Hello there! It's been a little while, but I'm making a concentrated effort to get this blog rolling again.
For this post, I'm going to discuss something that disconcerts a lot of people I've spoken with who have Patrons; the ebb and flow process.
Having a Patron, or even a Totem or other sort of Spirit Guide does not mean that you will be privileged with 24/7 attention. As with many such things in my life, these things are subject to an ebb-and-flow pattern. For all of the months in which my intuition feels especially active and I see many signs from my Patrons and Totems, I will also experience periods of time in which my intuition seems dulled and I receive very little contact from any of my Guides or Gods.
I don't regard this as especially worrying, personally. I've mentioned in a previous post that my Patrons are not especially hands-on when it comes to my emotional development. Hermes tends to stand off to the side and leave me be - though he'll occasionally let me know he's still around, just not qualified to help. Anubis is currently not active in my life and so leaves well enough alone on principle, but I don't feel that he has lost interest. Loki, on the other hand, has been indirectly involved with my previously mentioned emotional development, largely by disrupting what was clearly unhealthy in the first place and prompting several revelations. If anything, I suspect the three of them are hanging back and waiting for me to fully bounce back from the ordeal.
As for my Totems, I have encountered them in my dream-walking stints a little less frequently, but I find that I feel no less connected with them. If anything, my connection with Crow feels much stronger, and I encounter them more during the day than I usually would. Lately, my boyfriend and I have taken to leaving bits of food out for the local murder, and we've even fed them fruit - though, of course, not by hand. They're very cautious birds, in addition to being quite clever. Usually, we'd place something like grapes or a bit of melon or something else we knew they could eat safely on the ground, then we'd turn away and walk a few paces off; after a few minutes, we could glance over our shoulders and see a crow or two checking out the food we'd left behind.
Some people find the ebbing of their contact with their Patrons and Guides to be very uncomfortable - some might even associate this ebbing with a sense of being abandoned, in a way. My advice is to be patient and to look at any recent changes in your life; you might just have to get through a new stage in your life on your own merit for a time. Otherwise, it may be that while you have grown attached to your God or Guide, you don't actually need them at the moment.
As always, if you have questions, I'll try my best to answer!
Cheers!
Saturday 22 February 2014
Saturday 15 September 2012
Intuition
Very few people have much to say on the subject of intuition. It seems to be something that you either have or don't have, if you google the term and do some quick searching.
This is not completely true - at least in my experience.
I have always been somewhat intuitive, but it wasn't until the past two or three years that I began to pay attention to and rely upon it. In doing so, what I considered to be the barest form of intuition expanded into something much stronger. Like any muscle, if you do not use your intuition, it will not become stronger or more sensitive.
But what is intuition?
Intuition is a very intrinsic thing, where one knows something or gets a bad feeling about a person or area, etc. It appears when you are trying to solve problems, such as interpersonal and intrapersonal ones, and when you are trying to make important decisions. Some people experience it as a "magnetic" pull to one side, or a leaning, or even describe feeling pressure on one hand, or one side of their forehead, etc. Others experience intuition in term of temperature when, say, trying to decide between two different stones; the one you should get feels warmer than the other for no discernable reason. In terms of situations which could have serious or life-threatening results, some people describe an overwhelming feeling of dread, or anxiety, or even nausea which forced them to make a safer decision.
Similarly, handling objects which have "imprints" or are sacred to another person - with that person's permission- can give you a sense of how intuitive you are. I, for example, connect quite quickly to things such as knives and swords - I can tell if they would be "friendly" with me or if they don't like me, usually by how comfortably they feel in my hands and whether or not I get a feeling of sudden discomfort. Likewise, as a test a friend gave me his yak bone mala, which he uses to pray to/meditate upon his Patron. My reaction was one of curiosity, then mild discomfort as I realized that I should not be handling such a thing and needed to give it back right now. There was no sense of panic or of being threatened, of course, but merely a sense that I was handling something I shouldn't have been and it was not proper to continue doing so.
Not everyone uses their intuition - indeed, some fail to even acknowledge that it exists- and not everyone is particularly sensitive. I would be wary of those who claim to be extremely intuitive and empathetic - sometimes these people are legit, but a lot of the time they turn out to be fluffy bunnies.
And, also, it should be noted that not everyone can use their intuition in the same way. I have friends who can identify "Otherkin" and the like either intuitively or through energetics. I myself am largely unable to do so, though I have managed it once or twice. Some people are able to make uncannily accurate guesses about the immediate future, or can discern the truth behind what someone is saying when they themselves are reluctant to vocalize it, etc. The possibilities are theoretically endless.
Saturday 8 September 2012
Altars and Students
A lot of sites and books about being Pagan or Heathen will describe ideal situations where one can have a large altar, or a set-up in the kitchen or garden where they are able to worship their deities and give offerings or blots.
As a student, however, this isn't really a viable option - especially if you're in a dorm.
So, based upon my past and on-going experience, here are a few tips!
In a dorm room, there really isn't a lot of space for a guy or girl to work with. What I recommend is using the space on top of a dresser, or some other isolated surface like a corner of your desk, a bedside table, or even in a sufficiently large drawer.
Try to keep things compact, too. Huge and sprawling altars are for people with space to spare! I have an orange kerchief, about an arm's length long and wide, which I use as boundaries for my altar, with the edges usually hanging over the front and back of my dresser; that limits my space, so I have to choose my altar items wisely rather than frivolously.
Additionally, anything that does not need to be on the altar, such as packages of incense, can be stored elsewhere, such as on a nearby bookshelf or in a drawer or closet.
Another thing students have a problem with is the "traditional" items of an altar. As a student in a dorm room, candles are a bit of a no-no, as is incense which is particularly potent or likely to bother a neighbour.There are multiple solutions to this.
Instead of incense, try using oils or suitable perfumes. Wearing a perfume which is dedicated to your altar is just as good as burning incense, really. Some people spray puffs of perfume near their altars/on an icon as an offering, as well. Instead of a candle, try a flameless candle or some other representation of fire, such as an herb/spice or an object. Some like to use cinnamon sticks, and others like to use a gemstone which is tied to the element of fire. Selenite lights could possibly work as well - but trust your intuition! If it doesn't feel appropriate, then don't do it!
Large offering bowls eat up valuable space as well. Try something like a saucer (which can be plain or fancy according to your tastes and intuition) or a small crystal/glass bowl, etc. It doesn't have to be a huge, brass libation bowl like that the Ancient Greeks used to use (even if those were perhaps slightly cooler.)
Try hang things on a nearby wall, too. Hermes is associated with dreams and sleep, so I have a dream-catcher near by altar usually, for example.
If libations are a problem, try something a little simpler. Place a cup or glass or mug of whatever it is you wish to offer on the altar for a while - anywhere from ten minutes to half an hour to an hour, depending on your intuition- instead of pouring it outside all of the time. Food and drink are expensive - and students are usually mostly broke! Your deities will understand. They want you to honour them, not to drive yourself into destitution for them!
In fact, a number of cultures traditionally share offerings. It's quite acceptable to offer something like a cupcake to your Patron, leave it on the altar for a little while, and then eat it yourself - actually, in a few areas of the world, that's the preferred way of doing things! I like to share tea and coffee with Hermes, as well as anything I bake, and once I think Hermes is done with it, I eat it as well.
As an odd side note, I've always noticed that these food items and drinks always taste a little different once Hermes is done with them. The flavour is never bad, but it's not quite as... "full" as it would have been otherwise. I once asked several friends about this, and it's apparently a common phenomenon; the God(dess) eats the "spiritual" half, and the physical half always tastes a bit different afterwards.
Perhaps it's psychological, perhaps it's metaphysical. Who can say?
Anywho, that's all I have to offer for the time being! I'll add more tips for you students out there as I think of them!
As a student, however, this isn't really a viable option - especially if you're in a dorm.
So, based upon my past and on-going experience, here are a few tips!
In a dorm room, there really isn't a lot of space for a guy or girl to work with. What I recommend is using the space on top of a dresser, or some other isolated surface like a corner of your desk, a bedside table, or even in a sufficiently large drawer.
Try to keep things compact, too. Huge and sprawling altars are for people with space to spare! I have an orange kerchief, about an arm's length long and wide, which I use as boundaries for my altar, with the edges usually hanging over the front and back of my dresser; that limits my space, so I have to choose my altar items wisely rather than frivolously.
Additionally, anything that does not need to be on the altar, such as packages of incense, can be stored elsewhere, such as on a nearby bookshelf or in a drawer or closet.
Another thing students have a problem with is the "traditional" items of an altar. As a student in a dorm room, candles are a bit of a no-no, as is incense which is particularly potent or likely to bother a neighbour.There are multiple solutions to this.
Instead of incense, try using oils or suitable perfumes. Wearing a perfume which is dedicated to your altar is just as good as burning incense, really. Some people spray puffs of perfume near their altars/on an icon as an offering, as well. Instead of a candle, try a flameless candle or some other representation of fire, such as an herb/spice or an object. Some like to use cinnamon sticks, and others like to use a gemstone which is tied to the element of fire. Selenite lights could possibly work as well - but trust your intuition! If it doesn't feel appropriate, then don't do it!
Large offering bowls eat up valuable space as well. Try something like a saucer (which can be plain or fancy according to your tastes and intuition) or a small crystal/glass bowl, etc. It doesn't have to be a huge, brass libation bowl like that the Ancient Greeks used to use (even if those were perhaps slightly cooler.)
Try hang things on a nearby wall, too. Hermes is associated with dreams and sleep, so I have a dream-catcher near by altar usually, for example.
If libations are a problem, try something a little simpler. Place a cup or glass or mug of whatever it is you wish to offer on the altar for a while - anywhere from ten minutes to half an hour to an hour, depending on your intuition- instead of pouring it outside all of the time. Food and drink are expensive - and students are usually mostly broke! Your deities will understand. They want you to honour them, not to drive yourself into destitution for them!
In fact, a number of cultures traditionally share offerings. It's quite acceptable to offer something like a cupcake to your Patron, leave it on the altar for a little while, and then eat it yourself - actually, in a few areas of the world, that's the preferred way of doing things! I like to share tea and coffee with Hermes, as well as anything I bake, and once I think Hermes is done with it, I eat it as well.
As an odd side note, I've always noticed that these food items and drinks always taste a little different once Hermes is done with them. The flavour is never bad, but it's not quite as... "full" as it would have been otherwise. I once asked several friends about this, and it's apparently a common phenomenon; the God(dess) eats the "spiritual" half, and the physical half always tastes a bit different afterwards.
Perhaps it's psychological, perhaps it's metaphysical. Who can say?
Anywho, that's all I have to offer for the time being! I'll add more tips for you students out there as I think of them!
Monday 27 August 2012
Wort-Cunning: The Use of Herbs
The term "wort-cunning" translates to "herb wisdom" and describes the use of herbs in Pagan and Heathen practises. Nearly every culture ascribes a specific meaning or property to plants or flowers or herbs - even in today's society we still do this. Roses, for example, are an almost universal symbol of love and passion, and have been for some time.
Because of the sheer number of cultures and traditions or paths which utilise herbs in various practises, the "meanings" and "properties" of a single herb can become a bit confused, or unnecessarily complicated.
One of the most popular ways to use this knowledge is to create herb sachets, or mojo bags, or talismans (something which I do frequently.) They're typically small and easy to carry on your person in every day life, which is a huge part of the appeal. Another method is to create a bath mix of herbs, for ritual baths or a specific sort of cleansing. Some individuals prefer to work with essential oils and extracts, creating perfumes which can be applied and worn rather than physically carried around. All three methods typically have similar, if not the same, results - though the bath idea is usually a one-off deal that has few lingering effects.
Another method in which herbs are used is by placing them on one's altar, or around one's house. Mint leaves on one's altar, for example, are believed to attract good spirits.
I typically purchase my supplies from herbal medicine stores, which tend to be mostly organic (not a major selling point for me, but for some it's vital) and what I cannot find in there I often come across while wandering around or by purchasing the plant I need. Orchids are a bit of a pain in that orchid petals are very handy to have and very difficult to find if you don't want to buy four or five plants and care for them year-round.
Additionally, I have some very helpful friends and family members who will spot something I've mentioned to them while they're out and sometimes bring some back for me. As it is, I'm currently on a bleak-looking quest for cypress - not cedar cypress, though. There are surprisingly few of those trees around here, which is proving irksome. I may have to default to using oils - a medium which I find a bit messy- instead.
As I work with new plants, flowers, roots, and herbs I make a note of what they are, what they are believed to do, and so on in a compendium-in-progress which I have been working on for the last few months. I am hoping to complete it in the next year or so.
Because of the sheer number of cultures and traditions or paths which utilise herbs in various practises, the "meanings" and "properties" of a single herb can become a bit confused, or unnecessarily complicated.
One of the most popular ways to use this knowledge is to create herb sachets, or mojo bags, or talismans (something which I do frequently.) They're typically small and easy to carry on your person in every day life, which is a huge part of the appeal. Another method is to create a bath mix of herbs, for ritual baths or a specific sort of cleansing. Some individuals prefer to work with essential oils and extracts, creating perfumes which can be applied and worn rather than physically carried around. All three methods typically have similar, if not the same, results - though the bath idea is usually a one-off deal that has few lingering effects.
Another method in which herbs are used is by placing them on one's altar, or around one's house. Mint leaves on one's altar, for example, are believed to attract good spirits.
I typically purchase my supplies from herbal medicine stores, which tend to be mostly organic (not a major selling point for me, but for some it's vital) and what I cannot find in there I often come across while wandering around or by purchasing the plant I need. Orchids are a bit of a pain in that orchid petals are very handy to have and very difficult to find if you don't want to buy four or five plants and care for them year-round.
Additionally, I have some very helpful friends and family members who will spot something I've mentioned to them while they're out and sometimes bring some back for me. As it is, I'm currently on a bleak-looking quest for cypress - not cedar cypress, though. There are surprisingly few of those trees around here, which is proving irksome. I may have to default to using oils - a medium which I find a bit messy- instead.
As I work with new plants, flowers, roots, and herbs I make a note of what they are, what they are believed to do, and so on in a compendium-in-progress which I have been working on for the last few months. I am hoping to complete it in the next year or so.
Sunday 26 August 2012
Prompt: Light and Dark
I find I am somewhat puzzled by this dichotomy of paths - this "light" versus "dark" debate that I stumble across now and then. One person once asked which I was.
My answer is a bit complicated, I'm afraid.
I seek balance in all things, where I can find it, and so I am neither light nor dark. I walk with Tricksters, who are both and neither, and also something else entirely. Tricksters are Gods with hourglasses for hearts, whose natures change with each turn; they are in equal measure kind and cruel, good and evil, helpful and harmful as it suits them.
A lot of people associate Tricksters with chaos and, by association, so-called "dark" paths.Others view Tricksters as cultural heroes - those who highlight social wrongs and correct them, after their fashion- and therefore describe following Tricksters as a "light" path.
I respectfully agree and disagree on both accounts.
...I did tell you my answer was complicated, didn't I?
I was raised with the concepts of Chaos and Order, rather than a worldview of strictly Good and Evil. It's a Nordic thing. Many Asatru feel that one must be aligned completely with Order, and thus the Aesir. Many of those who worship Gods such as Loki, however, will (mistakenly, in my opinion) seek absolute Chaos.
Chaos is not Evil, I should note. Nature is chaotic - but when was the last time you heard someone honestly claim that Nature was evil? A storm isn't good or bad - it is incapable of caring either way if it destroys something. It simply is.
Too much Order is stifling, but too much Chaos is dangerously volatile.
Tricksters understand this best of all deities, I would venture to say, because they exist in the liminal world between the two. Hermes is one of the ones who favours Order at least a little bit, but even he is capable of the mischief and trouble that comes from those of his kind who strongly favour Chaos, like Loki.
To walk with Tricksters is to walk a Grey path, upon which you will lean towards the so-called "light" and "dark" as you need to, or as your patrons feel you should.
Hermes is a God of thieves, of miscreants and clever criminals and the like, but he is also a God of balance (as embodied in the caduceus) and of boundaries. He understands when to abide by the rules, and when to break them. I'm tempted to say that Hermes is one of the more responsible Tricksters in the world, who understands the value of duty and a job well done as well as the value of mischief and fun.
Loki is... not irresponsible, but perhaps not always very good as foreseeing the consequences of his actions, at least where the mythology is concerned. He is the impulsive one who wants to have fun and enjoy himself and satisfy his curiosity, and routine is utterly, painfully boring to him. Responsibility is not an excessive burden, as long as it doesn't completely cramp his style, but he'd honestly rather plot and scheme and and plan to wreak havoc and mayhem, as is his want.
As a God of travellers, I look forward to seeing where Hermes leads me.
As a God of mischief, I am half-dubious and half-curious as to where Loki will lead me.
...And I fully expect my Totems to jump in and interfere or help, according to their nature. :D
I seek balance in all things, where I can find it, and so I am neither light nor dark. I walk with Tricksters, who are both and neither, and also something else entirely. Tricksters are Gods with hourglasses for hearts, whose natures change with each turn; they are in equal measure kind and cruel, good and evil, helpful and harmful as it suits them.
A lot of people associate Tricksters with chaos and, by association, so-called "dark" paths.Others view Tricksters as cultural heroes - those who highlight social wrongs and correct them, after their fashion- and therefore describe following Tricksters as a "light" path.
I respectfully agree and disagree on both accounts.
...I did tell you my answer was complicated, didn't I?
I was raised with the concepts of Chaos and Order, rather than a worldview of strictly Good and Evil. It's a Nordic thing. Many Asatru feel that one must be aligned completely with Order, and thus the Aesir. Many of those who worship Gods such as Loki, however, will (mistakenly, in my opinion) seek absolute Chaos.
Chaos is not Evil, I should note. Nature is chaotic - but when was the last time you heard someone honestly claim that Nature was evil? A storm isn't good or bad - it is incapable of caring either way if it destroys something. It simply is.
Too much Order is stifling, but too much Chaos is dangerously volatile.
Tricksters understand this best of all deities, I would venture to say, because they exist in the liminal world between the two. Hermes is one of the ones who favours Order at least a little bit, but even he is capable of the mischief and trouble that comes from those of his kind who strongly favour Chaos, like Loki.
To walk with Tricksters is to walk a Grey path, upon which you will lean towards the so-called "light" and "dark" as you need to, or as your patrons feel you should.
Hermes is a God of thieves, of miscreants and clever criminals and the like, but he is also a God of balance (as embodied in the caduceus) and of boundaries. He understands when to abide by the rules, and when to break them. I'm tempted to say that Hermes is one of the more responsible Tricksters in the world, who understands the value of duty and a job well done as well as the value of mischief and fun.
Loki is... not irresponsible, but perhaps not always very good as foreseeing the consequences of his actions, at least where the mythology is concerned. He is the impulsive one who wants to have fun and enjoy himself and satisfy his curiosity, and routine is utterly, painfully boring to him. Responsibility is not an excessive burden, as long as it doesn't completely cramp his style, but he'd honestly rather plot and scheme and and plan to wreak havoc and mayhem, as is his want.
As a God of travellers, I look forward to seeing where Hermes leads me.
As a God of mischief, I am half-dubious and half-curious as to where Loki will lead me.
...And I fully expect my Totems to jump in and interfere or help, according to their nature. :D
Thursday 23 August 2012
Dream-Walking
I've mentioned this term several times but it occurs to me that I should actually explain what it is for those who are unfamiliar with it.
Dream-walking is basically astral projection. I only ever dream-walk in my sleep, with two exceptions. The nitty-gritty mechanics of the process escape me, but it is essentially you - your consciousness, your soul, your spirit, or whatever you'd prefer to call it- leaving this particular plane and moving into the Upper World or the Lower World.
To clarify, we - you and I- live in between those according to most shamanic traditions. The Upper World is reserved for Gods and the like, while the Lower World is home to ancestral spirits, Totems, and so on.
Each location within the Upper and Lower Worlds looks different to each individual person. When I've gone to the Lower World during a mediation (one of only two successful attempts) I went to a bright and sunny barely field, and I was sitting upon a large, flat boulder. That was, incidentally, how I met Coyote - he wandered up to greet me before I lost my concentration and snapped out of the meditation.
I've also ended up in a cave in the Lower World, right beside the entrance to the barley field, but I held that meditative state for an even smaller amount of time and didn't get the chance to explore. The scenery can change quite easily, however, and I've been in a multitude of places. This is where I most often interact with my Totems.
Typically speaking, I am largely unable to meditate due to my inability to concentrate hard enough or for long enough, so I normally dream-walk while, surprise surprise, sleeping. I typically have no control of where I go when this happens, and the scenery there is a combination of my perception of a location, heavy symbolism, and a few other random elements.
When I am in the Upper World, which is almost always where I go when dream-walking for some reason, I interact with Gods a fair bit - usually Hermes, as it happens, but not always; I've interacted with Loki while dream-walking two or three times, as well.
One thing I should be very clear about is that I do not use hallucinogenic or narcotic drugs to achieve these state, nor do I condone their use. I meditate and achieve the desired mental state through concentration and willpower, nothing else. When I dream-walk, I do little more than simply go to sleep - the rest happens on its own.
I won't rant and rave about my opinion on drugs which are not prescribed by a certified physicians or are caffeine or alcohol - and even those I use in moderation. It's enough to re-state that I do not and will never use such things, as it is my personal feeling that the use of hallucinogenics and narcotics outside of a cultural thing, like peyote in specific rituals, cheapens the experience and makes it less than it could have been if you had simply made an effort to do it on your own. It's not you reaching the Upper or Lower World through honest meditation and reaching a mental state of absolute calm on your own - it's you dosing yourself.
There, done. Topic closed, moving on!
There are dozens of techniques when it comes to meditating and dream-walking. As I rarely am able to meditate due to my busy lifestyle, and as dream-walking comes naturally to me, I'm afraid I can't recommend much. I did find that listening to a guided meditation recording in a dark room while completely relaxed was very helpful, though. Some people prefer to listen to a specific drumming pattern, or nature-based sounds, or hum. Some people even listen to trance music in a closed room at high volume. Dancing, in combination with such sounds, is commonly used in many cultures to achieve a trance-like, meditative state.
It's all completely subjective - as is everything in this world. Choose what suits your path and your lifestyle.
Dream-walking is basically astral projection. I only ever dream-walk in my sleep, with two exceptions. The nitty-gritty mechanics of the process escape me, but it is essentially you - your consciousness, your soul, your spirit, or whatever you'd prefer to call it- leaving this particular plane and moving into the Upper World or the Lower World.
To clarify, we - you and I- live in between those according to most shamanic traditions. The Upper World is reserved for Gods and the like, while the Lower World is home to ancestral spirits, Totems, and so on.
Each location within the Upper and Lower Worlds looks different to each individual person. When I've gone to the Lower World during a mediation (one of only two successful attempts) I went to a bright and sunny barely field, and I was sitting upon a large, flat boulder. That was, incidentally, how I met Coyote - he wandered up to greet me before I lost my concentration and snapped out of the meditation.
I've also ended up in a cave in the Lower World, right beside the entrance to the barley field, but I held that meditative state for an even smaller amount of time and didn't get the chance to explore. The scenery can change quite easily, however, and I've been in a multitude of places. This is where I most often interact with my Totems.
Typically speaking, I am largely unable to meditate due to my inability to concentrate hard enough or for long enough, so I normally dream-walk while, surprise surprise, sleeping. I typically have no control of where I go when this happens, and the scenery there is a combination of my perception of a location, heavy symbolism, and a few other random elements.
When I am in the Upper World, which is almost always where I go when dream-walking for some reason, I interact with Gods a fair bit - usually Hermes, as it happens, but not always; I've interacted with Loki while dream-walking two or three times, as well.
One thing I should be very clear about is that I do not use hallucinogenic or narcotic drugs to achieve these state, nor do I condone their use. I meditate and achieve the desired mental state through concentration and willpower, nothing else. When I dream-walk, I do little more than simply go to sleep - the rest happens on its own.
I won't rant and rave about my opinion on drugs which are not prescribed by a certified physicians or are caffeine or alcohol - and even those I use in moderation. It's enough to re-state that I do not and will never use such things, as it is my personal feeling that the use of hallucinogenics and narcotics outside of a cultural thing, like peyote in specific rituals, cheapens the experience and makes it less than it could have been if you had simply made an effort to do it on your own. It's not you reaching the Upper or Lower World through honest meditation and reaching a mental state of absolute calm on your own - it's you dosing yourself.
There, done. Topic closed, moving on!
There are dozens of techniques when it comes to meditating and dream-walking. As I rarely am able to meditate due to my busy lifestyle, and as dream-walking comes naturally to me, I'm afraid I can't recommend much. I did find that listening to a guided meditation recording in a dark room while completely relaxed was very helpful, though. Some people prefer to listen to a specific drumming pattern, or nature-based sounds, or hum. Some people even listen to trance music in a closed room at high volume. Dancing, in combination with such sounds, is commonly used in many cultures to achieve a trance-like, meditative state.
It's all completely subjective - as is everything in this world. Choose what suits your path and your lifestyle.
Wednesday 22 August 2012
Prompt: Totem Animals
Totems are as subjective as anything else in the world of Shamanism. I know many Aboriginals who believe that those who are not Native but claim to have Totems in the Native American fashion are mocking their beliefs. I know others, however, who believe that Totems are no different than Gods - who go to those who need them, regardless of who or what that person is.
I hold with the latter half, though I have an immense amount of respect for the former and certainly see no need to pick a fight with those who hold with the former themselves.
In terms of Totems, there are a number of beliefs about how many one can have. Some people insist that nine is the magic number here, while others are a little more uncertain. Additionally, there are different types of Totems.
The four types which I am aware of are Life, Journey, Messenger, and Shadow.
A Life Totem is a Totem which walks with your throughout your lifetime, perhaps fading in and out in terms of immediate influence but ultimately always present. Typically, your Life Totem represents an aspect of your spiritual nature, as well.
A Journey Totem shows up in your life for a period of time - be it weeks, months, or years. They don't stay with you for your entire lifespan, but they do remain with you for a significant amount of time (not just a few days or hours) and they guide you onto your path.
A Messenger Totem is a Totem who appears very briefly to draw your attention to something and then they take their leave of you. They show up for a much shorter period of time than a Journey Totem would, and usually their arrival leaves a distinct impression. They sort of grab you by the face and make you look at an issue or situation that you might otherwise have missed or ignored, if need be, or they alert you to some change that you need to make.
A Shadow Totem represents your fears, or some aspect of yourself which you must learn to accept and overcome. Until you do so, that Totem will work against you. Should you manage to accept and overcome this Totem, however, that will change dramatically and your Shadow Totem will be as helpful as any other Totem in your life.
My Totems are as follows:
Wolf (Life, since early childhood)
Crow (Life)
Coyote (Life? Could be Journey as well.)
Moth (Journey)
Spider (Messenger)
Turtle (Messenger)
Badger (Messenger)
Jaguar (Messenger)
Eel (Shadow)
WOLF:
Ever since I can remember, Wolf has been a part of my life. As I child, I frequently encountered wolves in the wild. In one particularly memorable incident, I came very close to a local pack of wolves. I had escaped the house, being the insufferable child I was, and had wandered outside in the middle of a cold winter evening. I had wandered several yards from the house, which was in the country, when a pack of lowland wolves wandered across our property. The alpha wandered away from the pack to look at me, whereupon my parents appeared on the backyard porch and nearly had synchronised heart attacks, looked over at my parents, and then returned to his pack and went on his merry way.
I frequently dream about wolves, and often sing with them when I dream-walk (somewhat out of character for me in the waking world; I'm very self-conscious) - and, when I don't dream walk, I am often the recipient of wolf-related gifts, or stumble across a number of wolf-related items.
CROW:
Crow has been with me for quite some time as well, both when I dream-walk and otherwise. I actually find it disconcerting to be somewhere where I don't hear any crows, now, and typically become much more alert and aware of my surroundings in their absence. I don't see Crow in my dreams as often as I see Wolf, but when I do it's usually memorable. Once, I even managed to convince Crow to sing with Coyote and I when I was dream-walking. I am always attracted to anything involving these birds, especially their feathers, and always make a point of greeting them when I see them.
COYOTE:
Coyote is a bit ambiguous, as most Tricksters are. I can't quite tell if he's a Life Totem or a Journey Totem, but he has appeared in conjunction with Crow on occasion. While dream-walking, Coyote showed up in a park-like area and we played and wrestled (to my horror, I may have baby-voiced and call him a puppy) and sang, whereupon Crow joined us. He's ultimately very playful whenever I encounter him.
MOTH:
I see Moth quite a bit, on and off, and am rather fond of Moth as a Totem. Moth shows up in my life for a few different reasons, but usually bears a personal message of some sort.
SPIDER:
I don't like spiders, as I've mentioned in another post, but the ones I encounter while dream-walking typically don't cause me any distress. They're often a source of mild confusion or curiosity, then, and typically indicate, for me at least, that I'm about to have a bout of creativity.
TURTLE:
Turtle served to make the introductions between Hermes and I when Hermes began to appear in my life, both acting as a Messenger Totem and representing the God - which is rather fitting, as Hermes is a messenger himself. In one particularly odd dream, I remember "waking up" in my dorm room to find a turtle lying on the edge of my bed. I was worried the turtle would fall off the edge, so I picked it up and moved it over to the side of the bed that was up against the wall - whereupon Turtle bit me. I thought that was very unfair, particularly since I couldn't bite Turtle back due to his shell, and apparently decided the best course of action would be to hold Turtle up to my face and shout, "RAWR!"
I woke up when Turtle giggled, and the only thing that I could think was, '...Turtles don't giggle.'
BADGER & JAGUAR:
These two showed up at the same time, and I admit, I still have no idea what they wanted from me. I've always liked Jaguars - and seem to have somehow accumulated a number of jaguar-related items without paying attention- but Badger was a bit of a surprise. I only saw them once, however.
EEL:
I don't like eels. I mean, they're tasty in tempura, but that's as far as I'll go. I find them creepy for multiple reasons, and I've only ever encountered this Totem in one dream. As far as I know, I was not judged to be ready to accept Eel in my life in that encounter.
OTHER:
I've had other Totems appear, usually in dreams, but usually as very fleeting Messengers, such as Owl, Swan, Eagle, and Cat.
I fully expect more Totems to wander in and out of my life, as I need them or as they feel the need to share something with me.
As usual, I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have!
I hold with the latter half, though I have an immense amount of respect for the former and certainly see no need to pick a fight with those who hold with the former themselves.
In terms of Totems, there are a number of beliefs about how many one can have. Some people insist that nine is the magic number here, while others are a little more uncertain. Additionally, there are different types of Totems.
The four types which I am aware of are Life, Journey, Messenger, and Shadow.
A Life Totem is a Totem which walks with your throughout your lifetime, perhaps fading in and out in terms of immediate influence but ultimately always present. Typically, your Life Totem represents an aspect of your spiritual nature, as well.
A Journey Totem shows up in your life for a period of time - be it weeks, months, or years. They don't stay with you for your entire lifespan, but they do remain with you for a significant amount of time (not just a few days or hours) and they guide you onto your path.
A Messenger Totem is a Totem who appears very briefly to draw your attention to something and then they take their leave of you. They show up for a much shorter period of time than a Journey Totem would, and usually their arrival leaves a distinct impression. They sort of grab you by the face and make you look at an issue or situation that you might otherwise have missed or ignored, if need be, or they alert you to some change that you need to make.
A Shadow Totem represents your fears, or some aspect of yourself which you must learn to accept and overcome. Until you do so, that Totem will work against you. Should you manage to accept and overcome this Totem, however, that will change dramatically and your Shadow Totem will be as helpful as any other Totem in your life.
My Totems are as follows:
Wolf (Life, since early childhood)
Crow (Life)
Coyote (Life? Could be Journey as well.)
Moth (Journey)
Spider (Messenger)
Turtle (Messenger)
Badger (Messenger)
Jaguar (Messenger)
Eel (Shadow)
WOLF:
Ever since I can remember, Wolf has been a part of my life. As I child, I frequently encountered wolves in the wild. In one particularly memorable incident, I came very close to a local pack of wolves. I had escaped the house, being the insufferable child I was, and had wandered outside in the middle of a cold winter evening. I had wandered several yards from the house, which was in the country, when a pack of lowland wolves wandered across our property. The alpha wandered away from the pack to look at me, whereupon my parents appeared on the backyard porch and nearly had synchronised heart attacks, looked over at my parents, and then returned to his pack and went on his merry way.
I frequently dream about wolves, and often sing with them when I dream-walk (somewhat out of character for me in the waking world; I'm very self-conscious) - and, when I don't dream walk, I am often the recipient of wolf-related gifts, or stumble across a number of wolf-related items.
CROW:
Crow has been with me for quite some time as well, both when I dream-walk and otherwise. I actually find it disconcerting to be somewhere where I don't hear any crows, now, and typically become much more alert and aware of my surroundings in their absence. I don't see Crow in my dreams as often as I see Wolf, but when I do it's usually memorable. Once, I even managed to convince Crow to sing with Coyote and I when I was dream-walking. I am always attracted to anything involving these birds, especially their feathers, and always make a point of greeting them when I see them.
COYOTE:
Coyote is a bit ambiguous, as most Tricksters are. I can't quite tell if he's a Life Totem or a Journey Totem, but he has appeared in conjunction with Crow on occasion. While dream-walking, Coyote showed up in a park-like area and we played and wrestled (to my horror, I may have baby-voiced and call him a puppy) and sang, whereupon Crow joined us. He's ultimately very playful whenever I encounter him.
MOTH:
I see Moth quite a bit, on and off, and am rather fond of Moth as a Totem. Moth shows up in my life for a few different reasons, but usually bears a personal message of some sort.
SPIDER:
I don't like spiders, as I've mentioned in another post, but the ones I encounter while dream-walking typically don't cause me any distress. They're often a source of mild confusion or curiosity, then, and typically indicate, for me at least, that I'm about to have a bout of creativity.
TURTLE:
Turtle served to make the introductions between Hermes and I when Hermes began to appear in my life, both acting as a Messenger Totem and representing the God - which is rather fitting, as Hermes is a messenger himself. In one particularly odd dream, I remember "waking up" in my dorm room to find a turtle lying on the edge of my bed. I was worried the turtle would fall off the edge, so I picked it up and moved it over to the side of the bed that was up against the wall - whereupon Turtle bit me. I thought that was very unfair, particularly since I couldn't bite Turtle back due to his shell, and apparently decided the best course of action would be to hold Turtle up to my face and shout, "RAWR!"
I woke up when Turtle giggled, and the only thing that I could think was, '...Turtles don't giggle.'
BADGER & JAGUAR:
These two showed up at the same time, and I admit, I still have no idea what they wanted from me. I've always liked Jaguars - and seem to have somehow accumulated a number of jaguar-related items without paying attention- but Badger was a bit of a surprise. I only saw them once, however.
EEL:
I don't like eels. I mean, they're tasty in tempura, but that's as far as I'll go. I find them creepy for multiple reasons, and I've only ever encountered this Totem in one dream. As far as I know, I was not judged to be ready to accept Eel in my life in that encounter.
OTHER:
I've had other Totems appear, usually in dreams, but usually as very fleeting Messengers, such as Owl, Swan, Eagle, and Cat.
I fully expect more Totems to wander in and out of my life, as I need them or as they feel the need to share something with me.
As usual, I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have!
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