Once I
started using Reiki energy regularly in my life, I had a very strong desire in my heart to learn more
about Shamanism. Shamanism is not a religion. It is a method, a practice, a way
of life that requires humility, reverence towards Nature, and self discipline. I
bought several books about combining Reiki with Shamanism in a Reiki practice. I
studied them, and I loved the idea of using the two modalities together, and I have been on a quest ever since to learn as much as I can about it in this lifetime. In Dec of 2013, I had
a sudden, deep desire to get and use a drum in my life, and healing practice. I found a Reiki drumming class online and immediately signed up without questioning what I was doing. I remember thinking how out of
character this was for me to desire a drum. Yet, there was no denying the call of it to my
wildly, passionate heart. Drums are living, and they contain the spirit of the animals and wood they are made from in addition to the special spirit medicine you will receive when you activate your drum, while journeying to find its medicine and name. In that first drumming class, I went
on my first shamanic journey to find the Spirit of my drum. I didn't know what to expect since I had never journeyed before because I didn't know that I could. However, it was a spectacular experience to say the least! I was amazed at what
I saw diving into the darkness of my mind. I will share a few details from my first voyage into the underworld of spirit. I appeared on a black sand beach at sunrise. The sky was a vibrant violet color. It was breathtakingly
gorgeous there with dark palm trees swaying in an ocean breeze that was both
warm and cool. As I was standing on the beach soaking in the beauty all around
me, the black sand turned into black pearls beneath my feet. The shore was
filled with beautiful black pearls as far as I could see. I could feel their cool, silky texture underneath my bare feet. Then, I noticed a man was
walking towards me out of the jungle in East. He approached me and said he was my great grandfather; he
was a Hopi Shaman. He came to me carrying a big black crow on his shoulder, a large
black Jaguar by his side, and a huge, beautiful black pearl in his hand. He spoke
with me and told me about the Spirit of my drum, how the crow, the Jaguar, and
the pearl had powerful medicines to contribute to my drums healing influence. He
told me I would go to Hawaii and get a black pearl to wear around my neck. (We
had no plans for a trip to Hawaii at that time.) After he was finished talking
to me, they all three came back with me to be a part of the Spirit medicine of my
drum. My drum’s name is the Black Pearl. I absolutely love my first shamanic healing drum!
About nine years before this journey, I
broke a bracelet of black pearls that I had bought on my first trip to Hawaii
in 2002. When I brought home my drum, I decorated it with those lovely black pearls.
Black pearls are less common. In shamanism, they’re a symbol of wisdom, love,
peace, healing, and hope for wounded hearts. Pearls are sometimes called
‘teardrops of the moon’. The Persians believed black pearls were made when
rainbows touched the earth. Crows are associated with life’s mysteries and ancient
magick. This spirit animal symbolizes personal transformation, being fearless,
flexible, and mischievous. The panther is associated with power and protection.
The panther symbolizes courage, valor, the mother, the dark moon, and the power
of the night. This spirit animal encourages us to understand the power within
the shadow to help us eliminate our fears of the darkness and of the unknown.
That’s a gift I could really use on myself. It was interesting to me that these
are all black symbols which are associated with strength, power, and confidence.
They are the perfect spirit medicines for my drum!
When our children
graduate from high school, we let them take a special trip. Our first three
boys had all been to Alaska with their dad for their senior trips. Because Richard
was leaving for boot camp right after high school graduation, he went to Alaska
at the start of his senior year instead of at the end. We wouldn’t have any
time with him in the summer to take another family vacation. Our family was
going to go to California to see his graduation from boot camp in September. That
would be our big family vacation for the year. However, Randy decided it would
be nice to take another special trip with Richard for spring break, before he
left our home for good. Richard had already
joined the Marines the year before in their delayed entry program. He had been
training with them every week his entire senior year. Since he had already been
to Randy’s favorite spot, Alaska; we thought it would be nice for him to go to
a place that I deeply loved. I knew exactly where I wanted to go. We only had a
few weeks until spring break, but Randy managed to plan a last minute trip for us,
Mike, Rich, and Brandon. The five of us went to Honolulu, Hawaii on the island
of Oahu for spring break in April of 2014.
Hawaii has always been
dear to my heart. I have had the privilege of being there three times, and I
hope to live there someday. The name Hawaii has a beautiful meaning. Ha means to
inspire, wai means water, and i means divine. So altogether, Hawaii means ‘the
breath and the water of the Divine’. Hawaii is truly Heaven on Earth to me.
The first full day
there, we went to the Polynesian Center. The Polynesian Center is owned by the L.D.S
church. They have a temple nearby, and BYU Hawaii is close as well. It is a fun
place to go. You learn a little bit about all the Islands in the Pacific. They
put on shows and have a Luau at night. As we were leaving the Luau for the nightly
show, I noticed an oyster cracking station in one of their shops. Michael
wanted to crack an oyster for his girlfriend Sahara; and of course, I wanted to
crack an oyster too. We were both hoping for a black pearl. Given that it was a
part of my shamanic journey two months earlier, I had no doubt I would pick an
oyster with a black pearl in it. Mike chose first. When
the woman cracked it open for him, there was a beautiful, beaming black pearl
with a pretty purple hue to it. It was gorgeous. My heart skipped a beat for a second.
Maybe, he had gotten my pearl! I picked next. It was automatic. I knew exactly which
oyster was meant for me. When she cracked it open, I saw another elegant black
pearl. Two black pearls in a row! And, the only two black pearls found that day
as well. Mine had a lovely dark blue tint to it. It was absolutely perfect! We
carried our pearls around with us that trip since the necklaces were too
expensive at the Polynesian Center.
Pearl Harbor was a
solemn place. Because of the wind that day, we couldn’t go out on the boat to
see the USS Arizona Memorial. However, it didn’t matter; watching Richard read
all the memorials as he walked respectfully around that place was precious to me.
We spent several hours there reading the memorials, visiting the museums, and
learning more about this inconceivable and tragic piece of our world’s history.
I do have the deepest
respect for our Military men and women who serve us. I believe most of them
have the best intentions. However, my hope and sincere prayer is that someday
this world will not have the need for a military force of any kind anywhere on
the planet. I really do want to see this world at peace above all else. War can
never convey peace; it can only bring more war. Only peace brings peace! Let’s make
Love not war! I guess I am a true hippie at heart! My father and two
uncles served in WWII. My father was in the Navy and served in Japan right
after the atomic bombs were dropped. One uncle was in the Air Force and got
shot down flying somewhere over Asia, but thankfully, he survived; and, my
other uncle was in the Army infantry fighting in Europe. Now my son has followed
in his family’s footsteps of Military service as a US Marine. It was extremely significant
and touching to be there with Richard. I can only pray we don’t repeat the
mistakes of the past, that my son won’t have to fight in any wars, and
especially not in a WWIII. Unfortunately at this time with the state of the
world, it doesn’t seem too likely that he will escape experiencing the horrors
of war. Currently, Richard is serving our country in Japan, just like my father
did 70 years ago in 1945-1946 at the end of WWII.
While at Pearl Harbor,
we noticed there was a Pearl Factory. They had many reasonable settings for our
pearls. They also let us crack two more oysters which gave us two beautiful
white pearls. The first pearl I set in a sweet necklace for my daughter Myranda;
and, the second one I keep on my Pachakuti mesa alter, saving it for Emma to
wear one day. I wear my black pearl necklace nearly every day. It is a lovely reminder
of that special trip to Hawaii with my boys, and my first amazing Shamanic
journey to find the Spirit medicine of my drum. It is also a beautiful cleaning
tool for the Ho’oponopono prayer, another reason I wear it every day.
Alberto Villoldo teaches, “The shaman lives in a world where the Creator is not separate from the Creation, Heaven is not separate from Earth, and Spirit and matter infuse each other. The shaman does not believe in a division between the body and the spirit, or between the visible world of form and the invisible world of energy.” In June of 2014, I
found the first Shamanic course I wanted to study. I signed up for the Path of the
Universal Shaman, both the introduction and advanced online courses with
Don Oscar Miro-Quesada. It was life changing! I am currently enrolled in Alberto Villoldo's Light Body School as a Shamanic Energy Medicine Healer, and will graduate in July of 2018. I am both a student and a teacher in practicing these Shamanic arts, and always will be because I love it with all my heart. I have a Pachakuti Mesa
alter in my Reiki Healing room where I meditate, connect with Spirit, and keep some of my Shamanic medicine artes. I am a mesa carrier and practicing shaman. I have been initiated into the Munay-Ki rites. I have an apacheta in my front yard as well, an apacheta
channels energy from the heavens into our beloved Pachamama, our Goddess Earth
Mother, bringing more healing energy and diamond light to this planet. Apachetas are like acupuncture
points set up around the world to strengthen the flow of energy by means of our
offerings and our prayers. Those of us who have built apachetas maintain them
with loving care. I deeply love and respect these
ancient traditions. I am thankful I was finally open-minded enough to
experience another point of view of the world so I could learn about these
ancient customs and practice them. As a Mormon, I was rigid in my beliefs. There
was no room for other paths. Losing my religion, the fear of God, and the fear
of death was what made it possible for me to expand my world view. I have had
many
spiritual
experiences on this sacred journey that I would have never considered possible
as a Mormon. It is true that sometimes the crisis we would avoid at all
costs is the very thing that brings us to our hearts greatest desire!
I have added two more beautiful drums to my practice, another named Ruby's Krystal Rainbow, after a my grandma and me, and a red drum I put together and call my Wild Rose. I went on journeys for both of these drums as well to find the spirit medicine they would carry for me and to learn their names as well.
Namaste!
(copy and paste links)
My website
www.sacredlights.net
My YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpZXFp40f4k40LYshzXyl2Q?view_as=subscriber
Comments
Post a Comment