What is shamanism? I will use Mircea Eliade’s definition in his book Shamanism, Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy as ‘precisely one of the archaic techniques of ecstasy‘, when he writes, that it is ‘at once mysticism, magic and “religion”, in the broadest sense of the term.‘ Its roots have grown from human consciousness, awareness, awakeness and our ability to create metaphor. By it’s very nature shamanic method is transpersonal and I use that word too because I feel it bridges the rational with the non rational better understood/digested by some, than the often times appropriated word shamanism.
Grown from the time of “the fall” some might say, from the metaphorical Eden into our collective and individual waking dreams.
We all understand the nature of dreaming, and sometimes have those larger than life dreams which leave a profound imprint on our senses. I would like to mention a little about the stirrings of healing and dreaming practise as a tool for transformation. A practise that thrived for a thousand years in ancient Greece. I’ll just say that again a thousand years. That’s like a tradition lasting as long as the time plus several decades, from the Norman invasion until now. These ceremonies took place within the ancient Melissa priestess temples, the dreaming temples of Asklepios and within the dreaming chambers, where the dreamers lay, known as the ‘abaton’ ( impassable place ) which were built into the caves underground.
Interesting to note here too, that Jung developed his theory of ‘Big Dreams’ from the shamanic lore of the Neskapi Indians of the Labrador Peninsular. Messages in big dreams were known and understood to be from Mistap’eo, the million year old man. Presenting themself as a guide and helper in times of need.
……..So be patient. Do not compromise. And give your destiny time to find you.”
I believe indigeny and diversity is the future.
Finding Your Nature 