Beyond the boundary of experience flows "The Way"
Ever greater - yet more subtle - than the world
[Do Your Work then Step Back!]

Moving into Skilfulness : Before we can do healing work on ourselves, or on another, we must "step back" and invest a little time and effort to let go of any current unskilful states and enter into a skilful state i.e. a state of mind, body, emotions, spirit & soul characterised by...

See also Point Healing

We will practice meditative movement, spiritual practice and cognitive therapy techniques for letting go of "unskilful states" such as tension, agitation, drowsiness, misery, struggle, anger, inflexibility etc. Our natural state of being is "skilful", so we don't have to create "skilfulness", we just have to become aware of, process, clear and release, any current "unskilfulness".
 

Raise Energy (also termed "Raising our Level of Vibration") : Self-empowerment, Inspiration, Motivation
In the DVD "Why People Don't Heal and How They Can" (The Three Levels of Power and How to Use Them), Dr. Caroline Myss points out that the most common thing which blocks our healing is "lack of power" (disempowerment, weary, drained, feeling low; the "victim", "poor me" or "learned helplessness" mindset etc). In Shamanic healing we attach great importance to "raising the spirits" of a patient before attempting to facilitate healing.
In this class we will chant and move to a Native American style tribal circle dance, aided by drum and rattle, to raise our spirits & energy level. The 3 phases of this ritual remind us of the great potential that exists for us to engage in a) community life, b) nature-linked earthly life and c) our capacity for free-flowing, self-creative, self-expressive spiritual life.

We Circle around, We Circle around The boundaries of the Earth, The boundaries of the Earth Hayya Hayya Hayya Hayya, Hayya Hayya Hayya Hayya Wearing my long tail feathers as I fly [x 2] Wearing my long tail feathers as I fly [x 2]

This vibrant circle dance affirms that we are not just human individuals living in a material world, but also part of a bigger community of spirited beings who are deeply connected to the earth and also capable of flying beyond the limitations of the material world on an exhilarating flight of free spirit. We respect and enjoy the boundaries (limits) of our earthly life experience and the co-creative experience of community life, but we are not limited by these resources.

Alignment with Self : Self-awareness - Integration of Senses & Feelings
The Reflective Breathing technique as a self-awareness tool which integrates mind, body, spirit, perceptions, senses and feelings. Self-awareness is essential for healing self or others - it is the starting point for choice (self-empowerment) and personal transformation. There are 4 types of outcome of this exercise:

Aligning with Life's Transitions : Self-Awareness & Healing community
Demonstrated via the Circle Dance: "Steal Away" - a meditative dance to a Celtic ballad (lyrics & music details) reminding us of the Celtic Shamanism tradition of our ancestors in the British Isles. The dance steps were devised by Cambridge Circle Dance teacher, Pam Adcock, drawing on her long experience of the ancient circle dancing tradition. Circle dancing provides individual relaxation, integration & inner harmony and also promotes healing and harmony within communities.
This particular circle dance centres on the theme of "Moving on". Shamans & shamanic healing have traditionally played an important role in helping people to cope with change - the inevitable need for "Letting go", moving on and adapting to a new phase of life (e.g. a new relationship, job or home, but also a change in our health, wealth or social status). One of the great "misalignments" of our current society is what psychologists call "hyperarousal" (as in the condition Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD which is being seen increasingly in our children). The changing rhythms of this dance gives us a quick indication of whether hyperarousal is currently an issue for us and it also great for quickly slowing us down into a more skilful state.

Aligning Ourself to Divine Guidance & Support: Chanting a Healing Mantra
"Ra Ma Da Sa Sa Say So Hung" is one of the most powerful Healing Mantra chants known. Encodes sound healing properties for balancing the chakras but also used for divine connection & alignment purposes. These sounds are found in healing mantras from a range of spiritual traditions. They are a way of clearing the chakras & human aura so that the energetic connection to our higher self/unconscious mind/the spirit world (according to your culture / experience / structuring of reality).
We used a Kundalini Yoga version of this mantra, now formulated now as monotheistic but with ancient pagan roots going back to Ancient Egypt, Greece & Rome, the Man-God Hermes Trismegistus, the Sun God (symbolising masculine energy & qualities) "Ra" and Moon Goddess (symbolising feminine energy & qualities) "Ma". The musical version of the chant that we used can be found on this beautiful CD: Angels' Waltz by Sada Sat Kaur. More about the background and technology of this mantra can be found: HERE
Introduction to "Indigenous Shamanism", "Core Shamanism", the basic principles of Shamanism and the role and diversity of rituals and spiritual practices.

Aligning to our Power & Authority: Correcting misaligments
Sometimes (often?) life does not go the way we think it should - the direction we feel we need, the direction that is "fair", or the direction have planned. In response to these experiences we often go into "misaligned" states of disempowerment such as: frustration, victimhood, self-pity (an impoverished distortion of self-love), rationalisation ("There's nothing I can do, I will just have to put up with this"), "learned helplessness", blaming (= giving away our power and control), martyrdom etc. We will practice a cognitive therapy healing process in which we regain our power and authority to reach a more skilful place of either commitment to the unwanted turn of events, or a renewed determination and creativity to change what is happening. We will practice doing an individual variation of this process as a homework exercise and practise the partnered version in class.

 

 

The world that can be constructed is not true!
To experience without intention is to sense the world;
To experience with intention is to anticipate the world;
These two experiences are indistinguishable...
Their construction differs - but their effect is the same!
[Lao Tsu - Tao Te Ching]
 

Blocks to us Living in a State of Harmonious "FLOW" ("ease" as opposed to "dis-ease"):

"Stuck" habitual patterns Pride Fear (fear of change, uncertainty, rejection, humiliation, fear of past trauma being repeated) Negative attitudes (aloofness, arrogance, obstinacy, resentment, bitterness etc) which are held onto to prop up fragile self-esteem Being over-controlling in order to avoid certain feleings and experiences Playing "God" - trying to rule our world

We will briefly review recent research into FLOW as a path to Happiness and Personal Achievement (e.g. in athletics and sport).
 

Aligning with "Here and Now" : Enhanced body awareness leads to Integration, enhanced inner & outer awareness opens the door to "Flow". A chance to directly experience this via a specific walking meditation a "Healing Journey" i.e. a movement towards more Wholeness and Ease (= "flow", "ease" as opposed to "dis-ease").

"Stress Management & Self-empowerment":
a) Breathwork wazifa using the mantric sounds "Shanoon" & "Hey hey ya hey ya ya"
b) Heart-Healing & Heart-Protection based on a Native American Willow-tree wisdom dance:

Phase 1:  Moving and chanting in the pattern of harmonious flow;
Phase 2:  Moving & chanting: heart-driven self-empowerment: commitment, passion, tough love, "putting one's foot down";
Phase 3:  Moving & chanting in "four directions" pattern of "big picture" objectivity, loving acceptance, heart-wisdom.

Shamanic Journeying : Upper World, Middle World, Lower World
Introduction to "Journeying" practice, to engage with the archetypal wisdom of the unconscious mind - power animals and spirit guides. Introduction to a range of drums and the use of a Shamanic Journey Drumming CD.

Engaging our Patterns : Self-Awareness - Clearing Energy Blocks & Drains
We will use Divination Cards as a tool. Self-awareness is necessary before we can let go of ego-driven neurotic behaviour to align more with our soul purpose and divine guidance - a fundamental aspect of healing. Clearing energy blocks and energy-draining patterns provides the energy for healing work. Resources: "Letting Go Cards" - How Letting Go Saves Energy!
 

Engagement of Healing Energies : Building Heart Energy - Channelling - "Laying-on of Hands"
An ARAMAIC CHANTING RITUAL that cultivates heart-energy and heart-centredness plus "opening up to the divine" via surrender of Ego - Based on the healing wisdom of the 3rd Beatitude from the Sermon on the Mount, plus music, mudras, movements & healing wisdom insights of Sufi Master Saadi (Dr. Neil Douglas-Klotz)

This ritual feeds on the sound-healing power of the ancient Aramaic language that was used by the great shamanic healer Yeshua (Jesus). In the first half of this simple, yet very powerful, group-healing ritual we will be harnessing 4 different technologies for raising energy (a healing transformation requires energy, while energy remains low, little healing is possible). We will be repeatedly chanting a short sound-healing mantra in Aramaic, plus draw on the huge healing wisdom of the translated mantra, plus make symbolic movements to the music and adopt a symbolic mudra (hand gesture) which stimulates heart-centre energy.
In the second-half of this group healing ritual we will be both radiating (from our heart) and channelling(from Divine Universal Energy) healing energy to anyone who wishes to receive it.

 

 

"The Path that can be spoken is not the true Path!"
[Lao Tze - Tao De Ching]
 

Engaging & Expressing What is Held Within : The Reflective Breathing ("water breath") practice
Results carried forward in the sharing self-hood & feeling exercise: "I am, I feel..."

Attunement exercise & Personal Journey Sharings

Engaging the Sacred - Casting a Sacred Healing Circle: Rituals for Creating & Closing Sacred Space

Integrating the 3 Minds - Negative, Positive, Intelligent
   A physical challenge / "ordeal" based on the Celtic tradition music of "Fisherman's Blues"...
 

Well I know I will be loosened From bonds that hold me fast That the chains all hung around me Will fall away at last And on that fine and fate-ful day I will take me in my hands I will ride on the train! I will be the fisherman! With light in my head...

Beyond the negative and positive minds lies the connection to spirit - letting go of ego and being "danced by Spirit" while energised by the integrated energies of the negative and positive minds. This is gateway to the Ecstatic Dance experience. To live this dance is to live a joyful life!
In the shamanic tradition, challenges or ordeals - such as Sweatlodge, Vision Quest, Firewalking - take us out of our comfort zone and are used as a way of building inner strength: courage, determination, resourcefulnes, alignment with spirit, wisdom and purpose.
Real (i.e. grounded in everyday experience) healing requires inner strength - often external support too! - because changing our lifestyle patterns and personal reality is risky and uncomfortable - our old familiar patterns (rut)and those of people around us may keep drawing us back into addiction, dysfunction or illusion.

Opening to Mindfulness via Transactional Analysis (resources): Self-Awareness, Interpersonal Awareness, Situational Awareness

Re-visiting the Energetic Healing Circle - deeper level: How to Transform a state of Low Spirits, Depression, Desolation, Hoplessness or Misery
An ARAMAIC CHANTING & SYMBOLIC POSTURE & MOVEMENT RITUAL that can re-engage a lost sense of "harmonious flow" and uplift our mood and spirits. Based on the healing wisdom of the 1st Beatitude from the Sermon on the Mount by Yeshua (Jesus) (the Beatitude are also found in the Dead Sea Scrolls of the Essenes which were written before Jesus was born) and the music, zikr movements & healing wisdom insights of Sufi Master Saadi (Dr. Neil Douglas-Klotz). This ritual can be undertaken alone, with a partner or in a group at times when we (or our healee) are feeling very low. This Beatitude (= blessing) contains the mystical truth that when we are at a low ebb we are (literally!") within a breath of the "Kingdom/Queendom" of "heaven" (i.e. the feeling of "oneness", belonging, life-purpose, fulfilment, divine connection) which is at the heart of the shamanic path and lifestyle. The Traditional 16th century English (King James Bible) rendering of the Beatitude is: "Blessed are the Poor in Spirit; for Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven" The following Aramaic translations come from "Prayers of the Cosmos: Meditations on the Aramaic Words of Jesus" (Amazon UK details):

Happy and aligned with the One are those who find their home in the Breath; to them belong the inner Kingdom and Queendom of Heaven Blessed are those who are refined in Breath; they shall find their ruling principles and ideals guided by God’s Light Tuned to the Source are those who live by breathing Unity; their "I can!" is included in God’s Healed are those who devote themselves to the link of Spirit; the design of the Universe is rendered through their form

Archetype Resonance Healing: "Caroline Myss Archetype Cards"   (Use of Archetypes in Healing)

An (unstructured) Shamanic Journey  plus  Journey Sharing

Sharing of personal journeys & healing symbols

Shadow Archetypes - Dissonance Healing: "Caroline Myss Archetype Cards"   (Use of Archetypes in Healing)

Soul Retrieval - Confronting Tragedy & Meeting Ancestors
Wise Shamans - Sages, Prophets & Crones throughout the Ages - have told us that it is by confronting the harsh realities of suffering and death that we learn...

how precious life is to see our everyday worries and life dramas in perspective to clarify what personal values and goals matter most to us to make the most of our limited time here on earth Carpe Diem - Seize the day! - Tomorrow may be too late!*

                        [* Too late to speak our love and appreciation, Too late to do acts of kindness, Too late to show compassion]
When hardship or tragedy strike our own life we can connect with the eternal spirits of our ancestors - those who toiled, grew and blossomed on this same earthly journey in times past. Via the Celtic ballad: "The Green Fields of France"...  
"In some faithful heart, is your memory enshrined?"
(On CD: UK   Canada   USA)  

Soul Retrieval - Healing the Inner Child :
    Healing Circle, Mudra (symbolic hand gesture) & Chant: "How could anyone ever tell you?"

A structured (soul retrieval) Shamanic Journey

A Spiritual Friendship Blessing

Engaging the Healing Journey : Finding Direction & "Next Step"
We will use a co-counselling approach based on "The Empowerment Dialogue".

 

Tutor for this course:  Dr. Mike Meredith      Email Mike

 

Recommended Reading / Study List:

"Entering The Circle" (Shamanism & Shamanic Healers)   "Crones Don't Whine" (13 Qualities to Cultivate)

"Angel Tech: A Modern Shaman's Guide to Reality Selection" (Amazon Order pages: UK  Canada  USA)
 

Working with Animal Totems - Power Animals Shamanic Totems - Books & Music CDs: UK & Europe    Canada    USA

 
Shamanic Journeying: Guides - CDs - Tapes

CHEAL Newsgroup: Cambridge Healing & Holistic Lifestyle Group

Holistic & Shamanic Healing: Compared with Evidence-based Scientific Medicine

 

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