Our Practice of Contemporary Shamanism

 

The old ones – those who came before us

We are all connected to the invisible worlds of those who came before us. In these times of great change and dislocation, many of us have forgotten the lines of light that connect us to the knowledge of the old ones, the mountains, the rivers and other creatures of light that share the Earth with us.

The peoples of Te Wai Pounamu, The South Island of Aoteorao/New Zealand understood that the great mountain Aoraki, the Son of the Sky, was the conduit between Papatuanuku, the Earth Mother and Te Rangi, the Sky Father. They respected and honoured Aoraki as their ancestor, and in return were honoured by his teaching and protection.

The peoples of North West Europe 3,000 years ago knew that the Web woven by the Wyrd goddesses intertwined each individual with the pattern of all life. No life is separate, no occurrence due only to chance – the web of all life connected everything.

We have forgotten what all of our ancestors understood – that we are all made of the same dust of the same star. Whether our form takes that of a tree, a spider, a mountain lion or a human, we are all connected by lines of light; the web of life.  We have lost the ways that maintain the web that holds and nurtures us all. We have forgotten how to come into right relationship with all that is.

The Inka shamans of the Andes call this ayni – a sacred interchange of energy between the material and spirit realms. The Tuhoe tohunga Hohepa Kereopa called it matemateone -  and explained that,  “really, your responsibility to the land is your responsibility to yourself.” Honouring, loving and coming into reciprocal, sacred relationship with our Mother, the Earth, is the most important task of the human person at this time.

The Inka prophecy speaks of this moment as “the time of meeting ourselves again”, the time when we will emerge or be reborn into the Fifth World, the world of our becoming. They say that If we are make this leap we must let go of all our previous perceptions of who we are and live our lives as joyful children, playing in the lap of the Pachamama, of Papatuanuku, of Mother Earth – in ayni, or sacred relationship.

We are the people we have been waiting for

In our Western world, during the last 40 years of rapid and turbulent change, the existence of ayni, this sacred energy interchange, is being brought to our attention in very different ways from those experienced by our ancestors.

Astronauts returning from the transcendent experience of seeing the Earth from the Moon have told of these ancient knowing, reminding us that we are so out of balance that we are endangering all that is upon the Earth. Anthropologists like Alberto Villoldo,  Michael Harner, Barbara Tedlock, have received teachings, prophecies, initiations and practices from contemporary earth peoples to pass on to us, whose time is now.

These are the simple, forgotten ways of the direct connection to spirit, passed on by those who live in reciprocal, loving relationship with the earth, the heavens and all that is between. We can now set ourselves the task of remembering these ways, of re-learning them and of passing them on to our fellow beings, so that we may lead the way into the Fifth World, the time of meeting ourselves again.

The time is now

Now it is time to remember what we know in our cells and to reconnect with all that is on the earth, above the earth and below the earth, to become the Earthkeepers of the present and the Dreamers of the time to come.

Now it is time to remember the ways of the practical mystics of the earth, to fulfill our sacred paths ion our soul’s journey; to honour those who come before us and those who come after us; to  participate once again in the weaving of the Cosmic Web.

And dream the world into its becoming:

“Thank god, the time is NOW
when wrong comes up to meet us everywhere
never to leave us; till we take
the longest stride of soul
folk ever took.”
Jean Houston

 

The three working principles of the Practical Mystics of the Earth

Munay – the power of the open heart; of unqualified love for all that is.
Ayni – the power of right relationship; of reciprocity, of sacred interchange with all that is.

The most important principle for the practical mystic is the power and practice of Intention; that is; the holding of the energetic focus on creating wholeness. In working with the web of life, the “kawsay” energy of creation, integrity with intention are essential.  Shamanic intention brings healing to all that is; in this moment; in the past; and in the time to come.

 

We offer our work in service to spirit

Shamanic Teachings – The Wisdomkeepers School and our Introductory programmes
See Programme for more information and how to contact us.

 

Te Awa – The River, Career and Change Coaching for individuals and organizations
See About Us and Our Work for more information and how to contact us.

Individual teachings, transmissions, Munay ki, ceremonies or healing sessions from Deborah 09 817 4719, deborahlowen.co.nz or Jan 09 521 5366 Visit us on Facebook