Shamanism

A friend of mine emailed me this quote from a link - http://www.petercalhoun.com and it reads:

Today the archetype of the shaman is emerging out of the shadowy past and from the murky depths of the collective unconscious into the clear light of conscious awareness. Shamanism is the most earth-friendly system in existence and, therefore, it may be the most relevant path for our age. It is by far the most practical since it evolved out of the survival needs of our species from its earliest times. It may once again hold the keys to our survival as a species. Shamanism is not another religion or system of belief; it is a way of perceiving and relating to the wondrous world around us. It is the original source out of which all the religions and systems of knowledge evolved. As a path of growth, however, it is complete in itself and can provide a powerful foundation for one's life and spiritual practices.

Wow! What a mouthful! I do think that in our distant past every person practiced shamanism. It was a way of living and relating, not a way of thinking or believing. It is a way of expanding our sensory perceptions to include those things that cannot be seen or felt or observed with the normal senses. It is instinctual. That is why it has helped us as a species to survive.

As an example, think of a shaman in the jungle. The jungle is its own environment. It is interconnected with all other environments, but the people in those environments don't know the jungle well. The shaman knows the jungle well. So the shaman knows what plants to eat, which ones to avoid, which plants heal and which ones produce hallucinations. The shaman listens to the trees and the birds and animals and knows what approaches.

Then picture for example the urban shaman. Yes, there are those of us who are urban based. Even the cities need shamans! So anyway, picture the urban shaman at the mall. His heightened awareness allows him to know which places at the food court actually are selling fresh food. He is able to pick up a mitten on the floor, smell it, and carry it to the person who has lost it by tracking the smell. Now, that part is not so easy. Have you ever noticed how smelly the mall can get, especially before Christmas???

My point is, both shamans are producing from their training and expertise, experiences in different, yet interrelated environments, that help them, and others, to survive. We are instinctual and natural. We have our individual sensitivities, but these all work together to create survival and establish a harmony that can exist for everyone.

We are trail blazers, whether we are in the jungle or in the concrete jungle. We have a way of being that transcends the craziness of the world around us and helps us to stay focused and clear. We are here to help mankind and we are here to learn as we go. We actually are everywhere, and every when. And that is the coolest thing!

Blessed Be

Trent