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Ley
Lines and Vortexes
Part 1 © Cinnamon Moon
Spirit of Place and Sacred Energy...what are they? What has
compelled me for over three decades is an insatiable appetite
to study a wide variety of religion, philosophy, mythology,
and folklore. I have always been fascinated by the fact that
at the core of all these subjects lays a fundamental link to
the greater whole of life--a basic spirituality within nature
and humanity. I have walked a path that led me through institutions
of higher learning, wound its way through libraries and bookstores,
turned down backroads of private instruction, and introduced
me to some wonderfully unique individuals. Extensive travel
has afforded me the opportunity to explore variety within the
context of American cultures. These personal pursuits and practices
have presented an invaluable side of life, and allowed me to
gather knowledge form the deep shadows of time. Often this knowledge
came in bits and pieces with a good many cobwebs that needed
dusting. I have taught others
privately and believe there is a need in society to have this
information available.
We have to admit that life is hectic.
Demands of family, career, and social obligations leave little
time to devote to outside interests or spiritual quests. Such
activity is haphazard and rarely fits into a daily routine.
Schedules do not always allow for attending workshops, or meetings
and services that offer to fulfill those needs. There simply
are no spiritual band aids. There
are, however, paths less cumbersome than others. In my teachings
on working with the elemental forces, I was able to present
a practice that can be implemented whenever and wherever an
individual might happen to be. This body of work (for it will
be presented as a series of chapters) compliments those teachings
with an even greater arena in which to explore. It present the
opportunity to tap into forces that, of old have been called
the Veins of the Dragon. These
are the pathways, portals to Otherworlds, roadways of dimension--the
sacred paths and vortexes that are storehouses of wealth in
that they contain energies we can all share.
Over the centuries an interest in
these pathways has been held by diverse groups such as: sages,
shamans, historians, mythologists, religious leaders, mathematicians,
scientists, and even the simply curious. They have been examined
by experts in a wide variety of fields with nearly as many theories
put forth. Today they retain their mystery and continue to intrigue.
There is a need for a simple approach. We need a working knowledge
of how they can be used, where they can be found, as well as
what can be expected from and experienced through them. This
body of work is designed to prove an easy to follow method of
application. It is one path of enlightenment that offers a great
deal in return for the efforts put forth to explore it. This
path may be taken at your leisure and to any desired depth since
it accommodates beginning and advanced levels of study. It is
easily understood and simple in its philosophy. In my heart
I know it will allow you to walk a path of true enlightenment
in the brightest of blessings.
Earth's Power Provocative information
rarely presents itself with a silent tongue and our inner voice
ever rises to express an opinion. The logical mind debates whether
we are to accept or deny the truth of a matter. In some instances
the inner spirit will raise its voice to stir the intellect
giving passion to the senses.
In the case of the latter a seemingly magical transformation
takes place. Everything around us becomes vibrantly alive, our
perception becomes a revelation, a deeper meaning emerges and
we simply know the answers. It is as if they had emerged from
some silent shadow only slightly beyond our comprehension.
Excitement courses through our veins
and suddenly it takes on a will of its own. We are driven forward
to explore. We feel alive as it arouses us and seduces our minds
to open, to accept new possibilities, new concepts, to progress.
We are then capable of a marvelous spiritual evolutionary growth
and it entices us onward.
Throughout the ages, mystics, sages
and shamans have recognized and used this knowledge, a practice
that continues today. Their eyes are capable of seeing beyond
the mundane, beyond the third dimension, to experience what
many long for--enlightenment. These individuals know the Spirit
of Place and Sacred Energies that serve All Our Relations. It
is my intent to present such provocative information and allow
you to experience the onset of this enlightened knowledge. How
this is accomplished is a fascinating experience. There are
pathways to follow, locations of power, and roadways to walk.
What are they? How do you find them? They surround you. They
permeate the universe and all aspects of your physical and spiritual
realities. Throughout history they have been given many names,
many of them familiar to us today, names such as: Straight Tracks,
Spirit Paths, Dragon Veins, or Ch'i. The names used are simply
attempts to describe a mystery--the land markings, sacred locations,
and energies that web the world.
Many have sought them, some have
found them, and some are able to see them visibly appear. In
the end, what they are describing are simply lines and concentrations
of energy that can be tapped. In today's New Age vernacular
they are commonly called Ley Lines. They appear in a variety
of forms creating intricate patterns and intersecting in locations
that frequently report evidence of strange phenomena. such events
have given birth to myths, legends, and oral traditions throughout
the world.
Many have heard of the Leys that
run between Stonehenge, Avebury, Salisbury, and other megalithic
sites in Britain. These are famous sites that are well known;
but, they are not the only ones. Many such locations exist right
here in the United States and throughout the world. Ley Lines
cover the world in a rich vibrant tapestry, a tapestry woven
through the centuries and as ancient as Earth itself. The mystery
is just beginning to unravel. We know, for instance, that many
animals, birds, and even nomadic tribes follow them during their
migrations. We know that cultural aspects are intimately connected
to the natural currents that flow. In many cases specific locations
experience tides of increased activity responding to seasonal,
celestial, and even hourly changes. Other locations consistently
remain active displaying either positive or negative effects.
In all cases, each location provides its own experience.
The Ley Lines and sacred sites have
been the focus of pilgrimages from all walks of faith and for
a wide variety of reasons. Every country upon this planet has
its own Ley Lines, Spirit Paths, and sacred locations that hold
stronger concentrations of energy--whirlpools or vortexes of
power. Shrines, temples, cathedrals, standing stones, even simple
altars form the markings. Locals often use groupings of trees,
runes, land sculpture, effigies, or even simple white stones
to identify the sites. The Ley Lines are interconnected with
the environment and just as often they are marked by
the land itself in natural formations or unusual manifestations.
Each juxtaposition is unique in some specific manner.
Those who work with them are committed
on a wide variety of levels attuning to their nature physically
as well as spiritually. Leys frequently traverse the land along
waterways that run underground. Since water is a conductor of
energy, it aids in the flow of these energies. We have all been
touched by them but most people are simply unaware of it. Those
who become involved with these energy flows and systems do so
by consciously serving not only personal needs, but the greater
world community as well.
Not everyone finds they have been
called to the isolation and responsibility of a shamanic path.
We are, however, all summoned at one time or another to quest
spiritually and seek our answers. Responding to that call is
up to each individual to answer and such quests lead along diverse
pathways during the course of one's life--each with its own
unique purpose to discover. These energies are not the property
or domain of any one individual, religion, science, or nation.
They are of the Earth and belong to the world in all its aspects.
They are of the universe itself, of Spirit, of Great Mystery.
They must be honored, respected, and tended.
Sadly this has not always been the
case; through ignorance, war, natural catastrophe, or the blindness
of progressing developmental growth many locations have known
desecration and destruction. It has fallen to us all to preserve
those that remain. There is a large body of evidence from prehistory
that shows both religion and science have held an interest in
the Sacred Energy of Earth. This interest helped in the development
of a field of study known as Geomancy.
Geomancy encompasses the geological,
astrological, anthropological, and spiritual aspects of the
Leys. Through the work of geomancers there is a wealth of information
and mapped locations that are readily available to today's students.
There is also a natural result that comes from linking sacred
sites around the world. Through the linkage we are able to see
that the energy from one site is attracted to that of another.
There is indeed a web of invisible energies that span our entire
planet and beyond. The Web of Life that has been taught for
uncounted generations of indigenous people here in America is
now proven.
The Earth is a magnetic entity in
itself with its known poles and magnetic forces. Filled with
ores, crystals, and minerals as well as its naturally conducting
elemental forces of Air, Fire, Water, and Earth, it provides
its own transmitters. Through the spiritual teachings of the
world, as well as the body of evidence in myth, lore, and legend,
these forces have become known to us. These truths have been
known to the mystics and shamanic leaders of history. They are
actively taught today in shamanic circles, by Native American
Medicine Men and Women, and through the New Age Movement that
is rapidly growing.
It is from these sources, as well
as first-hand experience, that I have drawn my information.
Any scientific proof or explanation beyond this must fall into
other hands than mine. I am concerned only with shamanic practices,
lines of energy, and vortexes themselves. This same concern
is focused around the practical utilization of them for purposes
of spiritual growth and development. I find that the study and
experience lead to desirable changes in life, the rediscovery
of ancient knowledge, great wisdoms, healings, and much more.
From antiquity America has been strongly
influenced by Native American cultural and shamanic traditions.
A study of the energy lines in the United States must then come
primarily through the eyes of these Native American teachings,
or through the eyes of the shaman. Through their own first-hand
knowledge of these energies, and coupled with their uses, it
is soon discovered that what they are is not nearly as important
as how they can be tapped. Because of this fact you are able
to virtually experience them for yourself today.
The spiritual leaders of many tribal
nations have located numerous sites. Utilizing the vortexes
where this natural Sacred Energy enhances spiritual work and
healing ceremonies they have created a way that others may follow.
Marvelous mounds, land sculptures, effigies, roadways, and many
sacred dwellings serve as monuments. These are often awe-inspiring
feats of ingenuous labor that allow others the ability to tap
the knowledge of these indigenous peoples and utilize the gifts
of their heritage. They also allow us to understand that in
the taking there is also a giving back. Throughout this series
you will discover 1) where these locations may be found, 2)
what it is like to feel this energy for yourself, 3) how to
experience altered states of consciousness communicating with
the Spirit of Place, and 4) the freedom to work at a level conducive
to your own personal needs.
An individual who is not spiritually
inclined might walk an energy line, or enter a vortex site and
feel only the experience of nature's beauty. Still, consciously
or unconsciously, each of us is affected to some degree. The
fact would more likely be that these individuals were simply
approaching the situation with a closed mind. It is true that
everyone will react differently at these locations, but on some
level we are all touched. It has frequently been reported that
many experience phenomena having had no intention of seeking
such encounters. These reports lend themselves to further proof
of the spirituality of such locations, and the power of the
Sacred Energy itself. it is up to you to choose to acknowledge
these forces and to work to increase your abilities.
On a spiritual level this energy
permeates all dimensions of the universe and allows those dimensions
to be accessed. There are realms with ancient doorways and there
will always be those who are inclined to pass through as well
as those who do so quite by accident. Sacred sites and energy
lines provide those entrances.
In his series of books on shamanic
apprenticeship, Carlos Castaneda wrote of pathways and methods
of achieving altered states of consciousness. In an intensely
analytical approach, he expresses many of the Amerindian shamanic
views. What stood out for me was his continuous focus on locations,
luminous lines, and dimensions of Otherworlds; of the Spirit
of Place, and allies or co-walkers. I am certain that his experiences
are consistent with those that occur at sacred sites, along
the Spirit Paths, and in walking the lines of Sacred Energy.
The dimensions weave in and out
of one another and the Ley Lines evidence this in the physical
world. It does not matter how they are comprised as much as
how we as individuals are affected by their existence and our
use of them. It remains that they can be viewed through altered
states of consciousness; and in heightened states of spiritual
awareness we are able to utilize them. The shamanic approach
presents a very direct pathway to this end. It allows room for
experience without infringing
on the religious beliefs you may or may not hold.
Visitors to such sites tend to be
drawn to the better known and more accessible locations. It
is not unusual to arrive and find others in various stages of
meditation or ceremony, or that scientific studies are taking
place. Invariably this becomes more pronounced at the solstices
and equinoxes for the obvious reasons of the energies being
heightened at such times. If you pan to travel to a sacred site
keep this in mind, however, it should not give you pause to
rethink your plans. Go when you feel you should go. Your spiritual
nature is directing you and you should certainly answer its
call. If, when you arrive, the site is occupied simply respect
that fact and go about your business in as unobtrusive a manner
as possible. The sites are not restrictive and it does not matter
that others are present.
If you find the situation is not
conducive to your purpose you can wait it out or you may wish
to find another location nearby. The vortex energy often covers
a wide ranging area of up to a mile or more and a sacred site
is generally at its center. Frequently there will be several
sites within less than ten or twenty miles of each other. Many
minor locations exist that should not be discounted. Often individuals
stumble across a site that appears to activate upon their arrival.
Such places might be within the boundaries of vast reservoirs
of natural energies. So whether you find yourself in the company
of others or all alone, learn to honor the site and work with
it.
Sedona, Arizona is a good example
of just such a reservoir of concentrated power and will be discussed
in depth later. Other locations might be found in great forested
regions, isolated groves, mountain lakes, natural springs, or
simple places. Such locations have been known to regularly present
themselves to those who are actively seeking spiritual attunement,
healing, or enlightenment. It is always advisable to visit a
tourist information station in the state you wish to explore.
These offices are frequently able to provide vortex maps of
areas within their respective state, though it is at times necessary
to request them under the title of Native American sacred sites
if they do not know what a vortex is. I have found that the
Southwestern states tend to be better informed in these areas.
With this in mind, my focus here
will be on the history, locations, and what can be expected
when these sites are visited. Many are curious about what the
experiences are like and what can be done to enhance those events.
I have studied many techniques and found that some work better
than others. The experience is generally dependent upon your
own nature and the ability of skill that is brought to the moment
at hand. Anyone seeking growth can achieve their goal.
I believe very strongly that the
consciousness of humanity is being called to awaken...the universe
calls with a loud voice as we bridge the millennial gap, and
what awaits is but a breath away. It is awakening in us the
need for a conscious approach in living harmoniously within
our social, natural, and global environments. Sacred Energy
lines and the vortexes that accompany them contain the energies
that form a union that has great power and potential. Nothing
happens without reason, and globally we are becoming increasingly
aware of this fact. You need to guide yourself, and the energy
lines are one path among many others that will aid you in accomplishing
your goals be they individual, cultural, environmental, or spiritual.
There is an old Native American
prophecy that speaks of a time when there will be an awakening
of the people of the world.
It speaks of an awareness that will come over the people when
Mother Earth is in need of healing. The prophecy tells that
the mysteries will be made known to people of all races. The
time is now. No longer can humanity be simply the passive bystander
it has been. In the process of healing Mother Earth, humanity
will also be healed of its ills. The races of the Red, Yellow,
Black and White Peoples of the world are the spokes of the Wheel
of Life, of the Medicine Wheel, of the Sacred Hoop...they are
humanity.
The locations of energy lines and
vortexes throughout the United States are such that you should
be able to visit any number of them. Even in the most restrictive
case, a single location would be within reason to visit at least
once. When a site has been visited physically it can be re-visited
spiritually again and again. Before visiting there are certain
issues that must be raised. A history of the site is necessary
to understand what you can expect from the location. Knowledge
of how to achieve an altered state of consciousness is required
and crucial to your success. The outcome of any experience in
a specific location must be carefully planned out and sought.
In the pages that follow, these and other issues will be covered
to aid you in a manner that is conducive to the most positive
experience possible. The effort required is not that demanding
and will be well worth whatever time it takes to experience
such a transformative event in your life. It is something that
falls short when the experience is not first-hand. I recommend
that an attempt be made to gift yourself with a well-prepared
visit to a vortex site or walk along a Sacred Energy line.
You deserve to know the wonder of
it, to grow beyond your dreams, and to touch the face of enlightenment.
It is the energy lines that lead to just such places. It is
in these places, the vortexes, that the energies of Earth are
gathered and can be used or experienced. It is the Ley Lines
that conduct those energies from one site to the next, and it
is up to you to come to know them in the best possible ways.
I invite you to walk with me and share what I have learned as
a Medicine Woman about the Spirit of Place and Sacred Energy.
Let me introduce you to some very powerful methods of spiritual
work leading to evolution and enlightenment. My ways need not
be your own, but they certainly lend themselves to any path
you might choose to walk complimenting the teachings you hold
and seek. Come, take my arm and we will explore them together.
Ley Lines and Vortexes
Part Two © Cinnamon Moon
The power that flows through the
universe, that lights the heavens and permeates all of life,
reaches through the dimensions of time as well. From the infinite
vastness of space it interconnects with all that exists. This
perpetual force charges our atmosphere with its great energies,
satiating the very air we breathe, penetrating the land, and
permeating deep into the core of Mother Earth. It comprises
the basic elemental forces of nature, coursing throughout the
land in an intricate web, a network of energy reaching out from
the shadows of time.
It does not matter if they are simple
stones or vast cathedrals, the lines of energy have inspired
the placement of structures to mark the key points of intersection.
In the building of temples, shrines, and churches we often find
that there is a pattern of the Sacred Energy lines that exists
within the structure itself.
The scale is literally a miniature of the outer forms even within
the designs of cities, states, or simple stone circles. In Europe,
Asia, Egypt, America, and the world over, there are found what
is commonly called sacred landscapes. These are areas where
the land itself forms aerial designs of temples, animals, and
humanity. This can be taken down to a specific location or enlarged
to encompass the entire planet. Geomancers have found that there
are direct correlations between locations around the world.
Some are seen as containing chakra systems and within them would
be found numerous lines of energy that converge on the chakral
points. These sites activate by the contact they have with seasons,
tides, celestial phases, and human functions within their respective
ranges.
An interesting view of Sacred Energy
can be found in the art of Feng Shui. This is a form of geomancy
developed by the Chinese thousands of years ago. The name literally
means "wind and water". It is a form of science in
which the geomancer first looks for the form of the dragon in
the landscape and then for where it meets with the tiger to
cross its path. Using a special compass, complex calculations
are made to find an ideal location. There are five main forces
of energy and five elements that must blend harmoniously in
this science. Ch'i is the life force, and it is key to success
when locating a perfect site in which to build homes, businesses,
hospitals, schools or temples.
In order for Ch'i energy to be ideal
it must harmonize at the compass points within a circle that
contains each of the five elements. The combined forces of Yin
and Yang energy create the balance within Ch'i. When this does
not happen, Ch'i becomes Sha, an unmoving force which translated
means "noxious breath". Here the air becomes stagnant
bringing ill health and bad luck. Ch'i energy rushes fiercely
in mountainous areas, while on flat land it becomes Sha where
it is sluggish or even immobile. Straight lines and sharp curves
serve to direct Sha to a site, to destroy Ch'i, or make it attack.
It should always be deflected either naturally or by some physical
means of construction or landscaping, so it will slow to a harmonious
pace. The effect that is sought is that of a gentle wind flowing
with a meandering stream. It needs to circulate and lines or
angles hamper and prevent this.
The principle cosmic forces of the
White Tiger (Yin energy) and the Blue Dragon (Yang energy) should
flow harmoniously. The passive forces of Yin, when strong, attract
the volatile aggressive forces of Yang and will draw down lightning
from the sky in locations where they are most intense. This
is also a common theme found at vortex sites here in America
and spoken of in Amerindian lore. According to Chinese geomancers
the White Tiger can be found lounging in the planes, foothills,
and flatlands, while the Blue Dragon inhabits the rough mountains,
high peaks, and sharp ridges. The locations the Chinese name
for the Blue Dragon directly correlates to the fact that Earth
energy does follow ridge lines and is often most dramatic on
high peaks and plateaus. Perhaps this is one of the reasons
that mystics have long sought the solitude of mountain tops.
To the Chinese, the Blue Dragon tells them where Ch'i is collected
or released. The Dragon Veins are lines of attraction.
Throughout the world dragons have
been the symbols of magical energies, of keepers of mysterious
secrets. The dragon has the ability to function on the ground
as well as in the sky and thus of two worlds. The Veins of the
Dragon show where the serpent lies, where its mysteries lie,
where can be found gems, minerals, and treasures of wealth.
To disturb its lair is to disturb the Earth
and wreak its rage. This may come from myth, but it has a truth
to it. Physically we have disrupted with mining and extractions,
with bombs and explosive work. Spiritually, then, we have disrupted
the Ley energy. That is why many of the dragons of the world
slumber in sacred sites that are forbidden to be disturbed lest
their fiery breath be awakened. Still, in their slumber and
at these sacred sites they are willing to share their wisdoms
with the spiritual paths of those who know how to communicate
with them. It is the goal of the geomancer to locate the dragons,
and to speak of the Veins of the Dragon is to speak of Feng
Shui.
The element of Water in Feng Shui
is an important one. it carries energy to and from an area and
therefore its flow or stagnancy will have an effect of Yin and
Yang upon the location. Often the energy lines follow underground
waterways and divination must be done to discover where they
flow steadily or pool and gather. Water can create caverns,
sinkholes, and underground rivers and lakes, giving the presence
of Yin on the surface land. This fact is also known to the Native
Americans of the Southwest, though they speak of it a little
differently. Yin and Yang, Sha and Ch'i, and Lung Mei (Dragon
Viens) are the five forces of Feng Shui. These forces are interdependent
upon one and other in creating locations of harmony and positive
energy forces that are eagerly sought for future health and
prosperity.
Worldwide, geomancy is the art of
divination. Geomancers seek to locate the Spirit within the
Earth. This art encompasses the geography of the land, the history
of a site, as well as Otherworld dimensions of sacred locations.
It can take into account the weather, vegetation, elements of
topography, geophysical nature, underground waterways, and electromagnetic
fields. its focus is the positive and negative energies that
belong to the historical aspects of a site. The mythological,
religious, cultural, and legendary lore that surround such places
are the intricate pieces to the puzzle. All these aspects have
left imprints upon the land that speak to the geomancer and
in this respect introduce the face of what the shaman calls
the Spirit of Place distinct to each location.
In Europe sacred sites and Ley Lines
have been a subject of focus for centuries. They are connected
to Druidism, Witchcraft, Sorcery, and magic, as well as standard
religious beliefs that existed prior to Christianity. References
are made to these issues as well as in connection to Faerie
lore that is inseparable from them in the Celtic countries.
Legends and folktales refer to phenomena associated with lines
and sites.
During the 1920's in Britain, Alfred
Watkins experienced an incidence in which he had an altered
state of consciousness. At that time he visualized lines of
energy that crisscrossed the land and Otherworld dimensions.
The lines, he discovered, ran in a true alignment with ancient
sites in the likes of Stonehenge, Glastonbury (Arthur's Avalon),
and Salisbury among many others. What Watkins had discovered
was by no means new to the world. It was simply a mystical experience
for someone who prior to this had not perceived in such a way.
It simply happened to him.
Watkins was deeply impressed by
what he had witnessed, but he was a man of high repute. How,
he wondered, could he tell others of his experience without
becoming a laughing stock of the community? He decided to go
public with his findings by writing a book entitled: The Old
Straight Track. Here he proposed in theory through the book,
keeping the initial incident and the facts surrounding it closeted
for private conversations only. His writing presented the fact
that by laying a ruler across a survey map it served to connect
one site to another. He further espoused that these sites were
then linked by these lines in a network of energies that the
scientific world should investigate in greater depth. In this
way he avoided the issue of experiencing an altered state of
consciousness. The lines revealed these "straight tracks",
burial mounds, Spirit Paths, shrines, and pagan sites. He suggested
they indicated lines of measurable energy in this more 'rational'
approach.
This body of work created quite
a stir. Archaeologists and anthropologists took a sometimes
scoffing new interest in what Watkins had to say. They focused
on his mention that clues existed in ancient namings: references
to pagan gods, animals, and historical events. These areas opened
new locations to explore. Geomancy was reborn and the social
culture had a new and exciting interest to follow. A resurgence
of pagan lore was to arise with these studies since the two
were so closely related. Social views grew as he coined the
phrase "Ley Lines". From this auspicious beginning
the Ley Hunter Magazine later developed gaining favor in both
Europe and America.
Today there is much information available
on European sites, the mysteries that prevail around them, and
theories of numerous writers. In America we have a banquet of
our own. Here, too, there are mysteries, lost lore, legends,
and phenomena. Religious practices of a wide variety of Native
American Peoples have steeped the land with a wealth of sacred
spirituality. They blend deeply, as did other world cultures,
with the Spirit Paths, Ley Lines, and sacred sites of the lands
they call home. New Age spirituality has noticed what America
has kept in hiding and this wisdom cannot be separated from
the Amerindian culture that did and continues to hold it as
sacred. Stepping out from the shadows of time come these great
wisdoms and the honor of holding them in the light. It is as
if ancient figures were demanding to be noticed...perhaps messengers
of what the world is lacking today.
It is true that the names given
to specific locations are often clues to a sacred site or area.
Native American shamans used names and legends as indicators
of doorways to the realms of Spirit. Often the name identifies
the spirit energy that resides there, be it law, cosmic, healing,
burial, or spiritual. In some instances the Indian names have
been taken over by new names of the white settlers that moved
into an area. In this case a little research is called for to
discover what a place used to be called. Rites performed and
events that have taken place show through as residual imprints
from thoughts and actions over the years. These imprints contained
in specific locations are invested within the land itself. The
Spirit of Place becomes an entity or presence than can be felt;
quite often it is one to be reckoned with in one way or another.
Frequently they taken on an existence independent from the land,
yet, hold a tie to it as a favored local or retreat or noted
birthplace. The locations of temples, shrines, and sacred sites
create an elemental signature upon the land. Humanity, in its
attempts to settle into areas, begins altering the landscape,
building structures, cultivating fields and forests, diverting
the waterways, building roads, and otherwise cutting into the
landscape. Even utilizations of mountains, caves, hot springs,
rivers, and hilltops can dramatically alter the nature of an
area in its ecological,, climatic, and visual aspects. This
is seen in the changing face of the land and the shaman is well
aware of the ensuing changes in the Spirit of that Land as well.
In the successive retelling of lore
attributed to the Spirit of Place, a gradual growth in power
occurs allowing it to take form in the spiritual dimension as
well as in the physical world...it has become
a part of the universe. That which has taken place is felt by
the land, it virtually remembers, and in states of altered consciousness
those sensitive enough to it may in reality witness these historical
moments. Reports of such events frequently follow the lore that
surrounds Ley locations. I have had some unusual experiences
myself and will be discussing them later where they apply.
You may be asking yourself: where
can such a sacred site be found? Your curiosity may be aroused
and later I will be discussing known locations in the United
States with references to others in comparison. For now, if
you are interested in discovering some on your own, it will
be found that maps provide wonderful clues in this location
process. Begin at a noted point to determine the size of the
area you wish to investigate. Begin drawing lines from one location
to another. Frequently you will discover that a pentagram or
five-pointed star begins to take shape within your boundary
lines. Along the lines between these locations you may find
there are several sacred sites that begin to reveal themselves.
This technique will allow you to locate lesser sites in your
local area. Our degrees of longitude and latitude are known
to correlate with the heavens and we mark them as a minute of
time for each degree. In this we find that the land temples
and sacred sites have a direct relationship to the universe
itself. These markings are often found to depict land temples
and the forms of spirituality, humanity, and animal natures
that they take on in their geographic formations. It can be
seen quite easily in the pyramids of Egypt, the sacred sites
of Europe, and even here in the Native American sites.
This process is explained by mathematicians
in numbers and great complex matrixes or formulas. The truth
is that it is simply a part of nature. I need not go into the
mathematics of it here. If you are interested in an extremely
well explained mathematical view I suggest reading: Sedona:
Sacred Earth by Nicholas R. Mann for an in depth explanation.
My purpose here is to stay to the point, and the circle begins
the process. It is found by looking at a survey map of the area
you wish to work in and finding outstanding points within the
landscape. Once this is done on a North, South, East, and West
axis, the points of longitude and latitude will draw your circle
for you. Generally there will be five to six points that will
stand out as the areas on which you need to focus. Lines drawn
between them will then form your pentagram and you will have
your Ley Lines. It is a simple process, and one you can complicate
if you choose. I prefer to get down to business and take you
to your destination--the Sacred Energy Lines. Let me show you
how to find them and how to proceed working with them. One last
note, if you take this process to a known site it will most
definitely show you other locations in that vicinity.
From deep within the shadows of
time have come great mysteries and secrets that unfold at sacred
sites. The experience can be life-changing, spiritually enlightening,
and physically healing. It can satisfy curious minds and add
lore to historical facts. There is much to be gleaned by everyone.
The next step in the process is to look at the shamanic tradition
in respect to the philosophy and workings that interconnect
the Leys to our physical and spiritual lives. We will be stepping
in and out of these shadows in that endeavor, emerging into
the present to begin individual experiences. This will aid in
instilling new (and old) conceptions of reality that will feed
the provocative conclusions that are inevitably to be drawn
by you and your own experiences. You may sleep in the shade,
but you will dream in the shadow of what is...seek then the
shadows of time.
Ley Lines and Vortexes
Part Three © Cinnamon Moon
The shamanic view of the world is
an enlightened one in which all is seen as a blended whole of
Spirit or the Creator. There are veiled borderlines, but all
dimensions are able to be known if one has the knowledge and
wisdom to cross them. The shaman does not separate the physical
from the spiritual but walks a path that is between the two,
centered and blending both religion and lifestyle. Shamanism
is a way of life. A sacred space between the dimensions takes
place as a center point of focus wherever the shaman may happen
to be.
Surrounded by the four elemental
forces the shaman stands at the center. Above is the world of
Spirit and the Star People. Below is the world of the Ancestors.
The Middle World is that of material and physical reality...the
shaman stands at the center. In ritual and ceremony the Medicine
Wheel is seen as the Sacred Hoop, a spiritual arena where the
elements and Otherworlds join to slip the boundaries of time
and space, to unite as one. Think about this if you are fortunate
enough to see a Sacred Hoop Dance. Ever attuned to the energies
of the universe, mediating between the worlds to heal, to foresee,
to know great mysteries, the shaman stands at the center.
Shamanic centering is a path that
is not easily walked for it places great demands upon the individual,
and it is really necessary to understand the ways of the shaman
so knowledge of the Native American philosophy can be grasped.
Tribes turn to the shaman as a spiritual leader, as a healer,
as a problem solver. The shaman is a very necessary asset to
their daily lives. To the Medicine means magic--not the magic
of the stage magician, but the honest spiritual wisdom of one
who knows the mysteries of life. The shaman knows how to mediate
between the will of Spirit and the people; knows when the tribe
is favored by good hunting and where to look; knows to warn
of bad weather or catastrophic forces that would call for precautions;
knows the secrets of plants that will heal wounds and cure illnesses;
knows the lore and prophecy; knows the spiritual guidance that
is required in daily life. This is the Medicine. This is the
magic.
When this country was being settled
by those immigrating from Europe shamanism became closely tied
to the witchcraft they knew in their homeland. The settlers,
in an effort to translate the practices of these indigenous
peoples, frequently referred to them as witch-doctors. It was
common knowledge that the Witches of Europe were linked to the
ancient sacred sites, that they were practitioners of an ancient
religion dedicating themselves to worship the duality of God/dess
in nature, the duality of the whole.
Witches were known for acknowledging
the elemental forces in nature and worked with their respective
energies. They were known as village wise women whom the people
turned to in healing and resolving personal problems. Both the
witch and the shaman were said to traverse the bridges of Otherworlds.
They celebrated the seasonal changes of equinox and solstice
in stone circles. it was a logical assumption for the newcomers
at that time to link the two.
In Europe the term "witch"
was rooted in the word "Wicca", meaning "wise".
In America the terms "shaman" holds the connotation
"to know". In the past witches were traditionally
women, except for the Scottish
warlock, and shamans were men. Today they are all a mixture
of both. In each case they are focused upon the universal forces
in nature and life. It is these forces, or utilization of the
Powers That Be, which they wield in serving the needs of the
people.
Other associations existed between
the shaman and practitioners of occult magical arts. Sages and
wise men were frequently known as sorcerers whose focus was
mainly the practice of magic for its own sake. Today in places
like South America and Mexico the shaman is considered a sorcerer,
but unlike those of European heritage, the shamanic practice
is indeed a holy one in service to the people.
There were ceremonial magicians
that developed out of the Christian faith in Europe. These practitioners
summoned entities such as angels or demons and attempted to
command their powers. They generally worked in secrecy for fear
of persecution.. Often the priests of the Church were magicians,
druids, or witches in secret and kept their beliefs and practices
closeted. The settlers who came to America were well aware of
these practices in their homelands and saw the shaman as having
a kinship to such beliefs. As in any case, positive or negative
practices can and do occur, but it is in the majority that these
practitioners have served the greater good of their people.
Be they village wise woman, tribal shaman, mystic, or priest,
there are good individuals and those who are sadly misled by
their own blindness.
Negative workings will ever bring
negative effects upon the practitioner. Eventually they will
discover that they have taken the wrong path. Negative practices
can be seen in Satanic cults that are the focus of much attention
today. These cults have grown out of anarchy within the boundaries
of the Christian faith. Satanism has developed and uses the
transverse effects of perverted Christian rituals as a selfish
means of attaining power. They have nothing to do with the wisdom
of the shaman. Magic is simply a term like any other. It exists
in the minds of those who do not comprehend the forces of Spirit.
To the common person shamanic acts
are a mystery, a fearsome power that is avoided by scoffing
to keep it distant. To the shaman it is simply a body of knowledge
intimately linked to the forces of nature that they have learned
to use, bending them to serve the greater needs of everyone.
The Native American peoples understand
the services of their shaman. The isolation that is often so
necessary is not condemned but instead is highly respected.
To them the shaman is a holy person who walks in the light of
Spirit. the services of magic or Medicine are seen as aspects
of daily life. The shaman simply holds secret knowledge and
great wisdoms that have been well-earned...a reality that belongs
to them...knowing the unknown. At will, the shaman is able to
alter states of consciousness, to walk between and into Otherworlds.
They use their knowledge and religious or spiritual understanding
in guiding their people.
To the shaman the universe is connected
in all aspects. Visible in nature, its energy patterns are able
to be used in bending the nature of these elements into service.
It is ever an issue that these actions are to be done only of
the strictest necessity since to alter the course of an event
is to alter the pattern of life and must be carefully considered.
The shaman is a spiritual guide, a healer, a religious leader,
a psychologist, and a very wise individual.
In Europe it was often said that
witches met at crossroads, and I suspect that these were similar
to the sacred sites of the shaman, places where the Sacred Energy
lines crossed. The Gypsies would return over and over to encampments
to gather and dance and these sites would likely have been in
Ley Centers. The Druids frequently used these natural centers
as well and found that they generally provided a panoramic view
of the surrounding landscape and its markings. It was quite
common for beacon fires to be lit on surrounding hills giving
the assurance that they were well guarded. The same applies
to the Native American practices of sending smoke signals either
for ritual purposes, as check points, or for communications
between the tribes.
As a child I was raised under the
guidance of a Bohemian Gypsy, I have studied the Old Religion
or teachings of Witchcraft, as well as the Native American practices
of shamanism. The teachings I am familiar with are those of
the Plains Indians (the Cheyenne, Crow, and Sioux) as well as
the Cherokee and Delaware. In all my personal studies I have
found that spirituality, religion, and lifestyle are consciously
one. A concept of separation does not exist despite the varieties
of belief systems. They all have the same basic truths and fundamentals.
It was present in the church-state of medieval Britain, in the
paganism of the Celtic countries, in the practices of Feng Shui
in China, and in the reign of sacred kings in Egypt. Shamanic
practitioners in Africa, Canada, Australia, Peru, Hawaii, and
the continental United States, Alaska, India, Asia, and countless
other places the world over did and continue to practice these
beliefs. The civilized world moves into progress almost oblivious
to their spirituality save for the ritual attendance of weekly
worship sessions. The government has taken prayer out of the
schools. To the shaman, it is a moment by moment, day by day
practice that cannot be regulated by another individual or governing
body.
The concept of being centered is
not exclusive to shamanism. Europe and Greece exhibited it in
their navel stones and altars; churches, temples, and shrines
have their naval sanctuaries. All forms of worship contain a
theoretical center. It is used as a focal point and often a
door to other dimensions. The circle of the Medicine Wheel is
thus the magical entrance. It is where the past, present, and
future combine. Conventional time as we know it is outside,
beyond the circle. It is here that the spiritual self and physical
self are able to link to the moment at hand through a state
of trance.
Shamanic arts include the ability
to project the mind or the spirit body. This projection of one
or the other can be into Otherworlds, over vast distances (commonly
called far/remote viewing or clairvoyance) to observe events,
to meet with ancestors, spiritual entities, and in some cases
to meet with other shaman. These Medicine Men and Women are
marked by their ability to control their altered states, coming
and going at will. This is a skill that comes from much practice.
Though tribal members and people the world over may generally
have such experiences, they do so at best only a few times and
in most cases only once or twice in their lives. The shaman,
on the other hand, experiences them on a regular basis.
There are entire tribes known to
have various levels of shamanic skills throughout their societies,
but this is more rare than common. Individuals are frequently
born to their calling; some event in childhood or early years
generally sets them apart from others. These individuals may
have abilities at an early age or a serious illness that seems
to be an onset to latent talents. Many can see
spirits, some have dimensional glimpses, some simply know things,
and others have been found to combine many of these and other
traits. There are definite signs that would draw attention to
them as being of the shamanic world. The call to shamanism comes
from Spirit and is so strong that it cannot be ignored. A choice
is always given,, and ultimately it is up to the individual
to accept or deny the path. There are many who would like to
be a shaman, but there are few who are truly called.
Becoming a shaman is not a simple
event. Training can begin at an early age and is always a process
that continues for many years. When this training is complete
the shaman emerges as a walker between the worlds with allies
or co-walkers that serve as guides throughout life. Just as
often, the shaman is self-taught gleaning lessons from personal
experiences as well as by trial and error. Much of the training
comes from their travels into the Otherworlds of Spirit where
they meet with teachers and guides. Their abilities to communicate
with Spirit become honed and they are then able to have an endless
supply of knowledge and answers. This skill is not taken lightly,
but founded upon great reverence for the work to be done and
the gifts that are received.
One thing that all shamans have
in common is the intense initiatory process. It is very often
dangerous and life threatening, for the shaman must experience
death and survive to know the worlds that are to be walked.
It can be a symbolic death in that it may be onset by trance
states, but the experience will come.. The initiation may be
given by other shaman or it can be given by Spirit. In either
case it is a powerful and life transforming event inevitably
brought about by the will of Spirit. The prospective shaman
can rest assured that a test will present itself. In some cases
the initiatory process will be a multiple one. Through surviving
these trials the shaman is granted gifts and gains the skills
necessary to rise to the occasion of assuming the role throughout
the remainder of that individual's life.
Native Americans continue to follow
their beliefs of the land and its Spirit of Place with a mystical
reverence and as a way of life. Their religion is experiencing
new growth among today's tribal members and even those outside
the Indian culture. Tribal Elders are speaking and sharing their
wisdoms and memories of the Old Ways. We owe them a debt of
gratitude for refusing to let go of their heritage and maintaining
a willingness to share with others. If only more nations the
world over would show such caring and respect, our pathways
to peace and healing would be greatly expedited.
Native Americans come from all walks
of life, but they have maintained their culture within this
diversification. They have an innate spiritual strength that
rises to the occasion and rejoins them in a new cycle, on in
which they are again able to walk in pride and lead in wisdom.
No longer restricted to the confines of the reservations, they
have emerged into the world at large and they have a message
if we will but listen. They are the nations and tribes of peoples
who have shown by example how we can gather together in respect
and dwell among one and other in peace. I have learned much
from their ways and will be ever thankful for that wisdom...We
Are All One.
Throughout history the shaman often
became the priest and eventually a chieftain or king. As kings
and chiefs they were considered divine and bonded to the land
in a form of matrimony--much as a priest is wed to the Church,
the land being viewed as a living spiritual entity...the bride,
Mother Earth. In Celtic countries the land was seen as the Goddess
and the King and land were one. In the making of a king, the
people viewed the tie as absolute. If the king was good the
land would prosper, if he became ill the land withered...this
was a direct reflection of their own prosperity and they held
a close eye on the matter. In the case of an ill-met king, his
fate would be to be sacrificed for the greater good of all.
The Goddess of the land, Mother
Earth, could be seen. Hills and mountains formed her breasts,
caves became her womb, jagged rocks showed her face, and the
vegetation became her gown. The land was alive and the making
of a king or queen was a high ritual process. A sacred stone
was often carved with footprints where the chieftain, king,
or queen stood symbolically upon them as a sign of the bond
with the Earth. Today in Westminster Abbey there is a secret
compartment within the throne. Hidden in this chamber is the
Stone of Scone said to have been seized during war from the
Celtic enemies of Britain. It could just as well be that Kensington
Palace could have stood for "King Stone Palace"; there
is often just such a twist to names.
It is interesting to look at the
root of the word "ruler". It can be defined as a method
of measure, to serve in law, or as a straight line. This same
straight line can be seen in the Spirit Paths and Ley Lines,
in ceremonial processions, in pilgrimages, and ritual walking
such as was common worldwide. It ties to the rulership of the
land. All are links to Sacred Energy lines and shamanic traditions.
Tales of shamanic kings, queens and chieftains date back well
over six thousand years. Often these rulers were seen as having
divine healing abilities and to simply kiss the hand of such
an individual was to be granted such a blessing.
Native Americans see that spirituality
is a combination of energies permeating one and other within
the realm of the universe and Otherworlds. This permeation extends
to all living things, plants, animals, mountains, oceans, all
that encompasses life. To them we are all related and every
aspect of life is held as sacred. The Spirit of the Wind is
the Breath of Life that blows from East to West. The Sacred
Pipe raises its smoke making what is normally unseen to be seen.
It symbolizes this combination of Spirit energy and dimension.
The shaman sees with soft eyes into the Spirit World and sees
with hard eyes into the physical realm. What is unseen does
not mean non-existent. Their world is composed of these vibratory
energies. The shaman has learned to soften the sight, to let
go of the constraints of the physical world and become transparent,
removing personal barriers to stand at the center.
A shamanic world is one that is
constantly in motion with the energies or powers of Medicine...the
magic of the shaman. Such wisdom is ever seeking to attune to
the energy, to become familiar with Spirit. Power is viewed
as a gift--and a wise shaman guards and nurtures it well. The
shaman must know each element of nature intimately and be able
to direct those forces, remaining centered in this balance and
harmony for it is critical to all functionary processes. Control
of the self under any circumstances is sought. The shaman sees
the self as the root system of the shamanic tree, with its roots
embedded within the Earth. From that center, moving back and
forth within the worlds of dimension, the shaman will work to
gain knowledge and lead the people. With a deep reverence for
nature, an abiding love of the Earth, and a common bond with
Spirit, the Medicine Man or Woman gains a deep strength that
becomes the power of the shaman. The shaman sees this symbolized
in the sacred six-sided crystal which represents the elements:
Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Above/Spirit, Below/Ancestors, and
the Middle or centered self.
As a holy person the shaman is the
solitary focus of the tribe in ritual, ceremony, council and
healing. Walking a path of enlightenment and oneness with the
universe, knowing the secrets of Spirit, vision questing, knowing
sacred dreams, cleansing the mind, body and spirit, reading
and understanding signs, willing the onset of altered states
of consciousness to walk between the worlds, the shaman is the
holder of many great mysteries.
In order for you to work with the
Sacred Energies of the vortexes and Ley Lines it is this same
centering that must be sought. You do not need to lead the life
of the shaman to utilize such skills; however, to understand
what such a life represents helps to gain the focus of just
what such centering entails. It allows you to gain the focus
necessary to pursue the attainment of oneness. Like the shaman,
to enter a vortex is to stand at the center of the Sacred Energy
present there. It should be done with great reverence and respect,
not as a whim. Take nothing from the site and leave nothing
behind you to show your passing...save the gifts of Spirit,
your token offerings, and that which you wish to yield up yourself.
Only then will you truly be able to say that you, too, stand
at the center of your world.
The center is a place of no time;
there is no past, no future, only the Now which encompasses
all things. There you will be able to see beyond and back and
understand how it pertains to the Now of your own reality. There
you will find answers, become inspired, find healing, and known
the oneness of Spirit. You will be touched in ways that are
beyond words and be able to touch the true face of enlightenment.
You will know the meaning of the Tree of Life. You will find
clarity to see as you have never seen before. You will not forget
and you will have changed your life for the better.
Perhaps you will dream sacred dreams,
or be granted a vision, or some other incident will occur when
you are there or shortly after you leave. Whatever happens,
you will know it and there will be no question in your mind.
Understanding will be yours. Walk then, along the Sacred Energy
lines into the vortex. Stand at the center to know your Spirit
of Place and the oneness with our own inner spirit. Remember
the shaman stands at the center and you can too.
Ley Lines And Vortexs
Part Four © Cinnamon Moon
Within the shamanic landscape there
are found the Ley Lines, vortexes and sacred sites that contain
the Sacred Energies. There are two separate varieties of Ley
Lines: the Leys of energy that web the world and the Spirit
Paths that are physically formed. Here the out-of-body flight
of the shaman and the death roads of the deceased spirits both
utilize the Leys and Spirit Paths in a dual purpose. Through
the straight Spirit Paths a deeper lineage of spirituality arises
to link itself with the conduct of humanity as we struggle to
rule the physical world. A look at the Spirit Paths of the world
provides a perspective on the differences between these two
types of lines.
Bolivia, Chile, Germany, Peru, Britain,
the Celtic countries and the Americas all join in conjunction
with other nations worldwide to host these marvelous Spirit
Paths and for the most part
to forget them. The Spirit Paths of Europe have always been
maintained by the peasantry. The task being passed from one
generation to the next eventually became a duty with a purpose
long forgotten. In the United States the indigenous people did
not forget. They were forced away and onto reservations where
many of their spiritual and religious practices were forbidden
by the Government's enactment of laws to regulate their actions.
Because of this these practices fell to disuse; but, through
the wisdom of their Elders and their strong oral traditions,
the lore was not completely lost.
Strangely enough, the Government's
attempts to set aside vast areas as State and National Parks
as well as Wetland Reserves have served a dual purpose in also
preserving some of the sacred sites. Many others exist in areas
considered too remote or inhospitable to progress and remain
intact. Progress, on the other hand, has destroyed just as many.
The efforts of these people to preserve their sacred grounds
have been bittersweet.
In my travels to visit many of these
sites in America I found a paradox. Many sites remain but are
inaccessible. Some are on military instillations that are closed
to the public. Others are in National or State Parks. I found
that most National Parks allow for only a remotely moderate
experience and generally do not permit private use of the sites
for ceremonial purposes. State Parks, on the other hand, tend
to work with tribal leaders and the public permitting actual
private and group rituals and ceremonies to be enacted at these
sacred locations. The Native American reservations and grounds
they preside over generally contain active sites and should
not be intruded upon. Any visit to such a site must always be
done within the guidelines of the cultural and spiritual leaders
of the respective tribes. To do anything else would be no different
from walking into a church, temple, or synagogue and taking
liberties.
Spirit Paths are different from
Leys of the Earth energies in that they often run together,
are constructed, and serve a functional purpose. In North America
they are ceremonial roadways where their energies become amplified
through ritual sweeping and ceremonial walking or pilgrimages.
These are lines with a specific start and finish and exist on
a visual and physical level. They are often suggestive of where
tribal boundaries might lie. In Australia the Aborigines stop
at the end of their Line of Song (Spirit Paths) and another
tribe resumes the ritual walking through their territory as
the roadway continues.
In America the Indian culture varied
from this as pilgrimages up from South America and down from
Canada along these Spirit Paths led the people to sacred sites
where great gatherings and ceremonies took place. They were
much like arrows pointing the way, but they were more than just
that. Prior to the time of ceremony these roads would be ritually
swept as a sacred cleansing to rid them of negative spiritual
energies. Then the procession followed and the lore was re-experienced
through that pilgrimage. There was a deep spiritual purpose
to all that they did in that process.
The American Indians and Australian
Aborigines see themselves as the keepers and servants of the
land. Unlike others who seek to possess it, these people believe
they belong to the land and take great care in maintaining their
territories.
Chief Seattle said: "This we
know. The Earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the Earth.
All things are connected like
the blood of one family.
Whatever befalls the Earth, befalls the children of the Earth.
Man did not weave the Web of Life, he is merely a strand in
it.
Whatever he does to the Web, he does to himself."
Walking Buffalo of the Stoney said:
"Hills are always more beautiful than stone buildings...when
people live far from the scenes of the Great Spirit's making,
it is easy for them to forget His laws."
Young Chief of the Cayuse said: "The
Great Spirit, in placing men on Earth, desired them to take
good care of the ground and to do each other no harm."
A song of the Pawnee-Osage-Omaha
states: "Remember, remember the sacredness of things, running
streams and dwellings, the young within the nest, a heart for
sacred fire, the holy flame of fire."
Finally an Ojibwa prayer reads:
"Teach us love, compassion, and honor that we may heal
the Earth and heal each other." I often wonder why these
words of wisdom are not shared more.
These sacred paths can be as much
as forty miles long and thirty feet wide, with side roads branching
off that are narrower. The most famous are the Chaco Roads of
Chaco Canyon in the Southwestern section of the United States.
Over four hundred miles have been mapped out and they are best
seen from the air. These roadways run to Pueblos, or Great Houses,
that are used as ceremonial sites. The straight tracks often
linked sacred sites and places of meeting. in some cases they
are quite deep from much ritual use.
Spirit Paths also hold the duality
of being the paths of departed spirits. In Holland they are
called the Death Roads and pass from all directions straight
into cemeteries. In Britain they are called Ghost Roads or Corpse
Roads. It has been a long standing tradition to carry the dead
in an uninterrupted straight line along the Death Roads only.
The Ghost Paths of Germany are said to be regularly haunted,
as are others the world over, and such lore may stem from an
overlapping of dimensional boundaries. They are the dead man's
road along which the corpse is driven--a place where the spirits
of the dead congregate. It is obvious the people went to great
lengths to contain these spirits within the burial chambers.
In all cases, and despite the conformities of the land, the
road continue in a straight manner running through or over any
obstacles. In towns they will pass right through houses and
the doors must remain open at all times. Because of this they
often built the house over the road. In Europe these straight
tracks were specifically for the use of the spirits themselves.
Britain and Malaysia are known for
their stone rows. These are multiple rows of stones with a burial
mound at one end and a monolith or large stones placed at angles
on the other. This is presumably to prevent the spirits from
continuing any further. In some cases the burial chambers are
further along the rows. Celtic Faerie Paths are invisible lines
that run in a direct link between cairns or historical earthworks
and sacred sites. It is considered very bad luck to build upon
or along them for it invites the wrath of the Faeries. Incas,
Native Americans, and Romans all considered such roads sacred
and placed shrines along them.
In Britain, as in other countries,
the Spirit Path became a ceremonial King's Road or Royal Road.
Through this process it was considered a road of respect due
to the coronation of figures that would take the throne. The
shamanic priest-kings would have seen to it that these roads
were protected even if the people had lost their meaning during
the course of the Christian rise in Europe. The phrase "remember
to walk the straight and narrow" may have had its source
in the Spirit Paths of the world. It may certainly have a deeper
connotation than is generally suspected. Today it means to follow
a good path. To the Native Americans it means to follow the
"Good Red Road"--a straight path that focuses on the
present, the Now of each moment. In this way the energies of
the individual would align with the magnetic poles and bring
about the process of centering and attunement to the natural
binding forces within the Web of Life.
Shamanic markings in the vicinity
of these roads reflect the respect that is to be paid to the
location as well as the shaman who maintains it. They are also
symbolic of shamanic flight, or out-of-body journeys. In out-of-body
experiences the spirit leaves the physical body in a straight
flight, going from point A to point B, and returning the same
way. Thus, the straight Spirit Paths would be used as a guide
road or aerial runway. They form a large part of the shamanic
landscape along with the immense effigies that can easily be
seen from an aerial view.
The sorcerers and shamans of Mexico
are said to take the form of Crow when shapeshifting. This may
be the source for the term "as the crow flies". Perhaps
it helps to understand that the shaman, in meetings with spirits,
comes to have a greater understanding for these pathways. After
all, even Christianity has its "stairway to heaven"
and "Jacob's ladder"...pathways in which the soul
may climb to Spirit. so it is that these Spirit Paths are avenues
or ceremonial highways.
In the shamanic landscape effigies
abound. They form enormous birds and animals as well as winged
humans. Effigies are found throughout the world, and are quite
prevalent throughout the United States running from shore to
shore. These are often suspected to be territorial markers to
warn against intrusion due to intense rivalry between the shamans
of various tribes. It is also said that they very likely could
be signs to notify a visiting shaman during the course of shamanic
flight. Others have suggested that they are labyrinths to be
ritually walked. Personally I think there are variations of
all these things that apply.
Within these landscapes geometric
mound formations, linear mounds, and effigies are common. Some
are burial mounds of multiple layers while others appear to
have held a variety of diverse purposes. Dare we to marvel at
the rare wonder of our lands? Dare we to acknowledge that there
is a Spirit of Place, a sanctity to the world in which we live?
Is there a presence, an energy force? I do not see how this
can be denied except through ignorance. Once you experience
it there is no way of saying these things are not so.
Over the years I have experienced
several methods of working with the forces of the universe.
There are many traditions just as there are many paths in life,
and I have found for teaching purposes that most people grasp
these concepts when they are presented in the simplest form
available. I believe that a presentation on the basis of the
elements and nature is what we all know and recognize best.
I also feel that it can be found through the teachings of the
Medicine Path as well as in the mysteries of the shamanic landscape.
The shaman has always looked to the
land for a wealth of information. In using these Spirit Paths
and the Sacred Energies much has been learned. The Spirit Paths
of Europe vary from those in America only slightly as both are
pathways of Spirit in one form or another. The American pathways
are avenues that are walked ritually and often part of shamanic
journeys. The shrines, markings, and symbols serve as triggers
that recall legends and lore that help the shaman and other
participants to remain focused on the purpose of the ceremony.
In this process the individual goes into a meditative state
linking to the subconscious mind where these triggers speak
silent volumes and bring about a reliving of the lore (so-to-speak).
It is a functional process of cleansing,
healing, and religious worship that culminates at a destination
of gathering where great ceremonies can take place. They are
the pathways of the initiates who undergo them as an ordeal
in their process of "be coming". This pilgrimage brings
about a change or transformation in the countenance of the individual
as well as inner enlightenment and spiritual growth. It is a
practice that has fallen to the wayside today for the most part,
but one that you can still utilize. To walk a Spirit Path and
focus on with this knowledge you too can experience the ways
of the shaman. You can know altered states of consciousness
and enlightenment and a oneness with Spirit that will allow
for your own growth and spiritual development. You can experience
the mystery for yourself.
The celestial harp is the soul song
of the universe. There, in the vastness of space it plays its
chords and reverberates through the expanse in a timeless symphony.
It is the energy of the universe that takes up its voice in
a cosmic chorus. The shaman is listening, are you? The shaman
listens to the song, symphonies, and choruses of all dimensions
and locations. Listening is the key to hearing the Voice of
the Land. You must learn, as the shaman says: "to listen
with a sharp ear". You must learn the mystery of the art
that includes opening the mind as well as the ears. sometimes
to open your mind you must close your eyes for a moment so that
your ears can focus. Do this if you must, but learn the art.
Listening brings awareness and can
be profound as you discover that it opens the doors of enlightenment.
In order to be successful you must still your thoughts and become
present in the moment. This is also key to the arts of meditation
and drumming. Control of thought must be taken or the mind will
wander. A wandering mind is detrimental to success and must
be trained...it must be called back to the moment, to the Now.
It often seems as if your logical mind wants to fight your efforts
to still your thoughts. It is as if the mind were saying: "if
I am not busy, I am not doing my job". To the mind this
is rational thought. It is accustomed to being active from sunrise
to sunset and this is a break in the pattern. Repetition and
practice will perfect this skill and it will aid you in fashioning
your control.
Listening is a transformative experience.
Within you there is a deep stillness. It is there that you will
learn to hear your heartbeat, to hear your pulse, to control
your breathing, and attune your entire being. Once you go inward
to the stillness it becomes much easier to focus on the outward
sounds letting them come to you one at a time and then unite
in their song. Listening will allow you to hear the Voice of
the Land clearly. When you begin to hear, the voice of Spirit
is able to come through both internally and externally. It will
allow you to receive the silence and within that stillness the
mystery. it will allow you to let the wisdom and knowledge of
Spirit flow through you for the energy of Spirit is information.
Once this happens you will be open to a vast new
world. It transforms your awareness and you begin to notice
the Voice of the Land recognizing what it is saying to you.
It will speak in ways you never imagined. It is attunement,
it is oneness, and the mundane becomes profound.
Within the land itself there is
a fundamental resonance. Your senses are able to take in these
vibrations and instinctively cue you to changes. If you try,
you can begin what could be termed selective listening. In this
your process is to decipher individual animals, birds, insects,
and other sounds. Some environments are strong while others
are vague. They all have a song to sing. Plants, animals, and
humans possess an ecological harmony. Sounds change according
to the time of day, the season, or climatic shifts.
As an example, an abrupt cessation
indicates intrusion: all the animals become still and listen
to what is approaching. A flurry of birds or scurry of animals
will serve to indicate danger; but once this has passed the
symphony always resumes. It is a signature easier to decipher
in rural areas than those of urbanization but it can be found
in both places. Like the acoustics of a recording studio, or
an amphitheater, rural locations allow you to synthesize the
song and identify specific areas through the various harmonies
they possess. In attuning to a site, these sounds are an intrigal
part. Through the ears the shaman learns to listen to the song
or melody, through the vocalization joins in the chorus, and
through the rattle, flute, or drum blends in the rhythm.
Each location has its tone. If you
have ever entered a church or temple while it is empty you have
likely experienced its’ still voice. To hear hymns resonate
and fill that silence is to hear its voice. In nature, just
as in the church or temple, there is a silence and a voice.
Nature is Spirit's cathedral. Look to the land for this experience.
It has a strong effect on meditative states. Learning to quietly
listen aligns the harmony of the land with your spirit and you
will come to know the oneness. It must fill you and touch your
soul. In order for this to happen you must become the silence...you
must empty yourself and listen so that you can become filled--a
process that is indeed very magical.
In natural Ley temples the architecture
and sounds play an important role. They stimulate the senses
and open you to receive their energy. Each dimension has its
octave vibrating to the energies that exist there. This is why
the Voice of the Land and its songs are so intricate to spiritual
ceremonies and emphasis is strongly placed on the resonance
of vowels as the shaman sings. The manner in which multiple
Sacred Energy lines merge with the rock formations has an effect
upon the sound of that particular site. The sounds invoke the
energy, they urge it to rise up and its voice becomes intensely
clear.
Earth songs vibrate within the soul--you
will know when yours has been touched--it stills the heart,
and frequently takes your breath away. Listen then to the song
of the trees, animals, elements, and nature. Learn to love the
details and become as familiar with them as you are with yourself.
Be aware that at the bordertimes of dusk and dawn that voice
is silent for a few moments--it is as if all of nature were
enveloped in a prayer.
Sacred sites have been known to
possess phenomenal sounds. A good example of this is Ringing
Rocks State Park in Pennsylvania along the Delaware River. There
a river of boulders winds its way and by tapping individual
stones with a hammer various melodies can be played to ring
in the air. At Enchanted Rock
near Fredericksburg, Texas, there are granite mountains that
are reputed for creating sounds on their own. Conflicting lore
surrounds this location as tales claim it is a sacred place
for initiation while others speak of it being haunted or possessed
by a bad spirit. I felt it was very sacred and peaceful when
I was there. It is important that you know these locations exist
and by focusing on the sounds of nature, what you hear will
draw a clear picture of the vicinity and the spirits that reside
there. The strong Voice of the Land can be heard in many places
and one of the most hypnotic is through the elements.
The element of Air is filled with
the songs of birds, insects, animals and the winds themselves.
Everything the wind touches is given voice. You can hear a great
difference between the whisper of a stand of pines, the soft
gentle conversation of a mixed woodland, or the much louder
voice of a larger forest that contains a very strong presence.
Breezes whisper at the tops of aspens, underbrush rushes, trees
roar, and the deep tones of the higher altitudes all stand apart.
Smelling the scents of the season allows your senses to become
activated.
A storm will announce itself on
the wind if you are wise and pay attention. Often winds will
precede a storm by several hours or even days, sending lingering
gusts that build in crescendo and rattle your windows to get
your attention. Personally I have always loved the voice of
a good thunderstorm--just as it gets the attention of the land
and touches deep to the roots of the great oaks to awaken them,
it strikes a base chord in me and I connect. I could listen
to the sound for hours and often do, becoming lose in its rhythm.
Think of the element of Fire, or
better yet build one in a safe spot, for through both audio
and visual effects it is both strong and entrancing. Listen
to the sharp crackle of logs as they catch and burn, the muffled
tones of the charred wood when it falls, and the soft pop of
the sparks as they rise into the air. Smell the scent of the
wood letting it activate your senses. The silent whisper of
a candle flame is very different from the raging roar of an
uncontrolled forest fire, or the explosive eruption of a volcano,
learn the differences. The shaman knows the power of Fire, and
frequently uses it to bring on states of altered consciousness
or trance. You can do the same thing by simply gazing into the
flames and letting them take you into a state of this heightened
awareness.
The element of Water allows you
to hear many sounds. The hiss of a geyser, the rush of a waterfall,
the babbling of a brook, the sound of rapids, the soft trickle
of a small stream, the slow melody of a meandering river, the
gentle lapping of a lake or pond, or the raging roar of ocean
waves are all very different. There is an intensity in rainstorms
that ranges from the hissing of a gentle mist to pounding crescendo
of a gale. Each sound will speak to you in its own way. Simply
by walking along a shoreline or relaxing near one you will find
that this element will allow you to enter into altered states
in a dreamy fashion. it is very easy to become lost in the element
of Water. Learn, too, to smell the dampness of this element
and allow it to awaken your other senses as well.
Through the element of Earth you
can hear the whistling of caves, the ringing of rocks, the echoes
that reverberate through canyons, the sounds of rage in an earthquake,
or the threat of the muffled aftershock as it rumbles across
the land. You can feel the vibrations of herds of animals as
they run and hear them change direction or draw closer. You
can feel the rhythm of thunder as it
reaches deep into the Earth and calls all of nature to attention.
Let yourself smell the soil. Be it damp, dry, musty, sweet or
spicy it will awaken your senses.
Sounds can provide a pleasant or
an uneasy experience and will speak quite clearly if you attune
to them with your senses. These are the voices you need to know.
They are the Voice of the Land, and will serve to heighten your
intuition and harmony with it. They all speak of their power
and presence. They can help to take you places, for when the
elements combine with the Voice of the Land a great deal of
insight is granted you and you are able to perceive great wisdom.
Along with the Voice of the Land
the musical scale of resonance in vowels affects your body.
You can chant them softly or loudly and actually feel the resonance
as it passes through you. Try it now if you like. Try sounding
them quickly and then again slowly. Play with them and see how
they make you feel. Become used to working with them. You can
be aided in achieving altered states of consciousness through
their use. Each note has a healing property corresponding to
the various Power Centers of your body. These also relate to
colors and the Chakra system, a subject that will be dealt with
a little later. For now, practice making these vowel sounds
and holding them as if they were a mantra chant.
You will find that they resonate
at various sites or energy centers as well and will often lend
themselves to the Voice of the Land. It is something that you
can work with to find what best harmonizes and blends with your
purposes. It is worth noting that Tibetan monks have long known
this mystery and are famous for their chanting. As you grow
in your listening skills you may want to practice the art of
drumming. Music is another key to the universe. Far from being
a source of simple entertainment, the drum is an effective tool
when actively meditating and bringing on states of trance. The
shaman knows that the drum's rhythm should match the heartbeat;
that the space between the beats must be listened to, for it
is the place where Spirit will speak.
With the drum you will learn to
listen and attune to Otherworlds and dimensions. Let it teach
you. Respect its power. Experience it for yourself. The pause
between the beats connects all of life, it is where you become
one with the universe--it tells of the Spirit of Place, and
frees your inner spirit allowing it to take flight. Learn to
listen with your entire being as each beat ties the spirit world
to the physical realm. The drum can become a tool for teaching,
telling, and guiding your efforts when you listen to the beat
and let it hold you to the moment.
The same applies to rattles and flutes.
All are the favored instruments of the shaman because they can
be easily combined with the natural sounds of the environment.
This attunement allows you to speak with the land, an astounding
experience if you have never known this mystery. It is a simple
practice and one that you can master very rapidly.
Ley Lines and Vortexes
Part Five © Cinnamon Moon
Phenomenal activities are reported
to take place at sacred sites throughout the world. That they
are basically consistent in their accounts is a good indicator
of what can be found at specific
locations. Such incidents can and
often do take place and it is a good idea to be prepared for
them as opposed to finding yourself in a state of shock when
something happens. Rather than simply reading about someone's
experience in paranormal events, many find that a vortex site
will allow them to experience their own. These sites are known
to activate psychic forces within the individual; often acting
as triggers for paranormal activities to take place.
Most of these locations are surrounded
in myths and legends that speak of strange events that have
and do occur. Sacred Energy lines can be many miles wide and
their intersections fall into vicinities rather than an exact
spot. In these cases it is frequently found that one or more
vortexes will present themselves, and two or more energy lines
will cross. Generally the sacred site is centrally located;
however, this does not restrict phenomenal events from occurring
elsewhere within the range or along the Ley itself.
Phantom scenes, lights, apparitions
of various kinds, and sounds are often reported as events in
these localities. The powers of these locations are innately
tied to the Earth's natural energies, and those of the life
force of the universe. Some are influenced by cosmic forces
while others have been affected by the actions of people that
have performed ceremonies and rituals at those locations. The
sites where the two mingle, the cosmic and temporal, are potentially
the strongest for they have found a union that is profound.
Natural sites can be found at mountains
and volcanoes, along fault lines, the beginnings and forkings
of rivers and streams, mineral springs, caves with crystal and
mineral deposits, canyon areas, and forest groves. In canyon
or hilly areas the energy tends to circle the rim as opposed
to running straight through it. The land itself seems to draw
it along its pathway. When lightning strikes the Earth there
is a fusion of electrical currents between the universe, the
atmosphere, and the land. It is an electric harmony of raw energy.
This fusion makes the Leys active and they are thus seasonally
enhanced in many places.
From the air we can depict the land
formations of birds, serpents, horses, humans, and various other
forms. These are forms within the natural context of the geographic
setting as well as those made by human hands. The forms speak
to the heavens of what exists here on Earth. They are cosmic
temples where strong energies converge. The Leys draw the curving
lines of the figures together, then overlay them to form pentagrams
and hexagrams of the greater energies that are more linear.
It is these stronger lines that connect the lesser ones to form
the network often called the Web of Life.
The electromagnetic field of all
living creatures, sometimes called the aura, astral body, or
energy field, radiates outward ever expanding into the environment.
Likewise, the environment touches us. On a greater scale, the
Earth sends out its energy and receives energy from the atmosphere.
The energy from our atmosphere sends and receives to and from
the energy of the universe. The spiral of cycles continues to
expand and contract. Therefore, the universe in all its wonder
is in what we can call a constant communication with its heavenly
body and with all its minute parts. We are a part of that...miniscule
perhaps, but still a part of that. (It helps to remember this
if you start to discover that you can accomplish things from
the sacred sites and working with them...remember, the power
is borrowed.) Thus, we are all interconnected and able to link
up with this ever undulating Sacred Energy.
Breaking it down mathematically
or geologically or any other way you wish, the fundamental laws
will remain the same in all their expressions. For the individual
or group desiring to work with the Leys it is much easier to
accept them for what they are--currents of pulsing energy that
engulf the world and are accessible to us--"as above, so
below". Often the land itself conforms to its legends.
Experience with power centers and Leys will prove this fact.
Try contacting the historian of your local area, or one you
plan to visit, to gather the legends of that location. Such
individuals generally have a wealth of knowledge regarding legendary
facts or can put you in touch with those who do. In the United
States the majority of the heritage belongs to multiple tribes
and nations of the Native Americans. Visiting reservations and
speaking with the tribal elders can often prove to be a great
source of the history of an area and other regions that their
ancestors once inhabited. Please remember to bring some token
of your appreciation for their sharing their time with you.
Even in a natural temple you will
find that the structural architecture of the land plays an important
role. The way the light paints itself, the musical song within
its voice, the scents and flavors all create vibrant textures
that combine to form dramatic effects that stimulate the senses.
If their energies are low we cannot expect much. If they vibrate
high we are quite often blessed. It is as simple as that. When
you open the way for yourself to receive the energy rich experiences
follow. Listen to the Voice of the Land and know its signature.
If you are looking to reconnect with your spirituality or to
find it for the first time, these locations will provide the
opportunity. Such experiences are called the Dreamtime by the
Aborigines to express just such spiritual representations and
incidences.
Both Germany and China have studied
the Ley system and building homes or cities is done according
to the flow of the energy that exists in respective areas. in
the United States the Indians have understood this for centuries,
but as a whole, we are only now becoming aware of this on a
social or public level. There is an area around Portland, Oregon
that is known for an exceptional concentration of medical professionals
and high rates of illness as well as suicides. Native Americans
refer to it as the Valley of Sickness. In the Sedona, Arizona
area just the opposite is true and it is perhaps the most highly
concentrated location of Leys and vortexes throughout the country.
It may just be one of the most immense locations in the world
and we are very fortunate to be able to have such a location
here. The study of the Bermuda and Great Lakes Triangles have
mystified us for years and most of us have heard the legends
that abound upon those regions.
Shamans have for many centuries
used the Leys as bridges connecting the physical realm of existence
to that of the spiritual. These enlightened individuals have
traversed them, finding that they are able to transcend the
boundaries of dimension and time. In specific locations they
discovered portals, doorways that allow them to pass through
into the infinite depths of Spirit, a source of wisdom and knowledge
that varies from location to location. They have returned with
knowledge that allows them to use these sacred sites for enlightenment,
healing, and spiritual growth. They discovered that the spirits
of the dead followed these pathways into the dimensional realms
that exist beyond the mundane.
History, folklore, myths, and legends
have developed around many of these incidents having been
passed down through the ages. Most of humanity has been exposed
to such lore in one form or another, but our minds seem to be
closed to the idea of it holding any real validity. Gradually
we are beginning to open them. A long list of phenomena is reported
to occur at these locations. One can experience single episodes
or multiple events that fall into paranormal categories. Such
occurrences include: telepathy, out-of-body experiences, clairvoyance,
clairaudience, apparitions, lights, sounds, and a multitude
of variations.
A large body of lore exists surrounding
the Earth Lights, but exactly what they are is uncertain. These
lights appear repeatedly at sites as weightless in volume or
heavy in mass, appearing alone or in groups. Some lights appear
to have a sentience about them, an intelligent curiosity and
in many cases are associated with known energy fields. They
have been associated with fault lines, but even scientific study
is only able to speculate since there are no concrete answers.
The lore calls them by many names that varies according to the
local customs of the area. These lights are frequently said
to be the spiritual bodies of shaman, sorcerers, or the "Little
People".
In the Himalayas the lights appear
frequently and are attributed to the "Little Men"
who are to be avoided. The Wintu Indians of California called
them "Spirit Eaters". The Celts call them "Faerie
Lights" and "Corpse Candles" to warn of the danger
of death to those wo draw too near. They are also called "Will-O-the-Wisps"
in both Europe and America. Many mountain peaks are known to
have lights that inhabit them and it is there that healings
are said to be strongly influenced. One such mountaintop display
can be found at Mount Shasta in California where both lights
and apparitions have been reported.
While the majority of shaman believe
that these lights are visible energies of spirits, some attribute
them to being entities that appear when a favorable healing
session will occur. They can show themselves in a variety of
hues, sizes, and shapes. They often act as if they are curious
about the presence of people in their respective locations.
They are said to be both threatening and playful--as if an intruder
was knocking at their door, or company had arrived. It is said
some shaman gain powers form these lights because of the energy
fields that come with them. The energy fields permit their materialization
and are able to bring certain individuals into altered states
of awareness.
One of my experiences with such
lights occurred on an occasion when my friend and I were driving
along a deserted back road in rural Wisconsin. It was late at
night as we witnessed a small luminous cloud that appeared to
be about ten or twelve feet above the ground in a field alongside
the roadway. The cloud moved, seemingly of its own volition,
and kept pace with my car for about half to three quarters of
a mile or so. As we neared an intersection it crossed to the
other side of the road slowing before a stand of pines. It began
to hover there so we pulled over to better observe it and get
a closer look.
There was no sound emanating from
it and we could see that it was similar to the density of deep
fog. Rays of light glowed in a neon white and it appeared that
they were dancing both inside and out; much like the Northern
Lights have been known to do. I would guess that the dimensions
were about twenty feet long by about four feet high, give or
take a little, and I'm going to say that it was probably another
three or four feet thick. Inside it was as if electrical charges
were flickering along with the dancing rays of light. The rays
themselves reached out in multiple directions
and were anywhere from two to four or five feet in length, but
this fluctuated.
We watched it for over half an hour.
There seemed to be a sentience about it, as if it knew we were
curious and it was allowing us to satisfy that curiosity and
admire its strange beauty. It was in an area of high ground
so we knew it was not swamp gas, but just what it was still
remains a mystery. This incident did not occur at a vortex,
but there was a river within a mile or so and there may easily
have been an energy line that was running through the area.
In any event, the cloud of light that we witnessed certainly
seems to fit the pattern of Earth Lights so frequently reported
at sacred sites along Leys elsewhere. It is an experience that
remains as vivid to my mind today as the night it happened.
At stone circles it is quite common
to find at least one stone that appears to read magnetically.
Reports have been made expressing individuals experiencing visions
and other psychological effects as well as altered states of
consciousness at these locations.
Dreams can occur during and after
such encounters and instruments experience magnetic anomalies
as well. What is interesting is that each site has a slightly
different effect on those who visit and we can only assume the
generalities associated with specific locations You may enjoy
experimenting or perhaps you have a specific purpose in mind.
This is entirely up to you. In either case, changes in perception
do occur within your heightened consciousness and doors will
begin to open to you. You will find you are able to perceive
in ways in which you are not ordinarily accustomed.
Once at a location, having listened
to the Voice of the Land and attuned to it, an understanding
of sentience often takes place. You will frequently feel that
the Spirit of Place has recognized your presence and is aware
of your purpose. It is a good idea to acknowledge this and present
your intentions telepathically if not orally. This also allows
you to focus your energies in the proper direction.
States of ecstasy often occur at
these locations and they tend to mirror certain truths back
upon the visitor. In this way you may become mentally and spiritually
healed, enlightened, or inspired. The state of oneness and the
feeling of touching the face of the Spirit or at least the Spirit
of Place is often present. Such an incident reflects the harmony
of the location and is generally perceived as an awe inspiring
experience that lasts a lifetime. It is usually something that
is so beautiful that it stills the heart and takes the breath
away. In 1973 I was living in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The
house had once been a Pony Express station and the place had
a history. When I stood in the back yard I could see Pike's
Peak quite clearly. The Garden of the Gods (a well-known vortex)
was only a short distance away.
One overcast day I took my daughter
for a drive through the Garden of the Gods and up the mountain
along Rampart Range Road. As we arrived at the top we broke
through the clouds into forested mountain sides bathed in sunshine
with birds singing and a profound sense of awe came over us
both. The clouds below us allowed the tips of the pines to stand
as islands in a sea of white and the view was breathtaking.
We watched as Eagle soared and vanished
into the clouds below us signaling the presence of Spirit.
The air stilled and sunlight caught the clouds making them shimmer
in a golden glow. An Otherworldly presence could be felt radiating
from their stark whiteness. We stayed for quite a while and
simply soaked in the energies that were very uplifting and gave
thanks for the moments we had been given. It was a subtle experience
but there was a blessing that was deeply felt by us both.
Later, when we returned home we
found a picture of what we had seen on the front page of the
newspaper along with a small article. Apparently a journalist
had a similar experience and tried to capture it on film. The
picture was in black and white and simply did not do the moment
justice. Both my daughter and I knew we had experienced a oneness
with Spirit that day. It was a sensation of utter peace and
tranquility that could simply not be accurately captured in
print or pictures. It had to be experienced.
During the time we lived in Colorado
Springs both my daughter and I were exposed to separate incidences
that were quite out of the ordinary. I had been driving along
a road on my way to pick her up from school. I was just about
to crest a hill when a semi-truck came over the top--head on
in my lane. My heart skipped several beats and I thought I was
going to die instantly on the spot. In fact, I remember saying
so aloud. The truck passed right through my car and vanished.
Well, I do not mind telling you that I had to pull over to the
side of the road and gather myself. I knew what I had seen,
I had been alert, it was daylight when this happened, and I
was not under any stress or medications. I realized then that
I had partaken in a phantom moment, a piece of land memory perhaps,
or a dimensional exposure, or something very similar. It was
an experience that remains poignant with me today. This is my
experience; it is similar to many tales of haunted highways
and their phantom spirits in that area.
My daughter's experience was what
I would call an encounter with land memory or a time warp. It
occurred while she was playing with two companions in the canyon
area behind our home. Development was eating away at the small
canyon but a good portion of it still remained and a little
plain stretched between our house and the apartment complex
a few hundred yards away. It was on this plain that she had
found a bush beside a large boulder sprouting an interesting
pile of sand.
She and her two little friends decided
to dig for gold. They had been working at their project for
a while when one of them glanced up and said: "Look!"
Then pointed, as they all experienced what to them was a frightening
apparition. About twenty feet away the saw two Indians, one
was standing and one was kneeling. The standing Indian was a
Chief dressed in buckskins and a full Eagle-feather headdress.
He stood silently and just observed them. The one kneeling was
a brave who drew on his bow and shot an arrow towards them.
It landed in the sand where they were digging. They looked at
the arrow and back towards the Indians who had vanished.
Frightened, her friends rant to
tell their mother while she ran home to tell me. Their stories
were identical. I assured her that she had just witnessed something
from long ago, an event out of history perhaps, and told her
it was like watching a movie from out of time. When you are
six those terms are often required. She began to calm down when
she realized that no harm had actually come to them. She tried
to comprehend what had happened. The tale was fascinating to
me and she got to tell it repeatedly.
She has never forgotten the incident
and today wishes she had taken the arrow as a souvenir. I wish
she had too. At the time it simply did not occur to either of
us. What is interesting is that all three of them saw the same
thing. I know this area is near the heart of a strong vortex
and experiences such as these are found to occur quite frequently
at such locations. Strong emotional experiences are reported
at these locales quite often. People who are feeling a sense
of being lost, hopelessness, or depression will find that a
Ley center will bring about a sudden change in their lives through
healing energies that are present. It is as if a light comes
on for them. They are able to see their way through their troubles
and they seem to simply melt away or dissolve. It is as if the
hand of the Spirit of Place had laid a blessing on them, they
are able to go on living a normal and fully functional life.
This is an emotional and spiritual healing, and again, one that
is not easily forgotten.
Such moments allow the individual
to be touched by the universe and Powers That Be in a unique
way. These are frequently followed by a change of attitude and
perception of life that remains with the person throughout the
rest of their life. They see things differently, much as one
who has had a near-death-experience might be changed. The experiences
my daughter and I had fit the patterns of phenomena reported
by others and it does not, as you can see, require that the
individual be intent on a shamanic purpose. The events just
happen.
An experience that many people seek
is one of enlightenment, where they are granted insight and
knowledge to apply in ways that serve humanity or themselves
personally. This illuminating experience produces an understanding
that appears to simply wash over them. What is learned is generally
learned the first time around because of the experience being
so profound. Should you have such an adventure you will find
that you are then able to comprehend concepts, answers, and
great mysteries of life. At times the comprehension received
will make you laugh at how simple the facts are and wonder why
you had been blinded to them for so long.
Whether simple or complex, this
knowledge is a truth that cannot be denied, has been experienced,
and can be easily proven when applied to life situations. You
will be able to see old misconceptions clearly, and use the
information in a variety of ways. It leaves you with a sense
of excitement and eagerness to progress into the future. This
state can be quite seductive creating a desire that beckons
to be repeated again and again--always with the promise of more
enlightened answers and fulfillment. It is in this state that
you will be able to hone your intuitive and instinctual faculties.
The sacred sites of the Aboriginal
Dreamtime are locations where the Spirit of Place emerges as
an entity and can be seen in the formations of the land itself.
In the books of Carlos Castaneda many locations were discussed
in both Mexico and the Southwestern United States. His shamanic
experiences are very detailed and are higly analytical for those
interested in that type of approach. Today we know that we can
use instruments to measure these energies. Stones are known
to send out pulsations and even electrical shocks. There are
legends and an abundance of lore about curses aimed at those
who would desecrate a site, or otherwise abuse the forces there.
One prime example is found in Hawaii
where the government is building a road through sacred ground.
The project has been plagued by failure for years. There have
been deaths, the structure has
collapsed, machinery has failed, and there have been countless
other anomalies of interference. These occurrences have taken
place repeatedly and gone way beyond what could be considered
normal. Other lore tells of spontaneous storms that summon themselves
to chase away individuals, or strike them down with fierce winds
and lightning. These storms appear to have a will of their own
and drive off the intruder who would perform a sacrilege. It
is science that names these incidents as anomalies, the shaman
calls them holy, and visitors call them phenomenal.
At such locations it is found that
the abilities of the Sacred Energies can and do physically and
emotionally heal people. The experience of the oneness with
the universe, the gift of enlightenment and of inspiration,
and answers to the deepest questions are often revealed. Because
of these transformations there have been many structures built
upon such locations with the intention of preserving or amplifying
the forces. Some, such as Stonehenge, mark the celestial changes.
Others have been built as shrines, or temples where ceremonies
and oracles preside over the people. There are also great cathedrals
of the world that have been built upon cosmic matrixes or mathematical
equations of celestial proportions. They are designed to follow
patterns that allow the highest intensity of reception and resonation
for those receiving the teachings presented there. Their altars
and bell towers are placed on the holiest location or place
of power to provide the greatest benefit to those who gather.
Science may be exploring the Leys
today, but ultimately all this is just background for what actually
takes place. There is no need for becoming lost in the 'why'
of things. It is enough to know that such sites can be visited
and will produce results for those who are actively seeking
greater knowledge and spiritual experiences. Experience is the
key. You must go and experience personally the transformations
that can and do take place. These are places of wonder and awe
inspiring beauty, simple locations of pristine settings, isolated
and yet teaming with life. They present a banquet for the eclectic
soul.
The provocativeness of this subject
requires that you experience it personally. It is the only real
proof that can be known. Its allure is seductive I assure you.
Ley Lines and Vortexes
Part Six © Cinnamon Moon
In understanding tools and symbols
we come to an important issue and intricate aspects of shamanic
work. They are either fashioned by hand, received as gifts,
found, or in some instances purchased. In fashioning a tool
by hand the shaman infuses it with a specific purpose and to
some extent empowers it with their energy. Certain tools are
host to spirits that lend them their power for specific tasks.
When a tool is fashioned by hand it becomes more or less an
extension of the self.
Energies are seen as being intrinsically
reflected in items. When something is needed the shaman will
often find that an item will come in the form of a gift from
someone or seemingly of its own accord. If a necessity arises
for a specific item the shaman might go out to a specific location
that holds a deep personal connection to find what is needed.
Again, in instances such as this the item appears to present
itself of its own volition and the shaman will recognize it
immediately.
When a tool is purchased it is usually
at a price that is so favorable that it is impossible to pass
up the opportunity. Through ritual and use each tool becomes
empowered by absorbing the energies that are involved. They
are sacred because they are used only for specific purposes.
The item itself does not hold power but conducts it through
a process of channeling. It attracts those energies that complement
its purpose and can be used to transmit them as well. This eliminates
the outward distractions and allows the shaman to focus strictly
on intent.
Tools serve the dual purpose of
being functional items as well as triggers. In the method of
ritual certain stages require specific tools. The shaman sets
out what is needed beforehand and thus may proceed with the
process undisturbed by the necessity to search for things. As
these tools are handled over time, their purpose takes on great
symbology. The ritual use serves to trigger that symbology through
such acts and the shaman is free to perform with focused intent
to achieve the desired result.
Since the shaman is always in a
heightened state of consciousness, they are attuned in mind,
body, and spirit to be ever present in the moment. These individuals
know that there is a message to be read in a broad range of
places and they must be open at all times to receive them. For
these reasons symbols play an important role in shamanic lifestyles.
They are used for ritual and ceremonial purposes, in healings,
as triggers for the inner spirit , in communication with the
Otherworlds and their entities, and in daily life for the needs
of the people the shaman serves.
Symbols speak of the Spirit World,
of other dimensions, and those things related to the process
of entering into states of trance. They are often found at sacred
sites in the forms of petroglyphs (rock carvings) or pictographs
(rock painting) or as geoglyphs (effigies). Some of the best
known symbols are those of animals that are seen as relations
of specific clans, tribes, individuals, and as shamanic allies
or messengers from Spirit. In the case of the tribal or social
relationship, the animal is a kindred spirit, a protector, and
becomes a totem animal. It is always considered taboo to slay
or eat the meat of such an animal except under ritualistic conditions.
If it is done at any other time it will bring about the death
of one or more members of the group in a relatively short period
of time. In the instance of it being a personal totem animal
the individual would never take its life for the link is to
the self.
In ritual procedure the animal represent
specific spiritual aspects of the ceremonial process, the elements
of nature, and guidance. Under these conditions and shamanic
practices, the animal can bring about a transformation of the
shaman's spirit. The shaman is then able to take on the form
of the animal in a projection of the spirit body. In all instances
the animal represents the union or oneness of the physical and
spiritual worlds. Knowledge can be gained through the transformative
process as the shaman uses the skin of the animal in question
to symbolically take on its characteristics or essence. This
skin becomes a sacred tool and is kept specifically for this
purpose.
Personal animal allies that work
with the shaman generally do so in Otherworld settings or by
coming into the presence of the shaman in the physical realm.
The shaman dwells in both worlds on a continual basis and is
therefore able to work back and forth simultaneously between
them with relative ease. Animal
allies of the shaman frequently accompany them in this process.
When the animal appears in the physical realm it is seen as
a sign of what the spirit of that animal represents. It is a
sort of call to the shaman to heed its presence, or a message
that relates to a specific purpose. It is never seen to be an
accident that their paths cross. When such a meeting takes place
it is the spiritual attributes of the animal that are taken
into account by the shaman who perceives through the soft eyes
of the inner spirit.
Individuals who undertake a vision
quest often do so with the intention of their personal totem
animal being revealed. It does not talk long for the person
to discover that they are in harmony or attuned to the feelings,
emotions, thought processes, and wisdom of that same creature.
The animal then shows itself in various ways when guidance or
insight is being sought or specific conditions or dangers present
themselves. The animal can appear in the wild, or through other
mediums such as dreams, coming up in pictures, conversations,
and even on television. Whenever a personal Power Animal appears
it is to be heeded immediately.
Experiencing a large group of the
same animal, or a migration, under unusual circumstances or
in the process of a dream is to receive a very potent message.
When they appear repeatedly for a time, often under a variety
of circumstances, a message is being repeated or driven home
until it is grasped and its importance is greatly magnified.
Those animals that appear at a sacred site or while walking
a Sacred Energy line have a highly spiritual message for the
individual. If this happens to you I suggest an immediate journal
entry if possible, if not, certainly when you have finished
your session. A good interpretory guide book is always helpful
to keep on hand until you learn more about their symbolism and
its pertinence to your life.
The more you work with them the
more you will come to recognize that there is indeed a spiritual
relationship between these animals and yourself. You will recognize
them as the messengers they are and see the correlations they
have to life's situations. Animals have much to teach you if
you will take the time to understand their messages. Those who
appear in the environment are protectors, if they reveal themselves
in dreams they are Guides. Through the Dream Lodge and visions
there are creature-teachers that bring messages, reveal to you
some unrecognized strength, or enlighten you in some fashion.
An animal that appears on a vision
quest is usually one that will be with you throughout life.
Often the quest becomes a prophecy
to be fulfilled. In this case, it is continued until it is completed.
Visions can be granted in the smoke of the sacred fire, or through
the four quarters of the Medicine Wheel. Each quarter acts as
a separate doorway to reveal its own vision or powers as well
as the entities that inhabit that realm. Often an animal will
present itself as your Guide through this experience. Shamanic
philosophy teaches that each of the four elements has a symbolic
animal to represent them known as the Spirit Keeper of that
realm.
The best way to encompass all four
of these symbols is through the Medicine Wheel where each element
is represented. Understanding the Medicine Wheel itself is important
as they are frequently found at vortex sites and are an invaluable
tool. The Medicine Wheel is a circle that is equally divided
into four sections; one for each of the four basic elements
of Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. These sections are all parts
of the whole, but must be examined independently initially.
In the East is found the section
that represents Air.
Its symbolic animal is the
Eagle that brings sacred messages from Spirit. It is the place
of birth or beginnings. The Eagle teaches you about thought,
focus, seeding, communication, perception, and awareness. It
teaches philosophy, creativity, divination, illumination, and
stimulation. This is the element where your ideas and seeds
are germinated and enlightenment comes through the creative
process of attunement. When the mind is aware and alert you
are better able to perceive the messages of Spirit. The shaman
strives to constantly remain aware of everything in the environment
at all times. The slightest change will sound a warning alerting
the senses to what others would easily overlook. The Eagle is
also a symbol of out-of-body states and teaches through its
flight to widen vision or focus it.
Since Eagle flies higher than any
other bird it is closest to Spirit. Dwelling in the Air and
on land, it has the ability to enter different realms and guide
you. Its vision is sharp and it will help you see, to focus
and perceive with your inner eye. In the East the gifts received
through ritual are sacred keys and symbols that become the maps
to what you are seeking, be it illumination, answers to questions,
or learning to control the senses. It is in this section of
the Medicine Wheel that the shaman divines answers from Spirit,
nature, or the self.
The element of Air will allow you
to develop your psychic abilities on a deeply spiritual level.
It is the first place to go if you desire to center yourself
for it is the place of beginnings where you will find inspiration.
It is where you will learn much about your true self to begin
with and it prepares you for the other quarters. The Eagle of
the East is the crystal ball of the shaman and acts as spiritual
eyes.
The Mouse of the South and Fire
represents the trust and innocence of youth through reflection
of the self. It helps to show the innocence in life, to trust
in life and gain the faith needed to continue. It teaches that
through passion and intent the will can become focused to achieve
goals. Mouse is ever being sought by other creatures as a source
of food (the danger youth must learn to recognize). Its size
makes it vulnerable if it does not remain alert at all times.
Instead of constantly living in fear, Mouse learns to trust
its senses to alert it to any present danger and to trust in
life that it will survive. It comes to know the art of elusiveness
and the ability to seek shelter when it is necessary. It relies
on is senses to give it the strength it needs to go on as well
as a form of protection.
Mouse teaches that preoccupation
must be avoided and reveals the vulnerability that condition
presents. It looks beyond; jumping higher if necessary to see
the answers it seeks...or looking beyond its nose. It teaches
the concentration of the soft world of Spirit and change so
that you can see what is taking place as you go through life.
This is the element of knowing the self through scrutiny, for
when you walk through life with the strength of your senses
well-honed you are walking in the protection of Spirit.
It is the element of Fire that also
protects since it illuminates the darkness, brings warmth to
the home, and purifies all that it engulfs. The gifts of this
element are those of sacred objects that come to you, sacred
messages, healings, and shamanic Medicine. It is the garden
you sow and the will you develop in your efforts to move forward.
Here you find your passion and drive, and are
initiated into all aspects of life. Mouse is the heart of the
shaman that burns with passion and speaks to the mind of what
can be.
Representing the West and the
element of Water is Bear; a symbolic essence of introspection.
It will teach you that looking deep within yourself you will
find the answers and truths you seek. It represents adulthood
and the mature thought processes gained through the experiences
in life. Bear teaches psychic communication, the sensations
of intuition, love, healing, balance, the sacred dream, and
the pathway to shamanic journeys. It can be playful and lift
your spirit or deep and filled with mysteries to be revealed.
This is the element of Water and
it is the draw of the ocean that can aid you in drawing deep
within yourself to the place of introspection and soul searching.
The shaman sees the hibernation of Bear as the darkness within
where answers from Spirit are found through the process of turning
into the self to seek them. This is the element of the harvest,
not only of the season and the land, but of the energies of
the universe. It is here through shamanic journeys that images
enter your Dream Lodge to reveal the deeper mysteries. This
is the quarter where you work with love, healing, emotion, and
inner vision. Bear is the hand of the shaman where all efforts
come to fruition and the harvest that materializes can be gathered.
In the North resides the element
of Earth and Buffalo that represents wisdom, old age, and death.
It is here that you come to have learned the art of patience.
You understand that all things take time to manifest and you
have learned that you must wait for those manifestations. It
is Buffalo that teaches you practicality, sacred knowledge,
symbols of magic, rituals and ceremonies, and the proper way
of prayer. it is here that you learn there are rewards for your
efforts. After you have done what must be done there is gain
and prosperity awaiting you in the physical, material, or spiritual
sense.
This element teaches patience and
reveals the secrets of life, death, and rebirth. It is the Keeper
and Giver of all treasures. It is the great teacher for it is
the place of sacred working, cycles, inner wisdoms, and strong
Medicine. It gives you the strength of sustenance and nurturance,
for Buffalo is food, clothing, and shelter, giving of itself
so that you may survive. It is where you come to know that honor
and respect must be given to all of life; where you can feel
the heartbeat of Mother Earth. Buffalo is the staff of the shaman
that has been cut from the centering tree; it supports the body
and protects with wisdom.
Contemplate these elements in their
respective quarters when entering a Medicine Wheel or vortex
site. It is always a good idea to carry a small compass with
you so you will know which direction is which when you arrive.
Focus on what the Spirit Keeper of each element has to teach
you. This will assist you in understanding the nature of the
elements as you attune to the sacred location. Once you are
centered within it, the Medicine Wheel becomes the universe
and things become very clear.
Animal Symbols:
Ant: group minded, worker, strength, creativity, faith
Armadillo: protection, understanding, safety, selectivity
Alligator: birth, initiation, female nurturance, aggression,
survival, adaptability
Bat: guardian, purification,, rebirth, cycles, shamanic
journey
Bear: power, adaptability, strength, mobility
Beaver: purpose, creature comforts, hidden paths, heroism,
soft focus, presence, awareness, builder, gatherer, warning
of danger
Bird: shamanic flight, vision
Buffalo: sacredness, life builder, sustenance, foundation,
stability, inner wisdom
Butterfly: transformation, carefree, change, thought,
mind
Cat: secrets, independence, mystery, magic
Cougar: leadership, courage, honesty, challenge, pride,
conquering inner fears
Coyote: wise trickery, teaching, prankster, insight,
playful
Crane: solitude, independence, self-reliance
Crow: shaman, shapeshifting, transformation, change,
magic
Deer: love, gentleness, kindness, nurturance
Dog: protection, loyalty, devotion
Dolphin: kindness, play, link to sea, sacred breath,
healing, union with the divine
Dragon: power, wisdom, spirit, treasure, secrets
Dragonfly: flight, carefree, beauty, illusion
Eagle: divine spirit, connection to Creator, messenger,
vision
Elk: strength, agility, freedom, dignity, honor
Fish: fluid movement, finding the way, deep thought,
stamina
Fox: trickster, cunning, provider, intelligence, teacher
Frog: connection with water, song, rain, purification,
tears, initiation
Goose: shamanic flight (the shaman's spirit is said to
ride on the back of the goose), quest
Grizzly Bear: hunter, nature's pharmacist
Groundhog: shamanic trance, sacred dreams
Hawk: messenger, observation, awareness, sharp thinking
Horse: stamina, mobility, strength, confidence, grace,
travel, bearer, liberty, power, vision
Hummingbird: messenger, stopper of time, joy, love, solver
of riddles, reproduction, magic, beauty
Lizard: conservation, agility, speed, dreaming, travel,
shadow, imagination
Loon: vibrant dreams, strong desires, memories
Moose: headstrong, unstoppable, longevity
Otter: laughter, curiosity, mischievous, playfulness,
enjoyment, listening
Owl: wisdom, truth,, patience, mystery, magic, omens
Rabbit: alertness, nurturing, fear, worry, evasiveness,
burrowing
Raven: trickster, teacher, hoarder, magic, mystical flight
Salmon: instinct, persistence, determination
Shark: hunter, survival, aggressiveness, alertness
Snake: shrewdness, transformation, creation, psychic
energy, immortality
Spider: creativity, patterns of life, symbols, dream
world, webs, change, entanglement
Squirrel: enthusiasm, resourcefulness, preparation, action,
trust
Swan: grace, balance, innocence, change, dreamtime, altered
states, intuition, healing, divination, going with the flow
Turkey: harvest, giving, blessings, virtue, transcendence,
sustenance, enlightenment
Turtle: self-sufficient, creative source, Mother Earth,
protection, shields, feelings, patience, teaching, development
Weasel: energy, truth,
insight, scout, observation, stealth, courage, relentlessness
Whale: wisdom, provider, purification, knowledge, clairaudience,
telepathy, history, sound, origins
Wolf: loyalty, success, perseverance, wisdom, freedom,
senses, silence, timing, guidance, centering, endurance, strategy
There are other symbols that are
used by the shaman and these can be found in the rock art at
sacred sites, on costumes, on tools, and in nearly every aspect
of shamanic work. These images are used by the shaman in trance
work to open doorways to Otherworlds, indicate paths of out-of-body
flight, stimulate the senses, and create points of focus. They
trigger the subconscious to awaken the inner spirit of the shaman
and allow it to function freely. There are shamanic symbols
that link the dimensions much like an umbilical cord running
between the worlds; they are the pathways upon which the shaman
travels. The rock art of carving, painting, or effigies are
found at sacred sites where the shaman has placed them for the
purpose of bringing on trance. In this case they are visual
aids on a shamanic journey and a way of entering into the Otherworlds.
Stones are used and have a deep connection to the shaman in
some manner. The energy of the item is infused with that of
the shaman with a specific intent toward fulfilling a single
purpose. A stone would be kept for healing, another for absorbing
personal troubles, another for meditation, etc. The shaman often
selects six-sided crystals as they represent the four elements,
the Above and Below World, and the shaman who holds the stone
is the center or Middle World. Through the use of tools and
symbols the shaman walks between the worlds and has a very large
ring of keys. The following list will give you an idea of what
some of them are and help you decipher any you may find as you
explore the Ley Lines and vortex sites.
Shamanic Tools:
Arrow: swiftness, movement, direction, and may be depicted
as straight for direction, as crooked to wran of difficulties,
or broken to symbolize an ending.
Birds and feathers: shamanic flight, rebirth, healing.
Generally seen as eagles, crows, and thunderbirds (Phoenix)
when pertaining to shamanic work. The bird signifies the union
between the land and air for it is a creature of both realms
and therefore can move between the worlds. I thas the knowledge
of these worlds and the voice to speak of them. It is the freedom
of the spirit and its ability to move at will. Human birds are
symbolic of the out-of-body experience.
Drum: the heartbeat of the shaman, the beat of the hooves
of the shamanic steed (see Horse), the space between the worlds
of Spirit.
Eagle feather: symbol of the Great Spirit and shamanic
union with it. Eye: symbol of trance state. A free floating
eye is found in shamanic art throughout the world. This represents
the state of trance where all may be seen through the spiritual
eye, the third eye of the pituitary gland, the mind's eye.
Grids and Dots: the lifting of the veil between the Otherworlds.
Horse: the shamanic
steed, the drum is considered to be its footfalls as the shaman
follows it into trance. In other cultures a horse head on the
end of a stick or pole is used to ride the circle and bring
about a state of trance.
Horse Goddess: symbolic of the land much like the unicorn
and virgin. It is a Goddess who may appear as a summons or messenger
to the shaman and often in the form of a woman on horseback
or as the Buffalo Calf Woman.
Medicine Wheel or Circle: the universe, the self, unseen
worlds, and eternity. It is the Sacred Hoop, opened and sealed
to focus the work area, open and undone when the work is complete.
The symbol of eternity for it has no beginning and no end. The
place that is not a place, the time that is not a time, the
world that is not a world.
Mirrors: used on costumes to reflect the forms of those
present at the ceremonies as the symbolization that the individual
is also a part of the event as the seventh element. In this
way all are shown to be connected to the energies of the universe.
Rattle: rattles of turtle shells or deer hooves can be
shaken or tied to leather bands and worn or tied to staffs.
They are ceremonial instruments used to summon the attention
of the Spirit World and bring on trance.
Ropes, Thread, String, Ladder, Pole: the pathways upon
which the shaman travels to Otherworlds. All are a form of straight
lines that can be traversed going and coming or to invite other
spirits into the sacred site. In the case of the pole a rope
is attached to it and the pole becomes the spiritual center
of the worlds with the rope becoming the pathway to it.
Snake: transformation (the snake sheds its skin in the
process of growth), initiation, and magic. Trance
Buck: deer, antelope, gazelle, or similar creature depicted
in a flying state. Symbolic of the shamanic state of trance
and out-of-body flight.
Turtle: depicted on shields or its shell used to fashion
rattles, it represents life and protection.
The preceding list is by no means
complete in its presentation. The variation of Indian tribes
and nations have symbols unique to their respective cultures
and not all of them are interwoven with one and other. Those
listed are fairly universal and are frequently found at sacred
sites throughout the United States. In the symbology of rock
art you will find the depictions are a language of the shamanic
community or people of the area in which it is found. This means
there will be variations, and not all of them will be understood
by those who have not journeyed to the Otherworlds of Spirit
where the true meanings are revealed.
Ley Lines and Vortexes
Part Seven © Cinnamon
Moon
The shamanic classroom is evident
at vortex locations. Vortexes are often found to contain Medicine
Wheels or stone circles. They frequently have rock art in some
form depicted on canyon walls, in caves, or upon the Earth itself.
Shamanic tools and items are tucked into crevices or found on
the ground in niches. It is very important for you to understand
that these tools are for ritual use, should be honored as sacred
objects, and left alone. Other items may be found such as crystals,
stones, pieces of metal, coins, jewelry, tobacco, etc. these
are gifts to the Spirit of Place and likewise should be honored
as such. If you come across these things, please, leave the
items undisturbed. It is just as important to be able to read
the signs there, or at least have an understanding of what they
mean and can tell you as a visitor.
To enter the Medicine Wheel is to
enter the shamanic classroom, for it is here that the majority
of work takes place and the training of the initiate is undergone.
The shaman is an interpreter of signs and uses them as a form
of guidance and revelation, not to control others. There is
not encouragement of dependence in any form; instead, the shaman
urges the individual to find their own meaning knowing full
well that each person must find their own way. When a sign appears
to the shaman it relates to the current practice or work that
is taking place, or it pertains to the people being served by
that particular shaman as a whole. Such signs can be found in
many ways, from vision questing to rune stones, from cards to
states of trance, from dreams to any number of other forms.
In all cases they are considered gifts of Spirit and they are
to be respected and honored.
The coincidence of a matter means
to co-exist within an incident beyond the everyday occurrence
and is designed by Spirit to catch your eye. It is a message
for you to understand be it subtle or profound. It waits for
you to pay attention to the information being presented. If
you ignore the messages ad many people do, you are missing a
great deal in life. For those who come to learn to read the
signs it is evident that what means something to one individual
can be much different for another despite any universal symbolism
that may exist.
For this reason the universal symbol
is only a starting place in the learning process. Questing through
divination, visions, dreams, sacred sites and life are all enhanced
by a greater depth of understanding when you learn to interpret
signs. In time you will come to be reading messages from Spirit
in greater depth because you will be attuned to nature. This
is a skill. It is an art. It is a way of living for the shaman.
There are times when major changes
are in the ari and conditions are shifting. At these times the
shaman will receive many requests for readings from a wide variety
of individuals. It usually occurs in relation to seasonal changes
and the shaman can become taxed by the energy exuded in the
process. It's then that the individual must draw back for a
while to replenish depleted strengths. We all need to recharge
ourselves now and then and usually a few days are sufficient
to bring about the needed rest. These demands go in cycles and
the cycles of the year are used to replenish or store up energies
that will be needed from one cycle to the next.
Just as there are cycles in life
the seasons have wheels that spin bringing their changes. Each
season has its purpose and we have much to experience and undergo
during its short life. For those who live in areas where there
are four distinct seasons the experience of change is more clearly
drawn. They are often able to function with greater accuracy
due to changing weather patterns that speak loudly of the turning
times. They are attuned to nature more so than those of other
regions where the seasons are less defined. Nowhere is this
more evident than in the symbol of the Medicine Wheel that marks
these turnings. The quarters of the Wheel represent the season
of Spring in the East, Summer in the South, Autumn in the West,
and Winter in the North. It is at each change that the shaman
enters the medicine Wheel and begins the process of recharging
these energies.
It may be a matter of semantics to
refer to a higher self or higher consciousness. What it all
boils down to in the end is the awareness you develop with your
inner spirit and your ability to communicate with it. The strictures
of academic study in the development of spirituality can become
rather dry or mundane when applied to this subject. Spirituality
is just that, it deals with Spirit or the Powers That Be. The
inner spirit is your connection to the universe and the life
force that unites all. Once that is recognized it is all simply
semantics when you search to name it as this or that. If is
the spirit within that connects to the universe in a communication
process of spiritual enlightenment and greater wisdom.
In my studies over the years I have
learned one thing above all else--the answers to our labyrinth
of questions are usually quite simple. We alone are the complicating
factor since we are doomed by our humanity to seek some deep
mystery that is complex and difficult to find. In the attempt
to label and name every detail we become the cause for the smile
on the shaman's face. In truth, the simpler we keep things the
clearer they become and the shaman knows this. The higher consciousness,
the higher self, the inner voice, or whatever you choose to
call it, is your inner spirit. I find that for all the terminology
that Spirit is within and that is where all the answers lay.
Spirit permeates all of life and that is your link to making
the connection.
In the process of divination the
shaman uses tools as a focal point and then calls upon the senses
to help interpret the signs. Drawing upon the energies of the
universe to hone those perceptions all senses are made active.
This provides clarity and an enhanced skill level. The symbols
that come through become pieces of a map that presents an overall
picture of the situation about which the inquiry is being made.
Tapping into the same oneness of sp;irit that is used in trance
or dream states the shaman simply alters it to fit the current
needs.
All images and impressions received
are stimulated through the flow of Sacred Energy. To divine
for someone the energy deepens the connection process and the
aura of the individual is drawn in through their participation
in the act itself. Together a channel is formed and it presents
a focused receptacle to collect the answers. It is a channel
to great wisdom. Such divination is not a simple parlor trick,
but a very serious undertaking. Truth is revealed through intuitive
processes, key symbols, and a variety of methods that are simply
doors through which the revelation may pass.
The senses become acute and combine
to create a tool or voice that arises from within as the process
of interpretation is one of continuously remaining open to learning
more of life; and a willingness to work at improving and honing
these skills. Energy is often read or channeled speaking to
the practitioner in pictures, symbols, and thoughts. Images
take shape and form within the mind. This leaves the shaman
to virtually experience those energies first-hand. It can be
extremely taxing and emotionally painful or exhausting. The
shaman is well prepared for whatever comes to take place, trusting
the inner spirit and senses to act as guides. Sometimes this
is enough and at times tools
such as crystals, bones, stones, cards, and the like are used.
At other times an ally is called upon from the spirit world
to guide, teach, or interpret.
Auras are the energy fields of the
body reflecting mental, physical, and spiritual conditions of
people, places, and things. Stones vibrate as do plants, animals,
and all living matter. They are best viewed in darkness or against
a neutral background and are often seen a dusk or dawn for the
beginner. Sometimes the energy field is weak and at other times
it is intense. Examples of this energy are depicted in art of
all cultures frequently being seen as a nimbus or religious
halo. Colors and shapes speak in terms as symbols or rays that
reflect certain states of being. A good shaman guides with what
is revealed, often reading others to better understand them
for personal purposes of knowing how to deal with that person.
This same individual might never know; thinking instead that
the shaman was simply a very compatible person. The lines of
the face are also examined, as is the countenance and body language,
taking it all into account. Frequently this is done in a single
swift glance as a part of the shaman's second nature.
This comes from much practice. It
is rather as if you were to stand back and view a picture objectively.
Perhaps it is what draws so many individuals to become people-watchers
and try to guess things about them. To the shaman it is more
than guess-work, it is a grouping of facts that come together
to form a clear picture.
One of the most apparent sources
for seeing portents or divining information is the Dream Lodge
or shamanic journey. This is an area I feel needs some explanation.
Shamanic lifestyles do not separate realities but they do alter
them and use those alterations for specific purposes. It would
be much like someone choosing to drive to their destination
as opposed to walking. Journeys are brought on both intentionally
and at random. In either case the shaman travels so deeply into
various forms of reality that the state of oneness with the
Powers That Be is achieved and a link is made with that consciousness.
They arrive a the Source to experience things first-hand as
an observer and active participant.
It is a feeling of presence just
as real as being in a normal physical state but with heightened
intensity far beyond the stage of dreaming as most know it:
though dreaming and meditation are often the portals used for
entry into the trance state. It is an opening to all sensations
and levels of consciousness at once. Seeking information through
the inner spirit often involves out-of-body flight. To awaken
to such a state you must get out of your own way. There are
many researchers today who claim that it is all done within
the mind and no actual projection of a spirit force takes place.
They claim that leaving the body as such is simply an illusion.
I would argue that fact since I
have had the experience. I know that out-of-body travels is
just that--out-of-body. It is true that you can project your
consciousness at will to view things at great distances, but
the two are not the same. The process of mind projection is
done in a semiconscious state and is totally a mental process.
Going far beyond a clairvoyant experience out-of-body travel
is accomplished through a much deeper state of trance. You can
actually feel your spirit body separating from your physical
body as it expands out into the universe, and you will definitely
know the difference.
These experiences can be spontaneous
as well as being brought on through the use of ritual, meditation,
religious ecstasy, shamanic trance, or in some cases by physical
or emotional trauma. In a meditative state distant viewing is
more like a leisurely excursion for the most part. The shamanic
experience is deeply spiritual--an experience you can have even
if you are not a practicing shaman. These states of altered
consciousness and travel can be used or abuses--that is where
your weight of moral and spiritual integrity comes into play.
Whatever the case, the purpose for
taking these actions must be foremost in the mind of the individual
who is undertaking them. Spy and you will be spied upon. Seek
to grow and you will evolve. These abilities are not only skills,
they are gifts. If they are abused it will reflect back on the
abuser. It is as simple as that. Shamanic flights are said to
be flights of ecstasy...that would be rapture...that would be
of Spirit.
The door to the shamanic classroom
is, as I have said, within the elements of the Medicine Wheel.
We are ingrained with the climate, and it is these forces that
we know on a somewhat limited personal basis. Knowing their
essence in this way you will be able to have a deeper conception
of the energies that come into play here. Just as the essence
of a plant contains its most potent powers to be extracted,
the essence of the forces of nature and the inner spirit contains
the most potent abilities to enlighten you. You must know the
essence before you can know the Otherworlds.
Alignment with the forces will take
you into realms as their doors begin to open to you. Once the
fundamentals are in hand any pathway may be walked. Here in
America it is the culture of the land itself that belongs to
the Native Americans. We may have industrialized it, modernized
it, and developed it to the extent that we can barely recognize
it anymore, but inherently it is the Native Americans who have
always understood it, and their shamans know it best. Through
their eyes you will find correlations and sacred sites are very
closely associated to them.
The names of those locations often
reflect the legends and myths as well as the indigenous influences
of their respective areas. Ceremony and ritual have brought
about the Spirit Paths and other structural developments within
the shamanic landscape. It is the shaman who discovered the
majority of the vortexes, Sacred Energy lines, and place of
power here in America. I tis the shaman who found they could
be tapped to open the doors of Otherworlds and gain the wisdoms
held there. The shamanic path simply asks you to have the courage
to know your own inner spirit, to be honest with yourself, to
be true to your own spirituality, and to come to know the oneness
within nature.
To respect, honor, and hold the
land and the and the Spirit of Place that resides within it
sacred as well as the Otherworlds and all of life is the way
of the shaman. This does not infringe on any religious faith;
instead it compliments it. There is room here for everyone.
This is no more than should be asked or expected and through
the eyes of the shaman you will come to better understand the
essence, the process, and learn to keep it simple.
The process of enlightenment can
be worked on through the Dream Lodge. During normal sleep the
projection of the spirit, or out-of-body experience, is quite
a normal event. The conscious mind being temporarily shut down
literally does get out of your way and allow the inner spirit
to unite with the subconscious and the will. This union sets
the spirit free to journey on its own.
Such events may often be reflected
in dreams of various forms of flight or sailing. Dreams bring
enlightenment, consolation, instructions, and information. They
inspire and awaken you to your instincts and senses.
Many dreams are heavily invested
with symbolic images. They are the gateways to Otherworlds.
You may not always seek them and often they may appear to find
you. For the most part, you will be unaware of the travels your
spirit makes. If you begin to pay attention to your dreams you
will begin to see the signs. One sure sign is when you feel
your body tremble or shake awaking you from a sound sleep--or
as though you have fallen a thousand feet only to land lying
awake in bed. You may have had this experience. It is caused
by your spirit returning to your body.
This is also where you may experience
initiations. Initiations are frequently frightening since deep
fears must be confronted and dealt with and it is where your
sense of humor will come in handy. Always they are highly interesting,
vivid awakenings, intense awarenesses, quickenings or trials
by one of the elemental forces of Air, Fire, Water, or Earth
since there are ever tests to be undergone. Unusual dreams should
be noted in a journal immediately then contemplated and interpreted.
Not all dreams bring these sacred
experiences, but those that do are well beyond the norm. They
are more intense as colors, objects, and events become exceptionally
vivid. You will find you are an active participant, not merely
a viewer. Such dreams are rarely shaken off due to their poignancy
and content. They tend to remain with you for a long time, often
throughout life. In them you are consciously aware that you
are dreaming. It is in this state that the apprentice shaman
will seek to find and view the spirit body that is present.
It would be like looking at your own body when you are awake,
not its reflection in a mirror. Once this is accomplished the
apprentice begins to focus on willfully altering the dream.
The Medicine Wheel and certain sacred
sites are conducive to this activity and often stimulate the
process. When dream alteration is repeatedly achieved and mastered
the next step is to continue deeper into the dream received
and work with it as an actual altered state of consciousness
and functional classroom. Such states are frequently found at
the fringes of trance sessions. The shaman slows the process
and works on this level. To awaken within this dream-state presents
a real experience. The intensity is magnified in colors and
dimensional objects. All senses are active. It becomes a malleable
form that can be altered and is frequently used by the shaman
as a classroom to meet with and teach the student.
Spiritual guides, teachers, and
allies of the student do much the same thing. It prepares you
to work later with altered states of consciousness within Otherworld
dimensions. It is quite possible to meet with others intentionally
and this method is a favorite teaching tool in shamanic practices.
A progress is made the will is strengthened and you are then
able to continue beyond the dream itself into the realms of
Spirit. I tis the dream that is the veil over the doorway and
you must learn to part it.
Here training under a shaman is
quite helpful in avoiding the traps and pitfalls that exist
there. Carlos Castaneda suggested in his writings that the student
should look at the back of the hands and never directly at any
object (softening the gaze). This is a fairly common theme in
many of my studies. It keeps
you from drifting in and out of this state or losing it altogether.
I have found it to be most helpful. Such dreams are of virtual
reality and the fine line between the out-of-body experience
is frequently apparent. It is the first phase of projection.
In most cases out-of-body acts that are consciously sought slip
through the curtain or veil rather fleetingly. It is barely
noticed, but in the dream state when the spirit body subconsciously
projects you can catch glimpses: but you must train the conscious
mind to be prepared for it, recognize it, and accept it before
you can work with it.
Knowledge has ever been sought through
a higher means whether it is through the shamanic pathway or
through the use of runes, tarot cards, crystal balls, or in
some other fashion. Vortex sites are another means, however,
they offer one distinct difference: you do not need to turn
to someone else's intuitive interpretation. A vortex places
you on a one to one basis with the Spirit of Place, the universe,
the Sacred Energy, the Web of Life, and with Spirit. The Web
of Life is a term many individuals use loosely; but to a shaman
it is sacred, it is the lines of Sacred Energy and their intersections
that contain Spirit. The shaman sees this as a vital force that
permeates the Earth and all dimensions. It is alive, sentient,
and a channel that is ever open to you.
As a student you will soon discover
that these lines and sties are indeed highly conducive to these
experiences. You will also discover the dreams they stimulate
and the Medicine Wheels they contain are indeed the shamanic
classrooms of your inner spirit.
Ley Lines and Vortexes
Part Eight © Cinnamon
Moon
Spirit Paths have been used by the
shaman as a form of initiation for centuries. Through the ritual
of walking a process is undergone in which the elements are
encountered, energies absorbed, and phenomena are experienced.
It is the pilgrimage of the initiate that brings about the conditions
of transformation, enlightenment, and growth. This is a quest
where, alone with oneself, the initiate must also be alone with
their thoughts and their struggle to remain focused. Such pilgrimages
tend to end at sacred sites where ritual calls for a vision
quest or other ceremony to culminate the event.
The Medicine Path practices teach
that the experience is the initiator in combination with Spirit.
Subsequent to the onset of the pilgrimage and again upon arrival
at the sacred site a ritual cleansing is undergone. This includes
fasting, purification, and meditation as well as testing endurance
and strengths. Smudging is used to clean the energy field of
the individual and the site aiding in the focusing and cleansing
of all channels. a smudge stick is usually prepared ahead of
time and composed of sage, cedar, sweetgrass or combinations
thereof.
In the journey personal truths and
fears come forward to be acknowledged. Often such experiences
are presented by Spirit whether they are sought after or not.
Many have gone through the paces of an initiation ceremony only
to discover that nothing happened. This discovery may initially
be disappointing; however, a second "natural" initiation
in which the true confrontation and experience will show itself,
seemingly of its own accord, frequently follows shortly thereafter
in a wide range of forms. One way or another the initiation
will take place.
Hopi initiates were known to run
the distances of the Spirit Paths to the specified sacred site,
place a prayer stick at the shrine, and return along the same
route. They ran a grueling distance from sunrise to sunset.
it is worth mentioning that the experience they had of an altered
state of consciousness was well beyond that of today's marathon
runners who claim a "runner's high". In Peru, at Nazca,
there is a center called Cahuachi where lines were swept and
used for religious practices by the shamanic priests. While
walking or running the Spirit Paths ceremoniously, the act becomes
one in which there is little need to concentrate allowing the
mind to be free to attain heightened states of consciousness.
Through the physical act of running
or walking these paths the subconscious begins to surface opening
a channel for the inner spirit to come forth. The seeking of
initiation is done in areas for which the individual has been
prepared creating greater doorways to future study and growth
abilities. Unsuccessful initiations are those in which the seeker
has not yet been qualified to enter into and are a direct message
from Spirit that further study and preparation must take place.
During the successful initiation
the doors to Otherworlds allow the individual to enter and perceive
other dimensions. They appear as glimpses and whisperings that
lead to wisdom and enlightenment in an experience involving
all the senses. It demands that the personality of the individual
be sacrificed in order for transformation and growth to occur.
Negative traits are offered up willingly as sacrifices to make
room for the changes within the individual. Initiation can come
through dreams or visions where fears are faced, challenged,
and private demons conquered. The initiate is tested to the
core of their being to summon all the courage that exists in
order to face those truths.
Whatever happens there is a change
that takes place and transforms the individual forever in undeniable
ways. To undergo initiatory experiences is to accept altered
states and gain control of the self while remaining focused
on the intent of your actions. Ultimately that is the greatest
power struggle. Through this process of acceptance the initiate
learns to walk between the worlds in gradual stages. Awareness
grows with the knowledge and the process proves to be an experience
where the lessons here are not forgotten. It is a death of the
old self and a rebirth of the new.
How far this is taken depends upon
the wisdom the individual is seeking, how deeply into the shamanic
path they choose to tread, and how much growth is desired. It
is a choice that must be willing sought by the initiate and
is never coerced. Any teacher, any book sincerely written, any
true student of enlightenment will tell you that "right
purpose" must come first. What this means is that you must
seek for the right reasons. That includes proceeding in an honorable
fashion showing respect and walking a path of dignity. Do not
expect growth where the soil has not been prepared ahead of
time.
Honor your own soil and that of
Mother Earth, honor that which grows, which breathes the air,
which flows, which contains, and the wisdom that is yours--honor
the two-leggeds, winged-ones, finned-ones, and the four-leggeds:
honor All Our Relations. When confronted with obstacles it must
be remembered that they are but pieces to the puzzle of who
you are. The way you solve that puzzle develops your character.
There is a lesson to be learned by everything that appears on
your path and through that
process there is growth. Once the lesson is learned it will
build within you the strength of the character to evolve into
the person you are be-coming. In this way you learn to embrace
that which is feared and love it for the gift that it is. Your
strength is waiting for you to retrieve it.
Each individual is unique but too
few of us have the courage to face our own strengths and weaknesses.
All of life is sacred; that includes each individual and the
spirit within them. You are given life so that you may grow
and blossom to the best of your ability. You are responsible
for your own actions and to answer for them. Understand why
you do things and choose to act for the right reasons with integrity.
Desire only your own approval and you will earn it. To desire
to please others will only bring disappointment and failure.
Live up to your own expectations and you will grow.
Look within before seeking initiation
into anything in life. You do not step out to Otherworlds but
you do step into them. You must first go inward and find the
spirit that dwells there. It is through the inner spirit that
you step out of yourself. You can only learn to truly open to
an experience through the inner spirit that is your link to
the universe. You must make a conscious effort to choose to
make this link, to discipline yourself, to be one with the energy.
You will be amazed at how far you are able to go.
The straight path of the Sacred Energy
is a way of dwelling in the oneness that is the natural order
of life. It is a arrow road less traveled these days and difficult
to walk only when you do not understand it. Do not become so
enraptured by virtue that you lose sight of yourself. Do not
seek your own power at the expense of others. Walk the center
aware of both but separate from them in peace. It was Black
Elk, a famous Sioux medicine Man, who said: "Know the Power
of Peace". His words are as strong today as they were then.
The roadway of the straight and narrow
often has entrapments along its sides. There are avalanches
of emotions, quagmires of self-pity, swamps of confusion, and
it is all too easy to slip into the ruts that we have carved
out for ourselves. It is then you need to focus, center, and
seek the oneness to get back on track. If you can recognize
this you will find your path. You weave your life and you alone
are the dreamer of your dream; thus it is a choice to connect
or separate from your own spirituality. You cannot validate
your self-worth through another person. It must be determined
through your actions and the way in which you treat others.
Some of your growth will come from
mistakes that you make--actually most of it. Some lessons are
repeated while others make their impressions the first time
around. If you become sidetracked it is up to you to make the
correction. Just as you bring your mind back to the subject
you are focusing on when it wanders, you must do the same for
your actions. Learn to laugh at your mistakes--to see the Great
Trickster, Coyote, in action as you attend his class. Know who
you are and do not allow others to make that definition for
you. Things will happen to and for you when the time is right.
Finding your own path allows you
to grow. If you are under stress you need to simply find a place
to be alone with Mother Earth. Sit down and let it fall away
from you and into Her waiting hands. She will know how to use
such energies constructively so give them to Her with love.
To Her they are gifts. Know
your own vision and respect that of others. Keep your focus
strong, your vision clear, and your purpose truly impeccable.
No more can be asked of you. Pray when you need to talk and
meditate when you need to listen for the answers. Transformation
takes place both inwardly and outwardly in a gradual process.
It may be quite dramatic at times, but the drama in most cases
is your own.
Begin the process of transformation
by knowing yourself, trusting your instincts and senses, and
realizing your inner strengths. This state of spirituality within
the self brings the positive energy and peaceful countenance
of a spiritual person. You do not see the shaman yelling, running
in frantic confusion, or out of control. On the contrary, they
are grounded, centered, calm, and strong. At their center both
the physical and spiritual worlds are clearly seen simultaneously.
They sharp eye is softened to a balanced perception allowing
the ability to shift the focus when necessary.
You must live your life fully according
to your own path and express yourself without silencing the
expression of others, trusting in the will of Spirit. To find
an inner state of peace allows you to reflect that to others
who will recognize it. Spirit will recognize your efforts and
take them to fruition as your willingness effects change. This
will present you with new conditions and rewards as the growth
continues; it is, after all, a cycle that is reborn to new elevations--the
Spiral Dance of Life that honors all life for it is all sacred--including
yourself and the testings you must face.
The process of vision questing can
take several days to reach completion for the initiate. It is
done in isolation to create a time of reflection during which
the way your life has been lived to that point is examined.
Soul searching often takes place and choices are made. Prayer
is followed by meditation, drumming and listening. A state of
trance begins and the isolation is one of the triggers. Many
things can and do occur. A change in the appearance, size, and
shape of your body, an animal form may present itself where
an ally or totem spirit is revealed, entities may appear, senses
grow acute, and psychological as well as spiritual transformations
take place. There is no eating or sleeping and the battle is
within. This is a spiritual quest where you learn respect for
who you are as you see the actions and paths of others as the
learning experiences they must undergo. You come to see that
we can never force our ways on anyone.
In the process of seeking drums,
flutes, and rattles can be used. Water can be brought to drink.
Sacred smoke is brought to be offered, and incense or smudge
sticks to purify the energies present. The body will alter its
own state without the use of hallucinogens. Sacred dream visions
will occur at such times, and often they are filled with highly
significant symbolism. You may undergo what is often called
a shamanic journey where your inner spirit does project from
your physical body to undergo an initiatory process in a dimensional
setting.
Later those journeys and symbols
may be interpreted by you or with the aid of a shaman if you
feel you need help. Such sacred events are so vivid that the
details are not easily forgotten, but it is still a good idea
to write down as much as you can in a journal. Combined with
the heightened awareness this experience creates, the vision
often remains intact in your memory for a lifetime. In the case
of out-of-body experiences the vision quest generally provides
an introduction or contact with totems, Animal Guides, allies,
co-walkers, and teachers. It can be subtle or intense, and
it is one that will leave you changed forever.
This is the path of the shaman. It
is one that can be sought if you are called, and it is one that
deserves respect. Your experience may not be this intense, but
it could be one of exposure to any or all of these elements.
it generally depends upon what you are looking for when you
go there; how open you are to the energies; and what the Spirit
of Place desires to show to you on behalf of the Creator.
Page
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Libraries
are on this row
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INDEX
Page 3
(Main Section, Medicine Wheel, Native Languages &
Nations, Symbology)
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INDEX
Page 5
(Sacred Feminine & Masculine, Stones & Minerals)
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©
Copyright: Cinnamon Moon & River WildFire Moon (Founders.)
2000-date
All rights reserved.
Site
constructed by Dragonfly
Dezignz 1998-date
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