Drum Journey (Recording): ~30 minutes
During my morning meditation, I again received a call to journey. As it was with my last journey, I had no intention. I was called to Lower World. Lower World: It was dusk. A pink, purple, and yellow sunset illuminated the mountains ahead of me. Hummingbird came to greet me. It had been some time since I journeyed, and I was ashamed. I said something of the sort to Hummingbird, but even as the words left my lips, I could see that they were irrelevant. Hummingbird flew off eastward, and I followed. On the path, I stopped to lean against a tree as I was very overcome and tired. I thought I needed to set an intention, so I tried to. My OR shamanic teacher, Elaine, told me I should ask about a recent dream I had.* My mind went into the dream again and replayed the confusing part. Hummingbird said, You already know the meaning of the dream. I was transported quickly to a field where there was a sacred fire with a ring of small fires around it. Reeds Blowing sat at the edge of it, sprinkling powdered herbs into the fire. I wondered what he was doing here, since I usually meet him in Upper World unless there is a gathering at the council fire. I knew not to ask, though. Grandmother, too, was there, tearing up pieces of red organ meat and throwing them on the fire. Great Walker drummed in the background. I noticed then that I had a blue plaster stuck to my lower abdomen. I asked what it was. Reeds Blowing said it was made of Blue Poppy, Camphor, Mustard, and other herbs. I asked Grandmother what she was putting on the fire. Your uterus, she said. I was shocked. "Does that mean I don't have a uterus anymore?" Of course not, this is a symbol. This is your old uterus. It is diseased, carrying the pain of your ancestors. You will receive a new one. Grandmother began singing and walking around the fire. She gestured violently toward the fire, as if casting out dark energy. The flames rose with each gesturing. Grandmother took a burning stick from the fire and placed it on my abdomen. I was moving quickly without volition: lying down, sitting up, standing... She placed her hands on my lower back and abdomen as she sang. She led me around the fire, singing. Great Walker tossed me my drum, and I drummed along and sang with her. Soon, I felt pressure in my abdomen. The plaster was removed. I crouched on the grass and passed the uterus out of my body. It was not painful, but it was difficult work. Grandmother took it and threw it on the fire. Immediately, smoke-like beings rose from the fire and into the atmosphere. I recognized them as my ancestors—women and men. They clouded the sky. She and Reeds Blowing began to chant together. Reeds Blowing took a staff and stirred in the air. This whipped the smokey spirit beings around like cotton candy on his staff. He then hurled them into space. I could see or sense them all settling into the lost soul places where they belonged if they had allowed themselves to return Home and be redistributed as Nature intended. Grandmother crafted a small clay vessel within the fire. She blew into its opening spirit energy and placed various herbs within it. This, she placed over my abdomen, where it sunk in, assuming the place of my old uterus. I was very tired. I found myself mentally drifting, then "awoke" to find myself lying in a room on a bed, recovering. Everything felt very slow. I heard Grandmother's voice tell me that I needed to rest now. Callback sounded. I thanked, Hummingbird, Reeds Blowing, Grandmother, and Great Walker then returned. ________________________ *Friends of my estranged husband banged a hole in my wall, claiming that I was hiding gold in there. I assured them I was not. They found nothing in the walls and retreated. I cheekily told them they owed me $20 to fix the hole. Upon waking, I thought that it meant I was not hiding any of my gifts. But as I journeyed, I thought it perhaps it meant that I had none to hide. Then I realized it was not about the gifts themselves, but the hiding part. What of worth am I hiding? Nothing. And destruction of my home must be compensated for.
0 Comments
Drum Journey (Recorded drumming): ~15 minutes
My intention was to discover what was at the source of my leg pain and emotional pain. Was there some traumatic event from my past that I have been blocking and it is now manifesting in physical pain? I was called to Upper World. This time when I arrived, it was not at the usual location. Typically I travel up and up, then am guided to the right, where the entrance to UW is. This time, I traveled straight up until I saw the pink membrane separating worlds. I passed through it, and found myself at the edge of the White Forest. I walked along the squishy pink membrane until I reached the forest. Hummingbird arrived to guide me. I asked if we were going to see Reeds Blowing, and Hummingbird said we were. I was happy because I haven't visited him in some time. I began, with Hummingbird's help, to gather my usual offering of wildflowers. Hummingbird brought me a branch of berries. I found a purple lupine and some yellow flowers as well. Suddenly, I became aware of a heavy pressure in my center. My torso was dark and lead-like. I was unable to move much farther. I lay down on the forest floor and told Hummingbird I could not walk anymore. Presently, the ground swallowed me up and I lay a couple of feet or so beneath the surface. I felt the cold of the soil and smelled its richness. I could breathe, but I could not move my hands or legs. It was not unpleasant, although I wondered what was happening. Just then, my insides sprouted. The black, lead-like presence was a seed that was germinating out of my body. Very quickly, the sprout became a large black tree with rainbow-colored leaves. I rolled out from under the tree and came to the surface where I lay and looked up at the tree. My center was hollow, but my body was sealed up. as I looked at the tree, I saw that a good number of the leaves were becoming black. Hummingbird told me that this tree was directly connected to me and my life. The leaves were dying and it was my job to bring them back to their colorful state. "How do I do that?" I asked. You can't. Once they are dead, they are dead, he said. This task seemed impossible and I became sad. At this time, Reeds Blowing appeared behind me. We regarded the tree together. I explained what I had been told and lamented that I could not do what was asked of me. I had no idea how. Reeds Blowing reminded me that leaves drop with the season. Perhaps all these leaves will die, but there will be buds in the spring. Where will you be in March? We merged so that I could feel vitality again and also so that we could travel quickly back to his tree cave at the swamp. Once there, he made a tea of local plants that he brewed over a fire in the cave. The tea was going to replace the insides of me that had been lost. As I drank it, I asked if he could help me discover what happened to me, if anything, that may be causing my pain. He lay me down and moved his hands across me. There has been a lot of healing already, he said. There is a resilience here. He indicated my stomach area. I could tell that did not mean that I was healed or that nothing happened, but that I had protected myself for a long time. Those reinforcements were apparent. At this time, the Callback sounded. Reeds Blowing said that we would continue the work another time. I thanked him and returned, thanking the Black Tree on my way past. Thanks to Hummingbird, as well! Returned to OR Drum Journey (Recorded drumming): ~15 minutes
Lower World Grey Wolf Mother accompanied me to the hot spring entrance in spirit form, as she had left with me before. We arrived together, and she again assumed full form as we reached LW. We walked to the Sacred Fire Circle, where all the CHSes were gathered. GWM sat in front of Reeds Blowing. Reed Blowing spoke, saying: You have accomplished the task you set out to accomplish. regardless of the outcome, we are with you always. I spoke afterward, thanking everyone, especially GWM and RB. Great Walker came out and placed a red mark on my left shoulder, I was not certain what this was for. My Nashawe symbol came ot life on my right leg. GW began to drum. He asked me to drum and dance with him, which I did. The others began to sing/vocalize in their respective ways: GWM howled, Frog chirped, the wings of Hummingbird whirred, Tree rustled its leaves, Grandmother sang a low tone, RB chanted, Bell'ana made the song of the spheres, Turtle croaked and drummed his shell, Owl hooted, Black Hawk cried, Snake hissed, Raccoon chittered... After some time, they all took a piece of my body away and performed their own work on it. My energy merged with the fire until they were done. As the Callback sounded, my pieces came flying back together and I was whole again. I thanked everyone and expressed that I was sad to leave GWM in LW. I was grateful for her protection. Return to OR Drum Journey (Recorded drumming): ~15 minutes Lower World I met with Hummingbird upon arriving in LW. The purpose of my journey was to request a compassionate helping spirit who can help me as I study for and take my National MFT exam. First, though, I asked Hummingbird if hummingbirds might come to my home in OR. I have set up a feeder and red flowering plants for them... Once I asked Hummingbird to assist me with the real purpose of my visit, he began pecking me in the head. It was as though he was infusing my head with healing in the areas I need for memory and emotional support. We then walked past the Sacred Fire Circle and past Tree to the area beyond. I saw a natural bridge that reached over the canyon. As I walked along it (Hummingbird flying nearby), I realized I had never been to this area of LW before. We crossed the bridge, and entered a steppe landscape. There were large, flat stone ares where I could walk down deeper into the grasses. There, I saw a white goat standing on the grass. As I kept walking, I saw a chipmunk scurry along the ground, and a bird flying above. While looking up, I turned my gaze to a rock above us. There was a grey wolf sitting, overlooking the steppe. The goat ran away, and the wolf stood. I saw her yellow eyes, then her bushy tail. Finally, I saw her paws as they rested on the rock as she sat again. I made my way up to Grey Wolf and asked, "Are you my power animal?" Yes, she said, I am here to protect you from negative thoughts like I would protect my children. I will scare them away like that goat. That is the child part of your nature, the sheep, the goat. The innocent. It has a place, but not here, not for this task. I will also give you my sharp attention. You need focus as you study and take the exam. You will be fearless. I will drive away that fear. I will take care of you. Grey Wolf Mother asked me to merge with her so I could see what it feels like to have strength, agility, endurance, patience, and power. We ran through the steppe lands. I could feel her muscles engaging and her chest filling with and expelling air. We ran as Hummingbird flew nearby us. Grey Wolf Mother ran with me back to the Sacred Fire Circle and sat down. I disengaged and asked how I could honor her as I study and take the exam. She said to keep her nearby. Envision her. Have photos around. Offerings are okay. Mainly remember her and how it feels to merge with her. When the Callback came, I thanked both Hummingbird and Grey Wolf Mother before I returned. Return to Ordinary Reality Drum Journey (Self-drumming): ~15 minutes
Lower World My drum was waiting for me as I wandered behind the drop-off point, away from Sacred Circle. This way is tha area of many terrains, which often change and shift as I walk through them. This time, I headed along my usual dirt path, and played my drum. As I did, I noticed that several compassionate helping spirits began to join me as if we were marching in a parade! It was very joyful, even though I didn't know where I was going. I saw a ravine, but did not go down into it. I remember thinking, "Isn't it odd how often I'm on a precipice, both here and in Upper World?" I was drawn toward a jungle, which, as I approached, became a dark wooded area. I remembered this area from previous journeys. I have met forest-dwellers there. I came upon a campfire and knew to sit there. Then, Snake came with her three eggs and pushed them toward the fire opposite me. She told me to drum the eggs a healing. I did so, watching the sound of the drum envelop them and move around each of them. The sound moved to Snake and she allowed it to wrap around the length of her body. Soon, she moved on and the next CHS came, Raccoon. I realized that I was being asked to offer a drum healing to all the CHSes. After Raccoon came Owl, then Black Hawk, then Hummingbird, Frog, Tree, and Turtle. Grandmother came and danced in the waves of the drumsound. She washed it over her like sage smoke. Teacher Bell'ana opened her white robes and let the drum sound inside. Reeds Blowing also folded up the drum healing into this robe and washed it over his face. I was shy to heal him with the drum—even more than Grandmother and Bell'ana for some reason—perhaps because he has been so active in my teachings. After Reeds Blowing, Water Buffalo and Mother Bear came. Afterward, Great Walker appeared and sat opposite me and we drummed. As we did, he told me that this lesson was about staying in the moment of the drum—each beat, each resonance of the beat. Even though the beats move fast, there is a stillness in the rhythm. This was something to learn about life as well: Being suspended in the moment, listening and being healed by it. We continued to drum and I felt the sounds of drum I was beating as separate from me. There was my hand, beating the drum, but I could not feel it. I could not feel the mallet striking the drum head. I only heard the beats. We continued this for some time before I sounded the callback. I thanked all the CHSes. Return to Ordinary Reality |
Archives
September 2021
Categories
All
|