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

 

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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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Shamanism – The Way of the Ancients

Shamanism – The Way of the Ancients

Archaeological evidence shows that since the dawn of recorded history shamans and the practice of shamanism have been common components in cultures all over the world.  I became fascinated by the concept that, at a time when there was no technology nor means of communicating long distances,  how did it come about that so many different and dispersed cultures practiced shamanic rituals that were eerily similar to one another? The benefits of shamanism must have been substantial because they have stood the test of time…

What are the benefits of Shamanism?

Many many cultures still practice shamanism today as a part of their everyday life.  They seek health and healing for their mind, body and spirit from their local shaman. They understand and appreciate the interconnections between humans and nature. They find peace and stress reduction by simple daily practices that bring balance into their homes and families.

Daily headlines in every media seem to indicate that mainstream North American culture is on a never ending search to decrease stress, increase happiness, improve mental health for us and our kids. So why then are Shamanism and other ancient strategies not more commonly practiced within our society?  Lack of awareness?  Suspicion? I really can’t say for certain.

What I can do is provide a convenient tool for those who are seeking  a lifestyle of less stress and more fulfillment a way of attaining that via awareness and learning. This is the purpose of this website: awareness and skills building though sharing experiences and online learning opportunities. It is a coupling of the ancient and the modern technologies to bring about this shared life enhancement goal.

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

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