The Urban Shaman

Connecting shamanic initiates with contemporary elders.

Category Archives: Practice

Shamanic Journeying: Traversing the Three Worlds

Learning how to do a Shamanic journey is a foundational aspect of most Shamanic practices. Journeying allows you to shift your consciousness from the physical state (ordinary reality) to the nonphysical state (non-ordinary reality), and it is within the non-ordinary reality that much of your Shamanic development happens. In the beginning of your development, a Shamanic journey may feel like a daydream or a fantastic story created by your imagination. If this is how it feels to you, acknowledge that judgment by the thinking mind and just allow the experience to unfold.  Set aside any expectations of how you think it is supposed to be, and allow your Helping Spirits to take you on an adventure through the three worlds: the middle world, lower world, and upper world. In this article, I will explain how to prepare yourself for a Shamanic Journey, what each of the worlds are, and how to access them.

Preparing for the Journey

Before embarking on any Shamanic Journey, it is really important to prepare yourself on both a physical and energetic level. To prepare your physical self for the journey, find a place that you will not be disturbed. This may mean you will need to let your family or housemates know you need some privacy and request they not to come into the room. You may even place a note on the door that says “Meditating. Please do not disturb.” I would avoid a sign that make demands like, “DO NOT ENTER” or “BE QUIET!”  On an energetic level, this kind of demand send out an energetic vibration that may indeed manifest exactly what you’re asking not to happen. Make certain your request for privacy comes from a place of love and compassion for yourself and for the folks that are living with you. Once you’ve secured your private space, it is time to rattle or smudge to clear out those energies that no longer serve you and the space.

I like to start by smudging myself first. I will light a stick of White Sage, or Cedar and use my feather fan to waft the smoke all around my body from the soles of my feet to the top of my head. All-the-while, I will say to myself (either in my head or out loud), “I ask Sage smoke to remove any energies that no longer serve me and to make space for love and joy.” I will then perform the smudging through the entire space, beginning in a corner and moving clockwise (you can do it counterclockwise if that feels more appropriate for you). If you live somewhere that does not allow for smudging, you may use a rattle instead in the same manner. I will often take a rattle with me when I travel so that I can rattle my hotel room since I can not use sage inside the room. Once you’ve developed a regular journeying practice, it is likely that you will not need to smudge the space every time.

After you have cleared yourself and the space, you may either sit or lie down in a comfortable position. I recommend that you use a blanket or cushion that will only be used for ceremony and journeying. Using the same blanket/cushion for journeying will build up its power, allowing it to become a power object that is paired with your energetic vibration and will help to facilitate future journeys.

At this time, you may wish to light a ceremonial candle and sit in meditation for the next 5-10 minutes. Regular meditation will help to quiet the thinking mind and lower your brain waves so they are more conducive to journeying. In your normal waking state, your brain waves are moving at a more rapid rate and are more attuned to the physical world. Meditation will slow these brain waves down to a more receptive energetic state and allow Spirit to more easily interact with you. From my experience, having a regular meditation practice is the key to accessing your Soul-Self and the Spirit world more easily. Once you’ve quieted your mind, it is time to activate your protective energetic field and call in the Helping Spirits. To activate your protective field, simply visualize a bubble of white light all around you or you may ask your Spirit team to add a protective field of love and light energy.

Once you’ve set your protective energy field, it’s time to set your intentions and get clear about what kind of Spirit you wish to work with. In every Shamanic Journey I do, I set the intention by saying, “I call in my Spirit Guides (I may call them by name) and any Helping Spirit of equal or higher vibration that is here for my highest good.” I don’t want any ol’ Spirit wandering by to interact with me, so I set the intention to only call in those that are of equal or higher vibration. Now, you may also set the intention for the journey at this time as well. Maybe you’re journeying to learn more about your Spirit Guide in the upper world, or maybe you’re journeying to the lower world to meet a Power animal. Whatever your intention is, be clear about it so Spirit knows how to best assist you. You are now ready to begin the Journey.

The Middle World

In a Shamanic journey, you will be leaving ordinary reality and will journey to the non-ordinary reality of the middle world. When you shift your consciousness to the middle world of non-ordinary reality, you will find yourself in an energetic layer that is unseen to most of us in our waking state. The middle world exists all around you, even now, for you exist in this the middle world. The difference is, in non-ordinary reality, the middle world is unbound by our laws of physics, allowing you to pierce the energetic membrane of normal reality. This energetic state of reality is essentially laid right on top of (or woven through) ordinary reality. This middle world looks just like our reality except that, while journeying, you are able to fly, move through objects, or see as clear as day even when it's nighttime. From this point, any time I mention the middle world, I will be referring to the version you access in non-ordinary reality.

When I enter the middle world, I will typically find myself in a vast field of golden wheat with a dirt path in front of me that leads to the great Tree-of-Life (I will sometime refer to this as the World Tree). I will feel pulled to walk towards this tree and so the journey begins. The Tree-of-Life can be any kind of tree and will often be unique for each practitioner. It will serve as the access point to the upper world, lower world and other layers of reality. Once I reach the World Tree, I will walk around it’s trunk, looking for the access point to the lower world. I will often find a hole at the base of the trunk, and will begin climbing down the roots of the tree. Slowly, I will move through the layers of earth towards the point of light below me. Once I reach the opening at the bottom, I will let go of the roots and drop into the lower world.

The Lower World

Here, I find myself in vast and diverse landscapes. These landscapes will look similar to the middle world but may feel more dense and contained. I will often see a sandy desert around me, a path leading to a tropical forest in front of me, mountains off in the distance, marsh lands to the left, and a meandering creek flowing through all of them - connecting the landscapes together. It is in the lower world where I will work with my power animals, retrieve lost Soul parts for myself and for clients, and meet with specific Helping Spirits. It is also in the lower world where I am most cautious for this is where you will most often come across trickster Spirits, lost Spirits, and lower vibrational energies. I recommend that you do not attempt a lower world travel on your own until you build some experience in the middle and upper world first. When you do finally travel to the lower world and come across a Helping Spirit or a Power Animal, ask it three separate times if it is here in your highest good - allowing them to answer you each time you ask. If they are not there for your highest good, they will quickly leave by the third ask.

When you are done journeying in the lower world, go back to the opening that you entered through and climb back up the roots to the middle world. 

The Upper World

Once you’ve reached the middle world, you may now look for the access point to the upper world. Sometimes elevator doors will appear in the trunk of the tree and will take me up seven floors to the upper world. However, most of the time, I will simply climb up the branches of the tree, going higher and higher. I will climb so high that I find myself moving through clouds until I reach the very top of the tree and step onto plain of the upper world.

Here in the upper world you will be filled with feelings of love and joy. Many of your Spirit Guides will reside here and work with you in your own sacred spaces. The upper world may present simply as a brilliant white space, or there may be familiar earthly landscapes with more vivid colors and dream-like qualities. In the upper world, you will feel less dense - almost as if you can float on air (because you can!). It is here that many lessons will be taught and relationships with your Guides will develop. I recommend you spend much of your journeying here in the upper world when you are first developing. You can ask your Guides to show you to your own “house” here in the upper world so you can find a spot to return to, time and time again for your spiritual development. This “house” and surrounding landscapes will change over time as you grow and develop your journeying skills, so do not be surprised then that house grows another level or the river in front of it turns into a lake. Whenever a change occurs in this sacred space in the upper world, pay attention to the change because it is telling you something. In my sacred space in the upper world, there is a house on the opposite end of the lake. It’s been there for 2 years, yet I have only recently gone to it for the first time! I never felt drawn to it but knew it was there for a reason that would be shown to me when the time was right for it.

The Return

When you are ready to leave the upper world, simply climb back down the World Tree or enter the door through which you came. You will find yourself back in the middle world where you will then walk back down the path that lead you there and back through the portal to ordinary reality. I will often see my Soul-Self climbing back into my physical body, merging my hands with my hands, my feet with my feet, and my head with my head. I’ll take in a deep breath, wiggle my fingers and toes, and then open my eyes when I’m ready. I will then end my journey with gratitude and leave an offering of some kind for my helping Spirits. I will also take a moment to journal about my experience so that I may reference it again in the probable future.

It is my sincere hope that this article will inspire you to explore non-ordinary reality with the aid of your Spirit team.  Allow your curiosity to propel you forward so that you can access the deeper layers of reality and gain experiences that will aid in the expansion of your Soul. May you dream often, and may you dream well.

Creating Habitat for Wildlife (whilst feeding yourself)!

Have you ever had a garden?

Then you must have known how tiring it is to protect your food crop from wandering hungry critters, and how much effort it takes to keep your vegetable or fruit plot from being trampled by passing wild animals.

Even if you don’t have this experience under your belt, you probably have noticed how much attention this little area could have gotten. Various animals and insects make their home near or around gardens, feeding off the produce or helping themselves to nectar and pollen in the flowers. Some also decide it’s a safe place to live; bushy plants provide covers for small animals like birds or mice and trailing ground creepers make a wonderful haven for bugs. Your little garden provides numerous ecological niches for a diversity of animals! Even if your area is small and sparsely planted, it still makes a beautiful home for at least one type of organism. But you may be wondering, “What does this mean for me?” or “Why should I care?”. There’s a reason for both your health and the planet’s health!

When you start planting different species together, you are creating a habitat which is quickly populated with organisms looking for a home. This means you made a home for animals that are in need, creating a sort of sanctuary for species that may be dying out from the destruction we have brought upon the environment. With these species coming together, they can keep the garden environment healthy, depending upon the habitat you provide.

If you plant a bird-attracting bush like currants, blackberries, elderberry, etc you will have your own pest-management service! The birds will make shelter in the bushes and whilst they’re there, they’ll also go around your plants eating any insects that may be damaging your crops. Some bees may move in as well, keeping a pile of old sticks or leaving an old log around can attract these wonderful pollinators. Most will be solitary native bees, which are in desperate need of a home and healthy, organic food. They’ll buzz around happily, keeping to themselves (unless provoked) whilst pollinating your precious plants.

 

Bees aren’t the only pollinators!

There are many, many ways to make habitat for all these critters in your garden, whilst having plenty of food, of course. The first in creating natural homes is to have an abundance of different plant life. The short name for this is diversity. Having diversity in your garden can lead to a healthier you and a healthier environment! The different plant life means creating a unique array of homes that suit the needs of the animal in residence. Creating diversity doesn’t have to mean only planting different types of vegetables or fruits, it can also mean building layers to your garden, like a forest. In a forest, there are: vines, canopies, sub-canopies, ground covers, bushes, herbs, and roots. You can implement some of these parts of the forest into your garden. For example, in my food forest patch, I have planted bananas as a canopy layer, lemongrass as a bush, pineapple sage as an herbaceous layer, sweet potatoes as both root and vine, and mint as ground cover. It all works together to create a thriving ecosystem which has certainly attracted an abundance of life. The bananas shield the mint from the strong subtropical sun and the mint/sweet potato protect the ground from erosion by holding it together with their roots. The lemongrass and pineapple sage are both lush protective homes. In the garden, I have seen numerous lizards take shelter on the bright green banana leaves, blending in with their natural color. They sunbathe in the mornings, hide from predators, and eat bugs that land atop the wide flat leaves.

Many different types of insects make their home in the garden too; fire ants can sometimes be seen scavenging for sweet fruit scraps along the ground. Occasionally, little spiders would weave their webs between plants, catching mosquitoes and sand gnats that happened to stumble in. You can also make homes for wildlife by applying a layer of mulch. This can be shredded or whole newspaper, cardboard, tree leaves (I used white oak from the forest), or vegetable/fruit scraps thrown atop the soil. Overtime, these will break down from the fungi, bacteria, and other miniscule organisms, giving rich, dark soil back to the earth that plants absolutely love.

The garden two months after planting. Mulch is layered beneath the plants to provide nutrients and water retainment. As you can see, it’s extremely sandy where I live!

Creating these gardens doesn’t mean you have to have a large plot of land, it can be done even in extremely cramped conditions. Small backyards, even in urban areas, can form their own version of layered gardens, whilst still providing copious amounts of food. It’s all about finding what benefits each other when in close proximities. Obviously, a mint and lemon balm would compete for the same area, but an apple tree with lemon balm underneath would work together. The apple would provide a cover from the sun whilst the lemon balm would deter pests with its potent scent. These two are called companion plants, meaning they help each other by being planted close together. You can grow an enormous amount of food in a small area using this technique. Companion planting leads to having numerous species in one garden, which is called polyculture.

In some climates, you can have a year-round garden outdoors. Make sure to grow plants that produce in each season (except winter in cold climates), this will allow you and wildlife to thrive all year, increasing the abundance and diversity of the environment! As I say, if you care for Mother Nature, she’ll care for you. Happy planting!

 

Meet the Author: Jace Ancell

Hello! My name is Jace, I am 16 years old and I live in Southern Coastal Georgia. I am an aspiring writer and plant ecologist, seeing the beauty this planet has to offer is one of my most favorite things! I enjoy photographing the abundant nature around me and doing sustainable gardening to ease stress, and perhaps add, to the environment. I am also fond of creating fantasy short stories relating to these interests I explore.

 

 

Five Steps to Connect with a Spirit Animal

Spirit Animals help to guide and inspire us as we move along our life path.  Each of us have one or more Spirit Animals as part of our Spiritual team, and just like other helping spirits, they may show up for a lifetime, a reason or a season. In this post I’ll talk more about Spirit Animals, how to know which one(s) are working with you, why they show up, and how to work with them in a more active way.

A Spirit animal is a helping Spirit that holds the energetic qualities of a particular animal. That animal can be real, mythical or otherwise, and they will aid you in a very particular way along your path. The ones that are with us for a lifetime are usually the first Spirit Animals we encounter when we become open to their existence. They have agreed to partner with you, in this lifetime, for the betterment of your spiritual progression and expansion. Your main Spirit Animal will often be an energetic match to your highest spiritual self (it’s ok if you have no idea what the highest version of yourself is at this time, your Spirit Animal will help guide you there!). This main Spirit Animal has been around you since birth, whether you know they are there or not, and is accessible to you in this very moment.

Connecting with your Spirit Animal for the first time can be a deeply meaningful and rewarding experience. One way to know who they are is that you may get little clues through your day. You may seem to regularly have pictures of monkeys finding their way to you, or maybe you constantly see foxes whenever you drive in places you wouldn’t expect to see them. You may feel really drawn to Giraffes or Sea Lions with no real reason. This helping Spirit will regularly present itself to you, leaving little breadcrumbs until you make the mental connection they are wanting to work with you in a more active way. You see, you are already working with your Spirit Animal on an unconscious level. It’s when you step into an intentional relationship with your Spirit Animal that the true magic of that relationship can begin.

A more active way to meet with your Spirit Animal is through a Shamanic Meditation Journey to the lower world. You can use a guided meditation you find online from a trusted source, or you can journey there on your own after doing some research on lower world travels. If you choose to go on this journey without the assistance of a Shamanic teacher guiding you,  here are five steps to get you there:

Step #1: Learn how to first protect your energy field by using a bubble of white light all around you and set the intention to only encounter beings of equal or higher vibration (this step is very important).

Step #2: Call in your Spirit Guides to assist you along the way (even if you haven’t met them yet, they will show up for you).

Step #3: Go into a deep meditation for 5-10 minutes, concentrating on your breath.

Step #4: Once you’re ready, travel to the lower world through roots of the Tree of Life (again, so some research on what the lower world is and how to get there).

Step #5: Once you encounter an animal that seems to follow you or keeps pulling your focus, ask it three separate times if it is your Spirit Animal. If they are not your Spirit Animal, they will disappear or walk away. If they stay after you’ve asked it for a third time, you’ve found your Spirit Animal! Great job!

Once you’ve connected with your Spirit animal, and you’re ready to work with them in a more active way, there are several ways to receive regular messages from them. For those that enjoy doing Shamanic journeys, you can continue to travel to the lower or middle world to meet with your Spirit Animal and ask them questions. Sometimes they will answer back through speaking in your language, or they may lead you somewhere that will bring your the answers you seek. You may also work with them in your everyday waking life through signs and symbols. Maybe you ask for them to show up for you either in a picture, a conversation with a coworker or through other means to let you know that you’re on the right path. For instance, whenever I find a specific kind of feather, I know it’s a sign from my Spirit Animal that I’m heading the right direction on my life path. When I stop seeing these feathers for an extended period of time, I know it’s a clue that I need to reevaluate my recent decisions.

Another way to work with Spirit Animals is through Animal Oracle Cards. There are some great decks out there to work with. If you have a question you’d like an answer to, you ask the deck to show you which Spirit Animal will have the answer for you. Select your card and then interpret the meaning of that particular Spirit Animal. For instance, you’re question might be, “Why do I feel uncomfortable when this person tries to flirt with me?” and you pull the Brown Bear card. You may intuitively know that Brown Bear is asking you to defend your territory from unwanted advances and it’s ok to let them know you’re not interested. As you’re first learning how to interpret messages, you may also choose to reference the description of that animal in the book that comes with your deck - or you can google it. This is a great idea for getting answers to a one-off question rather than using the deck to find your main Spirit Animal.

As I had mentioned earlier, Spirit Animals come to help you learn a new lesson or bring attention to a recurring pattern on your life path. The message or lesson they bring can usually be found within the metaphor of their physical characteristics or behaviors attributed to that species. For instance, if Snake were to show up for you at a particularly difficult time in your life, such as losing a job or a relationship, Snake may be asking you to shed your old skin to make room for new. Much in the way Snake will shed the skin from the previous year as their new, more resilient skin grows in. This is an example of a Spirit Animal showing up as a teacher for a particular reason. Here’s another example: perhaps Hummingbird shows up just as you move to a new city. You find yourself staying at home often because you don’t know anyone. During this time indoors, day-after-day hummingbirds fly by your window, and continue to catch your attention. Maybe Hummingbird is asking you to buzz around the city, looking for things to feed the nectar of your soul; be it art, music, food, new friends, etc. This is an example of a Spirit Animal showing up for a season. They will present themselves to you regularly as a reminder of the lesson until you are able to move out of this particular energetic state that is no longer serving your highest good.

It’s important to understand that the interpretation of the Spirit Animal message is personal in nature, meaning that a crow feather on my path may mean something different to me than it does for you. I may interpret the crow feather as a need to connect with more masculine energies, where as a crow feather to you may mean that it’s time to cleanse and clear your third-eye. With that said, I will often encourage others to google the spiritual meaning of that Spirit Animal to get a sense of how others interpret it, and to also use their own intuition to determine if that interpretation is right for them or not. Sometimes part of it may resonate with you but you may have a gut-feeling that there’s more to the message than you're getting from someone else's interpretation. This is when I would nudge you again to try interpreting for yourself.

The great thing about Spirit Animals (as well as other helping Spirits) is that if we don’t get the full message the first time, second time, or 100th time, they will bring the message to you again and again until you do. The more you attempt to interpret the lesson or message for yourself, the better you’ll get at it. Just be willing to set aside the ego’s need to “get it right.” Your Spirit Animal, like any helping Spirit, is far more interested in you gaining a new depth of understanding from making errors than the pride you may feel from getting it right the first time. As you explore ways to connect with your Spirit Animal and build the relationship, remember to have fun with the experiences. Allow it to feel like play and you will find the joy in learning to communicate with your Spirit Animal.

A Shamanistic Insight on Fetish

Originally debuting in 2008, Fetlife the self-proclaimed social network for the BDSM, fetish, and kinky community, has gained 3.6 million members over the past decade.  There are some 60 groups related to shamanism on Fetlife, and over 400 members who identify as shamans. Surprise!

In 2014 I lost my entire occupation because of a personal tragedy.  The only work left for me was in the adult industry, and I landed a gig as a dominatrix. The timing of my entrance into this industry happened to coincide with my spiritual awakening, and what would eventually lead to my new life as a shaman.

This change in occupational direction was not too difficult for me, as I had previously dabbled in soft-core D/s relations -as the submissive.  Submitting appealed to me because such interactions subdued my ego, which enabled me to better discontinue my struggle against reality -thereby alleviating unnecessary suffering. With regard to my burgeoning shamanism, subduing my ego enabled me to more easily perceive the spirit world, thereby increasing my receptivity to messages from the spirit realm, and making me a more effective conduit of healing.

As my new occupation evolved, I came to understand that the behaviors, interactions, and activities involved in the fetish world all had the potential to be used as tools for obtaining energetic balance.

Kenneth Ray Stubbs, SexualShaman, describes this ideology well.

"If we wish to understand shamanism, we must know energy.

If we wish to understand orgasm, we must know energy.

If we wish to understand God/Source/Goddess, we must know energy.

With energy comes wisdom.

Without these, there is no transformation."

After listening to hundreds of clients with my "shaman lens", I began to write theories based upon energetic balance as they relate to fetishes, and I also ran across more and more professionals in the field who incorporated a wide range of energetic practices - shamans, pagans, Reiki practitioners, tantric professionals, Buddhists, to name few.

This following is an excerpt from my upcoming book Cuckoldry: The Ins and Outs, which gives more insight into the energetic imbalances that lead to the fetish of cuckoldry and is written with my submissive audience in mind.

INTRODUCTION

Everything in the fetish world, is a direct and/or indirect effect of our society's function/dysfunction.  Our "fetish" is our preferred method of reconciling our energetic imbalances.  We can attain energetic equilibrium through the use of dominant and submissive action/interaction.  Whether you are a natural born submissive or a natural born dominant, various societal pressure to behave in a dominant manner, can become energetically exhausting.

Most of my clients tell me right away that they have "always been submissive."  We all become desensitized and dissociated as we go through life, because that is how we survive the stress of being alive.  When this happens, we are no longer in touch with our feelings, and the statement of "having always been submissive" is usually reflective of our needs -and not how we are living.  The people who call me are those who have mustered enough courage to finally act on what they know they need, or who are at least ready to contemplate doing so.

The number one opportunity for energetic imbalances always comes from wherever we spend the most time - and that is usually the workplace.  Within a capitalist system, it is not uncommon to choose to accumulate substantial educational debt in order to acquire the education necessary to be occupationally competitive - which is why doctors, military personnel, and lawyers, are the top three occupations of my clients. Within these types of occupations dominant behavior is rewarded and submissive behavior is either ignored or tolerated -and in some cases it is frowned upon and even punished.

Geographic location substantially influences our energetic balance, as well.  Most of my clients are from New Jersey and New York - which is the most socially aggressive region in the United States and produces an over-load of dominant energy. Feeling constantly defensive and threatened is wearing on us and energetically damaging in multiple ways.

Another factor that affects energetic balance, is being raised in and/or practicing a patriarchal religion.  Within these religions traditional prescribed gender roles place an inordinate amount of responsibility on the male.  Being expected to be the "head of the household" -in whatever form that takes- just adds to the dominant energy over-load. And, even if you are not currently a devout practitioner of a patriarchal religion, that foundational belief system is an inherent part of this society, and affects us regularly, whether we realize it or not.

The expectation that men be the sexual pursuers, initiators, and more dominant sexual partner, stems from these religious beliefs, and also from inaccurate beliefs about women's relationship roles. Despite the feminist movement, old habits die hard, and it will be a long time before that particular discrepancy resolves.  And the current "feminist" movement, has now set in motion a new energetic imbalance that is causing submissives to become unduly submissive, and dominants to lose important daily outlets for discharging their energy.

Sometimes my clients have very few identifiable factors as to why they need to submit within their personal relationship, or in rare cases, none at all. In these instances the culprit tends to be unusually traumatic life events, whether acute or chronic, that have caused energetic imbalances.

ENERGETIC IMBALANCES

Whether our inherent energy is dominant or submissive, we are always adapting to different environments and contexts by altering our behaviors, activities, and interpersonal interactions in order to fulfill various expectations - such as at work.  Most of us are acting in opposition to our energetic baseline of dominance/submission most of the time.  If you have inherently dominant energy and you behave in an excessively dominant manner, you are amplifying your existing dominant energy.  So, you have an energetic pressure-cooker on the submissive side, and an energetic fuse being blown on the dominant side. Both of these are considered energetic imbalances - not enough of one energy on one hand, and too much of one energy, on the other.  It is possible to have the inverse -repressed dominant and amplified submission- but it's not as common.  The lack of direct correlation between inherent energy and behavior is why it is difficult for people to tell whether their energy is inherently submissive or inherently dominant, because for the majority of their life most people have been behaving out of alignment with their true energy.

These cumulative effects tend to reach critical mass around age 45, which is the average age of my clients.  This is in large part because we do experience a human development stage around this age, where we are less inclined to do what others expect of us and are more inclined to take care of our own needs - in whatever way we see fit and despite what other people think. However, this critical mass happens around this age primarily because that is the average amount of time that the energetic self can tolerate an energetic imbalance before it just gets to be "too much" to bear.

I use a general assessment of inherent energy, based upon the age at which the urges arise.  If the urges begin around 35 (or younger), the odds are you have predominately submissive energy and are in the "pressure-cooker" group.  If these urges began closer to age 55 (or older), the odds are you have predominately dominant energy and are in the "fuse-blowing" group. Whether you are on the pressure cooker end or blown fuse end this will make the transition of your relationship, and what works and doesn't, somewhat different.

Through conscious use of behavior, activities, and interpersonal relations we are able to proactively counteract our own energetic imbalances.  Engaging in a cuckoldry relationship dynamic provides ample opportunity for both the dominant and submissive to create their own recipe for better energetic self-care.

WHY CUCKOLDRY?

People are rarely willing to alter their occupational status in order to obtain better energetic balance, and in many instances become "trapped" in the capitalist machine when they become responsible for the welfare of others. So where do people look to obtain energetic relief? Usually it is the part of their life they spend the second most amount of time engaging in - their personal relationships.  The easiest way to obtain energetic relief through a personal relationship is to step down as the primary sexual provider. Taking sexual pressure off of yourself in this way is an act of submission.

So, if you are not ready to minimize your work stress for the sake of your own energetic balance, then you will automatically be drawn to being cuckolded, because choosing to give up your position as the primary sexual provider brings IMMENSE relief.  The irony is most people are not having a comprehensively fulfilling sexual relationship with their significant other to begin with, so that makes it even easier to cease being sexually proactive. It is important to note that once you experience this kind of relationship you will probably only ever be truly aroused by the cuckoldry relationship dynamic.  That is because the energetic relief you feel will become the number one motivator to remain the secondary sexual provider.

It is difficult to express our new needs to our significant other because we are convinced that expressing our new needs, will result in the end of our relationship.  The good news is, cuckoldry does not have to end relationships. Despite how scary it feels, in reality, cuckoldry is a transition to a different relationship dynamic and includes re-assigning relationship roles and determining new relationship expectations.  Most couples find a way to successfully transition their relationship - though not without compromise.  Open minds are what make or break cuckoldry relationships...so OPEN WIDE.

 

Jennifer DeLeon is a fetish educator and founder of Life Coaching With A Twist.  Feel free to contact her at Jennifer@lifecoachingwithatwist.com

 

  • Adept at the mysteries of sexuality is one facet of the shamanic archetype. Do you see a legitimate work for the shaman in a sexual capacity?
  • Current western culture prefers monogamy as the acceptable relationship dynamic. Does Jennifer's insight into cuckoldry change your perspective on what motivates this dynamic?
  • It is not uncommon for male shamans to be homosexual or for shamans to be transgendered. Why might this be?
  • There are inherent ethical considerations in working with people who are vulnerable, especially in dealing with sexual issues. How might a shaman protect him/herself from accusations or falling into sexual temptation?
  • Sexual fetishes often have to do with power imbalances, as Jennifer alluded to. What others kinds of ways might a shaman address this issue?

Working with the Spirit of Place in an Urban Setting

For those on the Shamanic path, you will come to find that working with the Spirits of Place are deeply valuable and rewarding relationships to cultivate. The Spirit of Place can be found in the places we live, the places we work and the places we play. In traditional Shamanism, it was easy to discover them within the nature all around you; sending their messages in the ruffling leaves or through bird and animal messengers. In our modern world however, those natural landscapes, rich with trees, plants and animals have given way to roads, buildings and cars. In this urban landscape, Spirit of Place can be difficult to locate at times but I assure you many of them are still there, available to work with you.

You may be wondering; what is a Spirit of Place? Simply put, Spirit of Place are those helping Spirits that are aligned with the Spirit of Mother Earth and take residence in a particular geographic area to be the steward of that land, so-to-speak. By being in right relationship with those helping Spirits that inhibit the places we work, live and play, we are cultivating the energies necessary to support us on our life paths. Now, those energies that support our life path should be the byproduct of being in right-relationship with Spirit of Place and should not be the motivation for establishing the relationship itself. Try not to force yourself into the relationship - if you feel drawn to form a relationship, then step towards it. Just like in your day-to-day life, relationships are formed organically and can’t be forced.

When you’re first learning to tune-in to the Spirit of Place, it can be a really subtle form of communication. I’ve found that going into meditation with the intent to communicate works very well.  You can, of course, pick up on the vibrational energies around you any time without meditating, but centering yourself and opening yourself up to Spirit through intention will do the trick. Once in meditation, you may wish to journey to the middle world and meet with the Spirit of Place in a location you feel pulled to. Once you encounter this Spirit, they may show up in a recognizable form, something mythical or they may just simply present themselves as an illuminated Spirit body. However they present themselves, just allow it without judgment.

Once you’ve introduced yourself, allow the conversation to happen naturally. It may be helpful to think of it like you’re getting to know a new coworker or acquaintance; you ask questions. Questions like: What do you like to be called?; how long have you been here?; how might I give an honoring to you? The list of questions can go on - be open to what they say without expectations. If you are struggling to communicate with them through meditation and/or journeying to the middle world, you may start communication by leaving an offering of your choosing. Do this daily without an expectation they will show up for you. This dedication will help raise the energetic vibration of your intent to communicate and will lay the foundation for that relationship to begin. Just like people though, some Spirits just aren’t interested in communicating. Respect that boundary just as you would for your next door neighbor that likes their privacy.

Several months ago, when I moved to a new land, I knew I’d be meeting the Spirit of Place sooner, rather than later. When I first moved to the land, Spirit of Place was quiet and watchful. I could sense him (he presented as a masculine energy) around when we parked our 303 sq ft. Tiny House on the land. Some days later, once we were settled and unpacked, I set the intention to communicate with him. After all, we were now sharing this time-space-reality so introducing myself seemed like the neighborly thing to do. Once the intention was set, I went into a deep meditation and found myself in a light trance. While in this trace state, I asked this Spirit to draw in close only if they were of equal or higher vibration (I always place the boundary of “equal or higher vibration” to protect my own energy field from unwanted influence). It wasn’t long before I could feel this Spirit energy around me, sharing energetic impressions about himself. During our communication, I asked how I may honor him and he instructed me to leave the ashes from my sacred ceremonies (usually a mixture of white sage, local cedar, and mugwort) along the fence-line facing east. This was a very specific request, and one I was happy to oblige. While working with our helping Spirits, just like people, the relationship develops through communication and reciprocity.  One way to be in reciprocity with a helping Spirit is to place offerings at their place of choosing.

Two days after communicating with the Spirit of Place, I received a call from our land-lord that the country inspectors had showed up and walked part of the property line, taking pictures of our home - specifically, the the fence-line facing east! It’s still illegal in most of the US to live in a tiny house and we’ve had to move from county to county to stay under the radar. After a tense few days of not knowing if we were going to have to move again, the county dropped their inquiry into our home. It was clear to me that Spirit of Place was looking out for us! For reasons not totally clear to me at the time, Spirit of Place wanted us to stay and made sure we worked together to facilitate the proper energies to support our continued relationship. I was grateful I was receptive to his message for the offering and was able to follow through with it.

Offerings for Spirit are usually fairly simple and is typically something that can be easily worked into your daily routine without requiring a large block of time. Spirit of Place is usually more moved by the gesture than the actual item in which you are offering. I have come to understand that the energy of that item or ceremony is enhanced by your pure intentions to express gratitude and love. When I met with the Spirit of Place at my office in downtown Portland OR, they asked that I simply light a candle when I begin work - it takes me less than 30 seconds to do! Giving a regular offering tells the Universe and Spirit that you are serious about the relationship, and that it’s important to you. A small gesture can go a long ways.  You may find it difficult to remember to make an offering each day but if you simply build it into your routine, it just becomes part of your day without having to think about it.

In downtown landscapes, you can still find the signs and messages from Spirit. You just need to learn how to see them. You may find the influences of Spirit of Place from plants growing through cracks in the sidewalk; through butterflies that seem to find themselves out of place amongst the concrete and glass; to a crow that always perches outside your door. The signs are abundant and available to you when you are open and aware.

Some questions that usually arise when working with Spirit of Place in a downtown area are: how large of a space does this Spirit encompass? Is it just the building you’re in?; is it a city block?; the entire City?  The answer is yes, it can be any and all of these size of spaces.  I suggest asking the Spirit of Place this question directly. You may hear their answer in your mind, or they may flash an image across your minds-eye indicating how much land they look over. Knowing the reaches of their energetic influence over the land can be important when doing for a ceremony for the Spirit of Place.

You may even find yourself communicating with the Spirit of Place while out on vacation. Do be mindful that the local community may have already established a long-term relationship with that Spirit and may have a community altar. Be respectful of their already established traditions and ask, without expectations or assumptions, if visitors are welcome to place an offering as well. It can be emotionally and energetically rewarding to simply give thanks to Spirit for allowing you to share this space, even if it’s for a short while.

As you further develop relationships with these helping Spirits, you may find that new doors to opportunities open for you and relationships or situations that no longer serve you may end. As you grow your Spiritual support team, you will be uplifted by the magic around you every day in every moment. These relationships will help to raise your vibration and dissolve resistance that keeps you from manifesting the life you were always meant to live. These relationships can be only temporary or they may last a lifetime and beyond. Whatever the duration, honor it; treasure it and experience gratitude as deeply as you can.

The Entheogenic Use of Cannabis

We know within State laws there is a hard line being drawn between medicinal and recreational use of cannabis. But we also know the reality among cannabis users- the lines are much blurrier than lawmakers can define. "Relaxation" to the recreational consumer is just a few shades lighter than "anti-anxiety" to the person struggling with crippling anxiety. We also know that one's personal choice in cannabis use, in specific situations and in general, can be motivated by more than just a single goal. And the discussion can become much richer when we consider that the goals themselves are often blurred when we talk about the intricate and complicated relationships between the mind and body, the differences between healing and cure, and the benefit of recreational use itself being it's own type of 'medicine.'

But whether a recreational consumer or a medicinal consumer, one aspect of cannabis use that has gone largely unacknowledged in American culture is the entheogenic application. An entheogen is defined as:

According to Wikipedia, "An entheogen ("generating the divine within") is a chemical substance used in a religious, shamanic, or spiritual context that often induces psychological or physiological changes. Entheogens have been used to supplement many diverse practices geared towards achieving transcendence, including meditation, yoga, prayer, psychedelic art, chanting, and multiple forms of music. They have also been historically employed in traditional medicine via psychedelic therapy. Entheogens have been used in a ritualized context for thousands of years; their religious significance is well established in anthropological and modern contexts."

From the use of bhang (cannabis) in India, to the ancient Chinese medicine records reporting that the effect of cannabis is to incite communication with spirits, it's undeniable that cannabis has been used for centuries in religious ceremony and ritual, and in spiritual pursuit. (See this article for more).

Perhaps the most widely known modern religious practice of cannabis use is among the Rastafarians. A central practice in the Rastafari religion is to have regular community gatherings, sometimes referred to as "Reasoning Sessions", when members consume cannabis (which they call ganja) to achieve higher states of consciousness and feelings of community belonging. While in altered states they often meditate, sing, chant, and discuss community and religious issues. The cannabis culture of Rastafari has unfortunately been stereotyped by identification with it's most famous face, Bob Marley, who was a Rastafarian and cannabis advocate. (Who incidentally died of cancer- which may lend to a different discussion about the growing belief that cannabis "cures" cancer.)

Marley was also a Jamaican. But to limit Jamaica's rich culture and history to an identity of recreational marijuana use is culturally naive and does a disservice to the political cause of Rastafarians in the long struggle to gain their religious right to use cannabis in spiritual practice. (Believe me, the Jamaicans don't mind that Americans think marijuana is plentiful, accessible, and legal because it has drawn in marijuana tourism and flooded Jamaica with money and jobs. But the truth is that cannabis was not legal in Jamaica at all until 2015, and as of this initial writing, still with limitations). And Bob Marley, as much respect and love as we have for him, and as much of the pride of Jamaica as he is, he does not entirely represent Jamaicans or Rastafarians simply because most Jamaicans are not Rastafarians, and not all Rastafarians smoke ganja. Yet Marley has perhaps unintentionally become the iconic face of recreational marijuana use, as it's been defined in American culture. The unfortunate consequence of this has not only been to perpetuate ignorance about Rastafari and the role of cannabis in the spiritual practice of a Rastafarian, but also to perpetuate ignorance of the sacred uses of cannabis as an entheogen.

Cannabis Sutra by Alex Grey

Along these lines, it's imperative that when we think about, talk about, advocate for the total legalization of cannabis, we don't limit this to a narrow understanding and definition of cannabis as a 'medicine.' While, as with all plants used medicinally for centuries, cannabis does have it's medicinal properties and can be used to treat a variety of dis-eases, symptoms, and side effects, it's also extremely important to restore the sacredness of the entheogens through acknowledging their spiritual use. Whether you have a relationship with the spirit of cannabis or not, it really is a God-given right that we, as God Children on this planet, have unbarred access to the sacred plants, as it was intended. But as with so much in our modern, urban culture, we haven't been taught to be in right relationship with the earth and her fruits. The sacred has become profane, and the profane made sacred. So restoring the sacredness of cannabis would serve us all well, whether we partake or not.

 

"The more people smoke herb, the more Babylon fall."

Bob Marley

 

This article originally appeared online in the Joshua Tree Urban Farms blog in March 2016.

Our goal here at The Urban Shaman® is to encourage healthy discussion to further our contemporary definition of shamanism and enhance our local practice. We do not intend to instigate or promote argument or divisiveness. Rather, we believe we can achieve unity and clarity within the wholeness of the full shamanic expression. We would like to provide a safe space for everyone to explore shamanism with mutual respect, and to promote the concept of the shamanic archetype, while dispelling the myths and biases of the stereotype. These exploratory questions are intended to encourage this process and open up the discussion.

  • What do you think about cannabis as a sacred plant?
  • Have you always considered cannabis to be sacred, or is this something you have newly come to understand?
  • How might advocating for the legalization of cannabis on the grounds of religious freedom change the discussion that we have as a culture?
  • Do you think discussing this within the larger culture can improve our relationships, understanding, and respect with the plants?
  • More research and scientists are agreeing that plants have a consciousness. How might considering this affect how you approach and interact with plants? And how does this change your perspective on cannabis?
  • How can shifting the classification of cannabis as a "drug" and into a sacred plant 'medicine' help us?

 

Music and the Urban Shaman

As a vibrational worker it is often my job to highlight for people their vibrational matching indicators. These are the things that come into their life in the obvious or not so obvious ways that can help them specifically, to mold their vibration into the feeling and manifestation place they are looking for. This is not a process of telling them what to do or where to look but to point out what already gets their attention and how to use it. There are many people on this planet already utilizing their extra sensory perception but in such minute ways it just seems normal to them, so they don’t understand what they are doing. Music is a big one that I see often even in those not asking for my help. In this article I will explore the role of music relating to the shaman and how you may already be using it and how you may be able to expand on how music is helping you if it is a modality that is already relating to you.

Music is influence.

Yes we all have those songs that have an obvious effect on our emotions and there for state of being. In the Caribbean, drums were a big part of their shamans getting into state. Working your way into the optimal state can be helped by music but why does some music work for you and not other shamans and why are you sometimes not as affected by certain music to the state you wish to be in, that is; where it usually takes others? This is because we are not all starting from the same place and you are not always starting from the same place. The change of state is a shift in vibration, your usual vibrative state can be altered by thought and your emotions will relay that change. You are by no means thinking even closely to other practitioners and may see a large difference in the music you may choose to use. However, you, yourself are not thinking the same thoughts on a daily, or even a moment to moment basis. You will change, grow and expand. No two people will experience the same song in the same way. It’s fine. This is not something to worry about. Your individual practice is up to you and you must find it for yourself. Allow others to do the same. What works for you works for you, you needn’t question it, in fact if you don’t you’ll find more time to move on to what you really want to be doing which is practicing.

You influence music.

As a young person in love with music I used to have a saying, “I only have two moods, one where the music I listen to affects my mood and the one where what music I listen to is affected by my mood.” You will will match with certain music due to the intentionality of that music. It helps to think of it more like this: Once a song has been created, it becomes an living entity of its own. It has many vibrational matching points that will draw you to it or repel you from it. From the drums to the bass to the melody, on to the lyrics in all the ways they are expressed over the duration of the song. This can be invaluable if you know this because the next time a song is stuck in your head or you wake up with a random song in your head, notice it is not the whole song, it is one particular part. Even if you don’t know what the lyrics are supposed to be saying in that part, find out. You will be surprised as you listen to these lyrics you find wisdom meant specifically for you. From a strong affirming of where your thoughts have been, to advice about how you may handle a situation and the lyrics all of a sudden are not relating to the context of the song but the context of your life.

How to use music

There are a few questions you can ask when you find a piece of music that ‘speaks’ to you.

1. What parts are the best.

What are the parts of the song you like the best? This will tell you why you are enjoying the song so much and this may be multiple things. If you are not enjoying the song, don’t bother with a process like this. Just don’t listen to the song. It may sound elementary but examining what makes us feel bad, often just makes us feel worse. It’s not that you can’t do it, if you feel you need to know, it may be worth it to you to find out, but in general it’s usually better to leave it.

2. What feeling are these parts giving you?

Even the non-lyrical parts of music can make you feel, and even when you like the lyrical melody of the song the lyrics may have nothing to do with it. By honing in on the parts you really like, you will enhance the emotion that you are extracting from the song already, making it easier to identify. Once you can tell what feeling you get from the music it is a sure fire way to know what you want to use it for, if at all. Sometimes you like it because it reflects where you are very well. It gives you a justification for feeling the feelings you are already experiencing on a regular basis. Which is great if you are where you want to be emotionally. Sometimes it is taking you somewhere else and this is where you can follow it. By knowing what you are already extracting from the song you can enhance the feeling and go to the place, or state it is calling you to. And being it was doing this for you already, there is a good chance it is trying to take you somewhere you want to go. Somewhere you can find answers to the most important questions you are asking right now.

3. Do any lyrics stand out?

What lyrics hit you the hardest? This may also be what are the lyrics that keep going around in my head? This can help you to know how the music has accessed you. How this song grabbed you is most likely related to what it wants to help you resolve, or teach you about. Do not try to think of the lyrics in the context of the song. Instead hear the lyrics the way they sound to you. Even if you have gotten the lyrics wrong, the reason you have interpreted them the way you have is because that is the message for you, and only you. What do the lyrics mean to you, don’t try to figure out what the singer or writer meant. That is their journey and needn’t have anything do with you.

Music can be Tarot for the ears

This can be hard as there is no set framework for what each song is meant to mean to you. But when you ask a question and randomise your song choice you can be led to music that may have meaning to you and your situation. What this means is that the part of the song that answers your question may come in the title of the song, a specific lyric in the song, the overall meaning of the song or even just the feeling the song is giving you. Which of those things that is your answer will be known to you by the parts that stand out the most to you. You must know you are always right as you couldn’t see it if you were not a match to it. The main thing that differs with songs as opposed to tarot is that the well crafted Millenia old art of tarot has a strong basis and has been developed to help the divination process. This is just your form of vibrational match and indication. It will give you feedback on where you are now and will not necessarily give you a reading on the future or where that vibration will take you. But knowing what you are emanating now may be what you want to know, and it this case, could be for you.

You don’t have to use this process when listening to all your music, or even every song you like. You will find the process will call you when you need it and it can be fun to play around with music and your abilities. Have fun with it. And know every human experience has the potential to carry you things you never dreamt possible.

Be magic.

Share the Music That Inspires You in the groups section.

Strengthening Your Relationship With Cannabis Sativa

Cannabis Sativa is the botanical name for cannabis but is also known as Marijuana, Ganja, Santa Maria, Bhang and so many other names. It is considered an entheogen which is a chemical substance, typically of plant origin, that is ingested to produce a nonordinary state of consciousness for religious or spiritual purposes. It also translate to God-within; a psychedelic or “mind expanding” catalyst. Cannabis has been used in many traditional and cultural rituals all over the world like Brazil, China, and India.

Cannabis like many other sacred plant teachers and plant medicines fall into the hallucinogen category and is also known to be illegal in some States. Please do your research before deciding if this ally is something you can legally commune with. As the federal legal status of entheogens change from Schedule 1, more and more research will be able to be conducted. State laws differ from federal laws and each state varies by state. This article is not to promote use of and is aimed for educational purposes to assist in harm reduction. You do not NEED the medicine to reach these heights of consciousness. These medicines are solely tools, or allies to aid in reconnecting to the very thing that has never been separated, but only forgotten.

Our western model of healthcare is evolving and our leaders in the academia and research departments are beginning to take Spirit into account in the components of what makes a human being, a being. Indigenous cultures have believed this since antiquity which is where we see the huge influence in plant medicines for religious, spiritual, and other expansive influences. They believe plants resemble very similar structure of components as humans (a mind, body, and soul). Ingestion of these plants, indigenous cultures believe this allowed the plant spirits to have a human experience, while the human has a momentary plant experience. This allows the user to form a new intelligence within.

Trying to shift your perspective of Spirit will help strengthen your connection with cannabis and may expedite the integration process. It is absolutely amazing how diverse cannabis can be applied in one’s life. Understanding an individual’s culture or tradition in which it is practiced can be an enormous teaching lesson in applying healthy techniques in strengthening or developing a relationship with the spirit of cannabis.

With proper preparations like ritual, set and setting, a healthy diet, and meditation, cannabis increases a person’s capacity to connect to their spiritual side. You become able to tap into your inner self, releasing any shackles that may have been conditioned. Your focus may organically shift to spiritual interests from materialistic wanting. These fleeting moments allow users to outgrow any fears, to be empowered by a new creative motivation, and to reach out to a deeper quest in their new found wisdom. They can bring you to different forms of bliss and euphoria to grow and learn from. An individual will experience a compassionate spirit that knows how to teach empathy. With set intention, a user may really feel into their heart and less in their head.

Creating a ritual in how one practices using this sacred medicine is paramount and helps navigate the intention of using something as recreational, medicinal, or spiritual. For instance, an intention for escapism is more recreational while an intention to reduce physical or psychological pain is determined medicinal. A spiritual connection can be built in either recreational, or medicinal structures and paradoxically not be applied to any of them. Discernment in application will make the utmost difference in how an experience unfolds.

One cannot speak about creating a ritual without set and setting. This is important in creating a positive framework, and strengthening your relationship with cannabis. Set and setting describes the vital importance of one’s mindset, intentions, and environment in which the ritual takes place. Set is one’s mindset, how one is feeling in the moment. Are you nervous, tired, in pain, or are you pensive, centered, and full of life? The set you are in, will help in navigating the type of strain to use as well as measure dosage.

A quick breakdown of strains for Cannabis Sativa are sativa, indica, hybrid, and less commonly used ruderalis. Indica is a very calming, more body buzz type of experience where you tend to be couch locked. It contains more CBD to THC which is great for physical pain. Sativa is an energetic-coffee like strain that is geared towards exercise, meditation, and creativity. It contains more THC to CBD which gives a more head high.

The setting creates the sacred space for setting the conditions for a positive and mindful approach to practicing this medicine. Setting an intention is vital in giving an aim or a goal to your experience. The intention can be to unlock a more creative side, commune with nature, heal some kind of suffering, or discovery of one’s purpose in life. Whatever the intention one sets beforehand helps them to remember their goal especially in moments of the unexpected that may arise. It will help pave the way from any lines to be blurred. Thus, preventing from falling into the dangers of misuse and abuse. After an individual’s experience, their set intention can also support with the integration process by analyzing any revelations and challenges that may have ascended in the journey within the context of their specified goals rather believing them to be random occurrences.

A diet is important in your ritual to avoid the pitfalls of misuse and abuse and to keep these medicines sacred and held in the high vibrations they are meant to be. This is another form of ascetic discipline in strengthening your relationship with cannabis. When we remain in balance and in harmony with our usage, these catalyst allow one to reflect and reveal the aspects that the individual feels should work on. This allows one to feel connected to everyone, and more in the present moment.

If one’s tolerance is increasing, this is a good sign of over indulgence. If one’s memory is foggy after their cannabis experience, they may be consuming in over indulgences. A simple remedy like a fast will help re-harmonize your natural energetic field as well as lower one’s tolerance. Fasting is an important aspect of a diet as well as showing gratitude. Creating a balanced diet, knowing when to implement a fast, and expressions of gratitude all will strengthen your relationship with cannabis. A fast can be as small as a day or as large as a year. Some would say a complete reset can take up to a month while others say a couple weeks. Go off what works for you. Whether you ingest that day or not, implementing gratitude into your ritual, and into your diet will proliferate strengthening your relationship with the spirit of cannabis.

Another great method to strengthening your relationship with cannabis would be to apply a meditative practice to your ritual. There are many guided meditations online, easy breathing techniques or concentration meditations you can apply to your ritual. As soon as you have your meditation technique picked out, combine it into your ritual of cannabis use. My personal technique I would set a timer for an hour focusing on my breathing. And see where the experience would take me. Afterwards I would reflect and apply any insights to my lifestyle and try to embody it into my being through creative outlets like poetry or practice an instrument.

Meditation in simple terms means to bring your focus to one point, or to be centered. It is to be conscious, or mindful in the present moment. If you have a drum, or can find a drumming guided meditation, the beat of the drum is great to focus on. Or one can close their eyes and focus on their breath and really journey deep within one’s self with cannabis. Whatever the structure one develops, what is important is to find something that contributes to your true nature, your ascension, something that is supporting your physical, psychological, and spiritual development.

Cannabis is a great teacher of showing how interconnected all beings are. Being mindful in keeping this medicine in your own life sacred will continue to grow and expand the community. Keeping this medicine sacred and being aware of the spirit within, will strengthen your relationship with cannabis. It will allow individuals to share their ritualistic structures to brothers and sisters so we can learn and blossom with another, while honoring the spirit in interconnecting everyone. It will create a set and setting so we may transmute any old toxic perpetuating relationships with healthy revolutionary relationships. Expressing and showing gratitude with a designed diet as well as being mindful with a meditative practice will all proliferate and strengthen your relationship with Cannabis Sativa.

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