Stay on Your Path

It amazes me sometimes how often people allow themselves to get diverted from their intended path. We all think of our path of purpose and whether or not we are on it. Sometimes I think it is important to recognize the circumstances that are there as a test to our commitment to our paths. We will always find that there are pebbles and even rocks and boulders on the path. The question is whether we let these things stop us and divert us completely, or do we allow ourselves to stay committed even if a very slight detour is in order?

I did not always want to be a shaman. It is an all encompassing occupation at times. Sometimes it wears you out and sometimes it makes you high. For a few years I knew that I was becoming a shaman, but I also had a lot of fear about what that meant and what it would look like. I even tried to run away from shamanism only to find that it is in my DNA and I can't run or hide from it at all. Then the question was what I was going to do with it? I always knew that I was brought to this earth to help people. I figured when I was very young that this meant that I would become a doctor or a police officer. Then I realized that I did not fit into either of those modalities. Then I thought that I was going to become a minister. That lasted only as long as it took for me to ask important questions about the church and discover that there were not a lot of receptive people in the church and many of them thought that a shaman was a devil worshipper, even before they knew that this is what I had been trained in. So off I went to finish up a degree in English (thus not wasting any of my educational time) and move right along into allowing myself to gradually come out of the shamanic closet.

There have been many challenges since then and frankly sometimes I have wondered if Spirit really wants me to continue? As I have sorted things out in that regard I have noticed that whenever I have felt alone is the time that Spirit has been carrying and holding me. So each time I have become more committed to staying on my path. I hope that each of you will do the same. Stay on your paths. Don't get discouraged when things get a little rough. Just know in your heart what is the right thing to do.

Blessed Be
Trent
http://www.youtube.com/trentdeerhorn
www.deerhornshamanic.com

These Rings

In nature all things are circular. Night becomes day, day becomes night, night becomes day once again. The Moon waxes and wanes, and then waxes again. There is Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, then Spring returns. These things are all part of the Great Mysteries and are symbolized by the circles that are these rings.

I am a Shaman in love. You may get a wee bit sick of reading about this, but bear with me. I will get over having to talk/write about it all the time. But for now, it is what inspires me. So suck it up, Buttercup, and read on!

The other night my Love and I exchanged rings and vows. No, we are not married. These are commitment rings, not wedding rings, and we are truly committed. It was nice that her cousin got married just a couple of days later and threw a big party for us to be able to celebrate not just his marriage to his lovely bride, but our commitment to each other as well. Nothing like having a party and not having to go to the effort of arranging everything!

The rings are silver, representing the refined spirit, and the stones are Peridot, which represents Compassionate Love, Abundance and Protection. I thought that I would never be able to wear another ring on that finger after removing the last one I had. It felt as though it would hurt too much. But where there is love, there is a comfortability and a resonance that surpasses all former hurt, pain, and wounds. No, I am not wearing this ring every day. After all, sometimes I work in the garden and sometimes when doing energy work jewelry on a hand is just not the thing to have. But I wear it almost all the time. I look down at it and my heart skips a beat and I feel warm all over. I feel happy...truly happy. I am extremely blessed to have found this amazing woman with whom to share my life.

Blessed Be

Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com

Commitment

Have you ever had one of those people in your life who says things like,"We should get together for a visit/coffee/tea" etc. and then never follows through? I received an email to that effect not long ago, responded with my available times and, as per usual, have not heard back. When this happened I realized that I have somehow accumulated 3 people like that into my life in the last couple of years. This surprises me because I usually don't tolerate this sort of behavior. But they kind of snuck in.

So now what? Well, as I have had to do before to remove klingons from my robes, I will give each of them one chance out of many that they have had to step up or get out. I don't do this without actually telling them that I am doing it. That would just be one big game. But when I tell them that I am noticing a pattern in behavior and that I don't like it and won't put up with it and then make plans with them, they had better show up. Yes, emergencies can happen. But when we planned it for a month in advance and then "friends from out of town have dropped in and I need to be with them tonight" happens, then I know that my time and energy is just not important enough to let the friends from out of town know that you are busy and that they can give advance notice next time.

I think that some people just don't know how to say "no" to others. If they did, then they would be much more committed to following through with set plans and less likely to whimsically change them because some one breezes through town for an evening. But then one wonders what the relationship actually is with the ones who breeze through town? Perhaps there is something there that is actually much more enticing than what I have to offer? If so, just say so and we are good. Don't let me stand in the way of a good lay! But do be honest with me and with yourself as to why you are doing what you are doing. And then don't blow me off the next time we have a coffee date.

So that is the shaman's rant for today. Unfortunately, I may have actually done similar stuff to friends and not even known it because they were too timid to call me on it. I hope not. I do like to deal with things up front. That way we let go of all the drama!

Blessed Be

Trent

www.deerhornshamanic.com