Celebrating the Day of the Dead

The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) is a vibrant and meaningful celebration deeply rooted in Mexican culture, dating back thousands of years to Indigenous traditions. Every year, from October 31st to November 2nd, families across Mexico and beyond come together to honor their deceased loved ones, celebrating life, death, and the enduring bond between the living and the dead.
 

This festival, while often misunderstood, is far from being a somber or morbid occasion. Instead, it's a joyous, colorful event, filled with laughter, music, and love. It is a celebration of life, the legacies of the departed, and the unbreakable connection between generations. In this post, we'll explore the origins, customs, and significance of the Day of the Dead, and why it continues to resonate around the world.
 

Origins of the Day of the Dead 

 

The roots of the Day of the Dead can be traced back to the pre-Columbian civilizations of Mesoamerica, including the Aztec, Maya, and Toltec cultures. These ancient peoples held a cyclical view of life and death, seeing them as interconnected parts of existence. Rather than fearing death, they believed that the dead remained with the living in spirit, and that death was not an end but a transition to another form of life.
 

The Aztecs, in particular, had a month-long festival dedicated to the goddess Mictecacihuatl, known as the "Lady of the Dead," who ruled over the afterlife. After the Spanish colonization in the 16th century, Catholic influences merged with Indigenous beliefs, resulting in the modern version of the Day of the Dead, which coincides with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2).
 

Key Dates and Their Significance
 

The celebration of Día de los Muertos spans several days, each with its own unique significance:

• October 31st (All Hallows' Eve or Halloween): This day marks the beginning of the celebration. It is believed that on this night, the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest, allowing spirits to return to the earthly realm.
• November 1st (Día de los Angelitos): Known as the Day of the Little Angels, this day honors children who have passed away. Families believe that the spirits of deceased children (los angelitos) return to visit their families. Offerings and altars are prepared with toys, sweets, and food that children enjoyed during their lifetime.
• November 2nd (Día de los Difuntos): The final and most important day is dedicated to adult spirits. Families visit cemeteries, bringing food, drinks, and gifts to their loved ones' graves, decorating them with marigold flowers and candles.

Altars (Ofrendas): A Central Tradition
 

One of the most recognizable elements of the Day of the Dead is the creation of ofrendas, or altars, which are set up in homes and cemeteries to honor the deceased. These altars are not meant for worship but to welcome the spirits back to the land of the living, offering them comfort and joy during their brief return.
 

An ofrenda typically includes:

• Photographs of the deceased, serving as a visual reminder of those being honored.
• Cempasúchil (Marigold flowers), often referred to as the flower of the dead, believed to guide spirits with their bright color and strong scent.
• Candles to light the way for the spirits.
• Pan de muerto, a sweet bread baked specifically for the occasion.
• Personal items that the deceased enjoyed during their lives, such as favorite foods, drinks, or objects.
• Sugar skulls (calaveras), which are intricately decorated to represent the vitality of life.

These altars are typically adorned with papel picado (colorful, perforated paper banners) that add a sense of celebration and festivity. Families might also include small crosses or religious images as a nod to the Catholic influence on the holiday.
 

Visiting Cemeteries: A Family Affair
 

On November 2nd, families flock to cemeteries to clean and decorate the graves of their loved ones. This communal act is a powerful reminder of the connection between the living and the dead, and the enduring presence of those who have passed away. It's common to see grave sites adorned with cempasúchil flowers, candles, and photographs, while families gather to share food, reminisce, and even listen to music.
 

In many regions, families will stay in the cemetery overnight, creating a festive atmosphere filled with warmth and laughter. This act of remembrance turns the cemetery from a place of sorrow into a space of joy, where life and death coexist harmoniously.
 

Food and Symbolism
 

Food plays a central role in the Day of the Dead celebrations, and many of the dishes prepared have symbolic meaning. Some of the most popular foods include:

• Pan de muerto: This traditional sweet bread is flavored with orange blossom and anise and often decorated with bone-shaped designs on top, representing the cycle of life and death.
• Tamales: A favorite across Mexico, tamales are often prepared as offerings and shared among family members.
• Mole: A rich, complex sauce often served over chicken, symbolizing the blending of Indigenous and Spanish cultures.
• Calaveras de azúcar (Sugar skulls): These decorative skulls, made of sugar, represent the sweetness of life and the acknowledgment of death as a natural part of the human experience.
  

Sharing these foods not only honors the dead but also brings families together, reinforcing the idea that the Day of the Dead is a celebration of life.
 

Day of the Dead Beyond Mexico
 

While the Day of the Dead is most closely associated with Mexico, its influence has spread far beyond its borders. Many communities in the United States, especially in areas with large Mexican populations, celebrate the holiday with altars, parades, and public festivals. Cities like Los Angeles and San Antonio hold large-scale events that bring together people from different cultural backgrounds to celebrate life, death, and memory.
 

In recent years, the holiday has gained global recognition, in part due to its vibrant imagery and symbolism, as well as popular media representations, such as in the animated film Coco.
 

Conclusion: A Celebration of Life and Legacy
 

The Day of the Dead is much more than a holiday--it's a way of life that honors the past while celebrating the present. It is a time for reflection, remembrance, and gratitude for the lives we've shared and the people we've loved. By embracing both life and death, Día de los Muertos reminds us that love transcends time, and that the memories of those we've lost continue to shape us long after they're gone. As this beautiful tradition continues to evolve and gain recognition across the world, it serves as a powerful reminder that death is not something to fear, but rather, something to embrace as part of the universal human experience.

Ancestor Worship: Venerating the Dead

Ancestor worship is a tradition with roots in diverse cultures across the globe, transcending time and geographical boundaries. This practice involves honoring or venerating deceased family members, believing they possess a continued existence and can influence the living. Veneration simply means showing profound respect, reverence, or glorifying an individual. It's also a way of remembering the dead and communicating with their spirits in the afterlife. The venerated dead also act as intermediaries between the gods and the living. This blog post delves into the history, significance, and various practices of ancestor worship, illustrating its enduring relevance in contemporary societies.
 

The Roots of Ancestor Worship
 

It is thought that the emergence of venerating the dead occurred somewhere during the Upper Paleolithic era as society transitioned into a more complex hunter-gatherer system. The existence of burial sites with bountiful offerings is perhaps one of the obvious indicators in confirming that veneration of the dead did indeed exist then. Evidence of ancestor worship has been found in ancient civilizations like China, Egypt, Greece, and among indigenous cultures worldwide. In China, the practice is deeply embedded in Confucian philosophy, which emphasizes filial piety--a respect for one's parents, elders, and ancestors. Ancient Egyptians believed in the afterlife and constructed elaborate tombs for their pharaohs, whom they revered as gods. Similarly, the Greeks honored their deceased with rituals and offerings, believing that the dead could intervene in the world of the living.
 

Ways to Venerate the Dead
 

There are many ways people venerate of the dead. Shrines are a common means of honoring saints, ancestors, and holy figures. They can be set up in public, in places of worship, at tombs, or in private houses as a designated space for veneration and remembrance. Another means of veneration is making offerings. In pharaonic times, objects like statues or stelas were offered to the dead with texts asking for assistance or blessings. Foods and gifts are common offerings in both ancient and modern traditions. Another form of veneration entails the living speaking directly to saints, ancestors, or divinities through prayers or letters, and asking for intercession with the gods.
 

Key Historical Practices
 

China: Ancestor worship in China involves rituals such as cleaning ancestors' graves, offering food, and burning incense during festivals like Qingming and the Ghost Festival.
    
Egypt: Egyptians practiced mummification to preserve bodies for the afterlife, accompanied by grave goods intended to support the deceased in the next world.
    
Greece: The Greeks performed libations and sacrifices at the graves of their ancestors, believing in their power to bless or curse the living.
 

The Cultural Significance of Ancestor Worship
 

Ancestor worship serves multiple functions within a culture. It reinforces familial bonds, instills a sense of identity, and provides moral guidance. The practice acts as a bridge, connecting individuals with their heritage and ensuring that the memories and values of the deceased are passed down through generations.
 

Reinforcing Family Bonds
 

Ancestor worship fosters a sense of unity and continuity within families. By honoring their forebears, people acknowledge their roots and express gratitude for the sacrifices made by previous generations. This collective memory helps strengthen familial ties and promotes a sense of belonging.
 

Instilling Identity and Heritage
 

Through ancestor worship, individuals connect with their cultural heritage. This connection is crucial in maintaining cultural traditions and practices, especially in a rapidly globalizing world. Ancestor worship reminds people of their origins and the values upheld by their forebears.
 

Providing Moral Guidance
 

Many cultures believe that ancestors play a role in guiding the moral conduct of the living. By venerating their ancestors, individuals seek blessings, protection, and guidance. This belief in the moral oversight of ancestors can influence behavior and societal norms.
 

Modern Practices of Ancestor Worship
 

Despite modernization and the influence of technology, ancestor worship remains prevalent in many societies. While the rituals may have evolved, the core principles of reverence and connection to the past persist.
 

Practices in Different Cultures
 

Asia: In Japan, the Obon festival involves cleaning graves and offering food to ancestors' spirits. In Korea, Chuseok is a harvest festival where families honor their ancestors with feasts and ancestral rites.
    
Africa: In many African cultures, ancestor worship is integrated into daily life. Libations, offerings, and prayers to ancestors are common practices, reflecting a belief in the active involvement of the deceased in the lives of the living.
    
Latin America: The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) in Mexico is a vibrant celebration where families create altars, known as ofrendas, adorned with photographs, food, and personal items to honor and welcome the spirits of the deceased.
 

Adapting to Contemporary Life
 

Modernity has influenced how ancestor worship is practiced, with many people adapting traditional rituals to fit their urban lifestyles. For instance, digital memorials and online ancestral databases have emerged, allowing individuals to honor their ancestors virtually. Despite these changes, the essence of ancestor worship--honoring and remembering the dead—remains unchanged.
 

The Psychological and Social Benefits of Ancestor Worship
 

Ancestor worship offers numerous psychological and social benefits, contributing to individual and communal well-being.
 

Psychological Comfort
 

Honoring ancestors provides a sense of continuity and comfort, particularly in times of loss or hardship. The belief that ancestors are watching over and protecting their descendants can be a source of solace and strength.
 

Social Cohesion
 

Ancestor worship promotes social cohesion by fostering a shared sense of history and identity. Community rituals and ceremonies bring people together, reinforcing social bonds and collective memory.
 

Ethical and Moral Framework
 

The reverence for ancestors instills a respect for tradition and continuity. This respect can translate into a broader appreciation for ethical and moral values upheld by previous generations, guiding behavior in the present.
 

The Future of Ancestor Worship
 

As societies evolve, so too will the practices of ancestor worship. The core values of respect, gratitude, and remembrance are likely to endure, even as the methods of veneration change. The integration of technology and new forms of communication will continue to shape how people honor their ancestors, ensuring that this ancient practice remains relevant in the modern world.
 

Emerging Trends
 

Digital Memorials: Websites and apps dedicated to creating virtual memorials for ancestors are becoming increasingly popular, allowing for global participation in ancestor worship.
   
Environmental Considerations: As environmental awareness grows, some traditional practices, such as burning incense or paper offerings, are being reconsidered and modified to reduce ecological impact.
 

The Enduring Relevance
 

Ancestor worship's ability to adapt while maintaining its core principles is a testament to its enduring relevance. It serves as a reminder of the importance of honoring one's roots and the timeless human need to connect with the past.
 

In conclusion, ancestor worship is a profound and enduring tradition that transcends cultural boundaries. It reinforces family bonds, instills a sense of identity, and provides moral guidance. As societies continue to evolve, the practice of ancestor worship will adapt, but its essence will remain unchanged, ensuring that the memories and values of the deceased are preserved for future generations.

The Mystical Journey of Shamanic Dance

Shamanic dance, a practice deeply rooted in ancient traditions, serves as a powerful means of connecting with the spirit world. This transformative art form encompasses rhythmic movements, chants, and rituals that transcend the ordinary and invite participants to explore the depths of their consciousness. This blog post delves into the origins, significance, and transformative power of shamanic dance, offering insights into how it can enrich our modern lives.
 

The Origins of Shamanic Dance
 

Shamanic dance traces its roots to prehistoric times, long before written history. It was practiced by indigenous cultures around the world, from the Siberian steppes to the Amazon rainforest. Shamans, the spiritual leaders of these communities, used dance as a medium to communicate with the spirit world, heal the sick, and guide their tribes. Each movement, rhythm, and chant was imbued with symbolic meaning, creating a language that transcended words.
 

The Role of the Shaman
 

The shaman, often regarded as a mediator between the physical and spiritual realms, played a crucial role in these rituals. Through dance, shamans entered altered states of consciousness, allowing them to journey to other worlds and communicate with spirits, ancestors, and deities. This connection provided guidance, wisdom, and healing for their communities.
 

Cultural Variations
 

While the core principles of shamanic dance are universal, the practices vary significantly across cultures. In Siberia, shamans used elaborate costumes and drumming to induce trance states. In Africa, rhythmic drumming and body movements played a central role in connecting with ancestral spirits. In the Americas, indigenous tribes incorporated elements of nature, such as feathers and animal skins, into their dances to symbolize their connection with the Earth.
 

The Significance of Shamanic Dance
 

Shamanic dance is more than just a series of movements; it is a holistic experience that engages the body, mind, and spirit. This practice holds profound significance in several key areas:
 

Healing and Transformation
 

One of the primary purposes of shamanic dance is healing. By entering a trance state, shamans and participants can access deeper layers of their psyche, uncovering and releasing emotional, mental, and spiritual blockages. This process promotes physical and emotional well-being, leading to profound transformation.
 

Connection with Nature
 

Shamanic dance fosters a deep connection with the natural world. Many dances mimic the movements of animals, plants, and natural elements, reminding participants of their intrinsic bond with the Earth. This connection nurtures a sense of respect and reverence for nature, encouraging sustainable living practices.
 

Spiritual Awakening
 

Engaging in shamanic dance can lead to spiritual awakening and enlightenment. The rhythmic movements and trance states open channels to higher consciousness, allowing participants to gain insights, receive guidance, and experience a profound sense of unity with the universe.
 

The Elements of Shamanic Dance
 

Shamanic dance incorporates several key elements that create a transformative experience. Understanding these elements can enhance your appreciation and practice of this ancient art form.
 

Rhythm and Music
 

Rhythm is the heartbeat of shamanic dance. Drumming, chanting, and music create a vibrational field that facilitates trance states. The repetitive patterns of sound and movement help to quiet the mind, allowing participants to enter altered states of consciousness.
 

Movement and Gesture
 

Every movement in shamanic dance has symbolic meaning. Gestures, postures, and dances often mimic the natural world, embodying the essence of animals, plants, and elemental forces. These movements are not just physical; they are energetic expressions that connect the dancer with the spiritual realm.
 

Intention and Focus
 

Intention is a vital component of shamanic dance. Participants set clear intentions for their journey, whether it is healing, guidance, or spiritual connection. This focus directs the energy of the dance, amplifying its transformative power.
 

Sacred Space
 

Creating a sacred space is essential for shamanic dance. This can be done through rituals, the use of sacred objects, and invoking protective spirits. The sacred space provides a safe and supportive environment for participants to explore their inner worlds.
 

Modern Applications of Shamanic Dance
 

In today's fast-paced world, shamanic dance offers a powerful antidote to stress and disconnection. Its timeless principles can be adapted to suit modern needs, providing a path to holistic well-being.
 

Therapeutic Practices
 

Many therapists and healers incorporate elements of shamanic dance into their practice. Movement therapy, for instance, uses dance to help clients process emotions and trauma. The rhythmic, repetitive nature of shamanic dance can be particularly effective in promoting relaxation and emotional release.
 

Personal Growth
 

Individuals seeking personal growth and self-discovery can benefit from shamanic dance. Regular practice can enhance self-awareness, foster a deeper connection with nature, and promote spiritual development. Workshops and retreats offer opportunities for immersive experiences, guided by experienced practitioners.
 

Community Building
 

Shamanic dance can also serve as a powerful tool for community building. Group dances foster a sense of unity and shared purpose, strengthening social bonds and creating a supportive network. Community rituals and celebrations that incorporate shamanic dance can promote collective healing and transformation.
 

Conclusion
 

Shamanic dance, with its rich history and profound significance, offers a unique pathway to healing, transformation, and spiritual awakening. By embracing this ancient practice, we can reconnect with our true selves, our communities, and the natural world. Whether you are seeking personal growth, therapeutic healing, or a deeper spiritual connection, shamanic dance provides a timeless and powerful tool for transformation. As we dance, we journey beyond the physical, opening ourselves to the mysteries of the spirit world and the wisdom it holds.

The Shamanic Practice of Ancestral Healing

Ancestral healing is a profound aspect of shamanic practice that has been revered in various cultures worldwide for centuries. This ancient method involves connecting with the spirits of our ancestors to address and heal emotional, psychological, and spiritual wounds that are often passed down through generations. By exploring the roots of these issues, individuals can experience significant transformation and liberation from the past. In this post, we will delve into the essence of ancestral healing, its techniques, benefits, and its relevance in contemporary life.
 

Understanding Ancestral Healing
 

Ancestral healing is based on the belief that the experiences and traumas of our ancestors can influence our present lives. These influences can manifest as recurring patterns, unexplained fears, emotional blockages, or even physical ailments. Shamans or shamanic practitioners work to identify and resolve these ancestral issues to bring about holistic healing.
 

In many traditions, it is believed that ancestors continue to exist in a spiritual realm and can communicate with the living. This communication is facilitated by the shamanic practitioner, who acts as an intermediary between the physical and spiritual worlds. By engaging with the ancestors, the practitioner can uncover the source of generational traumas and help release them.
 

Techniques of Ancestral Healing
 

1. Journeying
One of the primary techniques in shamanic practice is journeying. This involves entering a trance-like state, often induced by rhythmic drumming or other repetitive sounds, to travel to the spirit world. During a journey, the practitioner may encounter ancestral spirits and gain insights into the problems affecting the individual or the family. These journeys are deeply personal and can provide powerful revelations and healing.
 

2. Rituals and Ceremonies
Rituals and ceremonies play a crucial role in ancestral healing. These practices can vary widely depending on the cultural background of the practitioner and the person seeking healing. Common elements include offerings, prayers, chants, and symbolic acts designed to honor the ancestors and seek their guidance and support. These rituals create a sacred space where healing can occur.
 

3. Healing through Storytelling
Storytelling is another potent tool in ancestral healing. By sharing the stories of their ancestors, individuals can gain a better understanding of their family history and the patterns that may be influencing their lives. This process helps to humanize the ancestors, making it easier to connect with them and heal any unresolved issues. Practitioners often guide individuals in this storytelling process, helping them to uncover hidden truths and insights.
 

4. Energy Work
Energy work is also integral to shamanic ancestral healing. Practitioners may use techniques such as soul retrieval, where lost fragments of a person's soul are recovered and reintegrated, or extraction, where negative energies or entities are removed. These practices help to restore balance and harmony to the individual's energy field, facilitating deeper healing.
 

Benefits of Ancestral Healing
 

Ancestral healing offers numerous benefits, both on a personal and a collective level. Some of the key advantages include:
 

1. Breaking Cycles of Trauma
By addressing the root causes of generational trauma, individuals can break free from destructive patterns that have been passed down through their family line. This can lead to profound personal growth and transformation, as well as healthier relationships and a more positive outlook on life.
 

2. Emotional and Psychological Healing
Ancestral healing can bring about significant emotional and psychological healing. By releasing the burdens of the past, individuals often experience a sense of lightness and freedom. This can result in improved mental health, increased self-esteem, and a greater capacity for joy and fulfillment.
 

3. Spiritual Growth and Connection
Connecting with one's ancestors can deepen one's spiritual practice and sense of belonging. It can provide a greater understanding of one's place in the world and a stronger connection to the spiritual realm. This connection can be a source of guidance, strength, and inspiration.
 

4. Physical Healing
In some cases, ancestral healing can also lead to physical healing. Many physical ailments have emotional or psychological roots, and by addressing these underlying issues, individuals may experience relief from chronic pain or illness. This holistic approach recognizes the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit.
 

Relevance in Contemporary Life
 

In today's fast-paced and often disconnected world, the practice of ancestral healing is more relevant than ever. Many people are seeking ways to reconnect with their roots and find meaning in their lives. Ancestral healing offers a pathway to do so, providing a sense of continuity and connection with the past. Moreover, as the awareness of generational trauma and its impact on mental health grows, ancestral healing provides valuable tools for addressing these deep-seated issues. It offers a holistic approach that complements modern therapeutic practices, providing a more comprehensive understanding of healing.
 

Integrating Ancestral Healing into Modern Practice
 

For those interested in exploring ancestral healing, there are several ways to integrate this practice into modern life:
 

1. Seeking a Shamanic Practitioner
Working with a trained shamanic practitioner can provide valuable guidance and support in the ancestral healing process. These practitioners have the expertise to navigate the spiritual realms and facilitate healing in a safe and effective manner.
 

2. Participating in Workshops and Retreats
Many organizations offer workshops and retreats focused on shamanic practices, including ancestral healing. These immersive experiences can provide a deeper understanding of the techniques and allow individuals to experience the benefits firsthand.
 

3. Personal Practice
Individuals can also explore ancestral healing on their own through personal practice. This might include creating a sacred space at home, performing rituals, or engaging in meditation and journeying. Reading books and resources on shamanic practices can also provide valuable insights and guidance.
 

Conclusion
 

The shamanic practice of ancestral healing is a powerful and transformative approach to addressing the wounds of the past and fostering holistic well-being. By connecting with our ancestors, we can gain profound insights, release old traumas, and experience deep healing on multiple levels. Whether through the guidance of a shamanic practitioner or personal exploration, ancestral healing offers a path to greater understanding, connection, and liberation. In a world where many are seeking meaning and healing, this ancient practice provides timeless wisdom and a profound sense of belonging.

The Role of Sound in Shamanic Practices

Sound plays a crucial role in shamanic practices across various cultures. It is used to facilitate altered states of consciousness, perform healing rituals, and communicate with the spirit world. Sound is regarded as one of the most effective ways of establishing connections with the spirit realm, since it travels through space, permeates visual and physical barriers, and conveys information from the unseen world. Sound, therefore, is a means of "relationship" as well as a "transformation" of energy. Here are the key ways sound is utilized in shamanism:

1. Inducing Altered States of Consciousness

Rhythmic Drumming and Percussion:

• Repetition and Rhythm: Drumming at specific rhythms (typically 4-7 beats per second) can induce trance states. The repetitive, monotonous sound helps to alter brainwave patterns, promoting a shift from normal waking consciousness to a trance state.
• Instruments: Common percussion instruments include drums, rattles, and clappers. Each produces a distinct sound that can affect the practitioner's state of mind.

Vocalizations:

• Chanting and Singing: Shamans use their voices to produce chants, songs, and mantras. These vocalizations can have a calming, focusing effect, aiding in the trance induction.   
• Overtone Singing: Some traditions use overtone or throat singing, which produces multiple pitches simultaneously, creating a complex sound environment conducive to trance.

Ambient Sounds:

• Natural Sounds: Environmental sounds like flowing water, wind, and animal calls are often incorporated into rituals, enhancing the sensory experience and facilitating altered consciousness.

2. Facilitating Communication with the Spirit World

Spiritual Dialogues:

• Invocation and Prayer: Shamans use sound to call upon spirits, deities, or ancestors. These sounds can include specific prayers, chants, or songs that are believed to attract or summon spiritual entities.   
• Response Mechanism: Sound can also be a medium through which spirits are believed to respond, with shamans interpreting these auditory phenomena as messages from the spiritual realm.

Ritualistic Soundscapes:

• Ceremonial Spaces: The acoustics of ceremonial spaces (like caves or specially designed ritual chambers) are used to amplify and enrich sound, creating an immersive environment that enhances spiritual communication.   
• Echoes and Resonance: Natural acoustics, such as echoes and resonances in caves or built structures, may be interpreted as the voices of spirits or deities responding to the shaman.

3. Healing and Therapeutic Uses

Sound Healing:

• Restorative Frequencies: Certain sounds and rhythms are believed to have healing properties, restoring balance and harmony to the body and mind.   
• Instrumental Healing: Instruments like drums, flutes, and singing bowls are used to produce sounds that are thought to facilitate physical and emotional healing.

Diagnostic Sounds:

• Listening to the Body: Some shamanic practices involve listening to the body’s sounds (like heartbeats or breaths) to diagnose illness or imbalance.   
• Healing Chants and Songs: Specific chants or songs are used to target different ailments, with the shaman's voice considered a powerful healing tool.

4. Enhancing Rituals and Ceremonies

Ritual Structure:

• Sound Cues: Sound signals different phases of a ritual, marking transitions from one state or activity to another.   
• Community Involvement: Collective chanting, singing, or drumming involves the community, reinforcing social bonds and shared spiritual experiences.

Symbolic Sounds:

• Animal Sounds: Mimicking animal sounds or using instruments that produce similar effects can symbolize the presence or assistance of animal spirits.   
• Elemental Sounds: Sounds representing natural elements (like thunder drums for storms or rain sticks for water) invoke the power and presence of these elements in rituals.

5. Cultural and Contextual Variations

Regional Practices:

• Cultural Diversity: Different cultures have unique shamanic traditions with specific instruments, vocal techniques, and sound rituals. For example, Siberian shamans might use drum patterns distinct from those used by Amazonian shamans.   
• Contextual Adaptations: The use of sound in shamanism can vary depending on the context, such as healing, divination, or community ceremonies.

Technological Integration:

• Modern Adaptations: Contemporary shamans may integrate modern musical instruments and technology, such as electronic soundscapes, to enhance traditional practices.

Conclusion

Sound is an integral element of shamanic practices, serving as a bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds. Through rhythmic drumming, chanting, and the use of resonant spaces, shamans induce altered states of consciousness, facilitate communication with spirits, and perform healing rituals. The study of these acoustic practices through archaeoacoustics can deepen our understanding of ancient shamanic traditions and their enduring impact on cultural rituals and spiritual practices today.

Ancient Rock Art May Depict Shamanic Music

More than 2,000 years ago, the Tukano people of the Colombian Amazon may have documented the soundtracks to their hallucinogenic experiences in petroglyphs on volcanic boulders. Consisting of what appears to be dancing human figures surrounded by zigzagging lines and other geometric forms, the enigmatic art eludes concrete interpretation, although a new analysis suggests that these abstract shapes may depict the songs that transported participants to other dimensions during Ayahuasca ceremonies. The pre-Columbian designs can be found at Toro Muerto, which contains one of the richest collections of rock art in South America. A desert gorge, the site is strewn with thousands of boulders, some 2,600 of which feature ancient carvings.

 

Describing the drawings in a new study published in the Cambridge Archaeological Journal, researchers explain that the artworks contain "an almost overwhelming repetition of images of dancing human figures (known as danzantes), unique in the region, and an extraordinary accumulation of geometric patterns, most often in the form of vertical zigzag, straight and sinuous lines varying in width, sometimes with accompanying dots or circles." Previous attempts to interpret these zigzags have suggested that they may represent snakes, lightning, or water, although the study authors believe they may have an alternative meaning.
 

Examples of "danzantes" at Toro Muerto. Image credit: Tracings: Polish-Peruvian research team, 

compiled by J.Z. Wołoszyn/Cambridge Archaeological Journal/2024 (CC BY 4.0)

 

To build their hypothesis, the researchers point out the striking similarities between the drawings at Toro Muerto and the traditional artwork of the Tukano culture in the Colombian Amazon. In the case of the latter, geometric designs have been linked to the visions induced by the hallucinogenic brew Ayahuasca, which has been ritually ingested by Indigenous Amazonian communities for millennia. According to the Tukano these drawings were 'yajé images', meaning that they showed patterns they had seen while in an altered state of consciousness induced by consuming entheogens. Concentric circles, dots, wavy lines, zigzags and crenellation motifs dominated among them.

Anthropological analyses of these rituals have repeatedly highlighted the importance of music, with songs known as icaros being sung by shamans as a means of communicating with the gods and journeying through the spiritual cosmos. Ritual in many human cultures involves music; it is a key social technology for building and sustaining community. Ritual music is a universal way to address the spirit world and provide some kind of fundamental change in an individual's consciousness or in the ambience of a gathering. Experiences of ego loss and trance are important for integrating the individual into the group and maintaining community, and music is a significant element of such ritual activity.

Intriguingly, studies into the significance of zigzags in Tukano artwork have revealed that "the Tukano saw in them the representations of songs which were an integral part of the ritual, having also agentive power, and constituting a medium for transfer to the mythical time of the beginning." In other words, within a Tukano context, these shapes depict the shamanic music that mesmerizes ritual participants under the effects of Ayahuasca, delivering them to an alternate reality in which they are able to reconnect to their ancestral mythology.

Admitting that their theory is somewhat speculative, the researchers nonetheless conclude that these pre-Hispanic drawings "illustrated a graphically elusive sphere of culture: singing and songs. The interpretation we propose is of course hypothetical, but the conclusions it leads to constitute a logically coherent counter-proposal to previous interpretations of some of the Toro Muerto petroglyphs. We suggest that zigzag lines could be representations of songs, which seems particularly intriguing given the repeated juxtaposition of these patterns with the figures of dancers at Toro Muerto."

Facilitating a Group Shamanic Journey

A group shamanic journey is a little different from an individual journey. The journey technique is similar, but ecstatic trance takes on an increased potency in a group. By journeying together, we deepen our individual connection to spirit and we also deepen our connections to each other. There's something magical about group sacred space, particularly when it's created with the intention to facilitate and support shamanic journeying. A group shamanic journey basically involves one person drumming a repetitive rhythm while the others relax and journey into the non-ordinary reality of the spirits. The journey itself may typically last fifteen to twenty minutes. A pre-agreed call back rhythm will signal that the group journey should end and the journeyers return to ordinary reality. I like to signal a call back with four strong beats, followed by a short period of slow heartbeat drumming to assist each journeyer in refocusing their awareness back to their physical body.
 

For your first group journey, I recommend traveling to the Lower World using the technique taught by the late Michael Harner. In his book, The Way of the Shaman, Harner suggests that you visualize an opening into the Earth that you remember from sometime in your life--from childhood, or yesterday. Any entry into the ground will do--an animal burrow, hollow tree stump, cave and so on. When the journey begins, you'll go down the hole and a tunnel will appear. Enter the tunnel and you will emerge into the Lower World--the realm of power animals, spirit guides and ancestral spirits. It is a beautiful, Earth-like dimension, where we can find lost power, retrieve lost souls and connect with animal and plant spirits.
 

The Journey Process
 

The basic steps for a group journey to the Lower World are as follows:
 

1. Smudge to create a purified space, and then open sacred space by calling in the benevolent powers of the seven directions: East, South, West, North, Up, Down and Within.
 

2. Having established sacred space, it is important to form the group's collective intention or objective for the journey. It is best to have only one inquiry or question per journey. It is important to focus on the issue that you want to know more about. Focusing on an issue develops a receptive state of mind and helps you clarify what it is you are truly seeking.
 

3. After clarifying the intended objective, a designated drummer should play a repetitive rhythm that begins slowly and then gradually builds in intensity to a steady tempo of three to four beats per second. As the drumming begins, each person should close their eyes and focus a moment on the inquiry free of any distractions, emotions or attachments that could distort the response.
 

4. Next, each person should clear their mind of everything. Focused intent, to be effective, should be followed by complete surrender and detachment. Focus your attention on the sound of the drum, thereby stilling the chatter in your mind. Allow the drum to empty you. Become one with the drum.
 

5. At this point, you may find it helpful to imagine with all your senses the entrance to a cave, an opening in the Earth, or a hollow tree trunk that you have seen or visited. Use an image that you are comfortable with and one that you can clearly visualize. Clear your mind of everything but this image.
 

6. Approach the entrance or opening and enter it. Typically, you will meet an entity here that will act as your spirit guide. It may appear to you as an animal, a person, a light, a voice, or have no discernible form at all. If you are uncomfortable or put off by whatever appears, ask it to take another form. It is important that you see, feel, hear, or in some way sense the presence of an ally that you trust and feel at ease with before proceeding with your first journey. If you do not, then return through the entrance and journey another time.
 

7. Pose your query to the guide. Your spirit guide may simply answer your question, but most likely will lead you on a journey. It may ask you to ride on its back or to accompany it. Follow your guide's instructions implicitly. If asked to leave, do so at once. Typically, you will proceed down a tunnel at a rapid pace. If you encounter an obstacle, just go around it or look for an opening through it.
 

8. When you emerge from the passage, you will find yourself in the Lower World. You may be led to a helping spirit that can answer your question. You may go through different landscapes and experience different situations. The possibilities are endless. Just go with the flow and observe whatever happens without trying to analyze or conceptualize the experience.
 

9. When you hear the pre-agreed call back signal, it is time to return. If for any reason you want to come back before the call back, just retrace your steps back. To achieve this simply do your journey in reverse. There is no need to rush and it is not critical that you retrace your route precisely. The reason for retracing your steps is to help you remember the route so that in subsequent journeys you will be able to travel to and from the Lower World with greater ease and efficiency. Upon your return to the entrance, thank your guide, emerge from the opening, and return to your body.
 

10. Once you have returned to ordinary reality, sit quietly for a few moments, refocusing your awareness back to your physical body. Take a deep breath, and then open your eyes.
 

Upon completion, bring everyone back to the present by letting everyone share their journey experience. It is not unusual for group journeyers to have similar trance experiences. These insights are shared without analysis, interpretation or judgment. Sharing our journeys allows us to see ourselves in other people, and to see that they are much like us. We begin to understand at a very deep level that we are all truly One.

Peyote and Tribal Sovereignty

by Darren Thompson
Director of Media Relations
Lakota People's Law Project
 

On Friday, April 12, the Native American Church of North America (NACNA) hosted a summit in Farmington, New Mexico focused on protecting peyote, a cactus medicine sacred to Native Peoples across Turtle Island. The one-day summit brought leaders from Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma together with church delegates to discuss next steps for the largest American Indian religious organization in the country.
 

Leaders say development near peyote's natural habitat, which in the U.S. only grows naturally on private lands in four counties in southern Texas, has decreased the supply of the plant. A growing community comprised mainly of non-Natives wants to bring psychedelic drugs into mainstream society and tout research that psychedelics aid in improving mental health.
 

Under the 1994 Amendment, only enrolled members of federally recognized tribes are permitted under federal law to possess, transport and ingest peyote in bonafide traditional ceremonies. However, the plant, and ceremonies that are centered around its traditional use are threatened by non-Native interests, including Big Pharma.
 

Official efforts to decriminalize mescaline, the active ingredient in peyote, have succeeded in places like Oakland and San Francisco, and others want to follow their lead. In February, California State Senator Scott Wiener introduced California Senate Bill 1012 — The Regulated Psychedelic-assisted Therapy Act and the Regulated Psychedelic Substances Control Act — which aims to decriminalize mescaline and other psychedelics.
 

If passed, the bill would authorize the establishment of a regulatory system that would control regulated psychedelic substances for use with regulated psychedelic-assisted therapy. While the bill mentions the respect for Indigenous cultures and their use of "psychedelic substances," it would also legalize mescaline, which the federal government classifies as the active hallucinogenic ingredient in peyote.
 

"Mescaline is mescaline, whether it is peyote or other cacti," says Justin Jones, Diné and General Counsel for the Native American Church of North America. "California cannot decriminalize mescaline in other cacti and say that peyote is exempt, because mescaline is mescaline, no matter what cactus you have."
 

Protecting peyote use and habitat, church leaders point out, is an issue of tribal sovereignty. Only enrolled members of federally recognized tribes have rights protected under AIRFA, and in this way, the federal government has acknowledged the inherent sovereignty that tribes possess. Leaders of the Native American Church have traveled across Indian Country and even to Capitol Hill with the message that opening an avenue for legalized mescaline threatens one of the legal cornerstones of tribal sovereignty. They're asking for strengthened enforcement of AIRFA, which was drafted to protect intrusions on traditional American Indian cultures and religions.
 

Over the past several years, non-Native individuals promoting the benefits of peyote have encouraged direct violations of the law. Mainstream interests want to extract the core of one of the last protected plants for American Indian people and profit off it. Over the next several months, the Lakota People's Law Project will document and support leaders advocating for enforcement of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act's 1994 amendment. While the possession, transportation, and use of peyote is protected, its natural environment is not. If Big Pharma achieves its goal of decriminalizing mescaline, peyote and its natural environment will surely be put at risk.
 

It's also notable that efforts to incorporate psychedelics into organized religions are gaining steam, also challenging the American Indian Religious Freedom Act. While it is not our responsibility to challenge people and their prayers, it is our duty to fight for tribal sovereignty and protect sacred spaces of American Indian culture for our next generations.

Shamanism and Music

Shamanism and music combined thousands of years ago. By observing nature, shamans perceived that the power of sound could be used to help and heal others. The first drums and musical instruments were put to shamanic use, as were many of the early singing traditions. According to Tuvan musicologist Kira Van Deusen, "In a shaman's world music operates in several ways. It helps the shaman and other participants in a ceremony to locate and enter the inner world, opening the inner, spiritual ear and eye. Musical sound calls helping spirits and transports the shaman on the journey. Both the rhythm and the timbre of musical sound help heal the patient through the effects of specific frequencies and musical styles on the human body."(1)

Music is an essential tool in shamanic ritual and healing work. Music is the carrier of the specific intention or desired outcome of the ritual. Music is used to contain the energetic or spiritual aspect of the sacred space, which is defined physically by the assembled people who participate. Dance and song propel the ritual process forward by providing a vehicle for self-expression within the sacred space. Together the musicians create the necessary container that channels the energy generated by the performance in ways that the shaman can guide toward the ritual's intended outcome.
 

Three elements are constantly interacting in communal healing rites: the shaman who guides the flow and pattern of the ritual, the musicians who contain the sacred space, and the gathered people who participate. Interaction between all three elements is necessary to maintain the energy, flow and intention of the ritual.
 

Music is also used to crack open the part of the self that holds emotions in check. For example, in funeral rites among the Dagara people of West Africa, drumming and singing are used to open the mourners to grief. Grief is then channeled in such a way that it will convey the newly deceased soul to the afterlife. Without the help of the drummers, musicians and singers, the powerful emotional energy cannot be unleashed. If not channeled properly, grief is useless to the dead and dangerous to the living. According to Christina Pratt, author of An Encyclopedia of Shamanism, "This musical container of the ritual space must be maintained continuously. The musicians do not rest as long as the ritual continues, though the ritual may last one to four full days."(2)
 

Shamanic Music
 

Shamanic music is traditionally performed as part of a shamanic ritual; however, it is not a musical performance in the normal sense. According to Scottish percussionist Ken Hyder, who has studied with Siberian shamans, "musical considerations are minimal in shamanic performance. The shaman's focus is on the spiritual intention or the energy of what is being played. When the performer concentrates on the spiritual aspect of playing, it allows the music to become very loose, spontaneous, and innovative." Hyder explains, "My approach to music making changed decisively following my experiences in Siberia. For me it starts with the dungur [drum] and the expanded possibilities of variation arising from its superficially apparent instability. And it continues to open up with other musicians being equally free in themselves and in the context of a group. That opening up has the capacity to expand and expand further making the playing fresh, different and spontaneous each time."(3)
 

Shamanic music is improvised by the shaman to modify movement and change while actively journeying into the spirit world. It is a musical expression of the soul, supporting the shamanic flight of the soul. Sacred music is directed more to the spirit world than to an audience. The shaman's attention is directed inwards towards communication with the spirits, rather than outwards to any listeners who might be present.
 

Another way that the shaman expresses their experiences in the spirit world is through their physical movements in this reality. In their journeys, shamans are often flying, running, crouching, stalking and fighting unseen spirits. All of these movements are acted out for all to see in a shamanic performance.
 
A shaman uses various ways of making sounds to communicate with the spirits, as well as relate the tone and content of the inner trance experience in real time. Sound is regarded as one of the most effective ways of establishing connections with the spirit realm, since it travels through space, permeates visual and physical barriers, and conveys information from the unseen world. Shamans may chant, clap their hands, imitate the sounds of birds and animals, or play various instruments. Of particular importance are the shaman's drum and song.
 

Each shaman has his or her own song. It announces the shaman to the spirits and proclaims, "this is me; please help me." The song is usually sung near the beginning of the ritual and is often accompanied by drumming. Singing brings the heartbeat and body into resonance with the song similar to entrainment with the pulse of the drum. As the shaman's song invokes the intended spirits, the shaman comes into resonance with these spirit energies as well.

Shamanic experience can be expressed in many ways: through writing, art, and film, however it must be created after the fact. The one artistic medium which can be used to immediately express shamanic trance without disrupting the quality of the shamanic experience is music. The shaman's use of sound and rhythm is an audible reflection of their inner environment. This is the traditional method for integrating shamanic experience into both physical space and the cultural group.

1. Kira Van Deusen, Singing Story, Healing Drum: Shamans and Storytellers of Turkic Siberia (McGill-Queen's Press, 2005), p 108.
2. Christina Pratt, An Encyclopedia of Shamanism (The Rosen Publishing Group, 2007), p. 128.
3. Ken Hyder, Shamanism and Music in Siberia: Drum and Space. Tech. 11 Aug. 2008. Web. 28 Feb. 2012.

The Power of Ritual and Ceremony

A ceremony is a unified ritualistic event with a purpose, usually consisting of a number of artistic components, performed on a special occasion. Ritual and ceremony are an essential and basic means for human beings to convey to themselves and to others the necessary messages which enable them to maintain their humanity. They communicate acceptance, love, esteem, a sense of identity and purpose, shared values and beliefs, and shared memorable events. Every ritual contains tender and numinous moments. And in those moments of transcendence we are taken out of the normal flow of life, and out of our routines. We are then in an event that is unique, irreplaceable and sacred. In ritual we participate in something deep and significant. They are moments which move our heart and touch our soul.

Ritual and ceremony are essential for a healthy and balanced personal and communal life. Many persistent personal and social problems can be linked to the lack of ritual and ceremony. The late Joseph Campbell, one of the great mythologists of the twentieth century, asserted that the level of civilized behavior in a society is directly linked to the practice of ceremonies and rites of passage. Rituals and ceremonies reduce tension, anxiety and stress, produce deeper self-awareness, and connect us to our community. They are a vehicle for belonging--to a family, to a people, and to the land. Both reconnect us with our deepest core values and our highest vision of who we are and why we are here. 

Ritual and ceremony nourish our spirits and our psyches. They heal the deep wounds in us that are unseen and unspoken. Ceremonials offer us a deeper healing solution to complex dilemmas that plague modern life, those problems that lie beneath the surface, waiting to erupt. When the soul is in a state of discontent, conflict and discord, these conditions manifest in our daily life's events as dissonance, confusion, ill health and misfortune. Conversely, when our soul is in a state of peace and harmony, these qualities manifest in our life as ease and acceptance, caring and accord with the world around us. From an shamanic perspective, the restoration of one's soul contributes to the restoration of the collective soul of humanity.

Ritual vs Ceremony

Ritual and ceremony are two distinct practices used to engage the powers of the unseen world to effect specific changes in the visible world. Ceremony is a formal act or set of acts designed to celebrate, honor or acknowledge what is. Ceremony is used to strengthen or restore the status quo, grounding people in the natural order of things and/or deepening communal relationships. Ritual is a formal act or set of acts designed to cause a change in what is--to change or transform the status quo.

Ritual and ceremony are a universal way to address the spirit world and provide some kind of fundamental change in an individual's consciousness or in the ambience of a gathering. They may involve prayers, chanting, drumming, dancing, anointing, as well as rites of passage. Both are designed to engage the spirit world in helping us to do what we are unable to do for ourselves. The power of ritual and ceremony is they marry the mundane to the sacred. Without the connection to the powers of the spirit world, neither is an effective tool for initiating change. By creating effective ritual and ceremony, we can skillfully engage Spirit in the processes we are involved in like healing, therapy or actualizing our goals.

Honoring the Spirits of the Home

Shamanism is a way of perceiving the nature of the universe in a way that incorporates the normally invisible world where the spirits of all material things dwell. Shamans have different terms and phrases for the unseen world, but most of them clearly imply that it is the realm where the spirits of the land, animals, ancestors, and other spiritual entities dwell. Spirit encompasses all the immaterial forms of life energy that surround us. We are woven together into a net of life energies that are all around us. These energies can appear to us in different forms, such as spirits of the land or spirits of the home. Spirits of the home are the spirits that inhabit our place of refuge: where we live, where we work and where we play. These kinds of spirits share our homes with us and help us in our times of need.
 

Honoring the spirits that share our homes is important for our well-being. House spirits in many ways are the heart of the house itself and can affect the home's atmosphere as well as influencing the occupant’s moods and physical health. All homes have spirits, and in many cases there are layers of spirits. Spirits of the home are the echoes of people, of events, of ideas which have become imprinted upon a location, for better or for worse. House spirits may manifest as vague feelings or impressions associated with an area, but more often they appear with a clear physical form. Spirits of the home may be the manifestation of a home's spirit or they may be a spirit that is strongly tied to a home, but either way they have the ability to influence a person or family's luck, health, and mood. Most homes will have several different spirits associated with them, usually at least one with the home itself and in homes with an attached yard possibly more.
 

Honoring the spirits of a home is much easier than most people realize. It requires being open and aware of their presence without judgment or expectation. Know that the spirits are there and acknowledge their presence. Be respectful of them in word and action. Here are some good ways to honor the spirits of your home:
 

Cleanse Your Home
 

Honoring the spirits of your home begins with cleansing your abode. Your house holds the energies of all your emotional ups and downs. It collects the energies of all of your houseguests, domestic disputes, family emergencies, holidays, and so on. Picking up negative energy that is not ours can make us less balanced and can cause blockages to the natural flow of energy in our body. We may feel tired, unbalanced, anxious, depressed or even sick. The most important thing you can do is to smudge yourself and your home each day. Smudging is a method of using smoke from burning herbs to dispel negative energy. Sage, cedar and sweetgrass are traditionally used for smudging. To smudge, light the dried herbs in a fire-resistant receptacle, and then blow out the flames. Then use a feather or your hands to fan the smoke around your body and home. I recommend cracking a window or door for ventilation and for releasing unwanted energies.
 

Bless Your Home
 

Blessing a home, similar to cleansing one, is merely working to keep certain energies flowing within the house. We perform blessings on our homes to attract harmony, happiness, and prosperity to our dwelling and that can be done as often as we feel the need to. Many shamanic practitioners recommend the use of holy or consecrated water for blessing a home. The practice of charging water with intention, words, and sound is widely practiced in indigenous cultures throughout the world. In fact, people have believed in our ability to influence water since the days of antiquity. The Christian tradition is the obvious example, with the ongoing performing of rituals that turn regular water into holy water. Essentially, holy water is water with salt added during a rite of blessing. Learn how to make your own consecrated water, and use it for cleansing, protection and blessing. Pour some holy water into a spray bottle. To bless and protect your home, spray holy water around the perimeter of your dwelling and yard. You can also incorporate an incantation or spoken prayer into your blessing. This can be as simple as saying, "I bless this home with happiness. I bless this home with love. I bless this home with prosperity…"
 

Make Offerings to the Spirits
 

Offerings are a beautiful way to acknowledge and honor your household spirits. Giving and receiving are an essential part of any relationship. Anything can be used as an offering, but food is common in many cultures across the world. A simple way to incorporate food as an offering is to simply leave a portion of your meal for the spirits near the hearth or on an altar. An altar is any structure upon which we place offerings and sacred objects that have spiritual or cosmological significance. It represents the center and axis of your sacred space. A simple altar can be created with a cloth, a candle and other symbols that mean something to you. Offerings can be made weekly, monthly or annually and might include fresh flowers, herbs, incense, fruits, milk, or wine. The offerings serve as an acknowledgement and sign of gratitude for the spirits presence and beneficial activity.
 

Listen to the Spirits
 

Developing a relationship with your house and its spirit is very important for your home is your sanctuary; it keeps you safe and warm and protected from the elements. Let your home speak to you. As shamanic practitioners, we are often able to hear things that others cannot. And we know that it is not uncommon for spirits to speak up when they want something specific. Our houses can be the same way. Take some time to sit quietly in your house and listen to it. Be open to communication and let it tell you what color walls it was happiest with, what kind of music it prefers, or what holiday traditions it was fondest of; and let these messages guide your offerings.

 

As with any relationship it takes time and effort to build a connection with your house spirit, but it is worthwhile. Most home spirits are more open to human connection than the spirits of the land. Keep in mind that spirits choose to come into relationship with the person seeking. You can seek a connection, but the spirits must choose. Respect and connection to spirits is what makes for an authentic relationship, which is what the shamanic practitioner yearns for in a society that has severed itself from nature and spirit. Humans have lost touch with the spirit world and the wisdom of inner knowing. The spirits, however, have not forgotten us. They are calling us to a path of environmental sanity, to rejoining the miraculous cycle of nature.

Winter Solstice: The Return of the Light

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year and the first day of winter. This occurs December 20, 21, or 22, varying from year to year, dependent upon the elliptical path of the Earth around our Sun. Technically the solstice marks the instant at which the Earth's axis stops tilting away from the sun and starts going back the other way. Solstice means "Standing-Still-Sun." At Winter Solstice, the Sun journeys farthest south in its orbital path and for the next three days it rises and sets at virtually the same place on the horizon, appearing to stand still, and then it slowly returns north.
 

This three day pause in the Sun's movement is a time of inward reflection. We are each given the opportunity to take a peek at what is happening on a heart and soul level. We can reflect on the year ending to see where we have erred and reform those beliefs, attitudes, and strategies no longer applicable to the New Year unfolding. Such a fresh open-minded approach will broaden our perspective and start us out on the right track.
 

Ancient peoples in our northern climes regarded Winter Solstice as the pivotal time of year. It is a time of transition in the annual cycle when the old year ends and our journey into the New Year begins. It is a sacred time to conduct ceremonies focused on the return of light and warmth. Rituals designed to divert nature from the path toward eternal winter and oblivion to one directed toward light and prosperity. Most cultures planned festivals and celebrations at or around the Winter Solstice to ensure that the Sun would return.
 

The Pueblos of the American Southwest have honored the Winter Solstice for thousands of years. Zuni Indians celebrate Shalako and Hopis begin the observance of the month long Soyal with rituals to insure victory of light over darkness. Hopi priests wear feathers in their headdresses symbolizing the Sun's rays. Sacred underground structures called kivas let in the rays of the rising and setting Sun and Moon throughout the year. Among the Pueblos, Winter Solstice is an affirmation of the continuation of life; that the cyclical order of time and the cosmos will continue intact.
 

Fire and light have always played a central role in the Winter Solstice ceremonies. In much of northern Europe people ignited huge bonfires. Lighted candles were often placed on the branches of evergreen trees, which symbolized survival and eternal life. These symbols of warmth and lasting life were lit to hasten the "old" Sun's waning and the "new" Sun's rebirth. People often tied apples to the branches of firs and oaks to remind themselves that summer would eventually return. In the British Isles, mistletoe was placed upon altars. Mistletoe's golden color was believed to store the power of the Sun, especially when plucked at the solstice.
 

In Peru, the people fasted for three days prior to the solstice. At dawn on the morning of the fourth day, everyone gathered in the public plaza to watch the sunrise. When its light appeared, the celebration began with shouts of joy. At the Sun Temple the rays of the Sun were focused with a mirror to make a fire. This sacred fire was carried to all the outlying temples, where it was kept burning on the altars throughout the year.
 

In my own solstice celebration, I like to incorporate a sacred fire. Before the Sun sets on the solstice, I will light a large candle or oil lamp, call the spirit of the Sun into that fire, and allow it to burn until morning, when his spirit has returned to the sky.
 

On the Winter Solstice we are all praying, on some level, for the darkness to end. "Just return the light!" the ceremonies seem to say. As we celebrate the return of the light, we affirm the continuation of life at the very moment of dissolution. To be sure, dark days lie ahead. But contained within each is the promise of brighter tomorrows.

Calling the Spirits

The opening of sacred space for ceremony or spiritual work is essentially an invocation, calling in the spiritual energies of the seven directions: East, South, West, North, Above, Below, and Within. Calling the spirits is an ancient shamanic rite that is practiced cross-culturally to access and honor the powers of creation. Inviting their presence, participation, and assistance not only aligns us with their power, but also is a way of giving energy that helps revitalize these primal forces. 

Calling in the directions is a spiritual activity in and of itself. The orientation embeds you in the living web of life, yielding greater awareness and perspective. It imparts a comprehensive recollection of the basic experience of being fully human. The ritual grounds you completely into the present moment to begin your day or to begin a specific shamanic practice. 

The specific words of your invocation to the spirits do not matter. What matters is that your prayer comes from the heart. You must show the spirit world you have passion and heart. The energy that comes in from the source is directed through our hearts. Your heart must be clear and open in order to receive spirit. You must open the heart, empty the mind, and go deep within. 

Make sure you have everything you need before starting. Gather together your ritual items and set up an altar. Although an altar is not essential, it provides us with a focus to pray, meditate, and listen. An altar is any structure upon which we place offerings and sacred objects that have spiritual or cosmological significance. It represents your world center. I use a Navajo rug for my altar. I lay the rug in the center of my sacred space and place a stone, a vessel of water, a lit candle, and a feather upon it to represent the four elements: earth, water, fire, and air. You can also place photos of loved ones on your altar so that they are included in your prayers.

1. To perform this ritual, relax, purify (smudge), and center yourself as you would for other spiritual work. When you are ready, begin your invocation. There are no rules or restrictions governing this process. On most occasions, a sacred circle is cast in a sun wise direction, whether in the northern or southern hemispheres. Some people like to start in the direction of the current season: Spring = East, Summer = South, Fall = West, and Winter = North; however, I usually begin by calling the spirits of the East.

2. In a group ritual, I like to have the participants stand in a circle or medicine wheel and face each direction in unison. Use your right hand, or hold a feather in your right hand, to fan smudge offerings to the East. You can also offer a pinch of tobacco or corn meal to each direction. An offering is usually made with the right hand. If you have a rattle, shake it four times to open a portal in the East to the spirit world. Using words, chanting, or song, invite the benevolent spirit powers associated with that direction to participate and assist in the ceremony. Welcome the spirits with an open heart and mind. Some people will whistle or make animal sounds to call in spirit helpers. Trust your instincts and intuition in this process.

3. Pause after calling the spirit helpers of the East and listen for any guidance or wisdom that direction has to share. The spirits will always respond when you call them. Sound does not just travel out into oblivion. There is a call and then a response. Pay attention to any guidance that comes to you. Communication may enter your awareness as a flash of color in your mind's eye, a visual symbol, a tingling of the spine or an inaudible sound heard deep within your soul. It may be visual, auditory, intuitive, or some combination of these. Sometimes it is just a knowing that your helping spirits and guides are now around you. You may feel energy flowing into your hands, feet, or arms or showering down through your crown. When I channel spirit energy, I often feel chills and goosebumps.

4. Next, pivot around clockwise and repeat the same procedure to summon the spirits of the South, the West, and the North. After that, summon Father Sky above and Mother Earth below. When invoking Father Sky, reach to the heavens; when invoking Mother Earth, reach down and touch the ground where you stand.

5. Finally, face the center of the circle (if you are in a group or in a medicine wheel) and bring your hands to your heart to invite the spirit of Within. Call upon the spirit of divine unity that flows from within the center of your being where the six directions meet. Welcome the gifts of balance, oneness, and connection with all things, for all things are one and all things are related.  

6. When you have finished your spiritual work, sacred space must be closed. Follow the same procedure as for the opening, but in reverse order. Begin by thanking the spiritual energies of Within, Mother Earth and Father Sky, and then the North, West, South and East in a counterclockwise movement. Shake your rattle to say farewell to the spirits. As you rattle, give thanks to all your relations for the needs met. The phrase "all my relations" is used at the end of a prayer in many shamanic traditions, for all living things share in the relationships of life on Earth. Express your gratitude to the archetypal elements and helping spirits for being with you and send them off, releasing their energies to the seven directions.

The Power of Thanksgiving

American poet Henry Van Dyke once said, "Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse."
 

Celebrating a bountiful harvest once a year is a wonderful tradition. But giving thanks should be more than just a yearly event. Rather, the expression of gratitude ought to be a daily practice. Gratitude, like any other spiritual practice, is something we do, not just something we feel. And it is something we need to practice. Try to cultivate a spirit of gratitude in all things. Even in situations that seem difficult to give thanks for, just remember that you are on the Earth to experience, learn and grow. An "attitude of gratitude" in all things helps connect us to our core values and purpose for being here.
 

Foster a reciprocal relationship of meaning to the Earth. Take time to honor and respect the reciprocal cycle of give and take, for Mother Earth provides everything we need to live and flourish. Express your gratitude through prayer and offerings. Give thanks also for the things you are praying for. Giving thanks before needs are met is a way of making space to receive them. Reciprocity is the guiding principle of the indigenous shamanic path. We can restore balance to the planet. We humans have all the necessary talents to be reciprocal caretakers of Mother Earth. In this season of gathering in, let us bring forth the spiritual fruit of thanksgiving in all things.

Honoring the Ancestors on Samhain

Samhain, or Halloween as it is now called, is a celebration observed in many countries on October 31, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Saints' Day. It begins the observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed. The origins of Halloween customs are typically linked to the Gaelic festival Samhain. Samhain is one of the four cross-quarter days (the midpoint between two seasons) in the medieval Gaelic calendar. Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter or the 'darker half' of the year. It was seen as a liminal (or threshold) time, when the "veil" or boundary between the world of the living and the world of the dead is at its thinnest, making it easier to communicate with those who have left this world. It is also the season of divination, using the connection across the thin veil to ask the spirits for answers. 

According to Irish mythology, Samhain (like Beltane) was a time when the 'doorways' to the Otherworld opened, allowing supernatural beings and the souls of the dead to come into our world. Samhain was essentially a festival for the dead. Samhain was marked by great gatherings and feasts and was when the ancient burial mounds were open, which were seen as portals to the Otherworld. Some Neolithic passage tombs in Ireland are aligned with the sunrise at the time of Samhain. The souls of dead kin were also thought to revisit their homes seeking hospitality, and a place was set at the table for them during a meal. Mumming and guising were part of the festival from at least the early modern era, whereby people went door-to-door in costume reciting verses in exchange for food.
 

Honoring and Connecting with the Ancestors
 

To honor your forebears, create an ancestor altar with a cloth, a candle and photos of those loved ones who have passed, whether that be ancestors of blood or kin. Include memorabilia and other items that you connect with the departed, and light the candle. You can spend some time with each picture and with each item, connecting with those, or name those ancestors whose names you know followed by "may they be remembered." Dedicate a round of drumming to your ancestors and their memory. When you have finished, put out the candle. You may want to leave the altar in place for the rest of Samhain, or until it feels right to take it down.
 

You can connect with your benevolent ancestors by taking a shamanic journey to the Lower World -- the realm to which departed souls travel upon physical death. The desire to communicate with our ancestors is an innate part of the human experience. Benevolent ancestral spirits can guide, protect and heal the living. Your ancestors and the collective spiritual power of all those who went before you reside in the Lower World. When your own time comes to pass on, you will become part of this vast collective unconscious. If you embark on a journey with the intention of connecting with those who have passed, they may come to meet you. Keep in mind that spirits choose to come into relationship with the person seeking. You can seek ancestral spirits, but the spirits must choose. Have a happy and soulful Samhain!