Shamanic Journeying – how to

Shamanic practise is a spiritual practise which has existed for hundreds of thousands of years.
In this practise everything has spirit. Places, plants, animals, elements everything!
Shamanic journeying is a practise of communication with spirit.
When we journey, we journey between ordinary and non-ordinary reality.
 
The practise of shamanic journey is a cross cultural way of working with spirit. Which means that you will find this technique in all indigenous cultures across the world.

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Why journeying?

Traditionally shamanic journeying has been a technique of communication with spirit as well as a way of life to be in harmony and balance with nature, in harmony and balance in your life and in your relationships.
In ancient cultures all adult members of society were expected to journey regularly to get answers to questions in their lives and to be functional members of their community.
 

The practise of journeying helps us get guidance and inspiration to our life’s question and challenges. It is a source of peace and healing. It is a way to our inner wisdom and understanding of who we are.  
I feel in today’s world one of the most precious benefits of shamanic journeying is to regain trust and confidence in our inner wisdom. We learn how to read the signs and listen to the messages spirit sends us.

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Who can journey?

​Everybody. Absolutely everybody. I have never seen anybody who cannot journey. When you start journeying you might encounter obstacles or question yourself, but with time you will gain in confidence and connect to a tool which will change your life for ever, for the better.

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What do I need to journey?

• A quiet place where you will not be disturbed
• A recording of shamanic drumming for journeying with call back (you can find it on my website, 
• A comfortable position. Sitting in a chair, lying on your sofa or on the floor (make sure you do not encourage yourself to fall asleep)
• An eye mask or pillow. Not absolutely essential, but I feel it is easier to ‘see’ and it helps with relaxation.

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​How to journey?

The cosmology of shamanic journeying is expansive and can be complex. There is much to learn, and we never finish our discovery.
However, to get started you will need to follow only three simple steps.
 
The non-ordinary reality is described in three worlds, the lower world, the middle world and the upper world.
The lower and upper worlds are a safe place filled with compassionate beings which are there to help and guide you. The middle word is the spirit world of our now reality and therefore is inhabited by spirits which have selfish reasons and are not always there to help us. We need to journey with care and protection in the middle world.  It is therefore good to have reasonably good experience in how to journey, a good relationship with your helping spirits and ideally someone with experience who can help you navigate the middle world. So, for now, as you start, stay in the lower and upper world for your journeys.

 
To journey to the lower world your intension is to enter into the earth and follow a path which leads you to your power spot.

First step: is to choose a point of entry – a doorway, from where to start your journey. It is your doorway between the ordinary and non-ordinary reality.
This should be a place you know, which exists in reality and you have visited at least once in your life. It should be a place where you felt save and comfortable. Doorways are generally, a hole in the ground near the roots of a tree, a large rock, a tree, a body of water, a cave.
Choose the first and strongest image which comes to your mind as you think of your options.

Second step: once you enter through your doorway, a path will open itself to you. The pathway will lead you deeper underground.  It might be a tunnel, a stairway, an underground river… this will become clear once you journey for the first time.
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Third step: once the movement into the earth will slow down you will arrive at a place which is your power spot. This is a place of comfort and very personal to you. When you first discover this space, you will take some time to look around to see what is there and what it is like. It might look like a place in nature, there might be presence of an element, a fire, a river or lake, the ocean. It could also simply be a feeling of comfort or a presence.
 
To journey into the upper world, you will look to find a way up. Like a rainbow, the rising smoke of a fire, the sun ray braking through the clouds, a tall tree reaching into the sky,  a bird which carries you up. And you will expect the sensation of some sort of barrier or membrane which will give you confirmation that you have transitioned from the ordinary to the non-ordinary reality of the upper world.

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how do I know I am doing it correctly?

It is important to remember that every person has a very unique way of perception. Some see images, others sense messages within their physical body or perceive messages simply in form of ‘knowing’.
One of the most common difficulties of journeying is the expectation of seeing the way we watch movies or to compare our way of perception with that of another person.
Another obstacle is doubting what we receive and thinking we are making it up.
Both can and will be overcome through regular practise which will build confidence.

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the drumming

The actual journey is supported by a sonic carrier which traditionally is the sound of a drum, played at a very particular rhythm which induces theta brain waves. These waves facilitate visualisation and intuition.
When the time is ready to return to ordinary reality the rhythm of the drum will change to 4 times seven slower beats followed by a rapid drum beat at which time you will finish your journey, give thanks and come back the way you came (same pathway, same doorway)

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what to expect

While journeying we will receive messages and communication from spirit in many different ways and on many different levels. It is important to allow yourself to be receptive. When we journey, we are there to collect impressions an all levels. Some of the interpretation and some of the meaning will reveal itself once we have returned from the journey, just like in a dream. Like with dreaming, the depth of the message will continue to become clear later.
 
Journeying is a process in which we will stay engaged.
We will direct our path, our conversation with spirit, continue to ask questions, developpe ideas and search for answers.

• We will be conscious of our body and the surrounding in which we are relaxing.
• We might hear a dog bark or a car go by. This is normal.
• ​We will not go into a state of hypnoses, however with the state of deep relaxation it is quickly clear that the quality of communication is different than in the ordinary reality.

 
The art of crafting a question and setting intension for your journey is something to develop over time and will contribute greatly to the quality of communication with spirit and the accuracy of the answer you will receive.
Your first intension should be to discover your pathway and power spot. Followed by meeting you spirit guide. 
 
It is good to prepare your space and take some time to relax before getting ready to journey.
You might like to go for a walk before, do some breathing or short meditation. Burning some incense, playing the rattle or drum, ringing some bells helps to create a calm environment and a calmer mind.
 
So now, all there is left to say! Go journey and discover the beautiful world of communicating with spirit…