The Heart of the Matter

Okay, first off I would like to say "You're welcome, ladies!" Then, for those who are of a different persuasion, I would like to say, "You're welcome, gentlemen!" And now that that is over with, the reason that I chose this photo is obvious...isn't it? It is a photo of the area of the heart!

In life there are many challenges that come up here and there. It is important when that happens to get out of our heads, which are usually filled with fear and self-doubt, and stay in our hearts. The most amazing decisions can then be made when one truly comes from the heart. When these decisions are a matter of life or death we sometimes head straight to the head. Instead, these are exactly the moments when we need to turn to the heart. There is no wrong decision when it comes from the heart centre.

Sometimes we have to also trust, which is a heart issue itself. We need to trust ourselves and our decisions and we sometimes need to trust others. We place our well being in the hands of others every day. We blatantly get behind the wheel of a car and drive the streets that are filled with other drivers. We have to be conscious of what is going on around us, but to a certain degree we also need to have a trust, if not in the other drivers then at least in the process of driving. Medically we can be met by challenges that force us to trust our health care providers and the process that our bodies need to go through in order to survive and be well. Recently a friend of mine went through a surgery that was extremely needed for his well being. Then there were some post surgery complications that hospitalized him again. He was very trusting in the process, even though the rest of us were quite concerned. As it turns out, everything is alright and he is back home. He has inspired me to once again believe in myself and my decisions and to trust in the flow of the universe. Thank you, buddy! You ROCK!

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

Music to My Ears

My daughter plays guitar. She plays it extremely well. Since her mom and I separated I have not had opportunity to hear her play that much, as she practices at home and usually doesn't bring her guitar with her when she comes to visit. She has performed for us at Christmas and such, but usually I only get to hear her play at the Performer's Club that she participates in. So it was quite the thrill when she brought her guitar to her last visit and practiced a song.

I have always loved guitar music. This surprises me as my father was the one who played guitar in my family and, as most of you know, our relationship sucked. But the sound of really good guitar playing has always soothed me. It's not the strumming and chords and stuff that does it. Anyone can do that. It's the picking of a soft and gentle piece of music that makes my heart want to sing with joy. I am so glad that my daughter has found that she enjoys playing it. Hopefully this will be something that I get to hear now and then for the rest of my life.

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

Clean it Up!

From the time my daughters were very young, they have always been taught that if you make a mess you clean it up and don't expect someone else to do it for you or that the mess will simply magically disappear if you ignore it.  I am appalled that anyone should have such a grand sense of entitlement in this day and age that they don't take responsibility for their messes. 

Sometimes this comes in the form of people who do idiotic things like flicking their used cigarette butts out the car window as they drive down the street. Cars are built with ashtrays for a reason.  Do they care that they can start a fire or that birds and animals can choke on the foam filter when they eat them?  No.  They just flick away and have no concern for the environment or for anyone else other than their miopic selves.

Also common are those who don't take responsibility for the messes they create within relationships.  The broom and dustpan are right there, waiting to be used, and there they sit because someone thinks he or she is either too right or not skilled enough to use the tools presented!  Either one is a cop out.  There is never anything wrong with admitting that we made a mistake or even admitting that we are still learning to use the tools at hand.  Those around us will be quite patient with us if we simply admit to our inexperience and make efforts to clean it up.

So think about your life, your habits and your relationships.  Are there any areas that need a good spring cleaning?  If so, attend to it.  You will not be sorry.

Blessed Be
Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com

Presentation

It really is the key to how things are received.  I like to present myself well.  And usually I am, as a result, received well.  I also like to present the food I prepare in a creative and apetizing way.  This platter I made today for lunch for myself and my daughter, who was not feeling very well.  She is the type who, when not feeling well, will often not eat, sometimes for days.  Today, whether it was the energy work I did for her prior to lunch or the way it was laid out, she chowed down.  It was so good to see her enjoy good, healthy food.

Sometimes I am asked why it is that I prepare food in this way.  Well, if you have ever seen the movie "Spanglish" you will understand.  I may not be a gourmet cook in the same way as the character of the father in that movie, but I know how to make ordinary food at least look somewhat spectacular.  I like to create art out of vegetables and fruit and nuts etc. and even make it in the form of a fountain.  I think it tastes better that way.

No, I don't just do this for others.  When I was a kid I would make rivers and forests out of the cream and brown sugar in my island of oatmeal.  I think that it is a creative mind that can play with food.  That is why I have never discouraged my kids from playing with their food.  It boosts creativity and intelligence.  And yes, I still make things in my oatmeal.  I also sculpt my mashed potatoes and find interesting things to do with pudding.  I don't do it for others so much as I do it for myself.  Others, should they happen to be there and sharing the food, simply get to enjoy the presentation.

Blessed Be
Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com

Technology is Frustrating

So as many of you may have noticed, there is a comment on my last Posting that is all in Chinese.  It is advertising porn and I don't appreciate it.  I also don't appreciate the fact that the Blogger Center is completely unhelpful in how to block that person from ever commenting again.  I think that I have figured out how to block anyone who is not invited, but now the invitation process is screwing me up.  So.....

For those of you who like to comment, I need to hear from you.  Send me an email with your email address in the body of the email.  I will then copy and paste it and send out an invite to enable you to comment more.  Anyone who is not already reliable will have to be someone I know or get to know before I allow comments anymore.  If this doesn't work, then I am going to simply shut down the blog site and look at other media.

If anyone is technologically advanced and has constructive knowledge on how to even get a friggin response from the Blogger Help Centre, or knows how to block someone from commenting, please email me and let me know.

To all the rest of my faithful readers, please be patient with me as I sort this out.

Blessed Be

Trent

Learning Opportunities

"We cannot teach people anything. We can only help them discover it within themselves." Galileo.

I have sometimes had people ask me why it is that I did not tell them about some aspect of themselves, of which I was aware, long ago when I became aware of it. It is not like I have ever held out on information for people. It is just that sometimes they are just not in a place or space in which they are even wanting to look at stuff within. So I patiently wait until the time comes that they are ready.

I know when they are ready because they ask me a very direct question. It is not the type of question where one says something like, "Tell me everything". That is too broad and vague and impossible to cover. But when they say things like, "Why do you think it is that I am afraid of success?", well, then we're talkin'! The person is obviously ready since the question was direct and pointed. Until I hear a question like that I am only able to help them muddle through until the right questions begin to form in their minds and in their hearts. Once that happens, away we go! Very deep and profound healing can then take place. The person has now taken charge of their own healing and their own journey.

Seeing a shaman is not like getting into a taxi cab and saying "I don't know where I want to go, you just take over and drive now please." It is more like discovering how you can drive the vehicle yourself and then discovering that the vehicle is actually quite the powerful machine! Shiny and new and with perfect treads, it is the cat's meow of sports cars and can grip the road around any turn at optimal speed. But we, as shaman, don't just throw you into a sports car and say, "There you go, now drive it". We actually will help you learn the lessons of the rules of the road first, then give painstaking hands on instruction before we throw you the keys and let you hit the road. We, at least those of us who are responsible, want you to know to not drive drunk and that a stop sign actually means you come to a full stop. That way you don't end up creaming somebody and killing them or yourself.

Enough of the driving metaphors. The thing is that once the question is asked the answer is right there, just waiting to be heard. There is no way to actually share information that is not requested. Once the information is shared, then there are many discoveries within as a natural response to the information. Great wisdom can be achieved as these discoveries are put to good use. So next time you are sitting down with your favorite shaman, myself or whomever else, consciously ask the direct questions. Yes, you may get an "I don't know" answer, but at least that would be honest. You may, however, get some profound answers that you weren't expecting. Take the opportunity to listen, just listen. Then, take a deep breath and, without hesitation, ask the next question!

Blessed Be
Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com

Not Quite Yet

So yesterday I blogged about the arrival of Spring! Well, this morning we again have sub zero temperatures and snow. Not a lot of snow, mind you, but still snow. Dagnammit! So I decided to cash in some tanning salon minutes and at least feel like spring is on the way. Yes, you read that right. Your favorite shaman goes to a tanning salon. And while I am at it, might I say that the Changes Salon in Saskatoon has very helpful and professional staff! So into the tanning machine I go. I call it my "time machine" because it has a certain number of minutes that it runs for. You step into this contraption after lotioning down and putting on goggles, push the "start" button, and voila! You have ultraviolet light in surround sound! For hours afterwards I can feel my skin tanning away!

The coolest thing about this is that with the blue light of the ultraviolet range, it eases depression as it stimulates the serotonin in the brain. No more SADD days! The most, ehem, uncomfortable thing about it is that you are...you guessed it...naked! Ahhh! I make extra sure that certain parts get lots of lotion! I don't want to be toasting any nuts other that the almonds on the stove! This is not only all new to me, but a complete adventure taboot! I have never done anything like this before and the only reason I am is so that hopefully I don't sunburn this spring/summer when I (finally) am out in the garden. Theoretically, it should work. Right?......Right?!......RIGHT!!!!!?

Blessed Be
Trent
www.deerhornshamanic.com