by Brian Kriesien
The Shamanic path is the path of Spirit, and waking up to self as Spirit is the ultimate goal. We are in a time of evolution where stepping onto this path is now a priority as we are being confronted by massive change, both external and internal. The fact you are reading this article, speaks to this awakening. Shamanic Indigenous cultures such as the Qero and Quechua of Andean South America describe existence as being made up of three worlds, the Upper, Middle and Lower. The Lower world is where we connect to our animal allies and to Pachamama-mother earth. It can involve a journey into the earth, asking for support and healing in confronting the stories and dysfunctional family patterns which no longer serve us. It usually involves confronting our ego which can show up as our demons, such as our addictions and unconscious behaviors. The Lower world is a journey into ourselves to connect with our deepest wounds.
The 13th century mystic poet Rumi said, “The wound is the place that the Light enters you.”
Recently, my Lower world experience happened through two opportunities.
The first experience came from heartache. I was heart broken, rocked to my core, questioning how could I blindly love with all my heart a person who was unloving toward me and repeatedly treated me with unkindness. Classic self deprecating feelings of guilt, shame and loneliness ensued. Why was the pain so intense? How could feelings of unworthiness, abandonment and depression along with self sabotaging behavior be the place where Spirit enters me? Where did this wound start? Fortunately, with guidance and assistance from spirit, illumination came. An old childhood wound was revealed and up for healing. This old program I learned as a young boy was running the show. My show. Strangely, I’m grateful for this profound revelation because without this massive heartbreak the Light may not have entered.
One week later, my second test came at work. I run a 25 employee company for owners that live out of state. My first year review was coming up and the financial statements had just come back. In one year under my leadership net income (that’s cash in hand) was up over 700%. Yes, 700 percent. The numbers don’t lie, I killed it. All I’m wondering is how big my raise is going to be. Well, we sit down for our meeting and I’m completely floored. The owners are unhappy with our relationship. I hadn’t crossed all the t’s and dotted all the i’s. WTF?! The owners re-asserted themselves as the bosses in charge. Reminding me I’m just an employee. Black and white numbers didn’t matter to them. Compliance to authority mattered. Quick side note, I’ve owned and operated my own businesses for over 20 years and do not think or act like an employee. My ego was up and self deprecation was on the menu. I was getting triggered to the max, feeling like I can’t do anything right and I’m not worthy of being seen. Again, old wounding and old paradigm, familiar, yet not working anymore.
“The cure for pain is in the pain”, Rumi said.
Life started to feel exponentially more chaotic within me. At times, almost unbearable. I was in my head and trying to figure it out. Yet, the only foundation and direction I’ve found back into my heart has come from my shamanic and spiritual practices.
Some of the shamanic tools I have found to be helpful, when life seems to be falling apart and feelings of separation from Spirit are front and center, are as follows.
Ho-oponopono – The Hawaiian Prayer of Forgiveness:
I often do this multiple times a day when in my own personal crisis, or when I would like to raise the frequency of the energy around me. (A Hawaiian indigenous practice)
Gratitude – One of the highest frequency practices that exists on the planet. Even in the worst of times I have many things to be grateful for and gratitude is a very powerful way I have found to break the chains of the ego obstacle dragons, and quickly.
Allies – Calling in a helping ally to assist me when I need support, energy and protection. This is a wonderful practice, and powerful. Connecting with allies and developing a deep and ongoing relationship is a foundational stone of my shamanic practice. Asking for help is the key.
Presence – Grounding is very important in shamanic practice. Shamanism teaches that being embodied and fully at home in the body is crucial to being a powerful shamanic practitioner. I can simply be in my body by breathing in deeply and exhaling fully, and one of the major benefits to this; there are no energetic leaks and my boundaries are strong.
Listening – To sage advice from the masters who have come before me, like Rumi.
All powerful shamans face their shadow directly, they embrace and allow it to be, noticing and witnessing with total awareness. From this space, self love arises.
Listen to Rumi, “Be melting snow. Wash yourself of yourself.”
