Drum Journey (Recorded drumming): ~15 minutes
Lower World As I began my journey to LW, descending the rocks that lead to the hot springs, I felt as though the spirit of Grey Wolf Mother was with me. In fact, as I dove into the spring, I could feel her jump in next to me and travel all the way down. I landed in my usual stance—one knee down, bent, hand on the ground to steady me—I felt her land beside me, only now she was not in spirit form anymore, but fully visible to me. She urged me to walk with her, then climb on her back. Once I did, I merged with her—front legs were my arms and hands, back legs were my legs—and we ran through the terrains of LW. Soon, she/we became giant and we covered much more ground. She/we stopped at the edge of a field. She walked very deliberately through the field to a forest, then into the thick of the forest. There, we found a clearing where there was a fire already made. I unmerged and sat with her by the fire. "I wish Reeds Blowing were here as well," I said. And then he was. He sat opposite me, next to Grey Wolf Mother. Grey Wolf Mother has been my companion—our companion—for a very long time. She has helped in times of confusion and fear. She has attacked enemies and eaten them. GWM's mouth was suddenly full of blood. She licked her lips and it disappeared. "Did you ever have confusion and fear?" I asked. When I was in the human world and torn by human concerns. She was there for me then. She is here for you now. RB put a hand on GWM's head and she licked his face. She will be strong for you and help you through this journey. Your time of Nashawe is coming close. GWM came to me and I thought she might be loving to me as well. I was not afraid, but I could soon tell she was not about to lick me. Instead, she bit my left hand, then my right. It did not hurt, but it was shocking. She licked the blood from each of my hands. Now she has your blood in her. She is connected to you. [I began to weep in OR.] GWM went back over to RB and lay down next to him. But she soon bolted upright and looked off to my left. Thundering sound. A huge elephant stormed through the forest and stopped at the edge of our clearing. GWM began to howl in what I assumed was a greeting. Elephant responded with a loud trumpeting call. Elephant then curled its trunk around me and hoisted me in the air. RB laughed, Never forget! For your exam. You won't forget what you need to know. "A bit obvious, don't you think?" I joked. Elephant put me down and RB came to me. We will all be here for you. He wrapped his cloak around me and then placed his hands on my shoulders. Just then Hummingbird arrived and hovered by my ear. He placed something in each ear (liquid) with his tongue. Maybe spirit saliva. Who knows? Then GWM let me know we needed to return. I merged with her again and we came back to the Sacred Fire Circle by the LW entrance point. Elephant came with us, running and bounding across the landscape. I thanked them all (RB and Hummingbird remotely), then prepared to return. GWM leapt into the tunnel with me, again assuming spirit form. Callback When I arrived at the top of the hot springs, she jumped up and walked with me up to the cliff edge. Return to OR
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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 (Recorded drumming): ~15 minutes
Lower World I am currently in Day 48 of my 50-day initiation. This journey had a specific purpose, which was to consult my compassionate helping spirits who have assisted me on this initiation/internal retreat regarding my upcoming weekend away with my husband Khader. Specifically, I wished to address the restriction of alcohol consumption. This is our only solitary weekend holiday for the year. We are both celebrating graduation from our respective Masters programs. Having a relaxing weekend with no restrictions, would be rejuvenating and, in my view, necessary. (We'd like to have a champagne toast to celebrate, for example.) I visited the CHSes who were all gathered at the Sacred Fire Circle. Fire was burning high as I presented my case. I was concerned that my situation would seem petty. To some extent, even I felt it was; alcohol consumption over the weekend had not occurred to me until today. When I originally told him, Khader was disappointed but understood. I felt bad about disappointing him, but thought it was better to stay true to my practice. Later, I thought that making this adjustment may be a kind gesture for Khader and make our time together feel more connected. In this case, I began to see alcohol as part of the ritual celebration, not a way to escape. I knew that what I was really asking for was a stay of the 50-day agreement or some additional task I could perform to compensate. I received this guidance:
Then, Great Walker began to dance with his drum. I was told to join him. I had to make sure I had space to dance and drum. Lots of it! There were great leaps and swirls around. I felt lost in the drumming and in the feeling of movement. The rest of the journey continued this way until callback. Callback I thanked all the CHSes and returned. Return to Ordinary Reality. Drum Journey (Recorded drumming): ~15 minutes
Lower World When I arrived, there was nothing happening at the Sacred Circle. I lay down on the ground to await guidance. I heard Tree calling to me, so I went up the hill and entered through the opening at the base of Tree's trunk. I sat on a ledge within the center of the trunk. I saw the image of the tree cell in front of me, then looked to my right. The darkness extended far into the trunk, much longer than the space within the trunk itself. I walked into the darkness and was immediately shown an image of The World Drum: A circle representing the earth, with many drummers playing all over the surface. There were all kinds of drums playing, from many traditions, in every part of the world. The teaching was to listen to the drumming and see its effects on the atmosphere around the earth. The vibrations moved out into the air, but the resonance created a thicker core, closer to the earth—a blanket of sound and healing. One of the drums moved forward into view. I was told to merge with it. I tried, but I could not manage it. I tried again and again until finally I felt my physical body transform into the sense of the drum; my nervous system spread across my entire surface as the head of the drum. I was able to feel not just with the brain stem but with the whole of my being as the drum. Parts resonated more than others. The sweet spot on the drum where sounds most deeply resonate become the heart or brain of the being. I felt the vibrations moving through and out of me, lifting into the air around me. Each strike of the mallet was a deep pull inward them a release, creating the waves through, around, and out of me. I was not able to hold the merge for too long. I stepped out and was carried by the sounds of the drumming all around me. I saw the call for a World Drum Day where people could drum alone or in groups during a set period of time across the globe, creating these earth vibrations. I also saw a group healing with drums that could be done locally. Several drums healing one person at a time. There may be a need for that. I had returned to the ledge where I was sitting. Tree told me that I would have more to see when I became Nashawe. I carved the name on the trunk of Tree. It disappeared and then reappeared as though Tree was absorbing and integrating it. I embraced Tree and was lifted into he air, high above Lower World. I saw that it was vast; there was way more to Lower World than I had seen so far. I caught a glimpse of a faraway land where there was a zebra with feathers for a mane. I wanted to learn more about this animal, but the callback sounded. Callback I thanked Tree and World Drum then returned. Return to Ordinary Reality Drum Journey (Recording): ~15 minutes
Lower World The purpose of this journey was to receive a drumming teaching, but also to request guidance about the shamanic journeying workshop I am leading in two days. I went to the Sacred Fire Circle, where all the CHSes were gathered. I asked for any advice about what I should include in the workshop. Grandmother stood and said: Ancestors. It is important for those who journey to know that the ancestors are there. There are the ancestors of blood lineage and there are spirit ancestors of life incarnations. Bell'anna stood and opened her robe to reveal the universe. She said: Connection and communication. We are all connected to the universe. We communicate with all that is within it, was within it, and all that ever will be. Journey with this knowledge and purpose. Reeds Blowing stood and said: Nature. Plant life speaks to us constantly. Animals as well. Journey to hear what plants and animals want to share with us. Rekindle the communication with them. Return home to them in the journeys you make. I turned to Great Walker for his teaching on the drum. Suddenly, I was transported to a large field where I was drumming and dancing energetically, wearing a white scarf. This scarf represented both Reeds Blowing's white deerskin cape and Great Walker's white beads. I felt the message that I would wear the white scarf (or have it nearby) when I give the workshop to keep these teachers with me. As I danced and drummed, I head Great Walker tell me that I should consider the other not as the other. This means, hold the person for whom you are drumming as part of yourself, part of the great web of life. The healing drum energy moves out into the atmosphere and knows where to land. It does not know the object-beings as separate. They are connected. Therefore, when drumming, consider the other not as the other but as one of everything, including the drum, the drummer, and the beat. Callback I thanked the CHSes and returned. Return to Ordinary Reality |
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