Part 60: Traveling To The Spirit World Many people don't know the actual techniques that a shaman might use to transport to Duat or any other spirit realm. Many would say astral travel, or claim the abilities are no different than what a person experiences in dreams (visions.) Some would say that the techniques represent some sort of time travel, explaining the phenomena further. The truth is each of these beliefs are right. A shaman must use their mind and subconscious essence to travel to the spirit world to bring forth great visions to help their villages and tribes. What we see in these visions are startling and completely surreal. Nothing makes sense, and for me, they are all in third person, where I am watching myself as if I am in some movie. My companion is there with me, as are other spirits, all in the flesh. This is truly their home and I am but a visitor, taking from my visions what I can. When it is time, I am never ready to leave. This supernatural power of visions is absolutely astounding. It makes me feel at one with the worlds, and the spirits’ friendly faces are always welcome and inviting. How does a shaman enter the spirit world to receive a needed vision? One must completely immerse themselves in the world of the spirits. They must disregard the entire physical world around them and focus on being one with the spirits. The spirits are the only ones who can guide you in their dangerous world. Without a guide, you many not enter their realm. When you do gain their assistance and they are ready to bring you into their world, you will fall unconscious and find yourself in a world that seems as if it is a fairytale land. Nothing there is as it seems. The areas of the spirit world have drastically different terrains. People are weightless there, you included. Quite honestly, I feel like I am myself there. Nothing can prevent me from seeing the truth that is hidden to most. The moments spent their are lucid and intense, unlike a normal dream. It always seems like one voyage to the spirit world consumes one hour, with you being able to return there multiple times in a row. From what I understand, I can return to the same places in the spirit world again, as if they are buildings, roads, and woods, just like in the real world. I fly through my surroundings, and the spirits who aid me in the world of the living are there, their faces and clothes fleshed out, and for the time I spend there, they are alive and I am like them. Is this what Duat truly looks like? What gives me this power? It is the absolute hallmark power of a shaman, the ability to go on what most would say is a “Vision Quest.” Don't be afraid of what you see there. The only thing that can hurt you there is your own disbelief and your fragile heart. A real shaman will always miss the pleasures that come to their senses when they are in the euphoric place we call the spirit world. You'll just have to wait for your next trip back there, my friend. I've heard nothing good lasts forever, but I am not led to believe this. I live my dreams each day, and it is all because of my legendary power as a shaman. Who may I thank for this? I thank father Ra, the eternal lord of sunlight. It may come to no surprise that most of my journeys into the spirit realm occur at night. What is contained in my spirit world that I see is a large mansion. In it there is many rooms. Different beings live and visit there, and they are always unaware of my presence. There is no food or money there, just as you would expect. All natural geography is there, and the skies are flooded with souls, as is the ground. The sky is always clouded, and I always bring back messages and insight each time I go. When I leave there, so does my guide, my guardian angel, and the reality sets in afterwards. I believe that one could stay in the spirit world for long periods of time, should they remember to eat and drink water in the mortal world. The effects of staying in the spirit world for too long, though, may warp the shaman’s conscious. One should seek visions with great care, as too many experiences would definitely be traumatic. They have a hypnotic effect on the shaman, as seeing a place as translucent and wonderous would make any person want to dwell there permanently. After all, they say the grass is always greener on the other side. The spirit world is the home away from home for shamans, but a shaman must remember one thing, and that is their duty to the living. Shamans can get so sidetracked, in awe with their own ability. It's discouraging to think that anyone would run from their fate, but at first, most shaman do. The spirit world is merely a shadow of each shaman, and limited trips to the spirit world keeps that precious balance needed for a shaman. One is a shaman all the time, but as a transient one, a shaman must be cemented firmly in this world, too. Visions are one of the key components to the shamanic way. We exist on the guidance and discoveries found in our quests to the spirit world. When we return to this world, we should dwell on what we saw in the other world, be its name Duat or the Unformed Land. We have countless names for each spirit world, and each day shamans travel to new worlds that are like ours in many ways. The only difference between our worlds and theirs is the residents in each and the natural laws that govern each world. If you are ever lucky enough to see a place like Duat while you’re alive, I'm sure you'll admit that it is truly a place like heaven. Were shamans ever meant to be in this world, playing as mediator between both worlds? Of course they are, as shamans are the link between worlds, a flame that burns bright in each.
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Part 59: A Small Cost What we paid to become a shaman would seem like a large price to many. What we believe is that we paid a small cost. We have sacrificed all of the pleasures and amenities that comes with the world of the living and gained access to a special realm that most don't get to see until after they're gone. We paid just a small cost. Sure, we won't be able to work traditional jobs and perhaps never have mortal friends and family, but what we gained is more than words can express. My guardian angel protects me and loves me, and this is a special bond that only a shaman may know. The Christians cannot say that they have guardian angels, as they cannot show me this in the Bible nor can they prove that they possess one. Angels are assigned to the resurrected dead, who are shaman. We are the ones who can talk to our angels and our fates and controls, as well as commune with the gods. A mortal receives what they have gotten, which we do not have. We paid a price for what we have. Why would a mortal human believe they have what we have? We paid a price and we obtained exactly what we bargained for, even if we originally did not know anything of the deal we signed up for. Some shamans might struggle with the radical change that happens to their life after becoming a shaman. A shaman must remain positive at all times, or their vocation as a shaman will suffer and possibly make it difficult in both lives for themselves. If you are to feel pain for the loss of your mortal life in the world of the living, you will become crestfallen, and lose your way. Avoid this at all costs. The ceremonial death and rebirth that a shaman undergoes is mysterious, and it carries grave consequences for the shaman. We suffer and are frail in the mortal world, but we are powerful in the other world, the one that cannot be seen by mortals. Most people in traditional villages of the past considered the shaman to be literally a ghost, a member of the living dead. The shaman becomes virtually invisible to the citizens of the world of the living, and young shaman who did not train in their previous years will inevitably have a hard time adjusting. Even so, no matter how long it takes, your transition is well worth the sacrifice. A shaman learns from the initial sacrifice they give about the importance of piety, sacrifices, and alms. One cannot follow the spirits’ path without showing some sort of gesture that appeases them. Many times this will be some sort of spiritual or physical sacrifice. Always a shaman must sacrifice their life of friendships and a physical family to spark their success as a mystical shaman, an archaic magician. We don't have to pretend around those who know us, the spirits and the undead, but most shamans wear a mask and let their lives as shamans be unknown to those who would not be trustworthy. This is a respectful endeavor, to hide your vocation. I reveal my presence as I am one such of skill that people readily accept me as an authority on the supernatural. I speak through my writing, and all that would follow the path that I light, will find what they ultimately seek. Years ago, I wondered if I would have been talented enough to assemble this tome of splendid knowledge on what few know. I know that, without my twelve years of writing practice, that I could not communicate my ideas and knowledge with the same efficiency. Shamanism is the same way. At first, we reject our path and become disgruntled. Later, we accept its reality and wish to refine our skills. Everyone is always stronger with each passing day. Aging kills the physical body, but never the spirit. As long as your spirit is planted in fields of gold, it will never seek to betray you. What a small price that is given for a lifetime of self-worth and spiritual importance. To everyone of the living, you may be nothing, but to Isis and Osiris, you are everything. They will never weaken you should you do the task they have laid out for you. It may seem at first as if it is an additional cost, but such a cost must be paid for what is given in return. You will receive every gift underneath the heavens should you do the will of the gods of life and death. Only then will you fully understand the transformation that occurs with cyclic death and rebirth. For one to be reborn, they must die. Only one that knows constant spiritual death will ever have the hopes to grasp the true miracle that is life. Don't fear what may come with your own death. A shaman must understand that life is forever. The final cost of life, like the rebirth that comes with becoming a shaman, is just the slightest of all things to pay for the gift that comes afterwards. We must accept the good and the bad that comes in life, as life is constantly a balancing act. As the idea of a creator god dictates that only the god in the sky possesses the world, both shaman and mortal should know that it is impossible to have both worlds. Someone in the world of the living inherits all sorts of pain, where the shaman inherits a lack of fear and is immune to all sorts of death and pestilence. What the shaman feels the greatest is spiritual pain and forlorning curiosities, ones often tied into the idea of the perfect life. Truly the idea of human perfection is a doctrine of perdition. Let your struggles to maintain both a physical and a spiritual life die. You must let go of this world if you ever hope to one day have your little piece of heaven. Letting your worldly connections die for the inheritance in the sky that belongs rightfully to you will always just be a small price to pay. Part 58: Upon Spiritual Strength Spiritual strength is what the shaman possesses the most of. Shamans know of the frailty and weakness of the human body. No shaman can build upon flesh. They must accept that the body will die and their spirit will never do the same. Shamans do not operate with flesh, but more with every spiritual inclination in their soul. The ancient Egyptians saw the body as a vessel to transport the dead into the afterlife. Much care was taken to treat the body after it had died so that it could successfully bring the spirit into Duat. The pharaoh was the one to have this rule applied to him or her especially, as they were of course mummified and buried into the massive tombs that we call the pyramids. It's as if a whole sector of Duat exists in each and everyone. They are, and always will be, truly wonderful. Shamanism had many ancient roots to Egypt, but we can see that it has modernized, as cremation steadily rises, it is cheaper, and of course does not take up more of the earth. However, is cremation wrong or morally corrupt? I do not know, but I do believe in preserving human remains. On top of that, I will say that the spirit exists separate from the body, as was told with the duality that is Horus and Osiris. This means the ancient Egyptians clearly believe that the spirit is indeed separate from the body. Horus was the living king, and Osiris is the dead king. Osiris represented the immortal essence that was the Pharaoh. Our spirits are strong enough to overcome anything and anyone. We only have to will our spirits and have faith to accomplish any task. I am a firm believer that anything is indeed possible. If you asked me ten years ago if I thought I would be an author of more books than many other authors on the market, I would have laughed, yet here I am, a recipient of that title. My immortal soul encourages me to write each day, and it is my spirit that has taken my heart and applied it to the undertaking of this book and my fiction counterparts. I am using my hands to do the mighty gods’ works, and I could not ask for a more pleasing of a task. Spiritual strength comes to those who would drink of its fount. We have to be strong to channel the inner fire that is our spirit, for it is steeped in endless power. Our spirits help us to preside over morality. The gods watch us, and nurture us in their ways. When I feel as if I am not strong enough to stand, I call upon my heart and soul, for that is where my spirit resides. It soothes me, and gives me the strength to fight alongside my spirit allies. My spirit is something that helps me soar like an eagle and strike like a wolf. I do not have myself to thank for my indomitable spirit, but instead my father in the sky, who is beloved Ra. Where I can not travel, my soul can, and what my body cannot lift, my spirit can, with ease. I do not know fear, as my spirit remains clean. If the gods are with me, how can I fall? I have given what I can to society, and wish to give more. Karma exists, as every religion believes it does. My heart cries out to the gods, and they instruct me, love me, take care of me, watch over me, and give me bread to eat. I've never wanted to be away from them, as they have given me gift after gift. I hear of what those with money have, and it's nothing like what I have. I am a precious gift, a sparkle in the eyes of the ever-burning sun. Those who have the world, fear, where I fear the gods punishment for doing wrong. If I can't be held to the statements of Ma’at, then I must fix what I have done wrong. My spirit inspires me to good, and I am happily able to sustain the works that were left behind by the creator. I am the creator’s legacy, and my strong spirit is what he has given to me in exchange for my tireless and endless duties. To be a shaman, you must believe in these beings: the gods, the spirits, the undead, and yourself. If you do not believe in all of them, you are not a shaman, but merely a crude imitation. We are the children of the sun, as is everyone. Your spirit dictates not only your own faith, but also your faith in others. It's an awfully long life to not trust anyone, and you have to put faith in someone if you are ever able to make it in this world. The key is to decide who is trustworthy, and you must test everyone's spirit. Think of this as something that applies to spirits and humans. Many will try to trick you in this life and sabotage your spiritual growth. Do not give up your faith, or you will surly be doomed. Remain faithful at all costs, and be sure to let your spirit take control. Your guardian angel can only be as strong as your own spirit is, and they will fight and aid you according to your own strength. We must be the established spiritualist, as we are renowned for such. A shaman that is weak in the spirit is either not a shaman or someone who has fallen. Your spirit is something that can carry your through seas of enemies and times of heartache. Your spirits that aid you are your proof that you also have a strong spirit. They are not with you because you are a crestfallen fool, but because you are a endless tower of spiritual strength. Trust your heart, cherish your soul, and bring forth your challenges’ end with your invincible human spirit. Part 57: Spiritual Influence Spiritual influence is one of the major concepts of animism, the ancient religion that shamans are invested in. Spirits effect everything and everyone around them, and are hidden in fantastic and ordinary things alike. Animism even dictates that there is spirits in inanimate objects. What do these spirits look like, be them from a river, animal, area, or a village? Animistic spirits are usually profound in appearance or very ascetic and pleasing to the eyes. It's all about personal preference from the spirit as well as any local legends that may shape the image of such spirits. Imagine that your workspace even has a spirit in it, the desk, the lamp, your pencil, and more. Animism is just that complex. Anyone who thinks animism is primitive are only speaking of its origin. The true essence of animism would take forever to learn everything about it, and this is where the shaman comes in, ready to study his or her art for all of their years. Animism is so marvelous, to think that their is spirits of rocks, trees, and rivers in the countryside. To believe that there is a great spirit for each animal type is even more amazing. If you add in all of of the various ghosts and mythical type spirits it is mind blowing. How could anyone not believe in animism? The evidence is all around you. Have you ever felt better after a bath or shower? That’s a spirit influencing you. Do you remember how it feels after a date in which you and your partner stared into the dark night, confessing things to each other you'd never tell anyone else? That is the magic of a spirit influencing you. How about after you got a promotion at work, and went out to celebrate? That's the spirit of jubilee affecting you, my friend. All of these wonderful spirits have a place in the lives of each and every person, for better or for worse, as there are bad spirits that go along with bad experiences and bad feelings. What can we do to ever survive in a world where we aren't not in control, but rather the spirits around us are in control? As a shaman, we seek to negotiate and form contracts with surrounding spirits, hoping to make new friends and bring peace to any person being affected by unwanted spirits. We protect the world from the unseen, and enjoy what perks come along with the ability to see the unseen world itself. Where one spirit can be the worst enemy of a human, it can be the best friend of a shaman who can easily communicate and see their newly acquainted companion. We can always count on the spirit world to cooperate with us when we have the right heart, as shamans are influenced by spirits even more than people who are not shamans. Spirits can operate in a shaman’s life in many ways, and a shaman must decide if the spirits influence is what they want. It's disheartening to mention that a shaman has little say in what the spirits will do to him or her, but at the same time I want to encourage others to go with the flow. As for anyone who is reading this book as cultural kick or interest, I advise you to seek me out or any other skilled shaman should you fall under the influence or possession of an unwanted spirit. My contact information is at the back of this book. It is not okay for an unwelcome spirit to control you, and you do have a say in what happens in your life and where it takes you. Spiritual influence, as we know, is quite the dual edge sword. Most shaman are attached to their spirit companions that have been with them the longest. It's sort of a mutual possession. Guardian angels, I believe, are handpicked by Ra for each shaman to have assist them. The god knows who and what you are best, and he knows exactly who will complement and bolster you in your tireless vocation. You have a job to do, and the gods will not settle with a shaman that is not at their best. The gods and spirits influence the shaman in a good way, making them be as strong as possible, forging unbreakable bonds with their spirit allies and the gods themselves. Shaman are a breed with an iron will, and they have the spiritual influence of their immortal and normally unseen friends to thank for this. What meager inheritance in this world is compensated for the abundant treasures we have in heaven. Our souls are ones that cry out for all that is true, and the spirits wish nothing more than to be one with you, leading you out of the darkness that once covered your heart. Shamanism changes lives, including the shamans who dare to walk the beaten path before them. If you are someone who is ready to engage the trials of life, then I must hope that you can abide by the spirits that control this very world. There is many who would seek to use you to their great will. I trust that you will know the difference between benevolent and malevolent spirits. Shamans are people who have to maintain the fire that keeps this world alive. They are born from the flame, and the thing about fire is that it can be stoked and manipulated with the slightest environmental factors. Do you want to be the raging inferno, devouring everything in its way, or do you prefer to be the torch that lights the way for all of those who are good and pure in this world? Be the light that illuminates the darkest of places for those who cannot see the flame, and you will know the true gift of immortality. Life is forever, but should a wicked spirit lead you down a road of perdition, your soul may not be around for the neverending journey that is ours by birthright. Part 56: What Defines A Shaman A shaman is defined by their practices, not his or her title or privileges. We are shaman, but we are only ratified by our actions as a shaman. Definitively, we are the defenders of the world against bad spirits and demonic afflictions. If we are to ever lose our path, heaven forbid, then we are not shaman anymore. What defines us are the laws we are held to and the practices we do. We cannot just say we are shaman and expect the gods and humanity to believe us and accept us shaman. We must prove ourselves, time and time again, that we are indeed worthy of our titles. A shaman must kill their pride if they hope to achieve their power. A shaman’s power alone lies in the act of feeling lowly. A shaman has the most complex of problems, ones that cannot be addressed by normal medicine or conventional means. A shaman is defined as someone who can only be cured through their practice alone. Our true friends and family rest in a world that cannot just be entered and left by just anyone. When a shaman goes to Duat, they may become lost if they do not have a skilled and honest guide. A shaman must trust their spirit allies if they are to ever be what defines their trait and their existence as a shaman. Shaman do not have themselves to thank for their skill, but more their teachers and the spirits that give them their power. A shaman is trapped in their profession, and must be the definition of a model shaman if they are to have even the slightest bit of happiness. A shaman is loyal, brave, humble, dedicated, stern, emotional, spiritual, and most often, religious. These are just a few of the traits that every shaman must have to fit the true caste that is a shaman. Shamans are heroes, tried and true, yet they will never be known as one. Shamans are often not depicted in their true form on movies and television, and that is because a true shaman would not be what one wants to see or experience in media. Above all, we are mystical sages. Our wisdom is our greatest strength, as the time we spend enshrouded in Duat has given us great insight. Shaman are the wisest of all advisors, as if we are like the wisest of all kind witches of the forest. Wherever we are, you will find us offering prudent advice and helpful encouragement to all those who would seek it. It's a shame if anyone was to think that shamanism was intended solely for the shaman, or if at all. We help out any who would sit alongside us, and stare into the flames of a bonfire. Through the fire itself, we see our visions. If you would ever take the company of the shaman, be prepared to share the best companionship you ever have had. A shaman can be seen by most as quiet, studious, and one who is ignited by internal dialogue and thought. This is true for the most part, at least at first glance. A true shaman can communicate with spirits and ghosts with silent thought communication, which most call telepathy. (Did you ever actually think a shaman would ever speak out loud to their mostly invisible allies?) A shaman loves intellectual discourse and a warm, friendly conversation alike. We are passionate individuals who adhere to a code that may predate time itself. As far back as anyone can remember, we have been in this world. Shamans have had a place in this life always, be them in ancient society or modern day. We are defined by need as much as anything else. We are not made shaman by anyone's choice. The gods readily accept that few (if not any,) will abide their decree. People simply do not believe in the gods these days, and so we were made to do their will. Tending to the graves is simply something that mortals cannot do, especially in a spiritual sense. We are god personified, and we inhabit his/her will. We have been given the breath of life to share with the dead and spirit kin alike. A shaman must look to the sky for all of their answers. We were made to help those by seeking out godly means. We are not someone who magickally gained their powers by a mere chance or some freak event. We cannot be trained to do our job by another shaman, and we cannot be given shamanism through bloodlines. Communication with the residents of Duat is forbidden to all who are not the chosen ones of the gods. We see defined initially by the gods alone, and it is a shame when someone who is not handpicked by the gods claims to be a shaman. I offer introspection of godly shamanism from a pagan and polythestic sense. Shamanism has to be based in animism to be true shamanism, as it is what shamanism is based off of. Animism is what our ancient profession was derived from, and forever so shall it remain. Do not try to change what the gods have thrusted upon the chosen of the gods. We are the remains of a dying culture, as neo-shamanism has done much to corrupt and pervert our ancient ways, for their own profitable gain, sacrificing the souls of misled youth and mentally unsound individuals. My gods’ gifts cannot be bought or sold. This book was written for the purpose of providing my most basic needs. I never have thought that I might write about shamanism, but after more than twelve years, I wanted to provide what I have learned to the casual reader or someone who is interested in true shamanism. If you were originally a neo shaman who had interest in this book, abandon your ways, study this book, and throw yourself to the gods’ mercy. You may just be good enough to gain their forgiveness and perhaps a few of their useful gifts. I don't control the gods, but I know they control me. I was given a gift that I must make good on, as I had no choice when it came to me being selected, but I did have a choice when it came to me being the true definition of a shaman. I am in my early thirties, and I already feel as if I have the knowledge of an ancient sage. It is the gods who I have to thank for this strickening gift, and forever I will praise them and do their works, happily. I am the definition of a shaman, forever becoming more the definition, as I am always uncovering new secrets of my ancient profession. Part 55: Reasons Why Shamans Are Elected The “Shaman Elect” is a very common term when it comes to the enlightened shaman. It is believed that a shaman must be elected before they begin their practices. The one that elects a shaman first is the gods and the great spirits. A shaman cannot be a shaman without their magickal power, their mojo, if you will. There is so much to a shaman’s world that they need the blessing from the gods to do their job efficiently. A shaman cannot simply be a descendent of a shaman, as the gods are not ones to believe that a shaman’s power is in their bloodlines, nor can a mortal be taught shamanism. This book assumes that you are interested in shamanism as a fascination or you are shaman elect already and are looking for the inside scoop on what it is like to be a real shaman. Even if you aren't a shaman yet, maybe fate will crash down upon you and change your life, making you one. Despite all of this, you do need to be chosen by the gods to be a shaman, as the gods are not foolish and will not entrust this power with just anyone. Neo-Shamanism is not a focus here, as I consider it a form as flawed as an unwed mother's child. Shamanism starts developing by the gods’ direction the moment a child is conceived. The gods know everything, including where all of the humans lives on earth will lead. They protect their chosen child by sending all sorts of spirits to watch over them until they can fully hear the voice of their guardians. Even then, the shaman is closely protected by both the gods and the spirits alike, realizing that the shaman must survive to fully fulfill their destiny, which in turn is to the gods’ pleasure. Shamans are like the angels, attending to an unseen world that only an angel can see. We have angels guard us, and they possess us and give us our powers. We are people who were meant to be the keepers of the stars and cosmos, as we are invaluable to the gods. Our power does come with quite the steep price, though, as the world will reject us the more we delve into the unseen world. It's not to say that we aren't blessed, but more that people are given different gifts that all come with some sort of vulnerability. Humans are given the world, and we are given the spirit world. They suffer, as do we. Shaman undergo both a godly election and a secret election that occurs within the community. Every society is ran by an underground government, most notably, the Illuminating Order. We are given a job that remains secret in developed countries, be them in North America or Europe. Only so many shamans are needed for each area, as too many shamans in one area will limit the growth and likewise potential of all the shaman. Spirits are used to not only guide a shaman, but also deliver messages to them. A shaman will receive much guidance from the gods well, and the gods have a habit of only trusting handpicked shaman. Their spirit companions, be them their guardian angel or otherwise, are even picked by the gods. The shaman that are elected have many traits that the gods can see even before their birth, as mentioned. A shaman must be kind and determined, and the shaman will have a very hard future in front of them. Shamanism is given mostly to people who will have no purpose in life and will be walking a difficult path. Shamanism is given to them with a promise from the receiver, and that is to forsake the world and be exclusively the servant of the gods. Should you see the path that leads to heaven then you will inevitably know the pleasure that it is to sit beside your heavenly kings and queens. Shamanism is something that can only be mastered by someone who is a good listener. The shaman must listen to all, be them gods, spirits, or humans. The shaman must be open minded, and of good character. The gods do not want a corrupt shaman but also not a weak shaman. The gods want unquestioning loyalty from their shaman, as a shaman that does not mind the gods is a liability to them. Of course, the shamans are the gods’ servants, and any servant can be disciplined by them so that they do obey. Once a shaman becomes a shaman, there is no way for the shaman to go back to the life they once lived. A shaman is in it for life, as I am sure you already know. Shamans are chosen for good qualities. Any annoying trait that a shaman does have can be smoothed out by the gods and their vigorous vocation that the shaman must do. Shamanism teaches the shaman more than the shaman teaches others. A shaman learns from the gods and spirits, using what they have learned to help humanity. Humans benefit from what the gods have the shamans do for them, whether humanity believes in the shaman and their gods’ power or not. Shamans are chosen for the mere reason of need. Real, full-fledged shamans are needed all throughout the world. Who else will defend and heal the good people in the world when they are afflicted by illness that they contracted from evil spirits? The Christian church and the Vatican are not equipped with the knowledge nor the talent to help people ward off evil spirits and cure illness and possession that result from them. Shamans are chosen because of need, the need being unanimous. Shamans are needed by the gods and the spirits alike, and humanity needs both the gods and the shamans. It is a symbiotic bond between both the spirit world and the world of the living that has been around since the beginning of time. Where humans are, there will be spirits, and vice-versa. Shamans are called because they are needed, and at the same time, blessed. Blessings are showered upon all wherever a shaman shows up with their trusty guardian angel. Part 54: The Shaman’s Magickal Application The shaman’s magickal application is the way he or she uses her magick in practical ways. Whether you believe it or not, a shaman is a master magician, and practices an archaic form of magick, obviously called shamanism. The way they use their magick is unlike any that you have seen before, utilizing song and dance to summon good spirits and to chase away bad ones. The shaman is steeped in both magickal knowledge and power, giving them the ability to fight unseen foes with their unseen yet amazing abilities. How does the shaman practice and use these conventionally? Few know, but I will explain it the best I can in this and the accompanying sections. A shaman is a born magician, claiming to receive their power from the gods and great spirits. They possess the shaman and give him or her all of their powers. This is how the shaman presents themselves, being both a sorcerer (or sorceress) and a sage. The shaman practices magick all of the time, often by communicating with spirits and the undead folk. A shaman strives for both conventional and unconventional success, realizing that a shaman has little in the way of providing for themselves without a way of obtaining financial means. A shaman can live off of a villages offerings for a developed community that places stock in the services of a shaman. However, in developed countries, shamanism is not accepted, and a shaman must keep his or her practices primarily silent. They must adapt to the place they hail from, and doing so requires developing conventional magick. That means the shaman must develop a means of working easily while abusing their powers. Think of it not as the incorrect use of a gift but more a way of protecting your loved ones by finding housing and food to eat. The most obvious way of using conventional magick is to conduct business in a temple or church while hiding your spirits or writing and other artistic pursuits. Anything a spirit can do, a shaman then can do themselves. A shaman can even present his shamanic ability as athletic or stage magic skill, as well as the well-known acting career. Conventionality is whatever a person can readily accept. There is many ways to use magick to profit in life. Many don't understand the real essence of magick. Magick is meant to make a man or a woman into someone who is wise. The path of the trickster requires a corrupt way of obtaining their pleasure or other physical means. A trickster is not to be confused with a shaman hiding their gift. A world like this cannot easily grasp those who are of magickal quality. You will fall under ridicule if you reveal your gift. Surround yourself with the spirit world, and accept the fact that mortals and many non-shamans were not meant to ever believe in the spirit world or readily understand it. To them, it's myth, but to us, it is a way of life. Conventionality dictates that you let people see only what can be believed, therefore it is essential that conventional magick is believed to be like an easy and efficient way to complete everyday tasks. If one is an expert at what is everyday life, then you will be seen as a conventional magician, and not so much a shaman. A shaman is a dying breed, despite neo-shamanism efforts. Shamanism is not a way of life, but more a way that seeks to cure oneself with alternative measures that entails the alteration of the human conscious. A shaman is not someone that can readily do the tasks of the world of the living, as the spiritually possessive qualities bring the shaman back to a much more distant time in both mannerism and mentality. For one to ever hope to survive the dual existence that comes with dwelling in a modern country then they must use their shamanism to make life “easier.” I write, and I write quite a bit, with my guardian angel assisting with what I record. In ten years I have written over ten books. Each one we write has been a learning experience, and I chose to write about shamanism in an effort to educate and inform people of the real practices and beliefs of a shaman. It is very common for many witches and polthetistic worshippers to believe and practice shamanism. As I mentioned, my guardian spirit was a young witch when she died. She taught me and initiated me into the craft, with the goddess Isis presiding over me, who was at one time the first polytheistic god I worshipped. Nearly thirteen years later, I still worship her. I had came under her service broken and newly resurrected, and now I am strong and conventionally sound. She has given me the ways to present my abilities in positive and productive ways that don't disturb conventional mindset. Falling underneath the conventional mentality is essential for both neo-shamans and archaic shamans who live in developed countries. The world has been made to not believe in your power and friends alike. Duat is a fairytale to those who do not have the faith to believe in such a land of legend. You do not have to do much to blend the two worlds, but it takes some time and practice to learn to go from the shamanic mentality to the everyday world's mentality, and back and forth. Conventionality is like a shaman’s sanity, and besides, a little sun and time with living friends and family can be a blast. Let your conventional magick flow, and cast supernatural light on what others do not normally see. One must begin with the first step on the ladder to ascend into the sky. There is no way to escape the world that you call your home. One has duty to both spirits and humans alike, and if you fall in one aspect you will fail in both. Conventionality is quite the concept for anyone to study. Unless a shaman is an expert in conventionality, he or she cannot practice the higher rituals and ceremonies. Be one with the world and you will hear the spirits call loud and clear. For both you and the dead are a pillar in the palace that houses the world of the living and the land of the dead. Learn to be a part of both, and happiness will always come to you. Fail to live in a conventional sense, and you will be crestfallen. Part 53: Shamans With Lycanthropy Some shamans contract, for some widely unknown reason, Lycanthropy, or a disease that makes a shaman like an uncontrollable beast. This belief was most widely held by the bards and the druids of the British Isles, including their ancient land of Eire. (Which is now known as Ireland.) Of course, shamans are known for their psychopomp behavior, which may help to dispel the myth that are werewolves. One startling fact remains, though: the ancient druids had practices that extended beyond psychopomp behavior, including the consumption of animal blood and the wearing of animal skins, which parallels both Native Americans and the ancient Norse. Were the druids and their shaman descendants indeed werewolves? The idea of a werewolf, or any other shape-shifting creature sounds outlandish to the casual listener. This is an idea, however, that has been thrown around for quite some time, in both reality and fiction. Even the Bible speaks of those who are like wolves, the ravenous King Nero. Did the Bible mean to say that he resembled a wolf in his actions, or perhaps both his actions and appearance? The possibilities are quite baffling. What are my thoughts on things such as the supernatural disease and curse that is Lycanthropy? I find it fascinating. I believe it is fully possible, but not quite to the extent that we see in film and in stories. A wolven human is entirely possible when it comes to the bounds of shamanism. Shamans are considered to be both human and spirit, as their ghostly companions make them so. To think that a human could synchronize with the form of a beast is entirely likely in shamanism. If one was possessed by a wolf spirit, then we must readily believe that the possessed shaman would be able to maintain qualities that would be seen in both human and wolf. As a shaman myself, I can atest to the warping qualities of a shaman and his closest possessing spirits and ghosts. When Jen, my guardian angel, took control of my life and ignited my career as a shaman, I took on her emotional strength and her knowledge of alchemy and witchcraft. Through the years, I have became more like her and less like me. This is the essence of both shape-shifting and psychopomp behavior. For one to be like another would entail the subsequent possessing of the accompanying form and spirit. We become like the form of another because of the form existing inside our body and soul, making it as if we have a twin soul, or a soul for dual nature. It is very likely for any shaman to be possessed by a wolf spirit, as unlucky as they are. A shaman can take on many qualities that would make them resemble a beast. An animal is like the nature of many shamans, one who can be one with the wilderness and be content with things that the world does not covet. A shaman is like an animal in their survivalist nature. You can never count wolf nor shaman, for they are the masters when it comes to knowing the wilds and all that it takes to survive. For a shaman to make a partnership with an animal is very easy to believe. The shaman’s changes while being possessed by the animal's spirit is not something that should be taken lightly, as the wolf especially inspires hunger. Why a shaman would be cursed with Lycanthropy is beyond any understanding. One can say that the earth mother loved her planet so much that she needed to make forest defenders, and the shamans were right for the job. She twisted their form, and transformed them into the aspect of terror, that being the Lycanthrope, also known as the lupine. Our minds have always tried to twist what seems conventional into something that seems absolutely inconceivable. We are not people who want to think with our rational minds, as we use them to twist and contort even the most ordinary of things. A werewolf is the most common example of that. A shaman has long since transformed into different animals, as is common conception in shamanic tribes. The psychopomp toils endlessly for such fruits of labor, as they believe that it will grant them some sort of higher conscious or added effect. That seems to make the psychopomp a tad bit greedy, but they readily accept that their gift will not make them popular or wealthy. After all, who can talk to a man or woman that may turn into a violent beast at any given moment? The shaman must realizes that there is balance in all things, that being that their gift will not make them popular with ordinary men and women. What allure there may be will be blown away and casted aside when their true gifts come out and baffle and deceive the simple mind. Maybe that is why the shaman is known as an ancient and archaic magician. The act of deception is quite normal when it comes to a man or a woman who has the power to change into an animal or an upright fusion of the two. Lycanthropy is to be considered real and quite honestly a curse. If you ever go forth on your path, do not be surprised if you become infected. Shamanism is something that will ultimately include changing into many forms, and the apex predator that is the wolf is quite common. All tribes have stories of animal-like humans, as animism is deep-seeded in such legends. A trip to a new age bookstore may yield much sought out additional information if you desire to chase after more legends of shape-shifting. What I provide in this section is just a mere fraction of my knowledge on this. Maybe one day, we will meet on the road, and we will speak on it more. Lycanthropy is just that fascinating. The despair that it causes the afflicted, though, is not so desirable. Part 52: Where It All Leads Back To All of shamanism points back towards a single creative source. The sun is where all life came from in this solar system, the god, Ra. All shamanism comes from the central source of heat and fire, and we are merely just a part of him, who is the heart of everything. He is the one who gave us the breath of life. I believe that I can do all things through him, even resurrect the dead. Who is this creator god, this Ra? He is both the phoenix and the dragon, and the fierce defender of the earth. In myth, he is portrayed as a bird-headed god, as is Horus, the Egyptian messiah. Through Ra, I believe I can stand. Through him, I see visions, no matter how painful they are. Ra has made me a shaman, and through him, I do the works that the citizens of Egypt can't. The Egyptians have forfeited their birthright, so I must take it from them, with mother Isis and father Osiris’ permission. They have allowed me into Duat, and I have given my promise to serve them forever. It all goes back to him, the god of the sun, and his eternal fire. Fire creates, be it plants, animals, humans, or weapons in the forge, even. I want to be in the sun, and thus, the light. The light is the philosophical concept of enlightenment, and ultimately what everyone should strive for. The sun brings eternal enlightenment to those who seek it, and thus, freedom from this barren and cold world. The sun is not just the symbol for shamans, but also humanity. Even in the Bible it depicts the god as a spirit of fire. What made fire such a central concept for the eternal god in all cultures? The sun is something that is always there. The people in ancient times could see it, and knew that it would always be there to light their path. This may explain why the sun rose to the throne of the initial god. What made him so sacred to shamans in ancient times? I believe it was a mandate sent from the heavens for the shaman to worship fire and the sun itself. Even the Native Americans, who developed shamanism in both early and more modern times believe that the sun is the chief god, presiding above all. I believe that the sun is a male god who is married to the earth mother, the goddess incarnation of the earth itself. The sun's sperm is its light, which impregnates the earth's eggs, which is the soil. From the ground comes life, the sun and the earth’s children. Both Christian and pagan myth states that the first humans came from the ground itself, so my theory and belief is concurrent with both major religions. This explains also the Native Americans’ belief of father sky and mother earth. Light grows the beings on earth, including humanity. It's interesting to note that even if the earth was a stable temperature without the sun that we would not be able to live without the life-giving rays of the sun. The mystery of the sun, although completely explainable, will always remain a mystery. How did a solar system like ours have a planet the perfect distance from the sun with an oxygen-filled atmosphere and enough natural resources to sustain life? It is improbable and cannot be explained by science. What answers science cannot give is found in religion. Science is stumped when it comes to the origin of this planet and other life-supporting planets. Quite honestly I place no importance in science. It’s not that science isn't interesting or even its atheist nature, but more that it is something that I don't find beneficial to know. My writing and work as a shaman is not supplied by knowledge of science but more by philosophy and godly decree. The sun god is all that I need to lead me through my day. I couldn't answer one trivia question to save my life when it comes to modern day things society places importance in. When it comes to religion, ancient history, and shamanism I can tell you many things, and that is why I would say that even the wisest of all sages do not know everything. We cannot deny that the being of fire is a god. Whether a shaman chooses to cling to the sun god is completely their own choice, but I will venture that most shamans do worship fire and seek to maintain mastery over fire. This common concept is one of the key elements behind shamanism. If one cannot grasp the concept of generating fire, then much is lost. The shaman has heat inside of them, their soul, and should the internal fire not be stoked, then a shaman will lose all of their immortal powers. Use fire when you can, and seek to command it everywhere you go. The sun god will lend you his flame should you be brave enough to summon him. Do not give up on the tie that binds all of us: fire. All of the elements cannot match the strength of fire. It is something that has linked modern and ancient society together, forever. We are led in the darkest of all nights by the faintest light, which is of course the one that is in our heart. Within time, a shaman can take that faint light and make it into a blazing inferno that consumes all that obstructs its path. Send forth the flames, and you will see entire communities changed, as the heat from your heart and soul is enough to melt the deepest frozen beings and make them warm once more. Fire is truly something that cannot be taken lightly, and that is why the shamans are the true heirs of fire. Strive to control the flame, and you may become burnt. Grab it enough, and the pain from the flame is no longer noticeable. Capture the flame, and you will be able to also capture your dreams. Part 51: Spirits Of The Past Spirits are always following a shaman. They are often ones that are friendly and have some sort of connection to the shaman. Shamans attract their former family and friends, and they follow him or her wherever they may go. The spirits of the past haunt the shaman, reminding him or her of what once was. He or she struggles with the spirits of the past, as they may have been even their close family and friends, or maybe even more. Why must we see our family die and then return to us after? Is the shaman truly marked with death, a curse to those who get to close to the shaman? I am sure that is so, and that is why many shaman keep humans away from their true selves. What they see from a shaman while performing his or her duties is what truly embodies the shaman personally. A shaman is what his or her heart is, and that is who and what they love. A shaman has so much love to give, but spirits that haunt them from their past are often the ones who receive it. This is the ultimate catch and sacrifice to the livelyhood that is shamanism. A shaman always works within some sort of spiritual realm, and most cultures believe in both ghosts or spirits, and a shaman is expected to abide by a tradition. I follow Egyptian and Greek gods, yes, but they called me so I must follow. America is a place of ethnical diversity, yes, but my heart is left in Africa. What and who I have met along the way is a combination of spirits and ghosts from many lands, and I am pained most by the fallen I had known in life. I believe a shaman’s deceased ancestors play a special role in the teaching and raising of a shaman. The shaman when he or she is younger may have a fascination about their deceased relatives, unaware that they are there with the shaman, guiding them through their difficult early years. A shaman is unlike his parents, as nowadays shamanism is taboo and unbelievable to most cultures. The young shaman, however, is drawn to it, as I had an obsession for ghost stories and everything supernatural when I was young. (But then again, what kid doesn't?) As the shaman grows in age, he realizes that his dead family was with him or her all along. There may be a point where a shaman loses a friend or several to this harsh world and it's painful ways. The shaman doesn't grieve, but instead begins to talk with the dead friend. The shaman wonders what went wrong, and asks if the friend regrets their passing. The friend may have some forlorn desire to live again, but their concern is the same as before, only stronger. They care for their beloved friend and shaman, wanting to give their eternity to them. What god would create a world that showers affection on his disciples, the shamans? The good king Osiris did, that's who. He loves us so much that he allowed us to have control of steads that were our friends and family, in sickness and death, in life and after. As shamans, we have so many reasons to be thankful. For humans, they are separated from their loved ones for the rest of their mortal life, believing they have gone to some place that sounds like some abyss in the sky. For shamans, our faith is greater, keeping our friends spirits bound to us. Our belief may be what holds everything close to us, be it real or what seems to most to be fantasy. As my faith is greater than a person who does not believe in animism, thus, so will be my power. This is the core to all religions, that faith dictates how great your spiritual strength is. Do I miss my friends and family who once were in flesh form? No. Their spirits is the true essence of everything they were, not their decaying flesh. Our bodies die every moment we are here on earth, yet our spirits become stronger with each passing trial. If one is not becoming stronger in their spirit, then they are one that yields to vice and carnal pleasures. The person is deprived of a body when they die, but what they gain is downright beautiful. They gain utter enlightenment and the realization that there is life after death. The person’s heart does not settle completely upon entering Duat, though. They want to find purpose, as they did in life. Being a charge of the shaman, as assigned by the gods, is exactly what the spirit needs. To be reunited with their former friends and family in life is their greatest joy. A shaman, likewise, is thrilled to speak and be with their passed friends and family once again. We are so blessed to know that the gods truly care about us, be them from Duat, Olympus, Valhalla, heaven, or wherever. Humanity's greatest gift is the gods, and no one can argue that, that is if they are a true believer. We are not here to just die and rot, but to seek and seek what is sought. Our inheritance is to be something quite magickal. We must give our thanks to both the gods and the spirits for living a life free from the constraining ideals of death that this world enforces upon the unenlightened. Say a prayer for your loved ones who have departed, and surly, if you have enough faith, they will return to you. Often a person's guardian angel has a close relationship to you. Their connection is something that bounded you both in life and after death. The spirits of the past will no longer be in the past, should you choose to answer their call. Be with the wind and you will be lifted up high, snatching those who were in Duat to your own righteous cause. If the sun god wants you to have a little stake in the place that surrounds his, then so you shall. After all, there is no arguing with the god’s decree. One must simply accept it if they are going to be their messenger. Summon the spirits of the past. Come on, you know you want to. Receiving the love of the dead is just one of the benefits of being a shaman, and who can possibly love you more than your deceased friends and family, haunting you from beyond the grave? |