Shamanic Medicine

What is Shamanic Medicine?

Shamanic medicine is a merging of the seen and the unseen; the conscious and the subconscious; and a harmonizing of the mind, body and spirit. It is a healing practice which integrates the natural and spirit world, calling on the relationships the medicine person has forged with her allies to gain insight, wisdom and energy to return to the client.

The purpose of shamanic medicine is to restore power, harmony and spirit. A medicine person crosses the bridge between the physical world (or dimension) and the spirit world, stepping outside the confines of personality and ego to "see" the soul and restore power and harmony. I believe the true measure of a successful treatment is one in which a sense of empowerment, harmony and vitality is achieved. The most important aspect of shamanic medicine is one of empowerment of the client. This includes deconstructing subconscious beliefs and energetic imprints that do not support the client's empowerment and health.

In order for true healing to occur, the spiritual causes of illness or despair must be addressed. Medicine in the form of energy, power and healing is brought back from the dimension of the spirit to the physical dimension of the body to heal and empower the client. The work then becomes the integration of this medicine into the client's daily life.

Harmony and balance flows freely when on a soul level we are allowing our "nature". I trust that when we begin to listen equally to our inner and outer nature and harmonize these elements within we may heal not only ourselves but our environment. In other words, can you become aware of the water that flows within you, its currents and tides, its life giving qualities? Can you become aware of the rhythms and cycles within that are echoed in the sunrise and sunset, or the waning and waxing moon?

Shamanic medicine focuses on three major causes of illness and despair:

Loss of power: Power is lost in a variety of ways. We may lose power over a long period of time through unhealthy patterns, exhaustion, or suddenly from an intrusion or projection. A loss of power may manifest in chronic illness or depression.

Intrusion/Fear: psychic attacks and most often subconscious thoughts and beliefs. Words hold a great deal of power and words spoken by those we perceive holding power over us are profound. Western doctors hold a great deal of power over their patients when they speak about how long they perceive one has to live, or the prognosis for an individual based on data that is separate from the soul or essence of that patient.

Soul Loss: I lost a part of myself when ____happened; I lost the will to live; I haven't been the same since ____. Soul loss is damage to a person's vital essence, and usually is in response to trauma.

Healing is not always instant and most often is a process of integration and commitment. Shamanic healing takes many forms, and is working from the level of the soul.

Historically medicine people were cared for by their tribe. Their main concern was of prayer, and remaining a hollow bone for the Creator, in order that they may facilitate healing for the tribe. There was no money exchanged for these services in ancient tribal settings, food was grown nearby, prepared and shared among the tribe. Homes were repaired and maintained by the tribe's hunters. Today's medicine people are mothers, fathers, teachers, householders, farmers, cooks, business owners, community members, friends, and wear many other hats. The responsibilities are many, and some medicine people are required to hold jobs as well as providing healing, holding counsel and sharing teachings with their tribe. It takes tremendous dedication and resource to remain true to the calling. An enormous amount of self care and commitment to clearing personal emotional, physical and mental toxicity regularly is required, in order that it may be transformed for others. This calling is not for the faint of heart.

My personal journey

I did not set out to become a medicine person or a shaman. The initiations for this calling have been rich and full. Three near death experiences, great loss, and debilitating illness deepened my connection to life; the Creator; and the elements, and have provided me with a personal recognition and visceral understanding of the dimensions in healing.

Shamanic Medicine is not something I learned or was taught in a workshop or internship, but a committed cultivation of spirit medicine. In the last ten years, I have studied and worked with both traditional and modern shamans.

Remaining connected to The Creator, I have developed a harmonious and deeply profound relationship with Fire, Water and Earth and in the healing work I do, I utilize their teachings and call on their essences with great gratitude.

Sometimes, the most difficult experiences encourage us to reach for light and grow as if our very lives depended on it. I pay respect to all those in this life that created a dark and dense edge for me to push against which made me courageous and strong, and for my teachers who held the flashlight when I grew weary of the dark and lost my way. After years of cultivating and integrating the teachings and initiations I have been given, I have accepted the role of medicine person in humble gratitude. It is because of you all that I now carry the following in medicine bag with great honor:

A clear understanding of how to transform energy and how to recognize and transmute toxicity.

An ability to remain humble and in collaboration with the Creator and the receiver in all healing endeavors.

An ability to wield power mindfully and respectfully and utilize it to restore harmony and empower natural balance.

An understanding of how to work with weather to affect change that is balanced and respectful.

An openness and ability to listen to the soul in each living thing.

An ability to be fearless in the face of death and darkness; to trust in and hold the light.

An ability to hold a safe, present and loving space and an ability to see the divine imprint within each living being.

A great willingness and courage; as well as skill and ability to dive into the darkest nights of the soul; the ability to return, step into and embrace the brightest light of the Creator; to recognize that light, respect and reflect it to the community

Who or what is The Creator you refer to?

My definition and belief is that The Creator is a collective pool of infinite love and intelligence. This energy has an ability to be birthed and rebirthed, and resides in every form of life. How we embrace or reject this energy is our choice, it is available for us, in us and with us always. I believe we hold this true nature in our fluid bodies, and it is possible that by developing a relationship with our fluid bodies that we open a dialogue and connection with The Creator. When we embrace and embody this mystery, all things are possible.

The Creator holds no punishment, judgment, or rejection; it simply is a source of pure love and intelligence. There is no particular religion attached to a relationship with The Creator, the connection is not based in fear, but in faith.