Discovering the Power of Shamanic Distance Treatments

Discovering the Power of Shamanic Distance Treatments

When I wrote a previous testimonial about my experience with shamanism, I shared how the death of my beloved older brother left me broken. I didn’t know much about shamanism at the time but booked a shamanic treatment because I wanted to feel like myself again and to be able to function better. I believed I had nothing to lose.

As I lay down on Deborah’s healing table, she shook a rattle to call her helping spirits as she passed around me, laying a crystal here and another one there. It marked the beginning of regular shamanic treatments that guided me to a new chapter in my life that included loss but also support as my shamanic practitioner helped me discover a world of helping spirits, power animals and touchstones.

When Deborah suggested a distance treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic, I was somewhat hesitant but decided to trust the journey. After all, it hadn’t let me down so far. I knew she would be using a teddy bear as a ‘proxy’ and as I closed the blinds in my bedroom and lay down on my bed, Deborah texted to let me know my treatment was about to begin.

I felt extremely relaxed and comfortable and before long, I felt like my brother was in the room with me. He was smiling. That beautiful, familiar smile. He assured me he was fine, that I was fine and that he would always be with me but in a different way. I was sobbing but felt the comfort of the sun shining on my face. I felt what you might describe as a sensation in my hands, as though I was releasing something but not quite sure I wanted to let go.

As Deborah and I had discussed before my treatment, she texted me when it was complete, and I took some time to gather myself before calling her to discuss my experience. I don’t know if I was looking for affirmation, but I wanted to hear what she had to say before I allowed the words to tumble out of my mouth.

My brother was there, she confirmed, and indeed told me that we were both fine. He also told me it was time to let go; to let both of us move forward – together but apart. It now made sense why it felt like I was releasing something.

And the sun on my face? Deborah told me her helping spirits instructed her to take the teddy bear to a sunny window to let me know brighter days were ahead and that I just needed to be brave enough to walk towards them. Like always, everything came together and made complete sense.

Any hesitation I had about the power of distance treatments evaporated. Sure, having a treatment in the comfort of my own home was convenient but it was so much more. I felt like I was able to surrender myself to my treatment much more quickly. Could it be because I was surrounded by things that held such significance to me, including a picture of me with my brother and sister that has forever hung on my bedroom wall?

Though I tend to be very analytical, I realized it doesn’t really matter why my distance treatment had been so powerful – just that it had been so comforting and that Deborah was able to provide me with such wise advice that I’m confident will help me continue to move forward.

~Linda

Experience the many benefits of a Shamanic Treatment Session:

Reduce Stress

Feel Empowered

Find Answers to Your Questions

Get Rid of Negativity

Heal Mind, Body and Soul

Find Peace and Direction

Energize Yourself

 

Book Your Online Shamanic Session Today

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How to Heal After the Death of a Loved One

How to Heal After the Death of a Loved One

Not long after my first shamanic treatment, Deborah, my shamanic practitioner, instructed me to go to the waterfront not far from where I live in search of a rock that would serve as a touchstone. While I was concerned about how I would know when I found the right rock, she was right: I just knew.

In keeping with Deborah’s advice, I asked the universe for permission to take the rock home with me and it now sits beside my computer in my home office. I find myself reaching to it for comfort countless times a day.

What led me to seek shamanic treatment? The death of my beloved older brother. For weeks and months following his unexpected passing, I was overcome with both grief and guilt. Could I have done something to save him? Did he know just how much I loved him? He was my rock; the person I turned to for the very best advice. I couldn’t imagine a future without him.

I felt as if I had a gaping hole in my heart that couldn’t be filled, even with the countless wonderful memories we shared. My body ached and I no longer recognized myself.

Admittedly, I didn’t know much about shamanism at that first session. I did know I wanted to feel like myself again and wanted to be able to function, if only to better support my family. As I lay down on a healing table, Deborah shook a rattle to call her helping spirits as she passed around me. The energy in the room changed and I began to relax. By the end of the session, I felt drained but also lighter and more at peace.

That marked the beginning of regular shamanic treatments and sparked my curiosity in the mysterious connection between the physical and spiritual worlds. As I learned about spiritual force fields and soul loss, I was able to make sense of why I was feeling so sad and vulnerable.

I’ve undergone a variety of shamanic treatments, including soul retrieval. In some shamanic sessions, I’ve felt a comfortable downward pressure. Could Deborah’s helping spirits know I’m flailing and need some stability? Other times, it feels like I’m being lifted, perhaps because the helping spirits know I sometimes struggle to simply get out of bed and need a helping hand. I often feel an overwhelming sense of calm and gratitude.

In order to allow yourself to heal, I believe you must trust your shamanic practitioner. Deborah has earned my trust in so many ways. One example: my brother once worked just steps from the waterfront location where she instructed me to find a rock to serve as my touchstone.

In another example, I commented that Deborah’s drumming was particularly energizing during one session and was inspiring me to move forward. My brother’s spirit was present, had taken her hand and chose the rhythm he wanted in order to send energy through new pathways and to make me feel safe in those pathways, she explained. It was another ‘aha’ moment, as my brother had his own drum kit and my family often joked that he marched to the beat of his own drum.

Deborah often uses crystals during our sessions. One day, I discovered she had placed a perfectly round quartz crystal under my left hand. Parts of the quartz were cloudy and muddled, while other parts were clear and bright. Deborah’s new power animal, a dragonfly (an insect characterized by large eyes) had instructed her to place it there while my right hand rested on my rock as a reminder that my past will always be there but doesn’t need to be my sole focus. I can enjoy a 360-degree view that includes my past and future.

That session helped me realize that I had been living in the past as I tried to make sense of my brother’s death and find comfort in cherished memories. But I’ve come to accept that he hasn’t abandoned me. As I continue the profound journey to restoring my soul, I call on my power animal and rely on my touchstone that Deborah helped bring into my life for guidance and support. I have a sense of renewed vision and heightened awareness and appreciation of the world around me. I’m feeling brighter, more productive and at ease. More like myself.

Linda 

 

Experience the many benefits of a Shamanic Treatment Session:

Reduce Stress

Feel Empowered

Find Answers to Your Questions

Get Rid of Negativity

Heal Mind, Body and Soul

Find Peace and Direction

Energize Yourself

 

Book Your Online Shamanic Session Today

Like to Book Your Session?

Shamanism in a Modern World

Shamanism in a Modern World

My Journey into Shamanism

When I first encountered what I now know to be Shamanism, I was a young girl.  My mother arranged yearly trips to places which, at that time, were the most unlikely of holiday destinations: Guatemala, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador – to name a few. On many of these early adventures we saw in living practice what was roughly translated to us as ‘Medicine Men’.  It all seemed very exotic and primitive.  I naturally concluded that it was only something one would see in  places with ancient civilizations, ruins and jungles and I saw no connection to my life in urban North America!

Although I had been transfixed by these experiences on my childhood travels,decades later when I experienced Shamanism right here at home,  I could not fathom how it could factor into our modern, technological world. Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong. After over a decade of  Shamanic training and practice, I came to understand that shamanism is not only relevant but it is desperately needed by our society today.

It was a winding, bumpy path…

It was not a smooth or easy transition into the Shamanic world. I felt frequent embarrassment due to my fear that I was just making all of this stuff up in my head. For the first two years of my shamanic training I prefaced every shamanic-related utterance with, ” I know this sounds weird or crazy but…” and then I would proceed to share the information or experience with friends, family or colleagues that had come to me as a result my shamanism practices. Without fail I was greeted, not by the hysterical laughter and finger pointing I was expecting, but by open faces and ready ears. I was astounded by the receptiveness and genuine curiosity people had about what I was doing.  Even those few who I was sure would scoff and tease listened without judgement.

It took into my third year to stop my ‘ prefacing’ habit. People were  genuinely curious and gravitated  to hear more or even seek me out to ask more specific questions. Men, women, kids, lawyers, police officers, ambulance workers, teachers, bankers, engineers – not the usual suspects you’d expect to be open to anything like this – asked questions with sincere interest in the answers. I began to realize that even though we have endless ways in our society to connect with others we instinctively realize that we do not actually feel connected. We sense we are missing some elusive element in order to put a context to our lives.

Context: Shamanism, by its very essence provides context to life…

As I moved along in my training and practice I came to realize Shamanism had quietly but adeptly become the hub into which all the spokes of my life had effortlessly slipped into place. I now had a vocabulary to define unusual personal experiences, some of which  I had experienced since I was a girl. It also provided a reference library where I could ask for and find information I needed. There was a new found and enduring calmness because I was starting to see how all things fit together in the most simple yet exquisite manner. A reverence for nature, its power and infinite complexities became part of my everyday consciousness. I had a found a different, and yet strangely natural way of experiencing and viewing life!

The more I connect with others in the Shamanic communities at workshops or drumming circles, the more I hear others share similar sentiments. And the kaleidoscope of people is always thrilling to me! They span the spectrum of humanity: men, women, young adults, gay, straight, corporate, retired, artsy, Hindu, Catholic, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish – every ethnic and professional background you can imagine!  Each has found that Shamanism has provided a spiritual loom that guides us in weaving together the unique elements of our lives into a beautiful tapestry of texture and colour that is as original as our fingerprints.

The tenet of service to others is quietly inherent in all shamanic practices. Whether it is providing a healing, doing a divination to provide needed information or helping souls to reach their final destination, for each act you receive as much as you give.

Shamanism has given me a balance in perspective that didn’t  exist for me before. Connecting with nature and my helping spirits have made my life more peaceful, patient and fulfilling. I am a better parent now. I am able to assist my daughter to approach life in a more balanced and healthy manner.

If you are looking to further explore Shamanism and other ancient techniques I invite you to book a session so you can experience the wondrous benefits first-hand.

 

~ Deborah

 

Experience the many benefits of a Shamanic Treatment Session:

Reduce Stress

Feel Empowered

Find Answers to Your Questions

Get Rid of Negativity

Heal Mind, Body and Soul

Find Peace and Direction

Energize Yourself

 

Book Your Online Shamanic Session Today

Like to Book Your Session?

Disconnected Connectedness

Disconnected Connectedness

The World Health Organization (WHO) has always considered mental well-being as an integral part of the general definition of health. WHO defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.

A fact sheet published by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health cites:

  • In any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians experiences a mental health or addiction problem.
  • By the time Canadians reach 40 years of age, 1 in 2 have – or have had – a mental illness
  • 70% of mental health problems have their onset during childhood or adolescence.
  • Young people aged 15 to 24 are more likely to experience mental illness and/or substance use disorders than any other age group.
  • 34% of Ontario high-school students indicate a moderate-to-serious level of psychological distress (symptoms of anxiety and depression). 14% indicate a serious level of psychological distress.

Why are mental health issues on the rise, especially among youth? .

Startling Increase in Major Depression Among Teens

A recent article in Time Magazine states: there’s been a significant increase in the percentage of young people aged 12-20 who have reported having a major depressive episode (MDE).

In a time when technology gives us tools to connect with others so easily,why then does it seem like seem like this access is making us feel more isolated? As we are increasingly using electronic tools like cell phones and computers as our communication and connection medium, are we losing something vital that might nourish our own mental health? I fear that this may in fact be true.  I fear that this new world of constantly being plugged in may be the main cause of what I call ‘Disconnected Connectedness’.

The pressure of always being ‘on’ and the increasing expectation of North American society to publicly log our activities seems to be making people more unhappy – not less.  It used to be that once we walked in our front doors we could shut out the pressures, comments, social measuring sticks and other influences that endlessly flog our psyche.  That closed door used to give shelter, respite, from the expectation onslaughts.

Ironically, the 24/7 access that  new technologies provide  that makes us all effuse about the convenience and coolness, is in  reality turning us, especially youth, into prisoners of modern communication. The worst offender, cell phones, have morphed into a dual role of lock and key – depending on which way you are facing…

The more connected with are with technology, the more disconnected we can feel because we don’t actually feel the way we say we feel when we log ourselves.  So the more we reach out, the more isolated we can become. It is not a wonder that the youth, who have grown up in this digital age and have not experienced a substantial period of their lives where there was not constant external input and commentary, have little – if any – dexterity in unearthing who they are naturally.

The looking-glass self is a social psychological concept created by Charles Horton Cooley in 1902. It states that a person’s self grows out of society’s interpersonal interactions and the perceptions of others.  I believe that the digital age has expanded that dynamic. It could be argued that this concept is on steroids in the digital age.

In many respects, young people today can almost be seen as non-participants in their development of self.  They are standing behind the looking glass watching their projected self interact with the world — Disconnected Connectedness.

We all crave connection with others.  And as we know – nature abhors a vacuum.  The digital age has created the perfect environment for Social Media to flourish.  It is time to help our kids step back and develop a sense of themselves for themselves.  

I believe that is why there is a growing sense of need to search for something that fills our souls not simply our social media profiles.  We crave connection with others but first we must become grounded ourselves.  Shamanism is one way that allows us to connect with ourselves, our soul, our uniqueness and our sense of worth. Shamanism offers something for everyone.  I have had the pleasure of training with people from various religions and parts of the world.  As our paths cross, we cherish and respect the uniqueness of each person’s path.  It is time we help our youth find their unique path, knowing they are in fact connected –  via their unique path to the Universe…  

~The Wired Shaman

 

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What’s In A Name?

What’s In A Name?

What’s In a Name… Why I chose, The Wired Shaman

Since the dawn of recorded history archaeologists and other researchers have found evidence that shamans and the practice of shamanism were common components in communities all over the world. So, how is it that, at a time when there was no technology nor means of communicating long distances that so many dispersed cultures practiced shamanic rituals that were eerily similar to one another? It was this question that drew me in to learn more about this topic. By doing so, I found my answer through learning the ways of the ancients. In turn, this newfound knowledge brought about yet another question…

Why are so many cultures still practicing shamanism today, while mainstream North American culture does not? Is it because most people have not heard about it? Or perhaps they’ve heard about it but are not sure where to experience it within a context that is familiar and convenient? Always one to scour for solutions – I had a thought: ‘Perhaps putting this topic and access to the shamanic experience within a medium that is familiar and accessible in our modern society is the answer!’

It for this reason that I chose the the name ‘The Wired Shaman’… it is a respectful nod to Tim Berners-Lee, a British scientist at CERN, who invented the World Wide Web back in 1989. CERN is a scientific research organization that successfully brought together 22 member countries who have their best and brightest engineers and physicists working together to research and discover the fundamental structure of the universe. The Internet was developed for the purpose of allowing the CERN scientists and engineers to instantly share findings and data so they could move together in understanding the universe, how it came to be and how it works.

By using the medium of the Internet to communicate my message and the lessons, I hope to create a welcoming new portal that will allow you, and others like you, to launch a personal exploration of an ancient practice that spans our planet and may just expand our awareness of this universe and where we fit into it.

So please stay a while and have a good look around. See if Shamanism speaks to you the way it has spoken to so many over thousands of years…. welcome!

~ The Wired Shaman