Thursday, March 26, 2009

What We Really Want


Have you ever noticed how much of what we want is actually dictated from early childhood onward? I remember being told as a small child that I liked liver. Actually, liver disgusts me. It makes my stomach ill and even to get it in I basically have to gag it down. But liver is supposed to be good for you, so I was told that I like it. I had to eat it until I was around 5 and would not eat anything associated with it, not even the potatoes that were beside it on the plate.

In life, we often are told, directly or indirectly, what we are supposed to like. Sometimes that means food, other times it means colors, now and then it means the style of clothes or hair we wear, but most often it has to do with more profound things, such as what we do for a living or what sort of people we befriend. Now the good thing is that sometimes what we are told to like or what is assumed that we like actually matches what we do like. More often what we are told to like is not at all what we do like. This is why it sometimes takes years for a person to figure it all out. We start to believe what others have told us about who we are and what we are and, through this belief, we lead our lives in misery. We wonder why the heck we are having a midlife crisis when we are only 25!

Each crisis in our lives, however, is an opportunity for realignment. When we are miserable, we need to look at what would actually make us fulfilled. For example, I knew that I did not like being a salesman. I was darn good at it, but it did not fulfill me. When I finally decided that I had to embrace my teachings as a shaman and start living my life in attunement with that path, things became much more fulfilling and joyous. That does not mean to say that it became easy. This is not a path that I tend to advise others to take, mostly because it is hard work that sometimes scares the bejeebers out of you. Anything that demands that we look at the most messed up parts of ourselves and heal those parts is going to be grueling.

I know a person who was at one time a quantum physicist. This was a highly challenging career and one that was mentally stimulating. But what this person really wanted was to become an artist. Now that this person is an artist, fulfillment naturally flows. The monetary pay is much less, but the joy is exponentially greater.

We sometimes have to allow ourselves to come to full bloom on our own. This cannot be accomplished with anyone tugging at the buds, or squeezing them in hopes of making them bloom on their time and in their way. It simply has to naturally occur. And then the fruits of our labors are succulent and sweet.

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com
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Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Simple things


Nature is so beautiful in its simplicity. This always inspires me to keep my life as simple as I can. These days, that is not quite so easy as my Love and I are packing up our one bedroom apartment and getting ready to move into our new house. This is a wee bit overwhelming as the move is happening in less that 2 weeks. But if we keep things as simple as we can, then we will be able to accomplish this task.

The simplicity aspect is actually more of a state of mind. When we reduce things to the easiest factor, then simplicity is a result. Keeping things basic and uncluttered mentally helps us to do the same with our environments and with our tasks. Ya, wish me luck with that!

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com
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Monday, March 23, 2009

The Tarts in my Life


There have been numerous tarts in my life. Some of them have been very sweet relationships. Some of them have been crummy. Some of them have not quite turned out as nice as they first looked. And some of them have been quite sticky. I am a man who likes tarts. The potential is always excellent, no matter what the outcome turns out to be. I am a sucker for a good looking tart!

The worst is when they leave a horribly bitter taste in your mouth. There they are, looking all pretty and inviting. But soon you realize that it's not that pretty, it just looks that way. You are left with a sick feeling in your stomach and wonder if you are going to completely lose it.

The best ones are the ones you have not yet had a chance to try and when you do you are pleasantly surprised at just how good it is. Either way, one has to take the chance to get to know the tart for exactly what it is. If you don't take that chance, you miss out on the potential. This way, you are able to select through experience exactly what works for you.

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com
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Saturday, March 21, 2009

The Smallest Things In Life


They can make a world of difference. In relation to the rest of the surroundings, these flowering plants are minuscule. But the colors that they provide to the green backdrop of broad leaf plants are stunning. I find that it is like being in a crowded room where there is some excitement or even tension and you look across the room at someone who happens to be looking back at you and that person smiles. It is moments like these that create bonds between individuals. It is a bridging across deep emotional waters.

When we allow ourselves to be friendly and kind, we create, or should I say "Co-create" an environment of love and trust. Gradually this will ripple out from one person, to two, to four and so on until the entire home, community, country and world can benefit from the love and trust. I truly believe that this is the only way in which we can affect the state of the world. We begin at home every day and take a vow that we will walk in beauty and in trust. We will pay attention to the signals around us and thus avoid harm, but we can still trust ourselves and others along the way. Basically, we have to make a decision as to which it is that we choose to believe and act upon: that the world is a dangerous place or that the world is a friendly place. Which decision we make will determine which energy we support and promote, intentionally or unintentionally.

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com
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Thursday, March 19, 2009

Where You Want To Go


"You don't have to go where you don't want to be to get to where you want to be. You can go from where you are to where you want to be." Jerry & Esther Hicks.

So often we throw pebbles in our own path! We make things so difficult for ourselves that we are unable to see the goal past all the blockages we've put up. Then we feel like we are spinning our wheels and getting nowhere, escalating our frustration levels. Then the frustration in and of itself becomes a blockage to what we are trying to accomplish! So often I hear people say, "I would love to do this, but my job does not allow for me to have the time to do so." My answer......GET ANOTHER JOB OR MAKE THE JOB WORK FOR YOU INSTEAD OF YOU WORKING FOR YOUR JOB.

Some of those pebbles we throw down can be jagged beliefs that we integrated into our psyche. Some of them can be well rounded routines and habits that we have a difficult time breaking out of. Sometimes these things, from the outside as well as from the inside, can actually look appealing and beautiful, but are no less an entrapment than something that does not look so nice. We need to be able to develop a certain level of discernment and authenticity in order to actually know what is going to be healthy and enriching for ourselves.

This takes time and patience and a great amount of dedication. Our culture does not promote very well the concept of being dedicated to ourselves as much as it admires those who are dedicated to a cause and sacrifice all of themselves to said cause. Being dedicated to ourselves is a cutting edge concept that will lead to a healthier society. After all, how can we possibly be there for anyone else if we are not there for ourselves and making sure that we are well enough to put out for another? Oh, sure, there is the adrenaline rush and the ego boost that comes with accomplishments that are publicly acknowledged and admired. Frankly, I would rather my tombstone read, "Beloved Friend" than "CEO of General Motors" or something. We need to take stock of what is actually important in our lives. For me it is myself, my children, my Love, my Friends, my animal friends. Within those connections there are many ways in which the importance is expressed. This way I am able to live a life that is enriched and fulfilled.

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com
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Tuesday, March 17, 2009

A Totally Zen Experience

This is the Zen garden that is now in my office. It was on my computer desk at home, but I found that sand in a keyboard is not conducive to a functional computer. The box for it is made of pottery and my eldest daughter created it in her pottery class a few years ago. I keep it at the office because this is the candle I will light when I am sending her loving, healing energy. It also serves to just remind me of her throughout the day. The sand is the meditation in and of itself. The teeny weeny rake that is in the top left corner is what I use to rake the sand during the meditation.

I enjoy the Zen garden because it calms me. When I was a kid and a teenager, I was always stirring the sugar bowl at the table. This calmed me as well. It annoyed others, but it calmed me. So when I discovered the Zen garden and the art that it was and the benefits of contemplation and meditation that it promotes, I dove in with both feet (or should I say "fingers")! A Zen garden does not have to be large at all. This one is about 6 inches square. I have seen some that are the size of our new back yard. That is a little much and, the way I see it, as beautiful as it is, that size requires constant work and is like a 5 star hotel for ants and a community washroom for neighbourhood cats. Just a plain old serving bowl will do for a Zen garden. There are a couple of things to be aware of, though. First, the finer the sand the better when stirring and raking. Second, add some stones, shells or a candle for artistic effect. Third, it will take you into an altered state. Fourth, it can be addictive. With all the bad stuff that there is to become addicted to, I figure a Zen garden is the least of anyone's worries!

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com
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Friday, March 13, 2009

Getting Stoned


I love stones. They speak to me. The stone people are the record keepers of all time and space (some of them actually landing here as a result of cosmic debris). I don't tend to house stones that don't want to be inside for a while. That is why sometimes the stones that I have at home and office will change. They want to be of service for the energy flow and healing of a space or of people and then they need to return to the earth. They speak to me of the events that they have witnessed. When you look around my office space you will see all sorts of stone arrangements. No wonder people feel so grounded when they enter my healing space!

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com
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Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Infinity


This is the Chinese symbol of infinity. Whenever I see this, I think about sound. Why sound? Well, sound is infinite. Scientifically, sound can be measured far and wide, but they can't find that it ever stops. It just keeps on going, like the Energizer Bunny. Sound connects us with the Divine through chant and song. Even the song of a bird can connect us with the Divine.

I use a lot of sound in the healing work that I do. Through sacred chant, song, dance, drum and rattle, shruti box, singing bowls, chimes and gongs, energy gets moved and healed. Have you ever noticed that if you sing along to a song on the radio or on a CD that you tend to feel better? This is because sacred sound comes in many forms. Some would contend that stuff like Heavy Metal is not sacred. I don't think that I agree entirely with that perspective. No, I don't like to listen to a lot of Heavy Metal. I much prefer Zen style music and jazz. But Heavy Metal has its place in the infinite source. It reaches a section of the population that other music does not. And when you listen to some of the words in some of the songs, it is actually something that, if just spoken, can actually be a positive prayer! The destructive themes I don't like, whether it be in Heavy Metal, Rap, Hip Hop or anything else. I always figure that if it is infinite we might as well keep it positive. A lot of these styles of music, however, also have a very positive theme.

So go ahead....ring a bell or beat on a drum. Sing along if you like. It heals.

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com
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Monday, March 9, 2009

Control Freaks


Have you ever noticed how many control freaks there are in the world? You can even see them from a remote location! They are the ones who will always try to tell you when it is time to eat and that you are completely mistaken if you think that food time is variable. They insist that you feed them at certain times and that you move from "their" spot, wherever that may be. They think that they own the magazines in your house and they tend to hog the remote controls. They pretend that they hadn't noticed your absence, while at the same time trying to guilt you for taking so long to get home. They walk all over you and demand affection, even when it is not a convenient time. They are control freaks.

"Knock, knock! Now you say who's there? CONTROL FREAK! Now LAUGH!!!! HAHAHAHA!"

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com
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Many People


"The truth of life is only revealed through exchanges between many individuals." Francois Cheng.

I think often about how many people I have met along my earthwalk. The faces seem endless and the memories varied. What has always stuck with me is how often there are similarities in consciousness between individuals that haven't even yet met each other. Someone says something to me and I realize that those very words could easily have come from someone else that I know, or even from myself. It is amazing to me how a single seed of thought can grow through simple exchanges between people. This is why those who are considered to be totally wacked one minute become geniuses the next minute. What is inspiration, when spoken out loud, soon becomes criticized and then condemned until, finally, it becomes common knowledge. As it becomes common knowledge it becomes known as "truth".

This is also why one person's story can resonate so much with that of another person. We have common ground in our stories. We learn similar things in similar ways, even if the specific situations and the people who were involved were different. When I tell a story of my life in a group I am always pleased and astounded by how many people can completely relate to the story as if it were their own because of the similarities and the lessons that we have gleaned as a result of the situations. As these truths mingle in the soup of humanity, the flavours deepen and the aroma becomes exquisite. And we are all fed by that soup.

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com
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Saturday, March 7, 2009

Water Karma


Close to midnight last night my Love asked me to come into the kitchen and let her know if it was the refrigerator that was making a strange sound. I went into the kitchen and discovered that the apartment above us had torrential water running. A call to the caretakers informed us that the people above us had a water pipe burst and that they were working on it as we spoke. Just after hanging up the phone, our wall began to imitate a water fountain. You know the kind. It is shaped like a stone or glass wall and the water runs down into a pool at the bottom. A very cool effect, if it is actually a fountain. But when it is water that is not supposed to be there and it is pooling in your kitchen, running through the walls and leaking out the fuse box in the storage room, things get a wee bit exciting. A few minutes after that, we had people from the floor below us and the floor below them knocking on our door because they were flooding as well. The water actually went all the way down 17 floors to the parkade. Now, why a pipe could not have erupted on just the 1st floor and not the 17th we will never know. It might be a Murphy's Law type of event. The effect was, shall we say, thorough.

I thought that I was over my water karma. Every place that I have lived in has had things like water pipes burst, hot water heaters erupt and water tables rise so high that it floods the house. I am beginning to wonder if I am actually supposed to live in a boat house! I have done the karmic release around past lives that have ended badly with water being what has transitioned me from one life to the next. I have released the karma around being killed by creatures that live in the water. I have even release the karma around being baptized against my will. So what is left? These are the things that I am pondering (pardon the pun) today. In the meantime, I will continue to do my best to go with the flow.

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com
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Friday, March 6, 2009

Achieving


"The height of your accomplishments will equal the depth of your convictions." William F. Scolavino.

I find it amazing how many under achievers there are in our society. Somehow we have brought up a generation of people who have an entitlement complex and think that everything must be handed to them on a silver platter with no effort whatsoever on their own parts. These are the types of people who are going to be feeling the "recession" the most. They are not resourceful enough to fend for themselves.

That resourcefulness is something that my generation and those before me had to establish. There was no room for any form of co dependence when it came to survival issues. We grew up, we got a job or began a career as an entrepreneur, and we started building a life. We were convinced that we needed to not just be good people, but also be good for something, so we did what was necessary to survive and contribute to the world around us. We still do.

Building a life is like building a tower. There has to be a strong foundation, otherwise the whole thing will collapse. We need to help the young ones who are clueless to establish a stronger foundation. How that unfolds will completely depend upon the circumstances and the individuals involved. But for now, I encourage everyone to stop handing it over on a silver spoon. It does not do us or them any good. There is nothing wrong in working for what you get. There is no shame in flipping burgers for a living. It is honourable to do so. In a past life I was made fun of by a rich kid for being the one who did his laundry. I told him that if it weren't for me he would look like a filthy scumbag. I lost my head. The point, however, was made. Be strong and don't back down.

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com
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Quiet


"All things that have flowered return to their root. This returning to the root has a name: Quiet." Lao-tzu.

Have you ever noticed the relaxed, quiet afterglow that follows making love? All the senses have been stimulated, the endorphins are now rushing through the brain, and the deep sense of satisfaction hums through the aura. This is a "returning to the root". The same is experienced after spirit dance. Everything has built up to a climax and afterward there is a calm within and a connection with Spirit that glows all around us. We also get this effect from drumming circles and meditation. These things nourish our bodies and our souls. On the Wheel of Life, returning to the root would be the point of crossing over to the other side of the Veil of Existence until we reincarnate. This is also the experience that is promoted during the "shaman's death", which is the death of an old way of being and the birth of a new way of being that is actually primordially older than the way that we have just sluffed off. It is a return to the shamanic roots that exist in every culture and every race around the world. It is a connection with Nature and with the Divine, internally and externally.

Some have roots that grow deeper than others. This is not about "my people have been here longer than your people" and it is not about "Our ways are older and better than your ways." This is about working on returning to the root daily. Our personal backgrounds have little to do with our personal potentials. No matter what has forced us to bloom, we each have the capacity to deepen our connections.

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com
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Thursday, March 5, 2009

When we really see


We can find things all around us that are not always visible to the human eye. As I was photographing my daughters I noticed that in the background there was a fountain that seemed to be calling me. So I took a close up of the water. As I did, I found that there was a trickling voice that was speaking to me. Being a shaman type of person, I chose to listen instead of ignore. This photo captured the image of the water spirit that presented herself to me that afternoon. The messages that I received from her remain private for now, as she was telling me what was flowing my way in the not so distant future. But I thought that it was really cool that the camera actually caught a shadowy image of her standing there. I saw her in more detail, but I was seeing her as the water flowed, not as it was frozen in a snapshot. I thought that I would share it with my readers in case it validated anyone else's experiences with such things.

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com
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This is the photo


This is the photo that goes with the entry "Going Within". I am not technological enough to figure out why it didn't get in with the original post, or how to get it there now. So here it is!

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com
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Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Going Within


Every now and then it is important to stop and contemplate where you are at and how far you have come. In shamanic terms we call that "returning to your cave". The cave is not necessarily the physical cave, but an emotional and psychological cave. In energetic terms it would be the "Third Eye", which is the "check in" point. It is also the heart, which is the place where we find true connection with the soul and personal authenticity.

So we enter our cave. How does one do that? Over the last few thousand years there have been a few developments in that area. For example, there is the Vision Quest, where one isolates oneself in the wilderness, sometimes for days at a time, and fasts and waits for a vision to come. This works for some. It isn't my personal favorite because of the time requirement and the fact that when one is fasting it is more likely to induce an hallucination than a vision. There is also a Silent Retreat that can be experienced. This is where one goes to a temple, ashram, or monastery and spends days in total silence with food provided by the holy people who live there. Personally, I find this style more effective in that you are at least not starving to death for days and risking serious blood sugar issues. The time requirement, however, is still an issue considering that most people lead lives that are full enough as it is without having to schedule days to go and do this, which is also not "free" of charge. After all, costs must be covered for the hosts.

My personal favorite is Zazen meditation. With this one sits in stillness. That does not mean necessarily isolating oneself from the rest of the world. It means stillness. There could be a major party going on around you and you can still sit in stillness. The mental focus is then turned to the simple act of breathing. You feel the breath move in and out of your body. Your attention then goes inward (this is why the party can be happening and it doesn't matter). As your attention turns inward, you enter the cave. You then have access to the "inner" silence. As this inner silence is accessed you are able to gain great insight and wisdom and your response time for what is happening around you exponentially increases. This is how the masters of martial arts are able to move so gracefully and quickly and still be very calm and detached. The absolutely cool thing about entering the cave in this fashion is that, once you have practiced it a bit, it only takes a few seconds to a minute to be able to so. Go ahead. Try it. This is one that can actually fit into the busy day that you already have planned. And the best thing is that it helps you walk through that busy day with grace and ease!

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com

Monday, March 2, 2009

We Were Here!

You see these wonderful stone stackings in the far north. They mark sacred grounds, hunting grounds, give directions to the "next place up the road" and so on. I have always been fascinated by them. A friend of mine made this one for me. It doesn't "balance" as such in that there are metal rods that have been drilled through the stone to keep it upright. A piece of art doesn't need to risk falling over. Personally, I enjoy stacking stones. You will see balanced stones in my office and around my home. Sometimes I balance stones out in the fields to mark a place that I have performed sacred ceremony. Sometimes they are to ward off negative energies on behalf of the land.

I like the contrast between this inukshuk and the city highrises in the background. Hopefully I won't be in an apartment building for much longer and will be able to move this one to a deck or back yard. In the meantime, it is also an altar for my balcony ceremonies. Yes, I hold ceremonies on my balcony. After all, 20 stories up in an excellent place for getting closer to the moon!

It also helps to make me feel more grounded as I look out at the same level that hawks fly past. This helps me to also become aware that no matter where I am, home is with me. My home is nature and I love having a piece of nature on my balcony, not just being able to look out upon nature from high above. It also reminds me to be strong and to remain balanced. This is sometimes the biggest struggle of them all. I am finding, however, that the more grounded I keep myself, the more harmonious and balanced I become. This is a good thing.

Blessed Be

Trent
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