The Dangers of the Archetype of the Apocalypse

Throughout history, the human psyche has been haunted by the idea of total annihilation. Whether told through ancient myth, religious prophecy, dystopian fiction, or doomsday predictions, the Apocalypse has remained a persistent archetype -- a deeply embedded pattern in the collective unconscious that signifies not just the end of the world, but a profound transformation. While this archetype can sometimes catalyze renewal, its unchecked presence in modern culture and psychology poses serious risks. Understanding and confronting the dangers of the archetype of the Apocalypse is essential for both personal mental health and global societal stability.
 

Understanding the Archetype
 

The term "archetype" originates from Carl Jung's analytical psychology and refers to universal symbols or motifs that recur across cultures and time. The Apocalypse archetype is not merely about literal destruction; it represents a deep psychological confrontation with chaos, death, and radical change. Often, it includes imagery of fire, flood, war, or cosmic upheaval, tied to the annihilation of a current state of being and the emergence of something entirely new--or nothing at all.
 

In mythology, we see it in stories like Ragnarok in Norse lore or the Book of Revelation in Christianity. In modern culture, it's present in films like Mad Max, The Matrix, or Children of Men, and in conspiracy-laden movements that predict economic, spiritual, or environmental collapse.
 

But why is this archetype so dangerous?
 

1. Psychic Inflation and Collective Delusion
 

One of the most potent dangers is the psychological phenomenon of psychic inflation, where individuals or groups become so gripped by apocalyptic thinking that they identify with cosmic-level significance. Jung warned that individuals who fall under the sway of powerful archetypes can lose their sense of proportion, leading to delusions of grandeur, righteousness, or catastrophe.
 

In this state, people may begin to interpret normal events as signs of impending doom. Every economic downturn, climate shift, or technological advancement becomes a harbinger of collapse. This mindset not only breeds fear but also justifies extreme behavior: survivalism, cult-like group dynamics, or acts of violence "in preparation" for the end.
 

When enough people fall into this mode of thought, collective delusion becomes possible. Mass hysteria, cult movements, and radical ideologies can thrive--fueled by the belief that destruction is not just imminent but necessary.
 

2. Despair and Fatalism
 

Another danger of the apocalyptic archetype is psychological paralysis. If you believe the world is beyond saving, why try to fix it? Climate change becomes an unsolvable fate. Political corruption seems unstoppable. Social decay feels irreversible.
 

This kind of fatalism erodes the will to act. It fosters apathy, depression, and even suicidal ideation. Many young people today express eco-anxiety or "doomer" worldviews because they've internalized apocalyptic narratives as unshakable truths. The danger lies in confusing an archetypal drama with empirical reality.
 

The result? A loss of hope, engagement, and the ability to imagine positive futures.
 

3. Radicalization and Extremism
 

Apocalyptic thinking has historically been a powerful tool for radicalization. Extremist movements across the ideological spectrum--from religious fundamentalists to political revolutionaries--often use end-times narratives to justify violence. When a group sees itself as fighting against cosmic evil or preparing for divine judgment, ordinary moral boundaries are easily dismissed.
 

Terrorist organizations, cults like Heaven's Gate, and even certain political factions have all used apocalyptic logic to commit atrocities. The belief that "the end is near" transforms complex realities into black-and-white dualisms of good vs. evil, us vs. them.
 

In this environment, critical thinking collapses. The archetype becomes not just a story, but a script for violent action.
 

4. Cultural Escapism and Fantasy Addiction
 

In a more subtle but no less damaging form, the apocalyptic archetype fuels escapism. In books, games, and films, dystopias and post-apocalyptic worlds offer a sense of gritty heroism, simple moral clarity, and release from the mundane frustrations of real life.
 

While such stories can be cathartic or cautionary, overexposure breeds detachment. Instead of engaging with the messy complexity of real-world issues, some retreat into fantasy--believing deep down that everything must fall apart before it can get better.
 

This mindset can be particularly dangerous when combined with technological determinism. For example, the idea that artificial intelligence will either save or destroy us can paralyze rational discourse about how to actually govern it. By framing issues in apocalyptic terms, we avoid the real work of incremental change.
 

5. Suppressing the Feminine and Rebirth Archetypes
 

The Apocalypse is often a masculine archetype: fiery, destructive, righteous. It destroys the old but does not always make space for what comes next. By focusing obsessively on death, we risk suppressing the equally vital feminine archetypes of regeneration, healing, and nurturing.
 

Cultures caught in apocalyptic thinking often show diminished interest in sustainability, empathy, and cooperation. These "softer" virtues are dismissed as irrelevant in the face of total war or collapse.
 

But psychologically, integration demands balance. Destruction without rebirth is nihilism. Chaos without order is madness. The danger of the apocalyptic archetype is that it often refuses to yield to the more nuanced, hopeful energies that follow true transformation.
 

Moving Beyond the Apocalypse
 

So, how can we protect ourselves from being consumed by this archetype?

• Discern Symbol from Reality: Recognize when apocalyptic narratives are being used to dramatize real concerns (e.g., climate change, AI ethics) and consciously choose to stay grounded in facts.
• Balance with Creative Archetypes: Re-engage with stories of rebirth, healing, and community. Seek out narratives that offer hope, not just warnings.
• Cultivate Psychological Resilience: Practices like therapy, mindfulness, and journaling can help us process fear and despair without projecting it onto the world.
• Challenge Extremism: Politically and socially, we must resist hose who weaponize apocalyptic thinking for power. This means supporting education, civil discourse, and democratic resilience.
• Imagine Better Futures: Apocalyptic thinking thrives in the absence of vision. If we want to defuse it, we need to imagine--and work toward--radically better worlds.
  

Conclusion
 

The archetype of the Apocalypse is deeply embedded in human consciousness, and in small doses, it can be a wake-up call. But when it dominates our inner or outer landscapes, it becomes toxic--fueling despair, radicalization, escapism, and paralysis. From my perspective, the archetype of the Apocalypse is manifesting itself in our physical reality now. Rather than surrender to its destructive grip, we must confront it with awareness, compassion, and imagination. The world may be in crisis, but it is not yet ending. And even if it were, the more vital question remains: what might be born from the ashes?

The Time of the Black Jaguar

In the deep rainforests of the Amazon, among the sacred ruins of the Maya, and within the myths of indigenous cultures across the Americas, there is a recurring symbol: the jaguar. Elusive, powerful, and deeply revered, the jaguar is not just a predator--it is a guardian, a bridge between worlds, and a harbinger of transformation. Today, many spiritual thinkers, elders, and eco-activists refer to a new age dawning: The Time of the Black Jaguar.
 

This is not merely a poetic title. It is a profound invocation--a recognition that we are living in a moment of planetary shift, calling us to awaken ancient wisdom, honor the Earth, and face the darkness within and without. It is a time of fierce grace.
 

The Mythic Jaguar
 

For millennia, the jaguar has held an exalted place in the spiritual traditions of Mesoamerican and South American peoples. Among the Maya, the jaguar was associated with the underworld and night. It was a creature that could move between realms--life and death, day and night, seen and unseen. The Olmecs, some of the earliest inhabitants of Mesoamerica, carved massive stone heads that many believe depict jaguar-human hybrids, symbolizing shamanic transformation.
 

To the Inca, the jaguar (called otorongo) represented power and was one of the three sacred animals of their cosmology: the serpent (wisdom of the underworld), the puma (power of this world), and the condor (vision of the upper world). The Amazonian tribes still see the jaguar as a spiritual teacher--a totem of integrity, instinct, and inner sight.
 

But what does it mean when we say this is the Time of the Black Jaguar?
 

A Threshold Moment
 

The world is undeniably at a threshold. Climate collapse, biodiversity loss, mass migration, spiritual disconnection, and systemic inequality press in on all sides. Yet, alongside this, there is a rising tide of consciousness, activism, and reconnection to ancestral ways. More and more people are turning to indigenous knowledge systems, seeking healing through plant medicine, embracing holistic sustainability, and rediscovering the sacredness of life.
 

The Black Jaguar emerges as a symbol for this epoch--a time that requires us to move beyond conventional paradigms. The black jaguar, rarer and more mysterious than its golden kin, represents the hidden, the mystical, the shadow. It asks us to stop looking for salvation in the light alone, and instead, to find power in the darkness we've avoided: our collective traumas, our forgotten histories, our broken relationships with the Earth.
 

Embracing the Shadow
 

The Black Jaguar is not comfortable. It does not give easy answers. It demands that we face ourselves honestly. In Jungian psychology, the "shadow" is everything about ourselves we deny or repress. The Time of the Black Jaguar asks humanity to confront its shadow on a collective level.
 

Colonialism, industrial exploitation, racism, the commodification of nature--these are not aberrations, but consequences of a deeper rupture from the sacred. The jaguar calls us back to wholeness. That means reconciling with our past, acknowledging the wisdom of those we have silenced, and taking responsibility for the future.
 

This time is not about guilt or shame--it's about courage. Like the shamans who don jaguar pelts in ceremony, we are being asked to embody this courage: to move into the unknown, to protect what is sacred, and to lead with heart and instinct.
 

The Return of the Guardians
 

In many indigenous prophecies, there is a vision of a return--not just of balance, but of the Earth's guardians awakening once more. The Q'ero people of the Andes speak of the "Pachakuti," a turning of the world, where ancient knowledge resurfaces. The Hopi talk of the "Day of Purification," and the Kogi of Colombia refer to themselves as the "Elder Brothers," watching the younger (modern) brothers awaken at last to their role in the web of life.
 

In this context, the jaguar is more than an animal--it is a guardian spirit. The Black Jaguar, especially, is a signal that the time of forgetting is over. It is time to remember who we are: not owners of the Earth, but kin.
 

Jaguar Medicine
 

Jaguar represents shamanic power, magic, shapeshifting, transformation, and the life-and-death principle. She embodies the wisdom of the  underworld, the primal space of the unconscious deep within each of us. Jaguar's lesson is to move beyond your fear of the dark unknown. Jaguar is the epitome of a chaotic storm moving through your life, all the while demanding you to remain calm, centered, and grounded. This fierce animal is the gatekeeper to the unknowable. Jaguar medicine includes comprehending the patterns of chaos, walking without fear in the darkness, moving in unknown places, soul work, and reclaiming power. Invoke Jaguar to reclaim your true power. 

 

Rewilding the Soul
 

At the personal level, the Time of the Black Jaguar is an invitation to rewild the soul. Many of us live domesticated lives--scheduled, sanitized, separated from the natural world and from our own bodies. The jaguar does not tolerate domestication. It thrives in mystery, in instinct, in presence. To walk with the jaguar is to listen again to the Earth, to live from the gut, and to reclaim a deeper, more embodied way of being.
 

This does not mean retreating from the world. Rather, it means bringing our wild wisdom into our modern lives--choosing integrity over convenience, truth over comfort, presence over performance. It may take the form of activism, art, community healing, spiritual practice, or environmental stewardship. The outer form is secondary; what matters is the inner fire--the calling to live awake and aligned.
 

A Call to Protect the Sacred
 

Lastly, the Time of the Black Jaguar is a call to guardianship. As the jaguar protects its territory with silent watchfulness, we are being asked to protect what is sacred: the forests, the waters, the ancestral ways, the marginalized voices, the future generations.
 

This is not a romantic call to heroism--it is a sobering responsibility. It requires sacrifice, humility, and vision. It demands that we walk like the jaguar--silent when needed, fierce when provoked, always aware of the whole.
 

In a world obsessed with speed and spectacle, the jaguar teaches stillness and stealth. In a culture addicted to dominance, it teaches reverence. In a society lost in noise, it moves in mystery.
 

Becoming the Jaguar
 

We are living in mythic times, whether we acknowledge it or not. The Time of the Black Jaguar is not something to wait for--it is now. It is happening in the wildfires and the protests, in the deep soul yearnings, and in the quiet acts of reconnection. The jaguar walks among us, and within us. To embrace this time is to step beyond fear, into a deeper power. It is to reclaim the wisdom that lives in the land, in our bones, and in our dreams. It is to walk with grace, strength, and mystery. 

 

The Black Jaguar has awakened. Will you?

A Shamanic Perspective on Christmas

The holiday season, particularly Christmas, is often marked by an explosion of lights, gift-giving, festive meals, and heartwarming tales of togetherness. Yet beneath its modern trappings lies a profound spiritual essence that echoes the cycles of nature, the power of community, and the mysteries of the cosmos. From a shamanic perspective, Christmas can be viewed as an opportunity to honor the interconnectedness of life, the sacredness of light amid darkness, and the renewal of spirit.
 

The Winter Solstice: The Shamanic Origin of the Season
 

Before the Christianization of Europe, midwinter celebrations were deeply rooted in indigenous, earth-centered traditions. Many of these observances revolved around the winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year. Shamanic cultures viewed this turning point as a sacred time when the Sun, symbolic of life and spirit, was reborn.
 

The solstice signifies the return of light, a moment of renewal and hope when the darkness of the year begins to recede. In shamanic practice, this event is a time for introspection and connection with the unseen forces that govern the cycles of life. Just as the Earth enters a period of stillness and regeneration, so too are individuals encouraged to journey inward, shedding the past year's burdens and planting seeds of intention for the coming one.
 

The themes of rebirth and illumination align beautifully with the Christian narrative of Christmas, particularly the birth of Christ, often depicted as the "light of the world." From a shamanic perspective, this light represents not only a divine presence but also the inherent light within every being--a reminder of our connection to the cosmos and each other.
 

The Tree of Life and the Symbolism of Evergreens
 

The Christmas tree, an iconic symbol of the season, has its roots in ancient shamanic traditions. Evergreen trees, which remain vibrant and alive even in the harshest winters, were revered as symbols of resilience, eternal life, and the continuity of existence.
 

For shamans, trees are sacred beings that connect the heavens, the Earth, and the underworld. Their roots delve deep into the soil, their trunks stand steadfast in the present, and their branches reach toward the sky. 

 

Decorating a tree during Christmas can be seen as a modern echo of this ancient reverence. The ornaments and lights represent the gifts of spirit and the illumination of consciousness, a reminder to celebrate life's beauty and mystery.
 

In a shamanic practice, you might sit with your tree and meditate on its energy. Consider what wisdom it has to offer about standing tall through adversity or offering shade and shelter to others. The tree, like humanity, exists in a delicate balance with its surroundings, embodying the interdependence of all living things.
 

The Spirit of Giving: A Sacred Exchange
 

Gift-giving is a cornerstone of Christmas celebrations, often seen as a reflection of love and generosity. From a shamanic perspective, the exchange of gifts mirrors the sacred reciprocity found in nature. Indigenous cultures recognize that life is sustained through a cycle of giving and receiving--what is taken from the Earth is returned in some form, whether through offerings, rituals, or acts of stewardship.
 

When giving gifts, consider the energy and intention behind them. A shamanic view encourages mindful giving, where the act itself is imbued with gratitude, thoughtfulness, and a sense of interconnectedness. It's not about the material value of the gift but the spirit in which it is given. Handmade items, meaningful tokens, or gifts of time and presence often carry the most profound energy.
 

Likewise, receiving is a practice in itself. In a culture that often prizes independence, learning to accept with grace and humility fosters connection and balance. Both giving and receiving are opportunities to acknowledge our shared humanity and the flow of abundance in our lives.
 

Connecting with Ancestors and Spirit Guides
 

Christmas is a time when families gather, creating traditions that bridge generations. From a shamanic perspective, this is also a powerful moment to connect with ancestors and spiritual guides. In many shamanic traditions, winter is a season when the veil between the physical and spiritual realms is thinner, making it easier to commune with those who have passed.
 

Setting aside time to honor your ancestors during the holiday season can be a deeply enriching practice. This might involve creating an altar with photographs, candles, or objects that represent your lineage. As you celebrate Christmas, you might include rituals that invite the wisdom and blessings of your forebears, recognizing their role in shaping who you are today.
 

Similarly, shamanic practices often involve calling on spirit guides for guidance and protection. Whether through meditation, drumming, or prayer, inviting these helpers into your Christmas rituals can deepen your sense of connection to the unseen world.
 

The Inner Light: A Journey of Rebirth
 

At its heart, Christmas is a celebration of light. From the sparkling lights on homes and trees to the symbolic light of Christ, this season reminds us of the enduring power of illumination. For shamans, light is a metaphor for consciousness, healing, and the divine spark within all beings. 

 

This season is an invitation to rekindle your inner light. Shamanic journeying, a practice of entering a trance state to access spiritual realms, can be particularly potent during this time. Through such journeys, you might seek insights about the year ahead, release lingering shadows, or connect with your higher self. The goal is not only personal transformation but also contributing your light to the collective.
 

Rekindling the Spirit of Christmas
 

Modern Christmas celebrations can sometimes feel disconnected from their spiritual roots, overshadowed by consumerism and obligation. A shamanic perspective offers a way to reconnect with the season's sacred essence by emphasizing presence, gratitude, and harmony with nature. 

 

This Christmas, consider integrating shamanic elements into your celebrations. Spend time in nature, honoring the cycles of the Earth. Light a candle in recognition of the returning Sun. Reflect on the gifts of life, love, and community that sustain you. And most importantly, nurture the light within you, allowing it to shine brightly as a beacon of hope and connection. 

 

In doing so, you honor not only the traditions of the past but also the universal truths that transcend cultures and time: that we are all interconnected, that light follows darkness, and that the spirit of Christmas lives in the timeless dance of renewal and love.

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.

Understanding the Four Elements and Directions

The cardinal directions, North, East, South, and West, represent more than just navigational tools. Each direction has a deep meaning that is tied to one of the four elements of life: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. The interplay between the elements and the cardinal directions is a concept that has fascinated humanity for centuries. Each direction is associated with an element of the natural world, and represents some part of our human nature as well. Understanding how we relate to the four elements and directions can teach us a lot about ourselves, help us to grow and can support us through life's many changes.
 

The four elements, as shown in the accompanying diagram, are charted around a cosmic compass or wheel of life. The cosmic wheel is a mandala, a symbolic blueprint or map of reality. It represents a multidimensional, interwoven web of relationships that are in constant communion with each other. The sacred wheel exists simultaneously in a horizontal and vertical axis, as well as in the unfolding continuum of time--past, present, and future. The cosmic wheel serves as a portal to consciously enter the cyclic, time-space unfolding of the universe through a practice of reverent, harmonious relationship. It is based on the belief that the universe is alive, sentient, and constantly communicating its wisdom to who ever makes an effort to listen.
 

The cosmic wheel represents the archetypal journey each of us takes in life. This journey has four stages, each associated with a cardinal direction. To move around the wheel and develop a relationship with each direction is to step onto a path of learning and fulfillment. Each direction and its associated element has qualities and attributes that help us spiral toward completion on the wheel of life. All creatures walk the circumference of the cosmic wheel, experiencing the four stages of human life: birth, youth, adulthood, and death. After completing a cycle of learning on the sacred wheel, each of us returns to the source at the center or heart of the circle.
 

Attributes of the Elements and Cardinal Directions
 

1. Air/East
 

Air is the element of the East, connected to the soul and the breath of life. Air signifies intellect, communication, and freedom. It is the element of thought, representing the mind and the power of ideas. Air's qualities include lightness, movement, and expansiveness. It is associated with clarity, insight, and the ability to connect with others through language and expression. In many traditions, Air is seen as the breath of life, essential for mental and spiritual well-being. Though the qualities attributed to each of the four cardinal directions tend to vary from culture to culture, the energy of the East is typically associated with spring, morning, birth, beginnings, illumination, knowledge, learning and intellectual curiosity. The East represents new life being brought into the world. It is the direction of the sunrise, heralding the start of a new day and the promise of opportunities. In many cultures, the East is seen as a place of renewal and vision, where one can gain insight and inspiration. It encourages openness, curiosity, and the pursuit of knowledge.
 

2. Fire/South
 

Fire is purifying, masculine yang energy associated with the South, and connected to strong will and energy. Fire represents energy, transformation, and passion. It is the element of action and drive, associated with the sun and the spark of life. Fire's qualities include warmth, intensity, and the ability to consume and regenerate. It is often seen as a catalyst for change, symbolizing both destruction and rebirth, and is connected to creativity and the willpower to achieve goals. The cardinal direction South is related to summer, midday, logic, youth, trust, and expansion. The South represents youth and adolescence--a time of growth, learning and development of the self. From the South rises the vital energy of renewal, regeneration, and growth. From the South we learn to plant seeds of good cause. We learn that our thoughts and actions create our reality. It is a place of action and movement, encouraging individuals to pursue their goals with enthusiasm and determination.
 

3. Water/West
 

Used for healing, cleansing, and purification, Water is a feminine yin energy associated with the West. Water is essential to life; it flows through all plants, people, and wildlife. Water embodies fluidity, emotions, and intuition. It is the element of change and adaptability, capable of taking various forms and influencing all it touches. Water is linked to the subconscious mind, dreams, and the ebb and flow of feelings. Its qualities include flexibility, continuity, depth, and the ability to cleanse and purify, making it a vital component of spiritual and physical renewal. The cardinal direction West is associated with fall, twilight, the moon, and the emotional self. In the West, we are drawn into the experience of our emotions. It is a direction that calls us to self-reflection and self-understanding. The West represents adulthood and meeting the fulfilment of life as we find our meaning and place. It is the direction of the setting sun, signifying the end of a cycle and the transition into reflection and rest. It is a space for understanding and integrating experiences, fostering emotional growth and wisdom.
 

4. Earth/North

Connected to the North, Earth is considered the ultimate feminine element, often associated with the Goddess. Earth is widely associated with stability, grounding, and the material world. It represents the physical aspects of existence, including the body and the tangible environment. In various traditions, Earth is considered the foundation upon which all life is built. Its qualities include form, solidity, endurance, and fertility, making it a symbol of sustenance and growth. The cardinal direction North is typically associated with winter, night, introspection, death and completion of the life cycle. This is the place of wisdom and of imparting the knowledge gained from a lifetime of living in the physical world to the younger generations. It is a time of reflection, rest and increased understanding of the aspects of the spiritual world. In the North we assimilate our life experiences before we exit the realm of physical experience and join into vast levels of experience in the spirit worlds of light, or we choose to return and walk again the sacred wheel of life.
 

The Building Blocks of Nature
 

The four elements are the building blocks of nature and interact with humans in the creative process. The elements are living energies, which change and move as we think, and then take the form of our thoughts. Thought is the tool of the mind that shapes physical reality. Every thought, idea, or image in the mind has form and substance. Everything that we perceive began with a thought, for it is the blending of thought forms with the elemental rhythms that shape physical reality. It is the consciousness of humanity that holds the present physical form of all that we perceive. It is the mind that determines the destiny of forms. We are mind. Our Earth is mind. We live in a universe of mind. From photons to galaxies, life is conscious intelligent energy that can form itself into any pattern or function.
 

The key to understanding the creative process is to realize that the universe is made of vibrational energy: that it is a single, flowing, rhythmic being. According to quantum physics, everything in the universe, from the smallest subatomic particle to the largest star, has an inherent vibrational pattern. The entire universe is created through vibration and can be influenced through vibration. T'an Ch'iao, a Taoist adept of the tenth century, expressed this potential when he wrote, "When energy moves, sound is emitted; when sound comes forth, energy vibrates. When energy vibrates, influences are activated and things change. Therefore it is possible thereby to command wind and clouds, produce frost and hail, cause phoenixes to sing, get bears to dance, make friends with spiritual luminescences."(1)
 

The compass or circular arrangement of the elements illustrates the sequence of development in the process of manifestation. Born of the silent emptiness of the center, vibration cycles around the periphery of the circle. Moving from East (Air) to South (Fire) to West (Water) to North (Earth), vibration bonds the elements, and then reverses its rotation toward emptiness to begin the cycle anew. The unmanifest essence of vibration precipitates this bonding sequence in order to manifest a desired form. The energy of vibration is alive and, because it is alive, it seeks ways in which to express or manifest itself. As Ute-Tiwa shaman Joseph Rael concludes in his book, Being and Vibration, "Apparently materialization occurs because vibration is seeking to purify the center (heart) of its newly formulated form."(2)
 

Conclusion
 

In the Native American traditions, the wheel or sacred hoop of life defines all that is the Great Mystery, the source of all creation. The Great Mystery reveals itself as the powers of the four directions and these four powers provide the organizing principle for everything that exists in the world. There are four elements, four winds, four seasons, four phases of the moon, four stages to humanity's spiritual evolution, and so on. We are here on Earth to experience and realize the mystery. The vision of that mystery is ever present within each of us. When we mindfully connect with the elements and cardinal directions, we begin to realize the sacred vision. We orient ourselves in the living web of life, yielding greater awareness and perspective. We develop a meaningful understanding of the natural world and our place within it.

1. Thomas Cleary, Vitality, Energy, Spirit: A Taoist Sourcebook (Shambhala, 1991).
2. Joseph Rael and Mary Marlow, Being and Vibration (Tulsa: Council Oak Books, 1993), p 185.

What is a Spiritual Awakening?

A spiritual awakening is a profound experience that transforms one's perception of life, self, and the universe. It's not just a trend or a buzzword; it's a journey that has been explored and revered by many cultures and spiritual traditions throughout history. But what exactly is a spiritual awakening? How does it happen, and what does it mean for the individual? In this blog post, we will delve into the essence of a spiritual awakening, exploring its signs, stages, and the impact it can have on one's life.
 

The Essence of a Spiritual Awakening
 

At its core, a spiritual awakening is an expansion of consciousness that leads to a deeper understanding of the true nature of existence. It's a shift from living in a limited, ego-driven reality to recognizing the interconnectedness of all things. This awakening often brings a sense of inner peace, heightened awareness, and a realization that there is more to life than the material world.
 

The term "awakening" implies that the individual was previously "asleep" in a sense--living in a state of ignorance or disconnection from their true self and the universe. When someone undergoes a spiritual awakening, they begin to question their beliefs, values, and the way they perceive the world. This can lead to a profound transformation, where old patterns and limiting beliefs are shed, making way for a more authentic and aligned way of living.
 

Spiritual awakenings can be triggered by various events, such as a personal crisis, loss, or even a moment of deep reflection. However, they can also occur spontaneously, without any clear cause, as a natural progression of one's spiritual journey.
 

Common Signs of a Spiritual Awakening
 

Spiritual awakenings manifest differently for everyone, but there are common signs that many people experience during this process. Understanding these signs can help one recognize if they are undergoing a spiritual awakening:
 

1. Heightened Awareness: You become more attuned to your thoughts, emotions, and surroundings. Everyday experiences may take on new significance, and you may begin to notice patterns and synchronicities that you previously overlooked.
 

2. Desire for Solitude: As you become more introspective, you might feel a strong pull toward spending time alone. This solitude allows for deep reflection and connection with your inner self.
 

3. Shift in Values and Beliefs: Long-held beliefs may begin to feel outdated or irrelevant. You might find yourself questioning societal norms and seeking out new philosophies or spiritual practices.
 

4. Increased Compassion and Empathy: A spiritual awakening often brings a heightened sense of compassion and empathy for others. You may feel a deeper connection to all living beings and a desire to contribute positively to the world.
 

5. Inner Peace and Contentment: Despite external circumstances, you may begin to experience a sense of inner peace and contentment. This tranquility often stems from a deeper understanding of life's impermanence and the realization that true happiness comes from within.
 

The Stages of a Spiritual Awakening
 

A spiritual awakening is a process that unfolds in stages, each bringing its own challenges and revelations. While the journey is unique for each individual, the following stages are commonly experienced:
 

1. The Crisis: Often referred to as the "dark night of the soul," this stage involves a deep sense of disillusionment and existential questioning. You may feel lost, confused, or disconnected from your previous way of life. This crisis is a necessary part of the process, as it prompts you to seek deeper meaning and understanding.
 

2. The Search for Answers: After the initial crisis, you may begin actively seeking answers to life's big questions. This stage often involves exploring different spiritual practices, philosophies, and teachings. You are driven by a desire to understand the true nature of reality and your place within it.
 

3. The Awakening: This is the moment of realization, where the veil is lifted, and you begin to see life from a new perspective. You may experience profound insights, a sense of unity with the universe, and a deep connection to your true self. This stage can be accompanied by feelings of joy, peace, and liberation.
 

4. The Integration: After the awakening, the challenge lies in integrating this new awareness into your daily life. This stage involves applying the insights and wisdom gained during the awakening to create a more authentic and fulfilling life. It's a time of balancing the spiritual with the material, and finding harmony between the two.
 

5. The Return to Self: The final stage is a return to a more balanced state of being, where the awakened consciousness becomes a natural part of your everyday life. You move forward with a sense of purpose, clarity, and inner peace, living in alignment with your true self.
 

The Impact of a Spiritual Awakening
 

The impact of a spiritual awakening is profound and far-reaching, affecting every aspect of one's life. Relationships may change as you become more authentic and align with people who resonate with your new way of being. Your career and hobbies may shift as you seek work that is meaningful and fulfilling. Even your perception of time, space, and reality may alter as you begin to live more in the present moment.
 

On a deeper level, a spiritual awakening can lead to a sense of unity with the universe, where the boundaries between self and other begin to dissolve. This experience of oneness brings a deep sense of peace, love, and compassion, not only for yourself but for all beings.
 

Conclusion
 

A spiritual awakening is a transformative journey that can lead to profound personal growth and a deeper understanding of life's true nature. While it can be challenging, especially during the early stages, the rewards are immense--greater inner peace, clarity, and a sense of purpose. Whether triggered by a crisis or unfolding gradually, a spiritual awakening invites you to step beyond the limitations of the ego and connect with the boundless, interconnected reality of the universe. Embrace the journey, for it is one of the most fulfilling paths you can take in life.

Wisdom of the Thunder Beings

The Thunder Beings are a related family of divine beings who bring about weather changes such as thunder, lightning, wind and rain. Through their power abiding in the atmosphere, they sustain the Earth and protect the people. Through lightning, they directly purify the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the earth we cultivate. They create a world-wide lightning display that produces and maintains the heartbeat frequency (Schumann resonance) of the Earth's electromagnetic grid. Their holy medicine includes creativity, fertility, protection, peace, harmony, balance, compassion, wisdom, enlightenment, death and rebirth. Through the Thunder Beings, all life has been created, is sustained and will be destroyed. They sustain balance and destroy imbalance, the cause of suffering.
 

From time immemorial, people have worshiped the Thunder Beings. They are the source of all ideological, religious and spiritual transmission. The early cultures attribute their belief systems to the teachings of rain gods and goddesses. Their myths tell of how rain deities created the world, humans and all life. They came down to Earth in the distant past and gave humanity language, law, the arts, spiritual sciences, wisdom and knowledge. The Thunder Beings were instrumental in teaching their mortal cousins how to properly honor and commune with the spirits to gain their blessings.
 

The core beliefs and principles of all spiritual cultural traditions come from the Thunder Beings. The Native American spiritual traditions originated from the rain deities known as Wakinyan, Animiki and Kachinas. The Mongolian shamanic traditions originated from the sky deity known as Tengri. The Maya shamanic traditions originated from the lightning deities known as Chaac, K'awiil and Yaluk. The Chinese Taoist traditions originated from a thunder god known as Lei Kung. The Australian Aboriginal shamanic traditions originated from the cloud and rain spirits known as Wandjina. They are the roots of all integral shamanic and wisdom traditions.  
 

Among the Yoruba people of West Africa, the orisha (god) of thunder is known as Shango. Shango is renowned for his oshe, a double-headed battle-ax, as well as the double-headed bata drum he uses to summon rain storms. The orishas are the powerful divine spirits of the Yoruba religion. They are the creator and sustainer of all things. They are the manifestations of primordial energies, both creative and destructive. They are the conduits by which life and all cultural wisdom entered the world. Like all of the Yoruba gods, Shango is both a deified historical ancestor and a divine natural spiritual force. Orishas enter the mortal world, complete epic feats, live, die and then are reincarnated into the world to complete even more amazing tasks. They are immortal energies that represent a core part of Yoruba philosophy and belief.
 

Every spring, the Lakota people gather at Black Elk Peak in the sacred Paha Sapa (Black Hills) for the "Welcome Back the Thunders" ceremony. The Lakota ceremonial season begins with the return of the Wakinyan or Thunder Beings. According to legend, the Wakinyan are huge winged beings that humans cannot see because they are shielded by thick clouds. Thunder is made by the sound of their voices, and lightning is created when they open and close their eyes. The Wakinyan created wild rice and gave the Lakota the spear, the tomahawk and pigments to make them impervious to weapons. The annual vernal equinox ceremony ends with Lakota teens carrying a sacred pipe and food offerings to the top of Black Elk Peak. As the highest point in the Paha Sapa, the Lakota consider it to be the most appropriate spot to bring prayers to Wakan Tanka (Great Mystery).
 

Among the Pueblo people of the American Southwest, the deities known as kachinas bring the rain for their three main crops: corn, beans and squash. Puebloans believe that kachinas are divine spirits present in features of the natural world such as clouds, winds, thunder and rain. They are also ancestral spirits that help connect humans with the spirit world. They come to the human realm to collect the people's prayers and take them back to the spirit realm. The kachinas dwell in sacred mountains and other holy places, but spend half of each year living near Pueblo villages. During this time, the men of kachina societies perform traditional ceremonies linked with the presence of the spirits. They wear costumes and elaborate masks and perform songs and dances associated with specific kachinas. The Puebloans say that during these rituals each dancer is transformed into the spirit being represented.
 

In the Asian traditions, the Thunder Beings are responsible for expressing the higher truth of spiritual reality, safeguarding it and disseminating it for the benefit of all beings. The essence of the Asian spiritual traditions is the direct experience of enlightenment--of perfect tranquility and unconditional bliss. This experience is fully attained through the Thunder Beings by virtue of their mystical thunder and lightning blessings. In Tantric Buddhism, their names and images are used in visualization-based meditations to awaken the mind. Through the proper use of these images and sacred sound in meditation, we can liberate our minds from suffering.
 

The Thunder Beings are invisible, yet out of compassion they reveal themselves through thunder, lightning, wind and rain. Their visible manifestation or mystical visitation is universally one of storm-display. Even though there is great destructive rage in storms, in truth this is merely a means of ushering in peace, of clearing great obstructions. Everything that the Thunder Beings do has the effect of bringing about peace and harmony.
 

Thunder Beings are perfect and beyond suffering. Nature is their manifestation; it is quite beautiful and harmonious. Where there is calamity, the cause is poor human activity, such as war, pollution and environmental devastation. There is little peace on Earth because there is little peace in our hearts. In order to establish it, we must diligently work for it through meditation and through compassionate activity. Meditation--whether it's silent or drumming up a storm--increases our wisdom and insight, our capacity to be of true help to others. Wisdom is the light of the Thunder Beings shining through our heart. It is the lightning within us striking its way out.

Initiation into Shamanism

Shamanic initiation is a rite of passage, connecting the apprentice shaman intimately to Spirit. It is probably the most powerful and least understood of all forms of spiritual awakening. It is not achieved by having mastered a body of knowledge or having completed some long-term training program. Though it may be set in motion by an apprentice's human teachers as part of an ordered training process, authentic initiation can only be conveyed by the spirits themselves. Ultimately, shamanic initiation takes place between the initiate and the spirit world. It is the spirits who choose and make the shaman.
 

The most frequent and most genuine manner of shamanic initiation is that of crisis, often involving psychological and physical suffering. The encounter with illness, suffering, and death not only opens the world of the spirits to the shaman, it also provides an experiential ground for the healing work that the shaman will later be doing. Election can also occur through heredity, signs at birth, a proclivity or gift that is recognized in childhood, through a realization arising in the course of a ceremonial event, or in the experience of a vision quest.
 

Shamanic initiation is typically the final step in becoming a shamanic healer, a process that is facilitated by the aspirant's shamanic teachers as part of a training regimen. However, initiation may also be spontaneous, set in motion by Spirit's intervention into the initiate's life. To be initiated by a helping spirit forever transforms your life. For the uninitiated, this can be problematic to say the least. They may have no clear idea of what is happening to them, and may find themselves overwhelmed by fear of their nonordinary experience. 

The Dismemberment Journey

Initiation into shamanhood often involves the visionary experience of symbolic dismemberment--the experience of being taken apart, devoured, or torn to pieces. In a classic dismemberment journey, the apprentice witnesses their own body being torn apart and perhaps completely destroyed. The apprentice dies a symbolic death and is then restored and brought back to life, whole and empowered. At its deepest level, the dismemberment experience dismantles our old identity. It is a powerful death-and-rebirth process. The experience of being stripped layer by layer, down to bare bones forces us to examine the bare essence of what we truly are.
 

Anthropologist Felicitas Goodman, the modern discoverer of Ecstatic Body Postures, notes that Siberian shamans considered dismemberment to be an essential phase of initiation for healers. Goodman researched and explored ritual body postures as a means to achieve a bodily induced trance experience and discovered that this archetype appears to be universal. In her trance work with Westerners, those who experienced spontaneous dismemberment visions were invariably destined to become various kinds of healers.
 

Completing this restorative rite is precisely the task of the shaman. As Joan Halifax explains in her book Shamanic Voices, "The shaman is a healed healer who has retrieved the broken pieces of his or her body and psyche and, through a personal rite of transformation, has integrated many planes of life experience: the body and the spirit, the ordinary and nonordinary, the individual and the community, nature and supernature, the mythic and the historical, the past, the present and the future." The cure for dismemberment is remembering who we actually are. As Halifax puts it, "To bring back to an original state that which was in primordial times whole and is now broken and dismembered is not only an act of unification, but also a divine remembrance of a time when a complete reality existed."(1)
 

Shamanic initiation functions as a transformer--it causes a radical change in the initiate forever. An initiation marks a transition into a new way of being in the world. It informs us about the mystery of life and death. According to noted shamanic teacher and author Sandra Ingerman, "Initiation is the death, dismembering, and dissolving of old forms, structures, and ways of life. And I have come to understand that true initiation is allowing Spirit to sing into creation the new forms and new creations. Allowing Spirit to sing formlessness into form creates a new evolution of consciousness."(2)
 

Shamanic initiation is complicated, profound and nothing short of life-altering--in the best possible way. While it may not be easy, it will improve your life for the better with patience, trial and error, and the passage of time. If you find yourself in one, all you can do is trust the process, hang on tight, and get ready for a newly awakened life.
 

Global Dismemberment
 

There is so much more to discover and explore about shamanic initiations and the deep spiritual knowledge held in Indigenous cultures. Now that the present world-age during which all human civilization developed is ending, it might be time to pay more attention to the experience of those whose world has already ended: Indigenous peoples. Depending on how you count them, there may be up to three hundred million Indigenous people still on the planet. Most are survivors of colonialism. The genocide of the Indigenous peoples was the beginning of the modern world for Europeans, but the former remain as veritable end of the world experts. Models for restoring our relationship with the earth exist in the cultures of Indigenous peoples, whose values and skills have enabled them to survive centuries of invasion and exploitation.
 

From an Indigenous perspective, the global climate and ecological crisis represents a mass shamanic dismemberment--the experience of being taken apart, devoured, or torn to pieces on a global scale, allowing for a shift of awareness and transformation of collective consciousness. The acceleration of planetary crises can either provoke a planetary awakening and a shift into a regenerative planetary culture based on shamanic wisdom and sustainable principles, or a destruction of human civilization in its current form, and perhaps extinction for our species. We are all responsible, for better or worse.

 

As the global upheaval intensifies, our interest in shamanism represents an attempt to retrieve and include a part of our inner and outer lives that technology and civilization has consistently denied, suppressed, or destroyed since the advent of agriculture. The cultural imprinting of hierarchical, agriculturally based societies leaves the individual outside the realm of personal spiritual experience. Any sense of the Great Mystery is beyond the individual's grasp. In the contemporary world, where our rites of passage for young men mean going to war, in a world where social turmoil and environmental disaster induce fear, anxiety and despair, the way of the shaman, the one who is a master of the initiatic crisis, might well be of great value for all of us.

 

1. Joan Halifax, Shamanic Voices: A Survey of Visionary Narratives (Penguin, 1991), pp. 18-22.
2. Sandra Ingerman. "Messages from Sandra Ingerman." Transmutation News (Mar. 2011): <https://www.sandraingerman.com/transmutation-news/english/english-2011/page/2/>.

Winter Solstice Blessings

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. 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.
 
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. 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.

On the Winter Solstice (Wednesday, December 21) we began a new cycle on the Medicine Wheel of Life, entering the North -- the home of winter, night, wisdom, clarity, renewal, rebirth, and the great Bison. Bison teaches us the importance of gratitude for all we have and giving for the greater good. As we join our hearts in prayer and sacred drumming, we participate in this season of renewal, attuning ourselves to the cyclical rhythms of nature. As we celebrate the return of the light, we affirm the continuation of life at the very moment of dissolution. Prayer, gratitude, and generosity at this time will clear the way for renewed growth and prosperity.

Black Horse Symbolism

I recently did a deep meditation, seeking guidance regarding a life-changing decision. I closed my eyes and stilled the chatter of my mind by focusing on my breath as I inhaled and exhaled. The first image that popped into my mind was the spinning vortex of a tornado in the distance. Tornadoes tend to represent worry and anxiety, spinning out of control. Tornados are a sign you must slow down and regain clarity and calmness in your life. Since tornadoes destroy everything they come in contact with, dreams and visions about them could represent your unacknowledged desire to carve a new path for yourself.
 

Next, I saw the Tashi Gomang Stupa, located about two miles from my Crestone, Colorado home. Since the time of the Buddha's death around 483 BCE, Buddhists have constructed stupas to contain the relics of enlightened teachers. A stupa is an architectural rendering of the Buddhist path, the stages and aspects of enlightenment. When a great Buddhist teacher leaves his or her physical existence, the body that remains is considered to be permeated with the very essence of awakened mind, possessing tremendous intrinsic power and blessings. The appropriate vessel for containing these relics is a stupa.
 

Each stupa is designed according to ancient sacred geometry; situated on land selected for its beneficial properties and graced with the sanction of the elemental forces. Through its design and contents, a stupa is regarded as having the power to transmit the essence of awakened mind, on the spot, to anyone ready to receive it. The Buddha said that whoever sees the stupa will be liberated by the sight of it. Feeling the breeze around the stupa liberates by its touch. Having thus seen or experienced the stupa, by thinking of one's experience of it, one is liberated through recollection.
 

Atop the golden spire in the center of the 42-foot-tall bell-shaped stupa, I saw a winged horse wind vane spinning in the wind. The wind vane represented my unsettled emotions; the weather of my mind. One cannot forcibly subdue an emotional struggle by an exertion of the will. If you attempt to force stillness upon restless emotions you will only create deep inner conflict. Equanimity must develop naturally out of the tranquility of a meditative state. I focused on the stupa and it instantly brought me calm and clarity.
 

The Black Horse
 

The next imagery that I saw was a galloping black horse. Black horses are messengers and carriers of positive, mysterious energy. Seeing a black horse in your meditation means there is an energy that is about to enter your life. This energy will have a positive effect on your life, though it may not be obvious at first. This energy can come into your life in a myriad of ways. It could be a person, a career change or an unexpected event. Actually, it could be anything. The key here is that the sequence of events that will be set into motion by this energy will have an overall positive effect. If you see a black horse, be on the lookout for something extraordinary on the horizon.
 

Black horses symbolize the ability to overcome obstacles and come out on the other side. It is also widely known to be a symbol for death. This does not always mean death in the literal sense; in this case it means leaving behind things which no longer serve you. The black steed symbolism is both death-defying and death-seeking. In other words, it is symbolic of death and rebirth. It signifies the closing of one door and the opening of another. It can also symbolize the need for you to take a leap of faith. Trust your intuition even if you can't see the reason or the result.
 

If a black horse appears in your life, you may need some reassurance that you are powerful enough to take on any challenge that comes your way. While many people hold on to things that no longer serve them out of fear, you must be brave enough to take the power and do what you need to do in order to come out on the other side. A black horse is an omen of powerful and courageous transformation. The notion of death and rebirth portends that the black horse will bring an end to things and relationships which no longer serve you. In doing this without fear or hesitation, the horse is transforming and creating a better version of you.
 

Horse medicine teaches you to be true to your authentic self. Though you may be quite attached to your plans, ideas, self-image, social position, security and relationships, it is time to strip away old ideas and habits; eliminate the outmoded or worn out. Dive into the problem without thought of immediate gain or purpose. This is the end of an old cycle and the beginning of a new one. Now is the time for bold action.

The Lost Art of Resurrection

An excerpt from my memoir, Riding Spirit Horse: A Journey into Shamanism.

 

Like a golden luminous jewel, Palenque perches above the lush tropical rainforest in the foothills of the Chiapas Highlands of southern Mexico. Humid air hangs heavy in this jungle acropolis overlooking the coastal plains of the state of Tabasco. Shrouded in morning jungle mists and echoing to a dawn chorus of howler monkeys and parrots, this temple city has a serene, mystical atmosphere. In antiquity, the Maya city was known as Lakamha, meaning "big waters." Tranquil spring-fed streams meander through the city and the temple summits offer spectacular views of the ruins and surrounding jungle. Flourishing in the seventh century, Palenque is an architectural masterpiece of unsurpassed beauty and spiritual force.

Palenque's most prominent structure is the Temple of the Inscriptions. The elegant temple crowns an imposing eight-stepped pyramid 75 feet above a great plaza. The temple gets its name from hieroglyphic inscriptions on three stone tablets, known as the East Tablet, the Central Tablet and the West Tablet, on the structure's inner walls. These large carved tablets emphasize the idea that events that happened in the past will be repeated on the same calendar date. The edifice was specifically built as the funerary monument for K'inich Janaab' Pakal, also known as Pakal the Great, ruler of Palenque in the seventh century.
 

Deep in the heart of the pyramid, Pakal's remains were found in a stone sarcophagus, wearing a mosaic jade death mask and elaborate jade jewelry. The intricate carving on the top of the seven-ton sarcophagus lid itself is an iconic piece of Classic Maya art and was crucial to understanding how the ancient Maya viewed death and rebirth. The magnificent bas-relief shows the cross-shaped World Tree -- which manifests in the dark night sky as the Milky Way or "White Road" to the Underworld -- and Pakal's relationship to it in death. The king is depicted at the moment of his divine resurrection in the unen or infant form of the lightning deity K'awiil, ascending from the Underworld on the starry Milky Way road to paradise and eternal life.
 

At Palenque, the Maya carefully encoded instructions for gaining eternal life in their architecture, art and hieroglyphic inscriptions. The Maya believed that the real purpose of our lives is to grow ourselves into godlike beings of power and beauty. Survival of the personal aspect of the soul was the goal for Maya shamans. They believed that there are two souls. Every human being has a "life soul," one that is linked to the body and that, should it depart the body, would cause death. It remains within the body until the moment of death. There is also a second soul, or "free soul." The free soul can roam free from the body without harming the person. It corresponds to the dream or astral body. Upon death, it journeys to the pool of souls from whence it may reach back to us and communicate with us through portals to the Underworld -- caves and pyramids.
 

The resurrection of the free soul was what the ancient Maya shamans hoped to achieve. The Maya believed the soul to be regenerative to its core; ultimately its purpose is to regenerate itself. The human soul manifested from the Otherworld paradise through the portal jaws of the great Vision Serpent. If it succeeded in growing into its divine potential by nurturing itself through education and ecstatic bonding with the gods, it could recreate itself after death wearing its own individual "face," then dance forever on the surface of the infinite otherworldly sea. The lightning-serpent energy that fueled the soul's resurrection came from the rain deity K'awiil.
 

The Maya shamans believed death is "behind the times," caught up in a previous and less advanced era, lacking knowledge of the art of resurrection. There is a dramatic difference between the idea of resurrection and a belief in the soul's immortality. Resurrection -- raising up again -- means that something has truly died and then brought back to life. Immortality, on the other hand, assumes unbroken continuity of the soul's existence after the death of the body.
 

The ancient shamans of Palenque built a resurrection generator on a large elevated plaza in the southeast corner of the city surrounded by jungle covered hills. Archaeologists call this ch'ulel "power plant" the Cross Group or Temple of the Cross complex. It is made up of three pyramid temples arranged in a triangular pattern. The shaman architects who designed the Cross Group believed they had discovered the earthly site of the three hearthstones of creation. In Maya cosmology, a triangle of three stars in the Orion constellation represents the hearthstones of the cosmic fire the gods had set to begin the present world age. Using geomantic divination, they detected the location of the invisible stones and built the temples over them, forming the shamanic infrastructure that powered the resurrection process.
 

The Temple of the Cross is the largest and most significant structure. They placed it on a hill at the northern apex of the cosmic hearth. On the inside back wall of the temple sanctuary, they installed a carved stone tablet depicting the branching World Tree at the moment the Maize God lifted it to the sky. At the western corner of the triangle, they constructed the Temple of the Sun and erected a tablet on the back wall portraying warfare, human sacrifice and a shield adorned with the Jaguar Sun God. At the eastern corner of the hearth, they built the Temple of the Foliated Cross honoring the deity Unen K'awiil, a personification of young maize, and placed within it a tablet showing the World Tree as a maize plant. It depicts King Pakal, wrapped in his death shroud, rising up from the Underworld in his "resurrection body."
 

The shaman-astronomers arranged the pyramids so that as the night sky wheeled through its yearly cycle to reenact the events of creation, the three temples would engage this celestial pattern and reactivate the sacred time of that first awakening. On August 13, a date the Maya associate with creation, the night sky goes through a cycle from dusk to dawn that recounts the story of the transition from the third world into the fourth world when humans were created. During that evening, when the stars and constellations took up their creation-resurrection positions, and the glowing Milky Way/World Tree rose in the heavens, the temple complex came alive with Otherworldly forces.

"Shamanic Journeys" Book Release

It is with great pleasure that I announce the release of my new book, Shamanic Journeys: An Anthology. This book is an anthology of shamanic journeys that I have taken over my 35-year exploration of shamanism, the most ancient and most enduring spiritual tradition known to humanity. Each inner journey has a unique story about what led up to the trance experience, and what I learned from it. They were powerful life-changing events for me. Journey work is therapeutic and liberating. My trance experiences were healing, insightful and empowering. They often triggered the cathartic release of suppressed emotions producing feelings of peace and well-being. The process restores emotional health through expression and integration of emotions.
 

Shamanism is based on the principle that innate wisdom and guidance can be accessed through the inner senses in ecstatic trance. We can engage the blueprint of our soul path through the vehicle of journeying. Shamanic journeying is a time-tested medium for individual self-realization. We can journey within to access wisdom and energies that can help awaken our soul calling and restore us to wholeness. It heightens our sense of mission and purpose, empowering our personal evolution. I invite you to journey with me into the inner realms of consciousness.

 

What is Shamanic Journeying?

Shamanism represents a universal conceptual framework found among indigenous tribal humans. It includes the belief that the natural world has two aspects: ordinary everyday awareness, formed by our habitual behaviors, patterns of belief, social norms, and cultural conditioning, and a second non-ordinary awareness accessed through altered states, or ecstatic trance, induced by shamanic practices such as repetitive drumming. The act of entering an ecstatic trance state is called the soul flight or shamanic journey, and it allows the journeyer to view life and life's problems from a detached, spiritual perspective, not easily achieved in a state of ordinary consciousness.

Basically, shamanic journeying is a way of communicating with your inner or spirit self and retrieving information. Your inner self is in constant communication with all aspects of your environment, seen and unseen. You need only journey within to find answers to your questions. You should have a question or objective in mind from the start. Shamanic journeying may be undertaken for purposes of divination, for personal healing, to meet one's power animal or spirit guide, or for any number of other reasons. After the journey, you must then interpret the meaning of your trance experience.

The drum, sometimes called the shaman’s horse, provides a simple and effective way to induce ecstatic trance states. When a drum is played at an even tempo of three to four beats per second for at least fifteen minutes, most novices report that they can journey successfully even on their first attempt. Transported by the driving beat of the drum; the shamanic traveler journeys to the inner planes of consciousness.

Contents
Introduction
1. Meeting My Spirit Guide
2. The Moon Goddess
3. The Guardian Spirit
4. The Storm
5. Drumming in Boynton Canyon
6. The Navajo Storm Pattern Rug
7. The Sweat Lodge Ceremony
8. The Great Kiva
9. Healing the Land
10. The Medicine Tipi
11. Spirit Horse Falls
12. The Pyramid of the Magician
13. You are Kukulkan
14. The Mystery of Death and Rebirth
15. The Earth is a Drum
16. The Rainbow Bridge
17. The Feathered Serpent
18. The Snowy Owl
19. Breitenbush Hot Springs
20. Guardian of the Pipe
Appendix A. Taking the Shamanic Journey
Appendix B. Ten Good Reasons to Take a Shamanic Journey
About the Author

The Importance of Corn Deities

First grown in Mexico some 5,000 years ago, corn soon became the most important food crop in North and Central America. Throughout the region, Puebloans, Mayans, Aztecs, and other Indigenous peoples worshiped corn deities and developed a variety of myths about the origin, planting, growing, and harvesting of corn, also known as maize. Secular and ceremonial life centered around the growing cycle of corn. Corn became an archetype planted in our collective unconscious.  
 

In the process of writing my spiritual memoir, Riding Spirit Horse, I discovered a recurring theme. One motif that keeps repeating itself in my shamanic journey and trance experiences is that of corn. On my first shamanic journey into the spirit world in 1988, I met a spirit guide who became my lifelong mentor in the ways of the spirit world. Known as Corn Woman or Corn Mother, she is an important deity archetype in Pueblo mythology. She represents fertility, life and the feminine aspects of this world.
 
The importance of corn deities in Pueblo mythology reflects the importance of corn in the Pueblo diet. Each pueblo performs a ritual Corn Dance to honor Corn Woman and pray for rain, growth and fertility. A drummer and a chorus of chanting men support the lines of colorful dancers who move in a continually changing zigzag pattern. The graceful dancers turn and pause, then turn again, creating a sweep of movement that ripples through the line like a breath of wind through stalks of ripening corn. The dancers make gestures to indicate their requests to Corn Woman: lowering the arms depicts the lowering clouds, moving the arms in a zigzag motion denotes lightning, lowering the palms signifies rain, and lifting the hands symbolizes the growing stalks of corn. It is a dance that evokes the timeless Pueblo way of being.
 
On my first pilgrimage to the Maya pyramids and ceremonial centers of Mexico in 1995, I had a vision of the Maize God, giving me insight into the mystery of death and rebirth. The Maya Maize God is a mythical dying-and-reviving god who was killed by the Lords of the Underworld, brought back to life by his sons, the Hero Twins, and emerged from the Underworld as corn. For horticultural societies like the Mayans and Puebloans, maize is the substance of life. Its growing cycle is a metaphor for the death, burial and rebirth of humans. When the corn seed from the harvest is blessed and interred in the earth, it is as though a dead human is buried. The embryonic seed germinates in the dark, moist earth and begins to grow. The corn plant turns its leaves toward the light of the sun, growing taller and taller. At the end of the season, when the corn cobs are fully ripe, it is as if the dead person surfaces to join the living. Just as darkness gives rise to light, so life grows from death.

"Riding Spirit Horse" Book Release

Happy vernal equinox! I hope you're safe and remaining hopeful despite the horrific world events taking place. It's a head-spinning, anxiety-inducing time. The past two years of the coronavirus pandemic have been filled with unprecedented challenges and uncertainty. Immersing myself in a writing project was my way to cope with a global pandemic that has affected everything and everyone. The isolation and prodigious amount of free time provided fertile ground for writing my life story. So it is with great pleasure that I announce the release of my autobiography, Riding Spirit Horse: A Journey into Shamanism. 

 

In this spiritual memoir, I recount my journey into shamanic practice. It has been a lifelong process--a path that continues to unfold. I am sharing my journey and learnings because many people in today's world are being called by Spirit to become shamans or shamanic practitioners. A yearning exists deep within many of us to reconnect to the natural world. It is a call to a life lived in balance with awareness of Nature, of Spirit and of Self. We live in a culture 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.
 

The narrative of my story moves from my first ecstatic experience as a youth at a church revival to my mystical shamanic awakening in the wilderness, transformational pilgrimages to sacred places, working with indigenous wisdom keepers, to the experiences that prompted my writing, particularly my trance experiences "riding the drum" or Spirit Horse. Studying with Native elders and shamans, I discovered my shamanic gifts as a drummer, storyteller and ceremonialist.
 
A journey into shamanism is a pilgrimage of the soul. My journey has taken me down many spiritual paths. As a youth growing up, I embraced the teachings of Christ; I later studied and practiced the teachings of Taoism and Buddhism, all of which have their roots in shamanic practices from the earliest tribal communities. Shared core principles and truths weave a common thread through all spiritual traditions. This golden thread runs through the lives and the teachings of all the great prophets, seers and sages in the world's history.
 
Ultimately, all contemplative spiritual practice leads to the evolution of conscious awareness and union with the divine in the present moment. The perennial wisdom traditions teach us that the "here and now" is eternal, unchanging and omnipresent; it should be the primary focus of our life. When we are not present in the moment, we become a victim of time. Our mind is pulled into the past or the future or both. The present moment is all we ever have. The eternal now is the fundamental ceremony of life. When we bring ourselves fully into the present moment, our life becomes a spiritual practice and an opportunity to ride in beauty on the windhorse of authentic presence! I invite you to look inside Riding Spirit Horse: A Journey into Shamanism and to view the official book trailer.