I recently completed a course on the basics of Shamanism through The Foundation for Shamanic Studies. This is because I am going to get back to working with folks one-on-one, and I had been considering learning from the methods of Shamanism for some time. This introductory course introduced us to the common methods within Shamanic experience, with emphasis on the drum-aided journey into non-ordinary reality for the purpose of working with helping spirits to help others. The foundation for Shamanic Studies is built upon the work of Michael Harner. Shamanism taught through the foundation is considered (Core) Shamanism. The foundation for Shamanic Studies has an excellent website if you’re curious.

For some context, (as I am presuming most people finding this post won’t know me very well) I have worn many hats and feel I have been blessed to live many lives already within this one. I find great joy in expressing, learning, and growing.

I am fascinated by what makes us people and what this Universe is all about. The mystery that can never quite be explained and the living that tries to do just that.

There are many parts of my life and some influences that would have quite an impact on my life. For one, growing up in a religious family and the unlearning I would do in many years (and still am), and also the nurturing of the truths in its’ many shades.

I spent much of my childhood on more than one-hundred acres in northwest Wisconsin. My parents bought the land from a native couple. I remember going to their home and being around the table. They didn’t seem to ask for much money. Their only ask was that we “respect the spirits”. I wonder how my parents received those words. At that time we were still attending the small Baptist church.

Growing up on this land and in this part of the country offered me roots I often remember are there. In the haze of modern life it’s easy to get sucked into rushing around and feeling disconnected from ourselves and something more important.

I spent many hours feeding the elk on our land, laying under the Milky Way, helping my grandparents run their dairy farm, and also working on a few berry farms nearby. There could be a lot of tangents of other parts of this period of my life, but I will say our sweet yellow lab that I begged for named Allie (short for Alexandra), was a great comfort.

There is a lot I could say between then and now. Life is a good teacher if we’re paying attention and willing to do the work. Sometimes things are so blaringly obvious. We don’t realize it until we’re ready. Once we do, we have the responsibility and accountability of honoring it. It takes personal courage to be with ourselves as we are. It takes courage, discipline, and humility to recover what we’re not even aware of and to make amends for the harms we cause in our ignorance. The older I get the more I know we can only “save” ourself (with the Divine help that meets us on our Way). It’s not my job or desire to do other people’s work. Much of my “recovery” has been about focusing on my own work and how that is connected to my community. Many of the realizations come from surrendering to the dance of how things really are at any moment. This is what I hope to continue to recognize and where I focus on being. I find what works and I work that. I enjoy it!