One way to do this, on a personal level, is to mentally and emotionally ground oneself deep into the earth. Send your energy and attention down through your body and down through your feet. Re-connect yourself with the earth nature and the ground you stand upon. Fully embody yourself, your mind and feeling, into the Earth Body. Come back down to earth. Become present in your body and grounded in the earth. Feel your energy connection with the planet, and become sensitive to the healing earth energies and the energies of the natural world. This is our home. This is your home, and this is your true Mother. Let her give to you. Let her give you nurturance, emotionally and physically. Let her give you her love and healing. Breathe her into you. And on the out breath return to her your love, your appreciation and gratitude, your good thoughts and your caring. Give of yourself, your whole self, and return to the Spirit of Earth, with all your love and attention. Then breathe up into you the nurturing energies of the Mother Spirit.
Receive all you need and give all you have. This is the Way. First you have to give this some practice, some time and energy, and then eventually the practice becomes your Way of being and transforms every part of your life, with love, with power, and with natural intelligence. In this way, we become more and more harmonious with Nature, the world, and with our own natural being, which has its own natural wisdom and empowers all parts of our life with spiritual love.
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Physical Sensing
There are four elements of Spirit, relating to four directions. These are fire, air, water and earth. These also relate to four aspects of every human being. The body is earth, the emotions are water, the mind is air, and the will is fire.
So, physical existence is one aspect of Spirit, which we call the earth element, and this balances the three other elements of fire, water, and air. To experience the Spirit of matter, you should begin with your own body. Touch your body. Touch the material embodiment of Spirit.
Next. practice what we call body sensing, by taking some time to actually sense each part of your body, from head to toes. Start with the top of the head, sensing, and gradually bring the attention down through the body, sensing the physical body. You can do this while aware of the breath at the same time. This exercise produces a grounding of spiritual energy into the body, and helps us be more present in the body. We need to remember that the spiritual path and spiritual realization is not about being up in space or in a psychic world. It is about being integrated, in body, mind and spirit. We Can raise ourselves to higher spiritual spaces, so to speak, but spiritual reality is just as much here in the body and in the earth as it is in the spiritual sky. For this physical body and physical world IS the embodiment of Spirit, and this world is here to be experienced in its fullness of Spirit.
The spiritual path is not an avoidance or withdrawing from our physical reality. We are born to be here, to fully sense the world, to realize the Great Spirit IN the world and expressing through our bodies, and enjoying this presence of embodiment. We are born here to truly be here, to be fully present on earth. But so many people deny the spiritual beauty of the earth and the beauty of embodiment. Too many people are not really present here, that is, present here on earth with spiritual vision. Many people are complete materialists and greedy for more and more material possessions, and they are unaware of the Spiritual Presence throughout life. While many others float about in a kind of dream space and hardly ever come into their senses and be totally present in the physical reality. Yet the true and original Teachings tells us that Spirit is both Earth and Sky. That we can be free as Eagles in the Sky of Spirit Mind and receive higher vision from the Great Spirit, but we must also respect this material earth and be fully present here, working to serve life on Earth and enjoying the fruits of material life as well. We know that the Earth is the sacred embodiment of Spirit, and that our own bodies are part of this sacred earth.
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Breathing with the Mother Earth can be done at any time. It is completely safe and completely natural. This is healing and brings us closer to natural harmony. And it circulates the vital and love energies of the living planet. The conscious natural breath of balance and harmony is called the Mother’s Breath, as one returns to the Mother, to live within Her harmonious rhythm. As we do this we become evermore harmonious in life, and we come into a balanced rhythm with the natural life. Doing this we become closer to the Earth and at the same time closer to our own natural rhythm. Finding your own natural and joyful balance of the breath brings you closer to your true self, your natural self. Remember that you are part of the Earth, and you originally emerged from the Earth Mother, so your body, your breath and your psyche can always re-attune to the Mother and you can always feel Her vibration harmonize your being. You can always come back to your natural rhythm, by attuning yourself to the Earth Nature, because this is the very ground of your natural being.
The Breath is very important. The Great Ones say that Breath is Life. Breath is Spirit. And you are not fully consciously alive unless you are consciously breathing. Conscious Breath is actually the primary secret to Soul consciousness and to spiritual power. The details of this secret can only be given gradually, and it is up to you to exercise this potential.
First you have to give this some practice, some time and energy, and then eventually the practice becomes your Way of being and transforms every part of your life, with love, with power, and with natural intelligence. In this way, we become more and more harmonious with Nature, the world, and with our own natural being, which has its own natural wisdom and empowers all parts of our life with spiritual love.
Spend some time, in Nature, or just in meditative silence, to open up in this receptive way to the Great Spirit. Begin to Feel this greater Spiritual Presence move within you, within your body and your heart. Allow yourself to Feel this Presence, and you’ll begin to feel yourself healed by the Presence. Feel the Great Presence of Spirit move through you as a gentle, soft wind. Breathe in the Spirit and breathe out the Spirit, and let yourself be breathed by Spirit.
Breathe Spirit into you and allow it to radiate throughout your being. This is the essential practice, and as you do this with prayer and intention, you will more and more be transformed by Spirit and transformed into the Presence of Spirit. Fill yourself with Great Spirit, receiving more and more from Spirit all around you. Let the whole Universal Spirit come into you, until there is nothing left of you but the Presence of Universal Spirit. Let Spirit overflow in your heart and permeate every cell in your body.
There is nothing to think about and nothing to memorize. It is simply about energies, breathing, feeling, and opening. Keep opening up and receive the Presence of Great Spirit. Allow it to cleanse your heart, your body and your mind, and fill you with love and healing.
In the meditation of Great Spirit, the experience of this Reality is a sustained flow of deep feeling and real, but subtle energy. When this flow and feeling of the Spiritual Presence is consciously maintained and deepened, without distraction, the possibility of true spiritual transformation and realization then becomes possible.
Let Spirit fill your mind until there is nothing but Spirit. Let fear be dissolved into faith. There is nothing to fear. The Great Spirit is here and around you to give you life, and heal you, in mind, emotion and body. This is the entering of spiritual Presence, and there is nothing to fear, for the Great Spirit is all-powerful in Its Love. This opening brings us more and more into the great faith, and more and more into direct experience of the One loving Spirit of existence.
But of course, as you begin, your fears may arise. Observe your fears in the practice of opening up, and try not to let them overpower the opening of your faith. Allow your fears to gradually dissolve as you feel the presence of Love come in. If emotion arises in the opening up and breathing in of the Spirit, then know this as part your cleansing and healing. Allow any emotion to be released and expressed, and allow yourself to be loved and healed by Great Spirit. Usually there are many layers of fear and distrust, which close us off to the feeling of Spirit Presence, and which hold us back from opening our hearts and fully breathing in the Spirit with receptive faith. We can only allow these layers or walls to gradually dissolve in the practice of opening.
This practice of spiritual breathing has two phases of out-breath. First, we can allow the fears, the mistrust, and the hurts and pains of the past to be cleansed and released back into the earth. This is done on the out-breath, the releasing breath. So if feelings of fear or pain arise, we can release these into the earth. This is allowing ourself to be cleansed and purified of old air, old emotional pain and old conditioning. Know that you can let it all go, that you can let go of everything painful, fearful and negative, which has stuck to you from the past.
If you see in yourself anything emotional or mental which you sincerely feel is not best or valuable to the life you hope for, then it is possible to let this go and release its power over you. This is completely your own choice. If you want to let it go, you can. But it must be released with decision and feeling. It is a conscious and intentional letting go, and it is done through the out-breath releasing that old substance back to the earth. And the earth will transform it into energy essence.
This releasing, this cleansing does not hurt the earth. It is like compost. What is not good for you can be released to the earth, where that emotional or psychic substance will be eaten and transformed by other kinds of life.
This is part of the Natural Law to do with circulation and transformation of energies. It is also possible to release emotional pain and distress to the trees, grasses and plants. It doesn’t hurt them, but actually helps them grow. For the plant and tree kingdom of Nature feeds on emotional energies. For example, you can find a tree friend to be your healer, and sit or stand by the tree and allow it to absorb the emotional stuff which you want to let go of. Let it be released to the tree. And the tree will transform whatever you release into a positive and healing energy which you can receive from its radiance. So, just as trees transform our old air into fresh oxygen, so too can trees transform our emotional energies into fresh feelings of love and good vital energy. Try this and you’ll know it’s true. Plants can do the same, but large trees have a greater capacity for transforming the heavier emotions.
Cleansing and purification is the first step to true spiritual healing and awakening. An example of this is the Native American Sweat Bath, which is usually preliminary to any Vision Quest or journey to the Spirit world. In the Sweat the participants release their fears and all the emotions held in or repressed. It is not merely a purification of the body by intense heat and sweating, but is truly an emotional cleansing or cleansing of the soul, whereby one lets go of all the internal psychic and emotional stuff which holds one back from complete faith and trust.
Release the old, release the fears, release the blocks and the walls which enclose us from Great Spirit. Allow Great Spirit to come in -- breathe the Great Spirit in, and allow this to purify your whole being, on all levels, from body to emotion to mind. And allow all the past stuff to be released back into the earth, allowing your body, heart and mind to be completely cleansed with the pure Waters and Presence of the Great Spirit. Allow the great power of Spirit to purify, visualizing the fire and heat of the great Sun above soaking into you and transforming your whole being into pure Light. All that need not be is dissolved by this great fire and light of the Sun.
And now visualize the spiritual Presence of Love as pure, cleansing Waters, descending down into you and through you, as a great waterfall of spiritual healing, and let this pure Water cleanse away all impurities of mind and emotion, until you feel completely clean and purified in the Presence of Spirit Love. Next, breathe in the Spirit of pure air, and allow this to purify you, allow the pure wind of Spirit to blow through you and cleanse you of all negative thinking, and take away all the impurities of false conditioning. And keep allowing this pure air to breathe through you, until finally there is nothing but the feeling of pure space and the vitality of pure spiritual energy. Then allow this pure space to expand outward in all directions, as the pure air expands outward on the breath. As you do this, you’ll realize the whole universe as pure Spirit. You realize the One Spirit pervading through you and your inseparableness from the One Spirit.
Healing -- here are some keys to remember:
Connect with the Earth Mother.
Receive vital energy from Earth by breathing these energies up into the body, for vitality and healing.
Release to the Earth what is discordant or what we don’t need, because this is transformed by the Earth. Let Mother Earth heal us by accepting our troubles, disharmonies, and pains, which is transformed like compost.
Energies need to be circulated throughout life, including ourselves, and the old or stuck emotions and energies need to be transformed into new creative energies. This is all part of the Natural Law to do with circulation and transformation of energies. It is also possible to release emotional pain and distress to the trees, grasses and plants. It doesn’t hurt them, but actually helps them grow. For the plant and tree kingdom of Nature feeds on emotional energies. For example, you can find a tree friend to be your healer, and sit or stand by the tree and allow it to absorb the emotional stuff which you want to let go of. Let it be released to the tree. And the tree will transform whatever you release into a positive and healing energy which you can receive from its radiance. So, just as trees transform our old air into fresh oxygen, so too can trees transform our emotional energies into fresh feelings of love and good vital energy. Try this and you’ll know it’s true. Plants can do the same, but large trees have a greater capacity for transforming the heavier emotions. Find a tree friend to be your special healer, or walk through a forest or nature setting and allow the vegetation kingdom to absorb the old and refresh you with new vital energies. This letting go of the heavier emotional stuff which sticks to us is an important part of our needed healing. So let all that stuff go and then breathe in the fresh energies given by Nature.
The White Buffalo Teachings specifically give us practices and suggested attitudes for attuning to the spirits of nature and opening up that communication. But first we must realize that Nature is truly alive with sensitivity and consciousness, and the spiritual beings of Nature will only open up to us as we open up to them. They have closed down a lot to the human kingdom because of our overall insensitivity and disrespect, yet they are ever ready to make friends with us and give to us, when we open our recognition and begin to listen to and feel these spiritual qualities and energies of the natural world.
So the practice is to become quiet inside and listen and feel with sensitivity, and receive the spiritual beauty of a tree or sacred space. This is the kind of respectful attitude which we would want to have if we met any special person. If you went to visit a spiritual teacher, how would you come? You should come in humility, respect and openness, for only then can you truly receive from them and be able to recognize their spiritual quality. So if we remember that every life and form on Earth is an expression of the Great Spirit, we might then treat each life with a high degree of respect and openness to their spiritual qualities and energies which remain hidden until we recognize and receive them. It is up to us to recognize the spiritual presence in any form of nature. And that presence will not open itself up to us unless we are ready to recognize and receive it. Like any human being, why should a spiritual presence of nature open its heart to us if we are not open to it? It all starts with you, for you need to be in a ready and receptive attitude of mind and heart, and you need to Make Contact from this receptive space, this receptive listening attitude.
If you can get out in a garden or in natural surroundings, you will benefit from this simple practice of bringing your attention and sensitivity to a particular tree, plant, or a general area of natural space, and opening to the presence or spirit. You just see and listen and feel with an open, receptive attitude of mind and heart, and allow the presence to radiate its energies to you and speak to you with feeling. You just feel and listen what it has to give, and allow yourself to receive this. This is the first and most important step in recognition and communication with the particular spirit. If you give this some time, and stay open to the experience, you’ll begin to feel more of the spiritual vibrations and energies, and the spirit will share itself with you as it feels you to be a receptive friend.
The nature spirits, of trees or of a sacred place, have three basic kinds of energies which they can share with you. These are vital, love-healing, and wisdom energies. The first is vital, life energy, which strengthens and heals the body, and gives us vital power which can actually be stored in the body. We can sense and receive this vital energy in the lower part of our body, through the feet, up the legs and through the area around the navel. The second kind of energy is an emotional energy, which we often feel as love or beauty, and this too heals us and brings us into a closer communion with Mother Nature. This healing energy comes into us when we open our heart to the love-presence and emotional feeling of the nature form or sacred place. And the third kind of energy is wisdom, coming through the consciousness and intelligence of nature. Nature is alive with consciousness, and a particular life-form or place knows when we enter into a receptive rapport with it. It recognizes our presence and consciousness, and the way to realize that nature consciousness is to allow ourself to be seen, recognized and known.
You allow It to be conscious of you and allow it to communicate with you. You might give greeting to it, with sincere feeling, while recognizing it as a conscious living presence, and ask that it open up communication with you. But predominately, you need to be in a receptive space, open to hearing and receiving from this consciousness. So you allow it to be conscious of you and share itself with you. You need to open up your mind, in a receptive silence, and allow the spirit to share with you as a friend. These are the three basic qualities of spiritual presences found in nature, and the three potential gifts from Nature and nature spirits.
Close your eyes now and imagine a most beautiful flower in front of your inner vision. Let this flower come more clearly into vision, and enjoy its delicate and colorful beauty. Now imagine that this is one of the few flowers left on Earth, and that it is a rare gift to experience such beauty. We often take beauty for granted, so take this moment to most specially appreciate the beauty of this imagined flower. Appreciate this almost to the point of worshiping its beauty. Feel this beauty radiate toward you and into you. Breathe the beauty into you, and smell the beauty if you can. Cherish in this experience of receiving, and take this beauty into you, as though it were special food which you have hungered for. Breathe this in and let it nurture you at a very deep level of appreciation. With each breath you feel more and more of this beauty come into you, filling you with joy and appreciation.
Now, imagine yourself being this flower. See the base stem of the plant emerge from the base of your spine, and its roots going into the Earth, and see the flower in the space of your chest. See yourself as this flower and feel how this is. You are this beautiful flower. Affirm this silently. Say to yourself, “I am this beautiful flower.”
And of course you are! Feel what it is like being such a beautiful flower. Appreciate yourself and imagine how others will appreciate such beauty. Feel good about yourself and your inner beauty. See and feel this flower grow larger and larger, and radiate its beauty outward to all who can see. Feel yourself radiating beauty and happiness everywhere.
Now remember this flower, for this is a flowering of your soul. Your soul is very much like a flower, because it begins as a seed deep within your body, and if recognized and nurtured it will emerge out into expression, and people will see that you are a radiance of love and beauty. Yes. Great Mother says that You are a beautiful flower, and don’t forget it.
Now again, imagine the flower in front of you, and repeat the exercise. Cherishing the beauty and allowing it into you through the breath. Feeling appreciation and joy grow within you.
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The Native Way appreciates the two fundamental aspects of Reality, Sky and Earth. It is said that we come from the Sky and from the Earth. We come from both -- from Spirit Sky and Mother Earth, and we are made of both, and both are absolutely important. Be free in mind as the Sky, and be practically grounded in the Earth. This is the great balance. There are some practices to help us to integrate the Sky and Earth.
One practice is to stand up tall and meditate on being a tree.
It helps to do this while standing back against a large tree, feeling its vital energies and feeling how it is to be the tree.
The trees are called Standing People, and we are much like our Trees Relations, though they remain in service to one place, while we can move about the planet and express our growing in many ways.
Trees grow in two basic directions. They grow out and toward the blue sky, and they grow down and deep into the red Earth. Just as trees, we can reach upward toward the sunlight of higher illumination and the fire of universal love. And we can branch out into the freedom of the Sky world. But this is only possible if we are rooted in the Earth and in our bodies, for we need the stability of the earth and its vital energies of life, in order for self-expansion to be possible. Thus, we need a balance of growing into the spiritual Sky of freedom and illumination, while growing into rootedness and relatedness with all of life.
The Earth nurtures us, by giving the life energy we need and the essential foods for growth. We need to remember that our roots are in the three natural kingdoms, that we come from and are made of the substances and qualities of the mineral, plant and animal kingdoms. We depend on these roots for life and sustenance. We should also remember that we are rooted in and come from the spirits of our ancestors, who gave to life so that future generations might grow in harmony and prosperity. In this remembrance of our Earth roots, we can feel grateful for that has been given and all that continues to nurture our physical and emotional well-being. If we can realize how we are made of all the natural world, both physically and psychically, then we will appreciate our interconnection and interrelatedness with all of nature, and we will feel more rooted in this Earth life. Our spiritual purpose in being here is not to merely space out in the world of dreams and visions, but to truly be here, present and grounded in the Earth world, and able to give back something to the life we have been given.
In this meditation you will soon receive new vision and understanding of your self and your soul direction. Your true soul, which is your natural self, will begin to be revealed and unfold, and you will receive vision of your true direction in life. This is the essence of what the Native Americans call the vision quest. It is a conscious letting go of conditioned thoughts and beliefs, our usual pattern of thinking, and becoming quietly open to clear vision and guidance from Great Spirit or from one of the great spirits of Nature, though in essence it is an opening to vision and self-knowing as emerging from within. We begin to know our true self and our deeper passion in life. We begin to realize our deeper will, our deeper passion, intention or desire, and our spiritual direction becomes clearer in our mind.
Imagine climbing a mountain, climbing to Vision Mountain.
Now first, observe your thought as you climb into this higher point of view. Another way to still the patterns of thought is to hold an intention to remain purely receptive and conscious, while not giving any energy to thoughts arising. In other words, practice just being conscious in the mind and not getting lost in a chain of thinking. The purpose of this dis-attachment to thought is the first preparation for entering into the pure air of mind, which is the required receptive space for being open to greater intuitions and the certainty of truth. A wider view of truth and a clarity of spiritual vision is only possible when the mind is sufficiently empty, still and purely receptive. This is a higher state of meditation, where comes true spiritual illumination. All preparations for the Vision Quest or for spiritual guidance are for the purpose of emptying and letting go of the usual thinking, so that a new understanding and vision of truth may be possible.
The Spirit of the North Wind will come to enlighten us and teach us, but we can only hear this Voice or Vision when we are just listening and just conscious, and not talking, thinking or chattering in the mind. So the practice of facing the North Wind is a surrender of our usual thinking, and an emptying of mind, so that true vision and guidance may come through the receptive silence. We also need an attitude of humble approach. We need to approach Vision Mountain with humility and a sincere feeling of need -- a need for Vision, Clarity, Understanding. We must sincerely and intensely want to know the Truth and the Way, and specifically what our own purpose and best path is. We need guidance and direction. So let us come to Vision Mountain with humility and receptivity, and really listen. When open to hearing guidance, or having the Vision, it will come suddenly and unexpectedly.
You will know it is right and good by the feeling of joy, peace, and being loved. If you do not feel good and nurtured by this, or if you feel uncomfortable or out of balance by this, then you need not accept this lower vibration and you should re-affirm your intention and prayer for a higher vibration or higher presence. Keep aspiring towards a greater Light, or higher up the Mountain, and wishing for the greatest presence of love that is possible. This will protect you from lesser spirits and lead you to contact with your highest Spiritual Guide.
Feel what is truly helpful. Sit and just listen.
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If you wish to make contact with a Spiritual Guide, then begin by coming into your own self-honesty and your own natural knowing in the heart. Then, open your heart and mind, in humility, and make a sincere prayer for further guidance along the way and toward illumination. Your prayer, your humility, and your wish must be sincere and clearly known. As you ask or pray for guidance and presence of Spirit, know in faith that your prayer is heard in the spiritual world, according to its sincerity. Now become open and receptive to spiritual presence and help. Knowing you want it. Knowing you need it.
Begin to feel the spiritual presence above and in back of you. When you have the feeling of this greater presence close to you, and feel yourself in the energy of this presence. Know you have received contact. Know the presence is with you. Feel the love, the protection, and the care from this presence.
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We can use the four Elements of Spirit to purify and heal us.
The four Elements are: Fire, Water, Earth, and Air. Each of these Elements offer particular gifts and powers to the spiritual life.
Our spiritual being is also made of these Elements, which are the four components of the self. Our body is made of Earth, our emotions are made of Water, our mind is made of Air, and our will is made of Fire. Each of these Elements of the Self are respected in the Native tradition. They also relate to the east, south, west and north directions of the Medicine Wheel, which we will study later on. For now, let us consider and make use of their purifying properties. Each of the Elements have the power to purify us, as well as empower us.
First, we will practice a purification and healing using Fire. At some time you should take at least a few minutes to concentrate on this healing practice. Many Native Teachings believe the light of fire to be the first Element of creation, as seen and felt in the lighted heat of Grandfather Sun. The Light of Fire is the most powerful purifying Element. It destroys and transforms impurities of the mind, emotions and body.
DRUM
In a meditative attitude of quiet being, Relax, and inwardly visualize the light of the sun above your head. Then, allow this light to enter your mind and clear your wandering thoughts. Allow the light to fill your head and just concentrate on the light.
Then, begin to feel the heat and fire of this sunlight, feeling this purify your emotional being. Then, visualize this fire of the sun purifying and destroying all impurities of the body. Finally, see and feel the fire and heat of the Sun Spirit soaking into you and transforming your whole being into pure Light. All that need not be is dissolved by this great fire and light of the Sun. Eventually, you will feel and realize yourself as the pure light and fire of the Sun. Enjoy the experience of being in the light and the feeling of being purified by Fire.
PAUSE
Let us now make use of the purifying power of Water.
Visualize a great river of pure cleansing water coming down from high mountains above your head. Then visualize a waterfall of this pure water coming down from high above you, and feel this water flowing down through your emotional being, cleansing and purifying you. Feel the water flow down through you and cleanse away all impurities and feelings of stress or worry. Just allow all stress and worry to flow out with the water, down through your body and out into the earth below. Keep doing this until you feel completely cleansed and purified. Then, recognize and feel this healing water as the water of spiritual love, allowing it to move freely through you, healing you with the feeling of love. Completely bathe in this water of love and feel the joy of its flowing. Allow the water to cleanse you, and let the love heal you. Feel yourself completely clean in the flowing waters of spiritual love. Enjoy this.
PAUSE
Next, let us be purified by the element of Earth, which could also be called the rock or soil nature. Here, we allow the solidity and gravity of Earth to heal us. Make this a practice by allowing the gravity of Earth to attract and absorb the impurities, the stresses and tensions of the body and emotions. Just simply feel the downward pull of gravity take away all that you do not need or want. Allow stress or worry to simply sink down and be absorbed by the Earth Rock. Then, once you feel purified and clear, begin to ground your energy firmly into the Earth, as though you were making roots deep into the solid Earth below. This grounding is part of our healing, as we re-connect with the Earth Mother and all of the good energy She has to give us. But before we can truly receive nourishment from the Earth, we must be willing to let go of the stresses and tensions which block the life force. Just let it go and allow the Earth to take it away.
Allow the Earth to absorb all which is ready to die and be transformed. Remember that death is nothing to fear or to avoid.
Death is part of the whole process of Life. Things are dying all the time, and they must die in order for the new to be born and have room to grow. It is the same within ourself. We must allow things within us to die or be taken away back to the Earth, which then becomes compost or transformed soil for new life and energies to grow strong. As we let the old die or be transformed, there is more room within our inner spiritual forest for new potentials to grow. Each thought-form or emotion which is let go of, of which we realize is not for the better life, is transformed by the Earth into a purified energy that nurtures new and more beautiful potentials growing within us. You see, then, that death is part of the whole spiritual process. And so we need to allow those old forms and old energies to be released and returned to the Earth, where they are transformed and where upon new life will grow.
The practice is to simply allow the Earth to take back what is ready to go, that is, what we know we do not need or which feels to be unworthy of our spiritual beauty. Just allow the stresses, anxieties, fears and negativities of the body, mind and emotions to be absorbed by the gravity of earth, and let them go, completely.
Let them die into the Earth. Let these things be released on the out-breath. Visualize the old being released to the Earth, as this will give energy for a new cycle of creativity. Allow the Earth to purify you and take away all that is unnecessary. And then, when purified by the Earth, you can begin to sink healthy roots deep into the Earth and begin absorbing the healthy, vital energies of the Earth. From the good, vital soil of the Earth, take all you need for a strong, healthy life. Feel yourself rooted deep in the good soil of the Earth and in the solidity of rock, and then draw in all the vital energy you need. Draw this good energy into you through the breath. Visualize and feel yourself being well nourished by fresh earth energy and creative energy.
PAUSE
Next, is the purification by the Element of Air. We have already practiced the Breath of Great Spirit through the air, and we know that within air is a great vital power. It is possible to actually breathe in the purest and finest quality of Air from anywhere in the world. Practice this now. Just make your intention to breathe in only the finest and purest air, and then consciously do so. This will be possible as long as you breathe with consciousness and intention. It is also possible to be purified by the Air. Simply visualize a beautiful natural setting with lots of healthy trees and breathe in the purest of air. Or just simply feel that you are breathing in the purest of air. Hold in this breath for a short pause, visualizing this pure air collecting any impurities. Then, allow this air to be breathed out and visualize the trees transforming the impurities into pure, fresh, vital energy. Then again breathe in consciously and repeat the practice. Do this until you come into a meditative space, where pure air is simply moving into you and out of you, in a relaxed and even rhythm.
Whatever thoughts arise just let them be in the rhythm of the breath and flow out with the breath. Continue to use the breath and the pure air to purify all negative thinking and false conditioning. You will feel that your mind and thoughts are being purified, that the space within is more and more clear and empty.
Simply allow the pure air to clear away all stresses and worrisome thoughts. And you will feel more light and clear and free and spacious. Feel yourself empty and clear, and feel that the pure air moves through you without any hindrance. Eventually you feel there is only the pure air, only the air moving freely through an empty space, and you feel this space expand freely. Keep allowing this pure air to breathe through you, until finally there is nothing but the feeling of pure space and the vitality of pure spiritual energy. Allow this pure space to expand outward in all directions, as the pure air expands outward on the breath. As you do this, you’ll realize the whole universe as pure Spirit. You realize the One Spirit pervading through you and your inseparableness from the One Spirit. Now you are free, as free as the Air and the Wind, as free as pure Spirit. Realize yourself as pure Spirit, and let yourself be free.
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Shamanic Journeying is a phrase often used to describe meditations or
non-ordinary inward experiences, where new visions and guidances are allowed
into awareness. The Drumbeat is the traditional helper for this "journey
through the mind," though other instruments can help as well. The Drum-beat
helps carry the journeyer into the Underworld of Nature or above into the
Spirit Sky. The Drumbeat also maintains a connection to the heart-beat of
Earth Mother, which insures that the journeying soul does not get lost in
these spirit worlds and can always return to the earth body by way of the
Drum-beat. There is nothing to fear in these journeys. Whatever happens
within your inner experience should be acknowledged as a needed insight or
lesson, but there is no need to feel stuck in any one place along the
journey. You always have the power to journey on from whatever vision
presents itself. Just make the decision to move on, then propel yourself
onward by the will or desire to journey-on.
You may consider this as journeys into the greater Spirit Worlds or as
journeys into your own greater Spiritual Potential or Creative Unconscious.
The Underworld or Lower World journeys connect you with lost or for-gotten
potentials and wisdom from within your own earth nature. The Higher, Sky
World is also known as the World of Light, and the Under-world is the place
of darkness, though within this darkness is the hidden fire and light of
your own nature and the many powers of the Earth. We often fear and suppress
the darker world below and prefer the lighter world above. Yet within the
Dark of the Underworld are lost parts of ourself which have been suppressed,
ignored, or unacknowledged. Thus, within our shadowed nature is a great
hidden treasure of creative potentials, insights and powers, which we can
regain and reintegrate into our conscious self. So, on the Underworld
Journey one can rediscover and uncover the various powers, intelligences,
and qualities of Nature, as found in the under-world of one's own nature.
Some teachings distinguish this underworld as two or three lower worlds of
spirit-powers, yet we can simply understand all of the lower world as the
place of primordial powers and instinctual intelligences, and from where
come the animal, tree and rock spirit-powers, all of which is our potential
inheritance. You can assimilate these powers and intelligences by
acknowledging and accepting them as your own.
The Sky World is the Greater Mind of Universal Spirit, and within the
Sky World are the multitude of Spirit Helpers and all the levels of Spirit
Wisdom. Within the Great Cosmic Mind-Sky are all the possibilities and
potentials of Spiritual Expression and Wisdom. Here is where new and
unexpected visions come, and also where the future of the world and of your
life is thought into possibility and envisioned into future manifestation.
And through the Sky World one can approach closer to the Highest Wisdom and
Guidance of the One Great Spirit, and finally merge into that Greater Light
and become an illuminated expression of Great Spirit. Though, along the
Sky-Journey to Great Spirit Power and Wisdom, are many levels of Spirit
Guides, insight s, visions and revelations. Once a plateau is reached, you
find a higher mountain waiting in back of it. There are many spirits and
powers which can guide you, but ask for the highest truth, which you will
intuitively recognize as true.
In the traditional kind of shamanic or spirit journey the guide would
give some basic instructions, prior to the journey, then just drum and let
the journeyer go alone into these spirit worlds. But because there can be no
assurance that you would learn such pre-instructions, and because I cannot
sit with you on your journeys, I have included some simple suggestions along
the way which are for guidance and protection. Yet this is your own journey,
so you may go where and how you choose, and you may follow the suggestions
or not. You may go into the journey with certain questions, or your purpose
may be for general self-knowledge or acquiring greater powers of Spirit. The
best attitude is to just remain receptive to whatever comes or appears, and
allow your Intuition and Great Spirit Wisdom to guide the Vision Journey.
Let your imagination be free, and go fully into the vision and feeling that
presents itself. Listen and see with your inner senses. You may, at times,
dialogue or interact within the journey, and you may need to make choices
along the way, but mostly just remain receptive and learn from what is
given. Remain awake and inquisitive in mind, while free of the body and the
constraints of ordinary thinking.
Now you are ready for a meditation journey into the Underworld, where you will re-discover parts of your lost self, those parts of your whole being which were forgotten, suppressed or aborted. Those powers and abilities of your being which once began to grow in the womb of your soul but were never allowed to be born. This is the underworld of your own being, deep in the womb of your soul.
DRUM
So with focused awareness, go now deep down into yourself. Go deep into your belly, which is the gateway to the underworld. Focus awareness into the belly and go deep down into your body, sinking deeper and deeper into the cave of the belly. At the bottom of your belly, you will find a secret tunnel. Go now into this dark tunnel, and travel down and down into the deep underworld of the Earth.
Continue to go down and down, deeper into the darkness. There is nothing to fear, for you are going deep into the soil of your being, where you will discover the lost buried treasures of your soul potential. Continue to go deeper, and eventually a particular animal will appear. Keep going deeper until the animal appears.
PAUSE
This animal represents a power or quality which is a potential for self-expression. See the animal clearly. Watch what it does and how it is. Allow the animal to become larger in your consciousness, until it merges into you. And then feel how it is to be this animal. Become this animal and observe what you do, and how it feels to be this. Imagine walking about as this animal. Feel the particular power and quality of expression. This is your own potential power and quality of being. Recognize what is positive in this, and accept this as a part of yourself. Return now to just being attention or just being the light of exploration.
Now, you will go deeper into the Earth, in search of lost treasures, or the forgotten nature of yourself. First you must find your lost natural intelligence, your instinctual intelligence, which naturally knows what you need in life and how to get it. This natural intelligence is within you, at the very core of your being.
Go deeper into yourself, deeper and deeper, until you hear the Voice of natural intelligence. Go deeper and listen, until a soft voice is heard, which will assure you that wisdom is always present within. This Inner Voice you will recognize and you will know it can be trusted. The natural intelligence lives within you. Listen.
And remember the sound of this Voice and the feeling of its assurance. Listen now to what it says.
PAUSE.
Then, go further down into the underworld, deeper into your own buried treasure. As you go deeper, you will come upon a deep power at the very base of your being. This is your base power of being, your power to be anything you want to be. It is your power of freedom and the power of Life within you. Merge with this power and let it grow strong from within you.
Now you must look about the underworld for your lost child.
Search around the darkness until you see the lost child, lonely and scarred, and wanting to come out of the darkness, but frightened and shy. This is your inner child, which got left behind, which got suppressed and was pushed back into the darkness. Now you must come to the child, and give comfort and love to the child. Hug the child and assure the child of being loved. And feel the release of fear and loneliness in the child. Now, feel being the child. Feel being cared for and loved, and feel that you can now be free to express yourself with spontaneity, knowing that you are loved. Feel the child sense of playful innocence, and that you are free to explore the paradise of life, and can express yourself with playful innocence. Now you the child is free - free in love. And let yourself grow in this freedom.
You are now free and loved. So now go deeper into yourself and discover the fullness of love blossoming from within. Discover the love within you, which seeks to express and be shared. Let this love radiate out into the world, and feel the joy of loving and letting love expand into the world.
CONTINUE DRUMMING.
So you have now retrieved some of your lost self. You have made a deeper connection with the inner treasures of the underworld and have retrieved more of your natural intelligence, your inner power, your inner child, and your expanding love.
You are now ready to come out of the underworld and carry these treasures into the lighted world. But first you will allow a song from the soul to emerge. Through a Vision Quest or deep meditation, the Native Earth Person would often receive a special song or chant from Great Spirit or from an Animal Helper. This was known as a self-healing chant or a power chant. It is one of the ways in which the inner Spirit comes forth to express a greater wholeness of being, expressing a unique and beautiful rhythm and sound coming from deep within the heart of Spirit.
So now you will bring forth and give birth to one of your soul songs or soul chants. This chant, this expression of the inner sound and rhythm of being, will emerge naturally and spontaneously, and whatever comes forth is for your healing and wholeness of being.
Begin now by attuning with the natural rhythm or vibration of your inner power, which you feel as the deepest you. Feel this deep rhythm vibrating from within. This is the core of your soul, the deepest sense of yourself, the true and unique You. Listen and feel for this deep vibration and sound emerging from within. Hear it grow stronger, as you listen receptively to the inner sound. Feel yourself flow and sway with this subtle vibration and rhythm. Let it move you, and let it grow louder and stronger. And within this emerging sound, you begin to hear a distant chanting, coming from deep within the sound. And this chanting begins to come closer and become louder.
DRUM
Now, open your throat centre, or your voice, and begin to express a sound, the central sound of the chant. And from this expressing sound, allow the inner chanting to come forth, in rhythm to the inner beat. The chanting becomes more and more free and expressive. And allow it to spontaneously come forth and change as it will. Flow with the rhythm, and allow the chanting to be free and spontaneous. Sway with it and lose yourself in it. Enjoy the flow and the rhythm.
CONTINUE DRUMMING
Now sit in the Silence of just Being. Just feel and enjoy the energies of Being. PAUSE
Become conscious of the breath and collected in the body. Fully sense the feeling of embodiment and groundedness to the Earth. Send energy deep into the Earth and feel the sense of being firmly rooted.