Shamanism As Evolutionary Medicine

Shamanism refers to a universal conceptual framework found among indigenous, uncivilized (i.e. politically unstratified), tribal humans. It includes the "belief" that nature (the world) has two aspects, the ordinary world, accessed through ordinary consciousness, and the spiritual world, accessed through an altered state of consciousness, or "trance," induced by shamanic practices such as repetitive drumming, fasting, or herbal drugs. According to shamanic theory, the spiritual and ordinary worlds interact continuously, and a shamanic practitioner can gain knowledge about how to alter or to guide interaction with ordinary reality by taking direct action in the spiritual aspect of the world. Read More

Recognition Rites to Create and Celebrate Elders

Streaming live on the Co-Creator Radio Network (www.co-creatornetwork.com) on Tuesday, February 22, at 11 a.m. Pacific time/2 p.m. Eastern time, on her show "Why Shamanism Now?: A Practical Path to Authenticity," shaman and founder of the Last Mask Center for Shamanic Healing Christina Pratt welcomes shaman Tom Pinkson, Ph.D., to talk about his Recognition Rites Program--a ceremonial rite of passage which honors and celebrates Elderhood. Pinkson explains that the Recognition Rites Program "helps people to create rituals in alignment with their deepest core values, their sense of mission and purpose their highest vision of who they are and why they are here, and how to best use their gift of longevity in their quest for fulfillment in creating and living out a meaningful legacy for future generations." In short, Recognition Rites is a new, old way to create elders and memory keepers who will enrich the fabric of contemporary life.

Last Mask Center for Shamanic Healing

Drum Energies: A Teaching from Joseph Rael

"Drumming opens up three basic vibrations. Drumming awakens the self. Drumming heightens the ability of perception, and drumming enables the person to see into the deeper realms of the self.

Drumming, by its very nature, creates a lifting energy which moves you very quickly to the next level of consciousness. That lifting quality is directly connected to the dynamic tension of energy struggling to achieve its highest potential. The sound that comes out of that awakened potential is the manifestation of new idea or a new form.

Drumming creates in the psyche of those people who listen to the drum, a sense of abundance, a feeling that there is more than enough in life to sustain life. There is the feeling of strength, of being able to step forth with whatever one wants to change, because the power to sustain that change is in the drumming. The drumming sound helps persons listen to themselves as they really are."

Joseph Rael (Beautiful Painted Arrow) is an internationally respected author, artist, visionary and master storyteller of the Ute and Picuris Pueblo Indian traditions. Read More

The Seven Little Sisters

by Jade Wah'oo Grigori

A very powerful method of activating the neutral life-force field into a life-empowering state is through the use of a specific set of seven herbs, burnt as incense. These will vary, depending upon both the relationship the Shaman has with the various little Sisters (Plant Spirits) and the nature of the Blessings to be accomplished. The Seven Little Sisters that I call upon for assistance are:

1. Cedar, for deep cleansing and the dispelling of negativity. 

2. Sweet Grass, to make pleasant a residing place for the Spirits that will be called upon for assistance. 

3. Sandalwood, to call upon the Ancestral Spirits for their oversight, insight and protection.

4. Palo Santo, (or Copal, depending on which I have handy) an incense from the Amazon that both 'makes beautiful' and brings about an empowerment. 

5. Bear Root. This root cures what ails us and reconnects us to the Womb of the Earth Mother. 

6. Grandmother Sage/Spirit Caller (atemisia tridentia, not salvia sage!) to call in the  specific Spirits (frequencies) that we require to aid us in creating the harmonic resonance in our Soul that will enable the manifest expression of our heart's desire. 

7. Tobacco. Grandfather Tobacco carries our prayers to the Loom of Creation, causing the Tapestry of Creation to reweave itself in accordance with those prayers.

Jade Wah'oo Grigori