tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3783748193578911132008-09-11T14:52:50.985-04:00SINGINGCROW'S RATTLESingingcrow is a practitioner of the Shaman Way. This site is dedicated to all shamans, native medicine people, and all other spiritual healers by providing information about shamans, medicine people and related subject matter.Singingcrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05967890313361624078noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-378374819357891113.post-82258847544162393112008-05-24T10:46:00.002-04:002008-05-24T10:46:45.311-04:002008-05-24T10:46:45.311-04:00<div class="blogger-post-footer"><meta name="verify-v1" content="VVJyFc4eXFYkMkaivf1TgAthcD9UUfH0WahSuTVLkUw=" /></div>Singingcrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05967890313361624078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-378374819357891113.post-16836265755215908252008-05-24T10:42:00.000-04:002008-05-24T10:43:11.650-04:002008-05-24T10:43:11.650-04:00ANIMAL SPIRITS or POWER ANIMALSThe world of the forest and waters is the home to the wild animals upon which man relies to survive. Animals are called amitan, �??having an ami soul�??, because like human beings they possess an ami body soul that provides the breath and warmth of the living body. Ami souls of animals usually reincarnate as newborn members of their species, thus deer return as more deer, seals return as seals, bears reincarnate as bears. Since they have souls animals are considered to have personalities, language, and even psychic abilities just like humans.<br />The master spirit of all the hunting animals is known as Bayan Hangai. Hunters appeal to him for luck in finding game. The highest ranking animals of the forest are the Siberian tiger, the snow leopard, and the bear. Buryats call the tiger Anda Bars (best friend tiger) and pray to him for good hunting. In much of Siberia the bear is seen as a master of the animals and is revered as an ancestor. As mentioned earlier, in Mongolian his name, baabgai, is a form of the word for �??father�??. Many Siberian tribes have special ceremonies for honoring the bear after he is killed.<br />Because animals possess reincarnating souls, there are many rules regarding the killing of game so that their souls will not be offended. Otherwise, they may become angry and refuse to return to the tribal hunting grounds, or they may tell other animal spirits to stay away. When a small animal is killed for it�??s fur, the hunter will put the animal in his hat and wave it around sunwise three times, saying �??hurai, hurai, hurai�??! This pleases the animal spirits and brings buyanhishig to the hunter through the dallaga gesture. When a large animal is killed or a large fish is caught, the hunter or fisherman may cry over its death to appease the animal spirit. Hunters also apologize to animals when they are killed, saying that they needed to take the meat and hide for their survival. Domestic animals are also killed in a respectful manner. Animals are never struck on the head because animals also have a small bit of Tenger in the crown of their heads. Sheep are killed in an almost bloodless fashion by cutting the belly open and pinching the aorta. Heads are not chopped off because cutting the throat injures the ami soul. The head, throat, lungs, and heart, which is collectively called the zuld, are the residence of an animal�??s ami and should be removed from the body as one piece and boiled together before being cut apart to be eaten. When an animal is killed for a sacrifice the hide and the zuld are hung up on poles pointing to heaven. After bears are eaten the skull, or sometimes the whole skeleton, is placed on a pole or platform in the forest, a custom known among the Buryats as baabgai yoholol.<br />This respect for animal spirits is the reason for certain rules connected with hunting. First, when entering the forest one should act reverently and not laugh, run, or yell, but rather move gently and stealthily like an animal. Throwing sticks in the woods is an insult to Bayan Hangai and the forest spirits and therefore taboo (nugeltei). Urinating or throwing rocks into bodies of water is likewise forbidden. Animals should never be killed except for food or fur, and the killing should be done in a quick and humane way. Game must be shared in the community and not hoarded, and the carcass must be butchered in a customary (yostoi) manner. Following these simple rules ensured the return of game and a good relationship with the animal spirits<br />Rivers, lakes, streams, and the ocean are home to the water animals as well as passageways for spirits traveling between the worlds. The master spirit of the waters, Usan Khan (King of Water), also known as Uha Loson, is revered by praying to the South. Lake Baikal in Siberia is the home of a very powerful spirit that is called Burhan or Mother Baikal, and offerings are made by the Buryats to placate the spirit and ensure against fishing accidents. The loon and goldeneye duck are considered to be special water birds. There is a legend among the Mongols and many Siberian peoples that in the very earliest time, when the earth was covered with water, the goldeneye duck brought up mud from the bottom of the sea, and when Tenger placed it upon the waters, the first dry land appeared. The loon is a special water bird because of its diving habits. Water is full of spirits, and the loon above all other birds is believed to communicate with the souls in the water. The cry of the loon is imitated in the songs of Mongolian and Siberian shamans.<br />Among the fish the salmon trout is considered powerful and images of this fish are used in the shamanist rituals throughout Siberia. The seal which lives on Lake Baikal in the Buryat Mongol homeland as well as in the Pacific Ocean, is considered to be a special animal, and it�??s remains are placed in the forest like those of the bear.<br /><a name="page_2"><br />Animals who appear in nature are sometimes actually shamans who take on animal form while traveling in spirit to do their work. They may take the form of birds, mammals, reptiles, or even fish. Some old stories recount occasions when a hunter has killed an animal and a shaman falls dead while conducting a ritual because the animal had actually been his soul. Ancestor spirits or ordinary people�??s souls may also occasionally take on animal form. The Samoyed believe that a man�??s soul may take the form of a grouse when out of the body, and one story tells of a hunter who shot a grouse that was actually his own soul. He immediately fell ill, and a shaman saved his life by giving him an egg to house his ami soul for the rest of his life. The Dagur Mongols say that certain animals are especially likely to be shamans who are soul traveling; most of these, including the porcupine, snake, fox, weasel, spider, and pheasant, are not normally eaten.<br />Some animals are said to be able to extend their lives by special breathing techniques. It is said that if an animal stays out only at night and breathes in a special way while gazing at the moon it can become practically immortal. After doing this for a thousand years it will turn completely black and be able to appear in human form at will. If an animal continues to do this for ten thousand years it will turn white and become very wise. The animals capable of this feat are the fox, sable, spider, pheasant, and porcupine.<br />Certain animals are considered to be totems or symbolic ancestors for tribes or clans. The most famous are Blue Wolf and Red Deer, the mythical ancestors of the Mongols. The western Buryats also recognize a bull, Buh Noyan Baabai, as their ancestor. Other Buryat totem animals are the swan, wild boar, and the burbat fish. Throughout Siberia the eagle is regarded also as a totemic ancestor, and in Mongolia the eagle is associated with the shamanist tradition. The hawk was associated with Chinggis Khaan and his lineage, and Chinggis Khaan was said to have received messages from Tenger through a hawk that would land on his shoulder and speak in his ear. Among the Yakut, individual clans recognize a specific mammal or bird as their totem animal. The name of the animal is taboo, and it is referred to in everyday speech by other names. In Mongolian the lack of a literal name for the bear is probably a result of this custom, given that the bear is recognized as an ancestor by almost all Siberian peoples. The name of the wolf is also taboo among many groups in Mongolia; this animal is called by other names such as the �??mountain burhan�??.<br />Animal spirits are also teachers and protectors of shamans. As a shaman grows in power, he will add to his collection of animal spirit helpers. A Mongolian shaman�??s outfit normally has whole skins or pieces of fur from several different kinds of animals. These skins are not simply for decoration, but are spirit houses for the spirit helpers to which they belong. At the commencement of a ritual the shaman can call their spirits to come into the skins so they will be available to help him in his work.<br />Of the birds, the eagle and raven are thought to have a special relationship with shamans. As one of my teachers used to say, �??The raven is the shaman�??s friend�??. I have noticed that ravens often appear during shamanist ceremonies. The eagle is revered because the eagle was the first shaman.<br />Hunting is a special sort of interaction with the animal spirits that is regulated by many different customs designed to allow for the use of animals without offending their spirits. If animal spirits are angered by carelessness or waste, a hunter or even a whole community may be punished with poor luck in finding food. Siberian hunters have a great understanding of the habits of their game animals and attribute human like characteristics to them. In the past, hunting trips to gather furs and meat often lasted for weeks, even months and today some tribes still send large groups of hunters into the forest in pursuit of game. The hunt is always open with prayers to Bayan Hangai, master spirit of the forest. At each campsite a snowman or carved image on a tree is made to represent him, and offerings of animal blood and liquor are presented to him in order to bring luck on the hunt.<br />In many tribes shamans do not generally go on the hunt because their spirits are so strong that they may scare away nearby animals. Even so, shamans still perform rituals before the hunters leave the village in order to guarantee hunting luck, and they can also determine if someone in the community may have done something to offend the animal spirits. The spiritual leader in the hunt who does the rituals to bring favor from Bayan Hangai is usually an elder. Among the Dagur Mongols, the elder will start the hunt by walking a short way into the woods, shooting three arrows into the forest, then returning to the village. This is called �??opening the hunt�??. While in the forest, hunters will move stealthily like animals and may disguise themselves by wearing whole animal skins covering the upper body and head. When animals are found, they are killed respectfully and the meat is shared equally; in that way the balance between the community and the natural world is preserved.<br /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><meta name="verify-v1" content="VVJyFc4eXFYkMkaivf1TgAthcD9UUfH0WahSuTVLkUw=" /></div>Singingcrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05967890313361624078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-378374819357891113.post-86103392674417640552008-05-17T10:43:00.007-04:002008-05-22T12:49:19.283-04:002008-05-22T12:49:19.283-04:00EXPLORING PAST LIVES<strong>I am a certified hypnotist who is interested in past life explorations using hypnosis. I became interested in hypnosis and past life exploration in 1985. I was living in Tulsa, Okla. at the time and attended a metaphysical workshop on past lives. The woman conducting the workshop talked about a woman in Colorado named Virginia Tighe who supposedly recalled a past live as a 19th-century Irishwoman by the name of Bridey Murphy.</strong><br /><br /><strong>The story goes that in 1952, Colorado businessman and amateur hypnotist Morey Bernstein put housewife Virginia Tighe of Pueblo, Colorado in a trance that sparked off startling revelations about Tighe's alleged past life as a 19th-century Irishwoman and her rebirth in the United States 59 years later. Bernstein used a technique called hypnotic regression, during which the subject is gradually taken back to childhood. He then attempted to take Virginia one step further, before birth, and suddenly was astonished to find he was listening to Bridey Murphy. </strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>I developed a friendship with the workshop facilitator and learned the basic technique of hypnosis. In 2006 I took a one month advance course in hypnosis and became certified.</strong><br /><br /><strong>I have used various hypnotic techniques in my shamanic healing practice. Hypnosis is a safe drug free way to break free of bad habits and overcome phobias. I have helped a number of people to quit smoking (myself included) and used hypnosis for those bothered by anxiety attacks.</strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"><meta name="verify-v1" content="VVJyFc4eXFYkMkaivf1TgAthcD9UUfH0WahSuTVLkUw=" /></div>Singingcrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05967890313361624078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-378374819357891113.post-56852221907614901252008-05-01T14:43:00.008-04:002008-09-11T14:21:19.822-04:002008-09-11T14:21:19.822-04:00ENTHEOGENSThe word entheogen is a neologism derived from the ancient Greek. Entheos literally means "god (theos) within", translates as "inspired" and is the root of the English word "enthusiasm". The Greeks used it as a term of praise for poets and other artists. Genesthe means "to generate". So an entheogen is "that which generates God (or godly inspiration) within a person".<br /><br />The word entheogen was coined in 1979 by a group of ethnobotanists and scholars of mythology (Carl A. P. Ruck, Jeremy Bigwood, Danny Staples, Richard Evans Schultes, Jonathan Ott and R. Gordon Wasson). The literal meaning of the word is "that which causes God to be within an individual". The translation "creating the divine within" is sometimes given, but it should be noted that entheogen implies neither that something is created (as opposed to just perceiving something that is already there) nor that that which is experienced is within the user (as opposed to having independent existence).<br /><br />It was coined as a replacement for the terms "hallucinogen" (popularized by Aldous Huxley's experiences with mescaline, published as The Doors of Perception in 1953) and "psychedelic" (a Greek neologism for "mind manifest", coined by psychiatrist Humphry Osmond, who was quite surprised when the well-known author, Aldous Huxley, volunteered to be a subject in experiments Osmond was running on mescaline). Ruck et al. argued that the term "hallucinogen" was inappropriate due to its etymological relationship to words relating to delirium and insanity. The term "psychedelic" was also seen as problematic, due to the similarity in sound to words pertaining to psychosis and also due to the fact that it had become irreversibly associated with various connotations of 1960s pop culture.<br /><br />An entheogen, in the strictest sense, is a psychoactive substance used in a religious or shamanic context. Entheogens generally come from plant sources which contain molecules closely related to endogenous neurochemicals. They occur in a wide variety of sacraments of various religious rites and have been shown to directly provoke what users perceive as spiritual/mystical experiences.<br /><br />One entheogen that I have used is Salvia divinorum. Though it is still relatively unknown, Salvia divinorum, one of several hundred species of Sage, presents enormous possibility as well an an enormous mountain to climb for those who oppose its very existence. In the United States, nothing is interesting unless it is sensationalized. Almost every time Salvia divinorum has been written about in a news article, the facts have become incredibly distorted, and Salvia is presented as a "dangerous new drug that is destroying our youth." Nothing could be further from the truth, but unless there is tragedy and attention-grabbing headlines, the public doesn't care.<br />So, combine the media's sensationalizing of this rare and sacred plant with such potential, with the government's extremely effective campaign of brainwashing the public into believing that anything with the word "hallucinogenic" attached to it is an evil, dangerous drug that must be banned immediately before it destroys our nation, our youth, and our very culture, and the truth become difficult to see or express by anyone who has a personal connection to this plant as we do. And, people are so brainwashed by these things, that even when presented with the facts, they still believe what they believe about Salvia divinorum. I can site countless facts, such as the #1 substance of abuse by youth today is prescription medication. The advertising of Salvia divinorum has been banned on major search engines, yet the advertising of prescription medication still remains.<br />No matter how many times i state that Salvia divinorum has never harmed anyone, that it is a natural herb that has been used safely for thousands of years, that aspirin has 80 times the reported cases of overdose or death attached to it per year (Salvia divinorum has been attributed to ZERO deaths and ZERO overdoses over the past 3,000 years), people still say; "But it's a dangerous hallucinogen and it must be made illegal." Hearing things like this about Salvia divinorum are beyond frustrating. Even though every place we have researched clearly advertises that Salvia divinorum is meant for sale to only adults over 18 years old, the media has always included that Salvia is being aggressively marketed to children. This is simply another tactic that has been used over and over by both the government and the media to invoke particular reactions from people; another mind control tactic that has been incredibly effective in the past for shifting public opinion, despite what the true facts might be.<br />The tragedy of all of this is that not only are people giving up more of their personal freedoms and campaigning to remove other consenting adults' personal freedoms, the medical potential of an amazing plant risks never being fully realized. Salvia divinorum, through the limited research that has already taken place, has been shown to be an anti-addictive and an anti-depressant. What this means, is that Salvia has the potential to help cure heroin and cocaine addicts, or at least greatly aid in their recovery from their addiction. The same thing is true for Salvia divinorum as an anti-depressant. But just as the powerful pharmaceutical company has lobbied against Kava Kava, which has been used as a medication far more effective and far safer than multi-billion dollar corporation medication such as Prozac, Zoloft, or Valium, they have effectively scared the public into believing that Kava Kava is dangerous to your liver and your health, when nothing could be further from the truth. The same thing could be happening with Salvia divinorum, and we hope that it doesn't follow the same fate as Kava Kava seems to be following.<br />Why panic about a plant that has not caused a single death or overdose, but NOT panic about prescription medication that is the #1 substance of abuse by teens, followed closely by alcohol and tobacco? Why not panic about Ex-Lax which has about 20 cases a year of severe liver damage instead of Salvia divinorum which has ZERO reported cases a year? Why demonize Salvia divinorum because the media has attached the word "hallucinogen" to it, but not fight to remove Big Macs from our children's hands, a highly addicting product that has now caused the Attorney General to label obesity as a disease? This will never make sense to me. The potential for Salvia divinorum is far reaching, and we are cheating ourselves as a people and a society to not seek out safer alternative forms of healing and therapy, simply because we are mindlessly repeating the words of people who need to generate money by sensationalizing everything, from words created by multi-billion dollar industries looking to protect their investments, or from a government that is still putting dying cancer patients in jail for legally using medical marijuana prescribed by the State of California, even though the medical potential for that plant could save countless lives, and extend the lives of so many as well?<br />Salvia divinorum is not the enemy; it is the complete brainwashing that has set into our society regarding these sacred plants, though many people don't want to question what they have been taught, and don't want to admit that maybe the cold hard facts that they have been presented with actually have some meaning.<br /><a href="http://www.iamshaman.com/eshop/10Browse.asp?Category=Salvia%20Divinorum&A=983">http://www.iamshaman.com/eshop/10Browse.asp?Category=Salvia%20Divinorum&A=983</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><meta name="verify-v1" content="VVJyFc4eXFYkMkaivf1TgAthcD9UUfH0WahSuTVLkUw=" /></div>Singingcrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05967890313361624078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-378374819357891113.post-43968804050572411752008-01-02T16:08:00.002-05:002008-05-24T10:41:32.547-04:002008-05-24T10:41:32.547-04:00WHAT IS SHAMANISM?Shamanism is the term that Westerners use for the ancient spiritual beliefs of Mongolia and Siberia.A more accurate name for these beliefs is Tengerism. Tengerism means a reverance for the spirits while �??Shamanism�?? seems to mean reverance toward shamans. Shamans are not to be worshiped but merely respected as priests of Tengerism. Calling our beliefs �??Shamanism�?? would like be like calling Christianity �??Priestism�?? or Judaism �??Rabbiism�??.In Tengerism, the world is alive. The plants, animals, rocks, and water all have spirits. These spirits must be respected and cared for or the land would become hostile or barren. Therefore, protection and balance of one�??s environment is of utmost importance.Personal responsibility is the second main tenet of Tengerism. Tengerists believe in a concept called buyan that is very close to the belief of karma. Being responsible for one�??s own actions is the mark of an upright human being.The third tenet of Tengerism is balance. Balance is important to keep harmony within oneself, the community, and the environment. When things get out of balance, there are harmful effects. This is when a shaman is needed.<br /><br />Many Westerners try to categorize a shaman as a �??medicine man�?? or �??witch doctor�??.Mongolian/Siberian spiritual beliefs are far more sophisticated than that. There are many kinds of healers that are specialists in their field. There are otoshi (healers), barishi (bone-setters), and bariyachi (mid wives). All of these specialists are believed to have some form of help from the spirit world.It is the shaman, however, that is the true master of the spirit world. The shaman is chosen by the spirits at birth and an extra soul called an udha enters them. This soul helps them gather other spirit helpers that protect the shaman. Without this protection, rituals and other world journeys are dangerous and foolish to attempt.The main function of the shaman is to restore and maintain balance in his community. Shamans conduct blessings, rituals of protection, hunting magic, and divination. They also cure sicknesses that have spiritual causes such as spiritual intrusions, spiritual pollution, soul loss, and curses. Shamans are also the caretakers of traditional culture. Because of their knowledge of ancient tradition, their counsel has been sought throughout the ages.<br /><br />There are three different types of shamans- Black, White, and Yellow. The first two of these types are traditional and the third, a result of influence from Buddhism.<br />It is important to note that the designations of �??Black�?? and �??White�?? do not mean �??evil�?? and �??good�??. There are different types of spirits that shamans work with and they reside within the four directions. In Siberian tradition, each direction has a colour. A shaman�??s colour is determined from which direction he gets his power.<br /><br /><br />Black Shaman Tradition<br />Black shamans are the most powerful of all the shamans and they get their power from the Northern direction. They are warrior shamans and overcome evil by battling might vs. might. They are the models of courage and discipline.<br />Historically, Black shamans had fulfilled roles in both times of peace and in times of war. In wartime, they boosted the soldiers�?? morale and did cerimonies to help in battle. The power of the army was connected to the Black shamans, so these shamans were heavily recruited in times of war. During times of peace, Black shamans served as advisors and conducted foreign policy by making peace and alliances. During the time of the Mongolian Empire, all treaties were ratified by shaman ceremonies.<br />Both historically and today, Black shamans do many other types of shamanic work. They do hunting rituals, healing work, protection, divination, and curse enemies. Black shamans have to be careful to stay in balance, for a shaman that curses too much, will lose their ability to heal and would become an outcast.<br /><br /><br />White Shaman Tradition<br />White shamans get their power from the white Western direction. Because of this, they direct their prayers to the Western Heavens.<br />White shamans are shamans of peace and have a special relationship with the spirits of nature. Their main focus is on pacifying angry spirits and helping mankind to live in balance with nature. White shamans also do divination and blessings. One thing that they can not do is a shaman�??s curse.<br />During the Mongol Empire, while Black shamans dealt with foreign affairs, White shamans dealt with local affairs and served as administrators and concerned themselves with the day to day lives of the people.<br />White shamanism in present time has Buddhist inluence in it�??s trappings and style. Some chants are of Buddhist origin and White shamans burn incense instead of the wild plants that Black shamans burn. It is an incorrect stereotype that all shamans use drums. White shamans do not use drums, but instead have a wooden staff and ring bells during cerimonies. White shamans also do not wear the antlered headdress of the Black shamans, but instead wear a cape called a nemerge.<br />Lamaism was the main cause of the decline in the numbers of White shamans. During the 17th to 19th centuries, the White shaman tradition suffered most among the Khalkha and Barga tribes, and throughout Inner Mongolia. In present day, white shamanism is returning.<br /><br /><br />Yellow Shaman Tradition<br />Between the 17th and 19th centuries, Lamaism (Tibetan Buddhism) imposed itself on the people of Mongolia. During this time, it was very difficult for shamans. Lamaists divided shamans into two catagories: Black and Yellow. �??Black�?? shamans were those who kept the old shamanic traditions, and Yellow shamans were those who would submit to the Lamas and serve in a subordinate role to them.<br />Black shamans refused to submit to the foreign religion. White shamans were divided. Some submitted to Buddhist authority and became Yellow shamans. Other White shamans refused to give up their traditions. These shamans were thrown into the �??Black�?? catagory by the Lamaists. Therefore, both Black and White shamans were in the same catagory between the 17th and 19th centuries.<br />Because of this, the distinctions between the two traditions was muddied in Lamaist dominated regions. Luckily, the tribes in the Northwest regions such as the Darhad and Urinahai had close contact and solidarity with Siberian peoples such as the Tuvans and Buryats who kept their traditions in tact.<br />Communism in Mongolia stopped the Buddhist attrocities, but was a step backwards for freedom of religion. When Mongolia changed to a democracy in the 1990�??s, shamanism grew stronger in the region again.<br />�??White shamans�?? have returned and are no longer forced into the �??Yellow�?? catagory. The �??Yellow�?? catagory is no longer a shaman classification.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><meta name="verify-v1" content="VVJyFc4eXFYkMkaivf1TgAthcD9UUfH0WahSuTVLkUw=" /></div>Singingcrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05967890313361624078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-378374819357891113.post-9130443356156470952008-01-02T16:00:00.001-05:002008-01-02T16:02:28.074-05:002008-01-02T16:02:28.074-05:00<a href="https://www.iamshaman.net/affiliatewiz/aw.aspx?B=2&A=983&Task=Click" target="_Top">IAmShaman Shop</a><img height="1" src="https://www.iamshaman.net/affiliatewiz/aw.aspx?B=2&A=983&Task=Get" width="1" border="0" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><meta name="verify-v1" content="VVJyFc4eXFYkMkaivf1TgAthcD9UUfH0WahSuTVLkUw=" /></div>Singingcrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05967890313361624078noreply@blogger.com