Journeying
is a classic and very ancient technique that has been practiced by healers,
shamans and shamanic practitioners all over the world for over 40,000
years in many cultures on every continent.
You
may remember accounts of journeying in our fairy tales and stories...
Alice in Wonderland journeyed deep into mother earth down a rabbit hole...
Dorothy, in the Wizard of Oz journeyed up through a funnel in a hurriane's
eye to the upper world...
Journeying
enables you to mindfully intend and send your awareness into the hidden
realms of your own consciousness to connect with inner wisdom, teachings,
receive healing, answers to problems or to discover information that
can facilitate your personal growth and understanding.
A
shaman is one who can go into an altered state of consciousness at will.
While in this altered state, he or she makes a conscious choice to journey
to another reality, a reality which is outside of time and space. This
other reality is composed of three realms...
The
lower world, the middle world or the upper world and is inhabited
by helping spirits or guides.
The
shaman is able to establish relationships with these spirit-guides and
to bring back information and healing for the community or the individual.
Shamanic
journeys are always undertaken with a specific purpose in mind. The
classic way of entering the spirit world is by using a steady rhythm
of drumming. This encourages theta brain waves that induce the altered
state of consciousness required to travel to the spirit worlds.
The
drum is known as "the shaman's horse" where the shaman "rides" on and
with the drumming rhythm to enable him/her to get to the spirit world
and like a lifeline to find their way back quickly and easily.
Basic
instruction on how to Journey...
*Note:
these steps can vary depending on the type of journey - the below is
just a general guideline...
•Create sacred space in a private, quiet space
-
When we create mindful, sacred space before beginning to journey...
we create a safe container from which to do our inner work... remember
that you are always in charge of your own journey...
•
Lie or sit down & get comfortable
-
it's important to really relax when learning and taking shamanic
journeys and to be in a place where you won't be disturbed... don't
be discouraged if you don't "receive" anything the first
few times while attempting to learn how to journey at the beginning...
Learning to take or go on a shamanic journey does require some practice
like any new skill - think of it as "exercising" a part
of your self that hasn't been accessed before - the more you practice,
the easier it will become...
Be
patient with yourself and trust your own inner guidance... what
has worked for me is to really trust that "first hit"
that you receive while journeying...
Become
presently aware of ALL your senses... what is it that you are
smelling?... hearing?... feeling?... seeing?... what does your
body sense?... what is around you, behind you... above or below
you?... if you're still having trouble receiving... you may need
to learn how to relax more deeply - practice relaxation techniques
first before journeying...
Also
know that not everyone "sees" while journeying... some
people just feel information through their body or they only receive
scents... others hear sounds... know what works best for you and
go with it... also after much practice, you will receive more and
more as time goes by...
•
Relax, cover & close your eyes & start sound of drumming
-
it reallly helps to cover your eyes or be in a darkened room while
journeying - being in complete darkness really assists you to go
within deeper... especially if you want to be able to "see"
or "sense" better during your journey...
I also recommend that you learn to journey sitting up instead of
lying down... lying down runs you the risk of falling asleep...
although, also know that when you sleep while journeying sometimes
that can also mean that you are going very deep... but you might
not remember much either...
Use
a shamanic journeying CD like the one i offer "journey
with laughing wolf" or tape yourself drumming for some
drumming to listen to...
You
can also drum for your self to journey but for beginners, this might
be a bit difficult and requires practice with much concentration
to do both drum and journey - listening to a journeying CD can be
much easier when starting to learn how to journey...
What
i do when i drum for myself is, sometimes, is, to sit up with
the drum resting vertically on the floor and then i gently rest
my forehead gently against the side-rim of the drum... where the
sound of the drum really focuses me within - my mind is literally
physically "riding" the drum... drumming with a quick
pulse (108 beats per minute is recommended) works best for journeying
than a slow beat...
•
Formulate the question you wish to ask before you journey
-
to really receive a clear answer, be really clear with your questions
- be specific and keep your questions simple... and you will receive
answers...
•
*Visualize/picture an opening in the earth
-
be creative... go to a place in your mind where you have gone to
before or dream of a place and let it be a special, safe and private
place that is calm and serene...
Some
of the places that i go to enter the earth to journey are... an
old favourite apple tree that used to be in my back yard when i
was growing up - i enter the earth by through the base of the tree's
trunk where it meets the earth... another place i enter is by walking
up to, parting with both hands, and step through a very large beautiful
spider web into the middle world...
Or
walk through a large cave at the beach... i always stop for a moment
before entering and ask the spirits for permission to enter first...
it is my way of honouring and respecting the spirits and the process...
journeying is a gift...
•
*Enter the opening, journey either down a tunnel to the underworld
or "fly" up to the upperworld
-
after you have entered down into the earth... imagine going down
some sort of tunnel... be acutely aware - use all of your senses
as you journey and travel down... what does the earth smell like?...
what do you see?... what direction are you going... staight down
or in a spiral?... is it cold or warm?... what do you feel or touch
on the way?...
-
to fly to the upperworld can happen in many ways... if you wish
to journey to the upperworld, state your intent clearly before you
begin... when i journey up, i often visualize myself riding on the
back of an eagle or any other type of bird...
A
friend of mine often journeys on a winged-horse... be creative...
it could a magic carpet... or holding our your arms and simply float
up... or go up the rungs of a ladder or climb some stairs... i have
often journeyed to grandmother moon and the stars...
•
Find yourself at a river or clear running spring
-
go into this river or spring to wash and "cleanse" yourself
as you are entering sacred space within your inner realms of consciousness...
to also further your respect your own intent of why you are there...
you come refreshed having left the remnents letting go of ego and
a linear mindset...
•
Meet guide or ally
-a
guide or an ally can be a animal totem of any kind or a being from
another realm or an ancestor that you have once known or not known...
be respectful when your guide or ally shows up... they are meeting
you in this realm for the first time and wish to know your intent
and why you are there... offer them a sacred gift like tobacco,
a sacred stone or chocolate, etc... for the gift that they will
offer you of information or an answer to your question...
-
We are taught while going through the teachings of the traditional
Inca/Inka Medicine Wheel journeying-process that we always call-for
to work with a archetype-being named Huascar (pronounced "wascar")...
Huascar
was a 13th Inca emperor (ruled 1526-32), having seized the throne
after the sudden death of his father, Huayna Capac. Huascar was
captured and executed by his brother in 1532 and didn't complete
his "ayni" (right relationship) and went to the lower
world, the Ukhupacha, to complete his ayni. When we journey to the
lower world, we always ask for Huascar's guidance and permission
to enter the lower world of the Ukupacha.
...
Huascar as archetype can be male nor female showing up as many forms...
Huascar usually shows up for me as a wild and old shaman-like character,
with very long hair in ragged clothes with all kinds of "stuff"
hanging off of him and he has a large horned-headdress... and he
communicates with me telepathically with no sound... another guide
that i work with is a grandmother white wolf who is very old and
wise...
•
State or ask about problem or question to guide
-again,
during your journey, be specific and clear about what it is that
you seek... with respect... keeping your questions simple is more
effective...
•
Follow the guide's lead & instructions implicitly
-
trust
their wisdom even when their message or gift to you doesn't make
any sense at all... Once, information that i was given during a
journey didn't make any sense to me until almost 4 years later...
It's interesting to note... If you ever visit Peru and receive a
soul-retrieval or journey-message from a shaman there, they often
only "through their breath, blow" the information or message
they received into one of your chakras, not telling you any information
they received - they believe it is up to you to discover what the
teaching/message was for yourself! ...it was "your" journey
not theirs...
•
Return from the journey via the same route you came from the start
when you hear the drum "call-back" ...(7 beats together
4 times)
-
it's
important to have some kind of call-back when returning from your
journey... the shamanic journey takes you very deep into a trance...
a call-back helps you come back into the middle world and back to
life as it is... if you don't use a call-back with the drum...
Pat
your body, legs and arm and clap a few times to wake you up to return
back... do not drive a vehicle or operate any machinery during or
right after a journey... give yourself time to return fully... other
ways that hep is to also burn some smudge (sage/cedar) incence or
drink some water...
•
Offer & give thanks to your guide & close sacred space
-
be
appreciate and mindful of the gifts and sacred knowledge you have
received... and honour and thank your guides in some way... when
they know you come with a pure heart of spirit they will honour
and respect you back.. and always know that your guides and allies
are always there for you... ask them for their name and they will
tell you... ask them anything—all you need do is ask!
•
You may choose to journal your experience to deepen your understanding
-
writing
down the teachings and learnings we have recieved "grounds"
our experience and also opens the way for more understanding and
also keeps a record of your path and journey...
•
Special Note:
If
you meet or see something while journeying that is uncomfortable
or fearful - a good practice to remember is to NOT ENGAGE with whatever
you sense or see—knowing this journey is your journey and you
are not available to be manipulated... a good practice to journeying
is to be in the role of the "observer" - especially when
first learning...
For
more detailed information or to ...learn how to journey where you live,
go to www.shamanism.org
Above...
3 min journey drumming sample of weaver's 2nd track:
"riding the wave" from the CD/Mp3 Album Journey with Laughing
Wolf (includes rattle and please note: NO crows - just drum &
rattle!)
• Hear actual sound clip without crows, here,
below >>
Journey
with Laughing Wolf... - A Sacred Drumming CD mp3 for the Shamanic Journey...
- drummed by carol weaver, reiki-shamanic practitioner...
This
unique CD was recorded in real time (in sacred space) with no looping
on a powerful 27-inch Qilaut frame drum made of a very thin goat hide
and a white oak frame named "laughing wolf"...
From
weaver... "i am honoured and awed to be the caretaker and carrier
of grandmother "laughing wolf"... who is a powerful 27-inch
qilaut wind drum... this CD was created to assist those on the shamanic
path who wish to journey with her strong, sacred voice... the sound
of this sacred large frame drum will take you to very deep places and
spaces in the shamanic landscape..."
- See above for some basic instruction on how go on
a shamanic journey >>
Kalaallit
elder and teacher Angaangaq shares a deep teaching of the qilaut drum...
..."Qilaut, the Eskimo wind drum, is a circle that has no beginning
nor ending, in which we all belong... the great creator who made us—holds
the handle and every time creator touches upon the rim, creator hears
the heart-beat of humankind. The stronger the heartbeat the healthier
humankind is." -- Angaangaq
This
CD has three movements of shamanic journey drumming tracks...
Shamanic
Journey Tracks - including mp3 sample/download...
•
What others have said about "Journey with Laughing Wolf" - sacred drums for the shamanic journey...
"..........carol
weaver's music is so expansive that it leads to places and spaces
never explored before... The drumming (on this journeying CD) is powerful,
deep, and rich with light-filled energy. I use this CD with all my
clients who need to journey or rest in the sacredÉthank you weaver!
May we all experience journeying with laughing wolf." -- Mary Anne Flanagan, Toning the OM, New York City
"..........
Incredible Work! What a way to clear the mind after a stressful day
at the office. Kick back relax and take a 20 minute journey. Perfect
Thank You carol!!! -- Jim Davis
"..........One
great journeying CD! I love how this CD offers 3 different journey
options. The 1st journey is great when you want a quick perspective
on something and the other 2 let you go much deeper when you have
more time - very versatile. Highly recommended!"
-- A. Mackay, Prince George, BC, Canada
..."song
to the apukuna" is a 50-minute meditative song-prayer and journey
in honour of the sacred apu (mountain) spirits. Sung in Quechua &
English and played entirely on the rim of the qilaut wind drum named
"laughing wolf"... a sacred mountain
drum... the
apu song
"Apukuna"
is the plural of "Apu"... "Apu" in the indigenous
Quechua language of Peru means "mountain spirit"—a sacred
being that not only gives presence to the physical mountain but offers
dialogue with a "paqo" (one who walks a spiritual path) who
is in service to that apu... and one can be in service to more than
one apu... Apus are the highest level of nature energy and are the most
important spiritual guides within the Andean shamanic system... "humpui,
humpuay" loosely translated means, "come to me, come to me"...
What
weaver says about the writing of "song to the apukuna"...
"The vision of "song to the apukuna" comes from a
very deep place from within our blessed earth mother, Pachamama
& the Apu mountain spirits... this is their song... a teaching and
a gift... it is their call to us to remember who we truly are...
to dream our becoming into being... to return to Ayni & once again
walk in balance with all... within,
around, above & below... "
"I
dedicate this movement of music & song to don Manuel Quispe (1905-2004)
& the Q'ero mountain people of Peru who have freely shared their
medicine & love of our blessed earth mother, Pachamama... it has
been truly an honour & a blessing to share this with all of you,
my beautiful Ayllu..." -- weaver (((o)))
Note:
This movement of music can be used as ceremonial music for the ceremony
of rites of passage (rites of the altomesayok - wisdomkeeper's rites)
given during the North Direction of the Inca Medicine Wheel or the Munay-Ki
rites ceremony.
This
CD can also be used for shamanic journeying as well...Inka
•
What others have said about "song to the apukuna"...
. . . . . . . ."Everytime I listen to carol weaver's "song to the
apukuna" it takes me on a musical journey. This unique musical piece
weaves my mind through a story. Each time I indulge, the story changes
depending on my mood and what's happening at the moment in my life.
I highly recommend this CD to the musical and/or spiritually conscious.
-- J. DeTracey, Vancouver, BC Canada apu
song
.
. . . . . . . "From my heart to yours, thank-you weaver for "song
to the apukuna". This truly is a work inspired. It reasonates with
the ancientness of my soul. Grounding me to the Mother while calling
to the power and strength of our sacred mountains. It is vast, yet deeply
intimate. Be it for ceremony or meditation, "song to the apukuna"
honor both."
-- In munay, love P. Jensen , Heffley Creek, BC
Canada
.
. . . . . . . "I began my journey into shamanism when I fell in love
with Apu Ausangate in 1996. Sitting in the lap of that mountain, with
the Southern Cross wheeling above me, I listened to the Q'ero medicine
people sing their love, and their profound respect and honour to their
Apu. In this CD, carol weaver has captured the essence of that heartfelt
love for all of our great Apu sprits. Ho!"
-- L. Summerlot Zammuto, Melbourne, Australia
.
. . . . . . . "Hi carol... Have "song to the apukuna"
playing here, again and just wanted to say that I think it is a really
extraordinary piece. Your freedom from "performing" and "the
song" is palpable and the flow of it all is pure magic. Thanks
so much for doing it - it's fast become a real favorite, right up there
with some of TKs sound work.
-- Love, R. Ellis, Victoria, BC Canada
.
. . . . . . . "I am preparing a talk...on the Spirit of the Drum. When
I listened to "song to the apukuna", I thought immediately of using
it to introduce the drum as sacred partner on the journey to the word
of spirit.
-- J. Millen, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
.
. . . . . . . "Oh my God!!!!!!!!! Your voice... it is, it becomes,
something way more than a human voice, it sounds to me as the voice
of something that does not live here, but in some magnificent dimension
that we are all seeking to reach... well, I'm not quite sure how to
explain, but now this piece has surpassed heart level mantra/puja to
something even bigger... I heard power, strength and also sweet soothing
feminine. You sang to those mountains like a sweet celestial lover."
-- M. Metcalf, Victoria BC Canada
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