and more secure,
and let go of some of those underlying fears you might be holding onto.
When you feel deeply secure, you can turn your attention to more exciting
things such as your relationships, your creativity and art, your dreams for
your career, ongoing learning, expanding your spiritual development, dyeing
your hair blue, buying yourself a parrot – the possibilities are endless! One really
great thing is that you don’t have to be a trained energy healer to begin
working to heal your own chakras. Of course, it can help to get treatment
from a professional energy healer, or come along to one of our courses (we’d
love you to do that anyway!). But there are many easy, down-to-earth,
even fun things that you can do yourself to give your chakras a “tune-up.” Here are 10
easy, effective things that you can do to really help you balance and ground
that root-chakra! What is
the Root Chakra?
The first or ‘root’ chakra is located at the base of the spine. It’s
keyword is “survival.” It relates to self-preservation, survival
instincts, our connection to our bodies and the element of the earth, and our
sense of safety, security, and belonging in the world. Is Your
First Chakra Healthy or Blocked? If you have a healthy root chakra you will feel a basic
sense of security and safety in the world. You are well-grounded and the
practical side of your life will usually function fairly smoothly. You
will have a sense of having ‘enough’ of everything you need to meet your needs.
You will likely be fairly at ease with your own body and mostly, though not
always, your body will be relatively healthy physically. If your
first chakra is out-of-balance or ‘blocked’ then you may feel overly fearful
about security and survival. Perhaps you sometimes experience extreme
anxiety, or panic attacks. This might also effect your physical body, and manifest
itself in issues with your bones, feet, legs, colon, elimination, or
weight. Or maybe, as sometimes happens, you have become overly practical,
plodding through your life and have lost your ability dream or imagine. The
Healthy Chakra A healthy chakra is open, allowing energy to flow freely
both horizontally, in an exchange of energy with the universe, and vertically,
connecting it with the other chakras. It’s very
common, at one stage or another in our lives, to have one or more chakras that are
somewhat blocked or just out of balance. And an under-functioning chakra
can cause disruptions in a person’s body, mind, spirit, and life. 10 Ways to
Clear and Balance Your Root Chakra If you feel you could perhaps benefit from clearing your
first chakra, there are many simple every-day things that you can do.
Here are ten ideas:
Disclaimer If you have serious concerns about your physical or mental
health, you should seek the help of a qualified medical or mental health
professional. The ideas in this article are meant to complement your health,
rather than replace qualified professional health care. About the Author Melanie Tomsett is a Shamanic healer and owner of Shamanic
Quest based in Hertfordshire in the UK. Shamanic Quest offer a range of opportunities for you to explore and learn
shamanic practices. These include Introductory Workshops, Foundation Course,
Practitioner Course, Drum Circle, Sweat Lodge, Sun Lodge and Moon Lodge,
Student Clinics and Consultations. Please contact me for further information.
Full details can be found at www.shamanicquest.co.uk |
A Quick Guide To a Moon Lodge
Posted on 29 March, 2017 at 4:27 |
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In ancient days, woman of a tribe or village
would retreat into
a Moon Lodge, Menstrual Hut or Red Tent during menstruation. It was a sacred
place for women to renew, recharge, connect with one another and receive
spiritual guidance. They would gather during their moon times and
be taken care of by the elder woman and younger maids of the village. Foods were prepared and delivered
to the moon lodge. Women were completely discharged from their other duties and
responsibilities so they could turn their attentions inward and care for
themselves. During
this time, they would bleed on the earth, throw it into the fire and with it
cast away their pains and discomforts. They would laugh about the small things, cry over
the bigger things and put the world to rights. The Moon time was, and still is, a time of natural Sacred Ceremony for all women, a time of dedication to the
God and Goddess and for a higher spiritual purpose and connection. Moon
time is still a sacred time for women, however many of us have forgotten this. The
physical act of menstruation allows the body to purge itself of any negativity
that may have been collected during the month of the menstrual cycle. Fortunately,
this cleansing can be supported in many ways. There
is a great importance for a woman to take care of herself Spiritually,
mentally, emotionally and physically. One of the best ways to support our Moon
Time is to begin by reconnecting with the divine feminine within ourselves by
honouring our body. Our body is the only one we will have for this entire life
time. So let us begin by prioritizing our body and nurturing her. This could
include reduction or elimination of processed foods, sugars or caffeine from
our diet and avoiding drugs or alcohol for the duration of moon time as these
things may lead to a negative impact on the functionality of our body and her energy
flow. When
women come together in a circle, we can find support for our Spiritual, mental
and emotional well being, along with nurturing and person empowerment. The
Moon Lodge that is run by Shamanic Quest operates on the Monday around the time
of the Hag Moon – the Hag being the Wise Woman – it is not linked to the
physical act of Moon Time for any specific woman. The
Shamanic Quest Moon Lodge explores the Sacred Feminine within us all, utilizing
shamanic practices and principles, other ancient traditions of understanding
and some Jungian archetype information so that we may explore and understand
ourselves more deeply, connect with others and enjoy the company of women in
the beautiful environment of the Mongolion Yurt. The Goddess still lives within each and every
woman, and to nurture that part of our soul and care for her is to accept the
divine feminine in each of us. For more information about Shamanic Quest and
our Workshops, Courses and Lodges please contact Melanie Tomsett at www.shamanicquest.co.uk. Our Moon Lodge dates can be found here. |
A Guide to Shamanic Quest Foundation Course
Posted on 20 March, 2017 at 8:49 |
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This course consists of eight modules
spread over twelve one day workshops. Criteria for acceptance on the course are
attendance of an Introductory Workshop. The principle aim of the course is to
help you with your own, multi-dimensional personal development, re-establish
your connections with the earth and nature and enable you to practice shamanics
on an on-going basis to empower your future and help those around you with the
knowledge and techniques learned. Participation in the course will impart
a deeper understanding of shamanism and its principles and practice. You will learn how to access the
extra-ordinary worlds of the shaman though shamanic journey techniques
and develop a deeper experience of these non-ordinary realities. You will:
There will be an
opportunity for certification on completion of the course, the criteria of
which will be discussed in workshop one Melanie Tomsett at Shamanic Quest
offers One-Day Introductory Workshops at the Clophill Centre, providing an
overview of the Basic Principles and Practices of Shamanics. For more details
on the Foundation Course contact Melanie, and for our current Workshop dates see here. |
What is a Shaman?
Posted on 13 March, 2017 at 5:16 |
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Shaman are spiritual beings with the
ability to heal, work with energies and 'see' visions. Shamans work with the spirit healing illness at the soul level, using
knowledge and insight gained from working with the spirits of nature such as
rocks and trees, the land, and from the spirits of animals and humans such as
their ancestors. For the shaman, everything is alive and carries information. You can call this spirit, energy, or consciousness. In order to communicate with the spirit or consciousness of these
things, the shaman will shift his or her own state of awareness. Shamans can do
this through various means, such as meditation and repetitive sounds such as
that of the drum or rattle. For
centuries, shamans have also been involved with earth healing by using their
ability to communicate with land, bodies of water and other such natural
features of their landscape. Whether by determining why crops would not grow in
a certain location, or the reasons for drought; working with growing things,
the weather, and the land has been a traditional activity for the shaman. Melanie Tomsett at Shamanic Quest
offers One-Day Introductory Workshops at the Clophill Centre, providing an
overview of the Basic Principles and Practices of Shamanics. For more details
and our current Workshop and Celebration dates see here |
What is Shamanics?
Posted on 6 March, 2017 at 3:48 |
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Shamanism is an ancient
healing tradition and moreover, a way of life. Shamanism is the universal spiritual wisdom inherent to all
indigenous tribes and where all ancient spiritual practices are rooted in
nature, shamanism is the method by which we as human beings can strengthen that
natural connection. Put simply Shamanism is a way to connect with nature
and all of creation. While people of
many religions practice shamanism, Catholics, Buddhists, Hindus, Taoists, and
Jews, not all shamans are members of an organized religion. Shamanism is not a
religion but an application of beliefs. These beliefs are spiritually
based and applied to the Shaman's healing work and as such there is commonality
with religion, as most religions also have an element of spirituality which
propels one to help others. Shamanism
organically arose from ancient tribes as a response to the needs of the people.
Shamans have always been highly valued in their communities healing the injured
and sick, performing sacred ceremonies, singing, chanting and dancing,
expressing themselves artistically. Shamans often act as the bridge between the
living and the dead, communicating with the spirits to receive knowledge and
teachings of plants, animals, and the elements. Over the past few decades the term “shamanism”
has been popularized throughout the western world and ‘Shamanics’
amalgamates the ancient knowledge and practices of the
Northern Hemisphere Shamans to form contemporary shamanic practice and is
a form of deep spiritual, personal development and healing, based in nature and
developed by Kenneth Meadows. This form of Shamanics is a
contemporary distillation of Northern Hemisphere Shaman knowledge (northern
European, Amerindian, Hawaiian Kahuna and Doaist) that is based in the common
truths held within all of these traditions, but without the dogma or ritual. The
techniques of Shamanics are simple but profound and can be easily practiced in
any circumstance or location by the person using them. The teachings are
experiential and found to be deeply meaningful for many people. By utilising and traversing the ancient
knowledge of the Shaman, the modern Shamanic Practitioner can undergo massive
personal growth and an understanding of themselves and their place on the
earth; experience deep balance and healing; and can also help others on their
earth walk. Melanie Tomsett at Shamanic Quest
offers One-Day Introductory Workshops at the Clophill Centre, providing an
overview of the Basic Principles and Practices of Shamanics. For more details
and our current Workshop dates see www.shamanicquest.co.uk |
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